Showing posts with label first yoga class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first yoga class. Show all posts
My first Yoga experience was similar to anything you do for the first time, slightly awkward, seriously uncomfortable, incredibly judgmental, humbling, energizing, rewarding, but mostly hilarious. At the time I was playing lacrosse in college and spending way too many hours a day in the training room treating injuries and pain that I was experiencing throughout my whole body. I signed up for a 10 week "Newbie workshop" in hopes of finding any sense of release and desperate to do anything to make me a better player.
My First Yoga Class: Dena Kahn
I really don't remember my very first Yoga class. I know it was a Power Yoga class when I was 23 years-old. At that time, I was jogging, spinning, and kickboxing along with almost daily gym workouts. Power Yoga was held at the gym at the perfect time for me on Sunday mornings and I thought it would further round out my routine. I remember doing plank poses, down dogs, chatturangas, side planks, and lots of strength-building moves but it really had no impact on me. I could take it or leave it each week. However, it did raise my awareness of Yoga and when I lived abroad the next year, I found myself reading ads for Yoga classes in Jerusalem but never taking any. Believe it or not, I also lived in Los Angeles for 4 years without taking one class. But, 5 1/2 years after my Power Yoga experience, I returned.
At that point, I was living in NYC. I had been hired to overhaul a school program and I was working 'round the clock. I was also living it up in NYC, taking advantage of everything I could squeeze in. By springtime, I was physically a mess. I had so much back pain and stiffness that I was bent-over,hobbling down the streets of the city. I needed to lie down or stand during meetings because sitting was very painful. I attended an auction for the preschool that fed into my school and I bid on 5-class pass for Yoga at a studio I had never heard of. I got it. It was meant to be!!!
The first time I walked into Namaste Yoga Studio, I was in love. It was on the second floor of a walk-up. It had two rooms. The small one in front was rented out to Integral Yoga. The large room in back was for Namaste. The room had wood floors, painted concrete walls and the most unbelievable glass-domed ceiling. Blocks and blankets and straps were stacked in the back corner. It was such a simple space. It was not like a spa. It was not like a gym. It was for Yoga, plain and simple. I remember exhaling deeply as I sat on my mat.
I went on a Friday afternoon. Lauren Hale was the teacher. I would later find out that she was ISHTA trained and founded and directs a dance company in NY. I was so tight (and tightly-wound) that just about every move hurt except savasana. My back felt 100 times better after that class. Lauren was so encouraging, supportive and funny. She has the most beautiful singing voice and would softly chant during savasana. I felt comfortable and safe in her class, even as a beginner. The following Sunday, I went to my next Yoga class but this time with Catherine. I almost left in the middle. It was so hard. I got angry and huffy during the class, cursing the teacher and myself in my head. At the end, I complained to the desk staff that I thought the teacher forgot this class was supposed to be accessible for anyone, not only advanced students. However, later that night, I noticed that I felt great. As my anger, frustration, and negative self-talk cleared, I vowed to get back to Catherine's class and to conquer it. Next class up, Priti Robyn Ross' class on the following Thursday. AHHHH! It was a breath of fresh air. Gentle and loving and supportive. I have never felt more graceful and grace-filled than in Priti's class. For the next month or so, I went to two of Lauren's classes a week and to Priti's class each week. Then, it was back to Catherine's class. Could I meet her challenge? Had I learned enough? Could I breathe and not get flustered? Yes!!! I would not say I conquered it at that point but I certainly met her challenge. I felt accomplished, strong, and proud.
That was it for me. Three classes (sometimes more) a week for the next three years: Lauren's moderate to vigorous class, Catherine's challenging class, and Priti's beautiful, grace-filled class. Each class had its impact. I was uncovering myself and traveling through my Yoga journey. Soon, I started practicing at home. I was one of those New Yorkers who carried her mat, journal, a hairband, and yoga pants with her everywhere, hoping to catch a class or some quiet time for reflection. I went to Yoga in Central Park, Yoga in Times Square, and free Yoga classes where I could find them but Namaste Yoga remained my home. The madness of my life cleared. The furious paced slowed. I was doing everything better and more calmly. I was becoming more of the person I wanted to be. I was happier than I had ever been.
Then, one day during class, Priti whispered in my ear, "Have you ever thought about teaching?". I hadn't. But, after she said that, I couldn't stop thinking about it. A little over a year later, I moved back home to DC and I completed my training at Kripalu with Priti as one of my training teachers. I went through 2 1/2 intense years of lifestyle transition and am now even happier than before, sharing Yoga with everyone I can.
Jai Bhagwan,
Dena
My First Yoga Class: Kate Loewengart
When I think about it, I had many "first classes" that sort of blend together now, since at that time they were just a way to get some exercise. But after graduation, when I was living in NYC, someone I worked with started teaching at OM Yoga Center and pretty much insisted we come out to support her. Never one to say no, I said yes. And then the fear set in. What did I get myself into? This was New York! And downtown yoga! I was an athlete of the defensive sort; certainly not graceful like the women I knew who did yoga, all bendy and pretzel-y and dancer-hopeful-ish who took lessons at Broadway Dance Center on the side.
But I went anyway. I think my friend who was also going promised me a smoothie after. So why not? I could hang for an hour if it meant mango at the end. We climbed the stairs and eventually arrived in a sun-filled room. And I remember throwing away all my notions. I decided to go with it. I trusted the teacher outside of the studio, so I figured she'd know best. And what happened next was transporting. The city fell away, the sounds of the street became a rhythm. The teacher's voice guided us through. I didn't notice anything else around me. My mind was still. Looking back, this was the first time I came to the mat with a beginner's mind. That said, it was also the first time I had felt that way - and I think I had what could best be described as a panic attack during Savasana. You can take the girl out of New York...
Thank goodness for that smoothie!
After that, I spent years trying to make my practice regular. But my intense jobs meant it only came in spurts. And I realize now that every time after that, I've been trying to get back to that first class - that time when I just went with it, was forgiving of myself, my body and my mind. Only back then, I thought I just had no idea what was going on.
Sure, I didn't REALLY know what I was doing. I'm sure I dropped my hips during plank, my arms were probably all "wrong" in Down Dog. My Triangle was probably crooked. But that's the beauty of yoga, isn't it? Even the most advanced student is always still a beginner. There's always a day where you are humbled. There's always something to work on. There's always the chance for bliss. That was a "first" for me.
My First Yoga Class: Pam Kaufman
I took my first yoga class in high school. My mom had started attending a regular class so I tagged along one evening. It was a restorative class, so when we walked in the room was serene with candles and low-lighting and we were instructed to gather a number of props. I'm not going to lie, I did not enjoy it. The stillness was painful. Plus, it was clear this was not going to burn many calories. What was the point?
I went back a few more times, mostly just to spend the time with my mom, never really "getting it." I continued to dabble in yoga throughout college, mostly through video in my dorm room. But, honestly, I didn't fall in love until several years later, when I was living in New York as a grad student.
Usually, when I think about my first yoga class, I think of this class, where I walked away with that "yoga high" (literally almost getting hit by a car on my walk home). I think of this as the start of my yoga journey because this was when I first "got" yoga. But, this was just one step on my journey. Not liking yoga didn't mean I hadn't done yoga. It just meant I had done it and not liked it. And, in fact, continuing to open myself up to the possibility of yoga, even after not liking those earlier classes is simply further evidence that my yoga journey began all those years ago in that restorative class.
As a teacher, I try to draw on this experience by encouraging students to acknowledge judgments and opinions and let them go, allowing whatever it is that comes up as they hold that warrior II or that squat or a crying child to simply be part of their experience in that particular unique moment. I know, easier said than done.
Learn more about Pam at:
www.allayyoga.com and her blog, musepracticeallay.blogspot.com.
My First Yoga Class.. by Kelly
Honestly, I was pretty close to that big, bad breaking point. Insane hours at work, toxic relationship woes, really-could-have-been-better food choices, and definitely lacking exercise. Definitely lacking what I later came to know intimately as "abundance" and "unadulterated joy," which were totally foreign concepts at the time. I felt exhausted, unsupported, overwhelmed... and then, one night, after a really painful phone call, I simply got up, walked out of my office, and drove to a nearby yoga studio. I arrived a few moments before class started.
I'll never forget the teacher -- DC's own Kyra Sydofsky, formerly of "18th and Yoga," in those days -- as she opened the door, took one look at my face and said gently, benevolently, "you're in the right place." Still in business casual attire, I quickly bought a tank top, borrowed a mat, and found child's pose (a favorite I'd picked up, having self-taught for the previous 4 years). In that class, I moved, breathed, released, built up, shared a few tears, and gained a lot of hope. In that space, I began to create and define my own personal practice and style.
That first class also planted the primary purpose of my teaching today: intuitive, ethereal kindness, both in the student-teacher relationship, and the relationship each of us has with ourselves. I encourage it in every class and, of course, practice it off the mat in my own life... especially by regularly sending wishes of kindness and gratitude to the ex-boss, the ex-boyfriend, and even my former sleepwalking self, for pushing me into the yoga studio that night.
Kelly Newsome
Higher Ground Yoga
http://highergroundyoga.com
My First Yoga Class... by Heidi Sohng ( lil omm teacher)
My first yoga class....
was sold out the first time I tried to go, a Sunday morning beginners class at the Jivamukti brownstone in the East Village of NYC. I made sure to sign up early the next week. The teacher's name was Charles. He wore glasses and effused intelligence but not in a condescending way. He had a way of making yoga seem both esoteric and accessible. The mirrored room was big enough to hold only a dozen or so students. Sitting awkwardly in lotus, I felt weirdly exposed in my bare feet and legs. But my life was beginning to change at that very moment. Charles patiently explained, demonstrated, and talked the class through basic poses, which to him seemed effortless and second nature. Trying to stand in "Tadasana" sounded so exotic...who knew standing still could be so intricate! He challenged us to keep that connection to the earth throughout our day. I'll never forget the sense of service he brought to the class, as if teaching us was an honor. Now as a yoga teacher, I strive to bring that sense of service to my classes as well. Thank you Charles, wherever you are. And always to Sharon Gannon and David Life, my first true teachers.
My First Yoga Class.. by Pleasance
My first yoga class was in High School. I was probably 16 years old and the class was lead by one of our English teachers. My best friend and I joined it as a way out of competitive sports that our New England Prep school makes everyone participate in. You have to do something each semester. So, our options were; try out for team sports, club sports, Weight Training, Run Club, hiking, camping and canoeing, Ultimate Frisbee or yoga. We chose yoga. And each week for that semester, we went to the old and dingy academic building where it was held , we pushed furniture aside, put mats down ( I think there were like 5 of us) and promptly giggled to each other, laughed about putting our tush in the air, excused our selves to go to the bathroom, and then fell asleep, routinely each week. We were rude, immature and didn’t get it, AT ALL.
Many years later, while living in Philly all of my grad school friends had picked up a yoga class in Center City they all loved. “You should join us!” they would tell me each week.. “ I can’t, I have..... “ was my excuse each week. I was just not interested. I remembered the high school days, thinking it was a joke and sleeping. Wasn’t sure why I was going to pay someone for a class to lay down and sleep. I had no problem doing that myself. The peer pressure set in after about 6 months... and one night, with no excuses, I joined them. to me, my friends and all the other yogis at the studio were clean, thin, and beautiful. I did not feel as if I fit in , always a bit darker, a big thicker and never felt as if my clothes were new enough, clean enough. My toes were not always painted and my nails were certainly not attended to. It was actually not a warm or welcoming place. It was silent, quiet with an air of eliteness. No one spoke to each other and when the class before let out. the next group piled in, laid down the mats and took their “seats” . I was awkward. One of my friends slid her mat next to mine, I was relived. “oh good” I said to her , “you can help me, I’ll watch you” “shhh “ she said.. “no talking in here “ “Oh sorry..I just thought you ..””SHHH” I was really having a hard time with this no talking thing, I was so scared.
As a child, I didn’t fit in anywhere. Always a loner, never belonging to anything. I was not artistic, athletic, or popular, My mom and I were poor, I was embarrassed about my family, my apartment, my own body and large size feet. I was always closer to my teachers than my peers, and stayed in during recess to help them out. There were lots of problems with the girls. “They’re just jealous, the teachers would say” OF WHAT? I would think. I had no friends, no siblings or money and spent lots of time alone or with neighborhood kids who were generally much younger. I think the teachers were not sure why the kids were so mean so they used the jealousy thing to try to make me feel better. I had” new girl syndrome” for almost 3 years. As a result, I developed a thick skin and started doing my own thing. Eventually things changed, but the years of being an outsider were deeply rooted in my soul, attitude and behavior. I became sarcastic towards others, towards groups and
I figured out that if I could put it down, make fun of something then I would “feel “ better, and those started to agree with me. I was able to make them feel shitty if they didn’t agree with me.
This yoga class in Philly, brought back LOTS of these feelings, being along, not fitting in, feeling like an outsider,and THEN on TOP Of that not being able to talk with my friends about how weird it was and how much it sucked, really put me in a mood. The class was a level 1/2 or open but I had no clue what I was doing. I looked around the room, I grew more angry that I couldn’t ask anyone anything. The teacher walked past me, didn’t notice anything and kept her thin and light frame floating by me each time she came near. There was the air of eliteness I had felt when I came in. I am in the center of the room, and I cannot get up and walk out. I want out. I hate this. Everyone knows I can’t do this. This is so horribly embarrassing. Anxiety, fear and anger came to the surface rather quickly and then tension. Lots of tension. Finally, class ended.
I was getting my things together, the teacher came over and in front of everyone said, “You really need to go to the yoga basics or introduction class. You don’t belong here in this class”. Everyone was staring at me, my friends put their heads down. My heart was in my throat, my stomach in knots. “okay, thanks” I said, in a very none appreciative way. I tried not to cry. I tried to hold my breath, hold in everything that I WANTED to say to her about making me feel so bad about myself- and how snotty she was and this studio. Yoga was for elite, skinny girls. my original thoughts were confirmed and I booked it out of there.
My friend stopped asking me to come to class, and we never brought it up again.
Okay, so now you are thinking.. well how did you come to OWN a yoga studio??
wow.. things are different now, yoga is a part of each and every day in fact, each and every moment of my life. .. stay tuned to hear more about the growth and development of my journey as a yoga teacher.... more to come!
- Pleasance
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