View and purchase the book HERE!
You can practice yoga without ever doing one yoga pose.
You can do many yoga poses without ever practicing yoga.
There are different yoga paths. However, no matter the path choice, at its root, the practice of yoga is intended to liberate you from conditioned misconceptions about yourself and lead you to the realization that you are more than the thoughts you identify yourself with.
Yoga does not ask you to be someone else, nor is it intended to shame or judge. It’s not even about ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ The practice encourages dedication to self-study, a pathway to self-knowledge.
Every time you step on your mat, you have a choice: work out or work in.
You can choose to use the pose purely for physical purposes, where it’s about fitness goals or the level of the pose, or you can choose to use the pose as a tool for transformation—physical and mental.
And the difference comes down to simply changing your mindset.
You are shifting from a goal-oriented, end-result focus, where your mind narrative is really about what you can and cannot do in your pose and where you are in your physical practice, to a process focus: how you get there, taking your time, embracing each step, noticing the nuances and more subtle sensations, not needing to get anywhere else, and being fully present. This option is where the actual practice of yoga comes in: quieting the narrative in your mind, getting away from your inner ego chatter so you can hear your inner teacher’s voice.
So, a simple idea is not necessarily easy to achieve. Here are a few things to ask yourself to discern whether your practice is encouraging you to ‘work in.’
Ask yourself:
Does my practice build the physical component of yoga from the foundations of breath and gaze?
These two techniques are essential in creating a practice that encourages presence and a process-focused experience.
Ask yourself:
Does my practice include a philosophical component that encourages self-study?
The mind transformation from yoga results in the ability to discern which habits or patterns to let go of. And develop new ones that inspire you to lead a more intentional and thoughtful life. Applying the Yamas and Niyamas, which are yoga’s ethical principles, will help.
Ask yourself:
Do I find myself moving through my day with less reaction and impulsiveness? Do I own my actions and live with more intention and thoughtfulness?
Yoga is a gradual process, not a quick fix. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras states that the practice must be cultivated for a long time, without interruption, and with care. When your mat practice includes the two points prior, you will begin to notice the transformation off your mat.
So in short, ask yourself what would happen if you spent less time trying to master a pose and more time trying to master your thoughts?
Everyone has a personal reason to begin a yoga practice—physical, mental, or spiritual benefits. However, it is essential to honor the traditions and philosophy of this ancient practice by never losing sight of its original intentions. It is possible to gain the physical benefits of practicing asana while staying connected to yoga’s original intention.
If you can get a stronger, more flexible body along with a stronger, more flexible mind, why not?
Not all yoga classes are created equal. Because yoga is meant to be a transformative process, teaching yoga requires a different skill set than teaching only a fitness class.
Of course, teaching a great yoga class requires specific technical knowledge, but a well-trained teacher will go above and beyond in an effort to create a space that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive.
Here are a few things to consider when searching for a yoga teacher:
A green flag yoga teacher will teach more than a Western fitness class.
They have an innate ability to tie together the philosophical component of yoga with the physical practice. They offer mental practices relevant to daily life, giving the tools to apply them off the mat.
When the class description says it is appropriate for all levels, a green flag yoga teacher teaches an all-level class.
The teacher will not expect students to know poses and their names.
They will use precise cues and language to help students transition into the pose and build the alignment of the pose safely from the ground up while offering different options.
A green flag yoga teacher avoids language that creates a hierarchy of poses, like ‘advanced vs. beginner.’ They will use terms like ‘option’ or ‘variation’ instead of ‘modify’ or ‘modification.’ This makes it about choice rather than physical ability.
A green flag teacher will normalize using different options and remind students of their personal agency.
A green flag yoga teacher offers an experience, a process-focused practice, rather than a goal-oriented one based on aesthetics or reaching a particular ‘level’ of a pose.
They will encourage exploration in a pose – replacing how it looks with how it feels.
A green flag teacher avoids blanket statements that label how a pose or practice should feel and encourages investigation without a right or wrong answer.
They understand that everyone comes from a different background and life experience, and therefore, everyone will not feel the same or have the same response to a pose or class.
A green flag yoga teacher is constantly evolving.
They understand that study and learning never end. They give space for their teaching to grow, change, and evolve. They are not afraid to tell a student: I don’t know.
________________________________________
Lyn holds both in-person and online yoga teacher training. If you are interested in becoming a ‘green flag’ yoga teacher, you can check out her programs here:
200-Hour In-Person Yoga Teacher Training
Online Program Platform
Many misconceptions about power yoga are floating around. The name itself can lead one to misinterpret the type of practice it is. However, the ‘power’ in Power Yoga actually refers to one’s inner power. Bryan Kest, who first coined the phrase’ power yoga’ in the 90s, explained that he named it because of the empowering way you feel leaving class.*
The purpose of the practice is to ’empower’ you to tap into that which already exists within. To encourage you to develop qualities and habits that will help you to navigate life with balance, grace, discipline, and compassion.
Is it a challenging physical practice as well? Absolutely. However, not in the way it is often described. A power yoga class will ’empower’ you to meet yourself right where you are when you step onto your mat. It will encourage you to honor your needs, resist comparison or competition, embrace the now, and let go of assumptions and expectations.
Despite what your mind’s narrative might tell you, doing all the poses and everything offered in class is not mandatory. Bryan Kest often describes the poses and movements in class as a buffet. The teacher will suggest poses and options; you decide what to take, how much, and what to decline.
But before we get into what power yoga ‘is,’ let’s clarify a few things that it ‘is not’:
Power Yoga is fast.
Flow does not mean fast. Nor does it mean to fling or to flail. We flow slowly and hold poses to build strength. What would the purpose be to take a break from the ‘rat race,’ only to turn your practice into a ‘mat race’? Along with slowing down and supporting a safer, more mindful practice, you begin to develop a profound sense of body awareness when you take the time to hold a pose for more than a few breaths and sit with it. When you notice some of the more subtle nuances and sensations you are feeling, you can establish a balance of what we call ‘effort and ease’ in your pose. Not working too hard, but not working too easy. You determine the ‘just right’ for you.
A power yoga teacher will hold poses long enough to allow you to explore and be curious. A power yoga teacher will also ask you to slow down transitions (such as getting in and out of a pose) and appreciate the process of getting there. A power yoga teacher will encourage you to slow your flow.
Power Yoga is for experienced practitioners only and includes many ‘advanced’ poses.
This is simply a myth. Not only are you encouraged to rest whenever you need to, but a power yoga class sequence is born from the idea that it should enable you to progress through movements and poses as safely and simply as possible. A typical class comprises the more basic or foundational yoga poses. With variations and options always offered up. Will you still be challenged? Of course! But challenged in a way that does not require you to be from the circus or perform any scary ass poses. The poses will challenge you in a way that is safe and healthy. And YOU decide precisely what you want that challenge to be. Guess what? Sometimes, the biggest challenge you will face is getting away from your ego and taking a break in a child’s pose.
A power yoga teacher will teach each pose from the ground up, giving you the building blocks to develop a stable, strong physical practice. A power yoga teacher will offer options and encourage you to find the pose you need based on how it feels, not how it looks. They will also remind you to take a resting pose as often as needed.
Power Yoga is purely an exercise.
Power Yoga is not only a workout; it is, more importantly, a ‘work-in.’ The practice goes way beyond the practice on the mat—it uses the physical practice as a vehicle for inner transformation. The overall theme is that everything you do on your mat should help you with everything you do off your mat, or why do it?
Your mat practice is an opportunity to observe your habits and reactions as you challenge yourself physically.
Often, your habits in life show up in how you practice. Are they working? Do you need to make a shift? Are you reinforcing habits on your mat that are not beneficial off your mat?
Because when it comes down to it, how you do anything is how you do everything.
You will learn to move calmly and disciplined from one uncomfortable situation to the next. It teaches you to be calm when you are uncomfortable and to take the practice off the mat with you.
And it might change your perspective on what it means to be healthy. Looking good is fine. But if your body looks good but can barely move and bend, is that healthy? A power yoga practice will transform your definition of wellness and what it means to have a fit body. Hence, you will become healthier.
A power yoga teacher will remind you that getting fit does not mean beating the sh*t out of your body. Healthy means moderation. Fit means balanced.
A power yoga teacher will include a philosophical component that will be relatable and practical for daily life.
A power you class will include the following five key foundational elements:
Breath:
The use of breath is the foundation for a power yoga practice. It is what differentiates a yoga practice from a typical exercise class.
It is not a random breath. It is a specific breathing technique called ujjayi breathing.
When you apply ujjayi breath during your practice, you will slow down, your mind will become quiet, and a sense of calm awareness will arise. Random thoughts are less likely to occur, and from that, you are, in a sense, giving yourself a ‘mental break.’ We don’t play music in a power yoga class for a reason. Playing music distracts you from doing the hard work of learning to quiet the ongoing narrative that plays in your mind.
In turn, breath awareness can lead to greater insight into the subtler aspects of your physical practice. With a deeper understanding of your bodily responses to the poses, you can challenge yourself healthily. You will notice that your inhales naturally encourage creating lift, space, and length, while your exhales promote release and letting go.
When you focus on the breath, your mindset will become more process-focused and less goal-oriented, and your physical practice will fall into place naturally. When you take this practice off the mat, you will feel calmer as you move through your day.
A power yoga class will establish ujjayi breathing at the beginning of class.
Foundation:
As the saying goes, you can only build a great building with a strong foundation. Or, your pose will only be as strong as the foundation you build.
The breath is the foundation for a power yoga practice. But then, as we add the physical component, the focus is grounding—creating a stable connection with whatever touches the ground. Then, build the pose from that connection. Along with grounding, a solid connection to your core, called ‘uddiyana bandha’ (or upward lifting lock), will develop a feeling of root and rise. When the whole body is incorporated, you will feel light and more ease in your practice.
You will build a solid foundation to support your pose, enabling you to grow.
Grounding and building a solid foundation in yoga practice helps you stay grounded in your daily life. It brings you back to your roots, connects you to who you are, and keeps you connected to your values and purpose.
A power yoga class will include the practice of uddiyana bandha, or core engagement.
Focus:
Wandering eyes means a wandering mind. Where your mind wanders, your energy will follow.
Drishti is the yogic practice of a steady, focused gaze, which develops greater concentration. It helps cultivate insight, inner wisdom, and heightened self-awareness.
In a power yoga class, you will be encouraged to fix your gaze on a specific point. Fixing your gaze will steady your mind and help eliminate distractions. It will bring your attention inward and create a greater mind-body connection.
Applying specific gaze points helps cultivate more body awareness. You become more in tune with the signals your breath and body give you, developing a safer practice. You begin to notice the more subtle sensations within your body, which will encourage more process-focused exploration rather than goal-oriented.
When you fix your eyes on specific points on your mat or body, you resist the urge to look around and mimic what other students are doing. The reality is that you can’t find what you need on someone else’s mat. When your eyes don’t wander, your mind doesn’t wander. When you are fully present, you can hear the different options your teacher is offering and decide based on what you need.
A power yoga class will establish the practice of Drishti at the start and include reminders throughout about where to set your gaze.
Heat:
Tapas, or to ‘burn’ through obstacles and challenges, is one of the core principles of yoga and is used as a tool for transformation on your mat in a power yoga class.
However, it does not mean setting the thermostat to 100+ degrees. The physical practice between connecting movements on breath and challenging yourself by holding poses will create heat on its own. You can practice power yoga without added external heat.
Typically, the external heat is set to no more than 90 degrees. (At LKPY, it is usually around 80-85 degrees.) Anything higher will generally make it nearly impossible to move your body and exert the proper energy to reap the physical benefits of the practice.
The added heat is about something other than the ability to go deeper into a pose (which we do not recommend!) Instead, it pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone.
Rather than avoiding situations that are out of your norm or uncomfortable, you learn to stay with the discomfort – getting comfortable in the uncomfortable! A skill that transfers with you off your mat when life starts to ‘heat up,’ yoga teaches you how to stay grounded and strong. This is where growth and transformation meet!
Remember, it is for you to decide what a healthy uncomfortable is.
A power yoga class will take you on a journey from one uncomfortable situation (position) to another. A power yoga class will teach you that challenges are to be expected, and you can choose how to face those challenges. Power yoga will teach you that growth comes from when things are hard, not when they are easy.
Flow:
When all four of the above are in place, the flow appears. Flow means a complete absence of resistance. Your practice becomes process-focused rather than outcome-focused. Your practice comes into balance.
You leave behind old habits and remove obstacles that you created. You find an honest practice, what you need rather than what you want.
It creates a feeling of harmony between mind and body. When you take this off your mat, you surrender to the outcome, leave all force and resistance behind, and align with your truth and reality. Your life flows and comes into balance as well.
A power yoga class will teach you to stay on your path without attachment to the outcome.
A power yoga class will teach you that the process is the prize.
You will find your practice in your breath.
It’s not what you can or cannot do, it’s how you respond to it all.
If you can breathe, you can practice power yoga.
Lyn has been teaching power yoga since the late 90s. She has had the honor of learning from Bryan Kest and Baron Baptiste and the privilege of attending in-person classes with K. Pattabhi Jois. All Lyn Kehoe Power Yoga studio classes are in the power yoga style as originally designed.
*It is important to note that Baron Baptiste almost simultaneously began using the name to describe his classes. Beryl Bender Birch also wrote a book called Power Yoga in 1995. However, her book was about traditional Ashtanga yoga practice. She once said she named the book to get people’s attention. While Kest’s and Baptiste’s style indeed have derived from the foundational elements of Ashtanga, neither are synonymous with the practice as originated by K. Pattabhi Jois.
The Yamas
How you do anything is how you do everything.
The tendencies and habits you have in life will often show up on your mat during your yoga practice.
If you always tend to hurry in life, slowing down on your mat might be difficult. If you don’t like to sit still and prefer to be constantly busy, it will likely be hard for you to remain still on your mat. If you are a very goal-oriented person, the idea of being process-oriented on your yoga mat will probably be a struggle. If you procrastinate to avoid discomfort or difficult situations, you might avoid the poses that you find uncomfortable. If you are easily distracted, always doing five things at once, then when you practice yoga, you might find it challenging to pay attention to details. The list goes on.
Keep in mind. These are not negative judgments. Habits develop over time, we all have them, and our patterns make us who we are – the good and the not so good. What your yoga practice does, if you are open to it, is point out your habits and help you determine the ones that work for you and the ones that perhaps need to be adjusted – all in the interest of being your best self.
And while there are 8 Limbs of Yoga, many jump right to the 3rd Limb, Asana (the physical practice), and stay there. And that’s ok. However, yoga at its core is a path, a set of principles to help us all reach our highest development as a human. And, if you are interested in that, guess what? It’s possible to do both simultaneously – engage in the physical practice of yoga while benefiting from the mental practices. And if you’ve taken my class, you are already practicing these principles on your mat – whether you realize it or not!
The 1st Limb, Yamas, and 2nd Limbs, Niyamas, are guidelines that help us find external and internal harmony. By applying the principles of the first two limbs during your yoga mat practice, you begin observing your habits and tendencies. In doing this, you initiate the first step to taking these practices with you off your mat – the true meaning of living your yoga and living a life of personal fulfillment that benefits society.
Read on for the 5 Yamas – what they are, why they are important, why I teach them, and how to apply them on your mat:
Do No Harm But Take No Shit
Ahimsa/Non-Harming
Non-harming is, in obvious ways, self-explanatory.
It applies to how we treat others and ourselves with our thoughts, words, and actions.
However, it does not mean being neutral or not protecting ourselves. That in itself is harming. It means that when another hurts us, we learn to stand up for ourselves, but we let our response rise above the harmful action. When someone else is hurt, it also means not staying silent.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that it is not enough to not commit injustice, be we also must not tolerate it. This is the yoga of action.
I should also mention that non-harming trumps all the other principles. You cannot practice the others without applying this one first.
How To Practice Non-Harming On Your Mat:
There is a fine line between challenging yourself and being “violent” (using force or pushing too hard) when it comes to your mat practice. We call this “playing your edge.” The trick to knowing the difference? Your breath! If you find your breath becoming short and choppy, or you’re holding your breath, there’s a good chance that you’ve gone past healthily challenging yourself. This is what makes your yoga practice different than traditional exercise. When this happens, take child’s pose until you can get back to a steady, free-flowing breath. Take it a step further and observe your thoughts when you take a break – can you do it without negative judgment?
Take your focus away from how your pose looks and redirect it to how it feels and your response to how it feels. Try to find gratitude for what you can do and not what you can’t do.
Work From Where You Are, Not From Where You Want To Be
Satya/Truthfulness
Being honest does not mean that you get to use your words unfiltered and “tell it like it is.” (We all know that person, right?!) It does mean that before you speak, you ask yourself if your words are necessary, are they kind, and is it the right time? It also requires you to ask yourself the motivation for your words. When we have a difficult conversation, how we choose our words matters. Applying non-harming to our words helps avoid them from becoming weapons.
How to Practice Truthfulness On Your Mat:
Try to assess each pose honestly. Your pose will only be as strong as the foundation you build for it. Find your alignment from the ground up and notice if there are particular times where you find yourself compromising the foundation of your pose to get to a place you think is “better.”
By being honest and building your practice step by step, you will discover a practice grounded in strength and compassion.
Growth Comes From When Things Are Hard, Not When Things Are Easy
Asteya/Non-Stealing
This Yama is about being generous with your thoughts, words, and actions. It is not only based on “things” – I’ll take a giant leap of faith and assume anyone reading this does not have a shoplifting problem – but on experiences and opportunities. We can steal from ourselves when we avoid opportunities to learn and grow by avoiding hard work for fear of failing. “Failing” has a negative connotation. In reality, it is through hard work that we grow. We learn from failing if we allow ourselves to see the lesson.
We can also steal from others when we constantly interrupt or shift conversations to be about ourselves. We can steal time from others if we are always late.
We can steal the future from all when we take from the earth but don’t give back.
How To Practice Non-Stealing On Your Mat:
Practicing in a group requires mindfulness of our actions within this environment. Showing up late, leaving early, going noisily to the restroom during class, speaking out – all of these actions “steal” the intention of the experience from the other students. You are responsible for the energy you bring to a group class.
Also, notice times on your mat when you tend to hold back; whether it’s a fear of falling or perhaps a fear of looking silly, try to get out of your head and back to your breath. Bring your focus back to building your pose step-by-step. And allow your practice to unfold as it should. You are giving your practice the opportunity to grow. If you want to fly, you need to be willing to fall.
Not Working Too Hard And Not Working Too Easy
Brahmacharya/Non-Excess
Non-excess is the practice of learning not to waste our energy, whether it’s with thoughts, words, or actions. And we cultivate a sense of sacredness in everything we do. Moderation in all aspects of our life – including our thoughts! So while the obvious things would be work, food, sleep, etc. A big part of the practice is the energy put into specific thoughts. Think about all the time spent thinking about things you can’t change or have no control over. That’s wasted energy!
How To Practice Non-Excess On Your Mat:
If your breath is loud, harsh, and heavy, there’s a good chance you are not in that perfect place between working too hard and working too easy. Not to mention how disruptive it is for the rest of the class. The act of applying the steadiness of ujjayi breathing is what helps you to find balance in your practice. Also, use your larger muscles rather than relying on smaller muscles to do the work – like keeping your lower abdominal muscles engaged (uddiyana bandha) or activating your upper back muscles while in plank or chaturanga.
Next, pay attention to places in your body that you tense or grip – like your toes or jaw. I like to call this “energy that does not serve a purpose.” First, you have to notice the habit, and then you can take the next step of breaking the habit. Maybe if you can break the pattern on your mat, you can start breaking the habit of all those unproductive thoughts off your mat!
Let Go Or Be Dragged
Aparigraha/Non-Possessiveness
While this does apply to not accumulating more “stuff” than we need – no one likes a hoarder! It’s also about not coveting what isn’t ours – perhaps being jealous of another’s life and wanting it for ourselves. You know, the grass is always greener syndrome! It is the practice of looking inside ourselves and understanding who we are and what we are is already enough.
It’s also about letting go.
Non-attachment does not mean we do not care; it simply means we do not allow people, experiences, or things to own us. People and things will come in and out of our lives. Can we find gratitude and opportunity in change instead of clinging to how things once were?
The practice of aparigraha also asks us to examine ideas, opinions, or beliefs that have developed from our social placement and conditioning. We need to be open to shifting these ideas in an effort to bring justice and more good out into the world.
How To Practice Non-Possessiveness On Your Mat:
Try to be aware of “hoarding” space when you practice.
Not just how you place your mat but how you set things around your mat – is your towel/sweatshirt thrown aside taking up space, or is it stored and out of the way? How do you move on your mat – are you “swan diving” your arms into another’s space or adjusting your movements to be more considerate?
At the same time, “other” awareness does not mean allowing yourself the become distracted from your practice. Even when practicing in a group, imagine you are practicing alone. Avoid letting your eyes wander. Try to set your gaze on a specific point – we call this Drishti. This will make it less likely for you to covet another’s practice and compare yourself.
By setting your gaze and continuing to apply your breath, you will allow yourself an opportunity to “let go” and find gratitude that whatever the moment presents is enough.
And remember, your real practice begins when you step off your mat.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
PART ONE
Every yogi in Yogaville liked yoga a lot….
But the Grinch, who lived just north of Yogaville, did not!
The Grinch hated yoga! The whole yoga culture!
Now, please don’t ask why. It would only be torture.
It could be his mind was closed a little too tight.
It could be, perhaps, that his breath was too slight.
But I think that the most likely reason could be,
He kept his heart protected, not allowing it to be free.
Whatever the reason, his heart or his mind.
He stood there that evening, not feeling very kind.
Staring into the studio, with the look of displease,
At the warm yoga bodies moving with such ease.
For he knew every yogi was perfecting their pose,
While looking their best in their fancy yoga clothes.
“And they’re standing on their hands,” he said with despair,
“Without a single strand moving, not one! In their hair!”
Their photos, their quotes, their Instagram postings!
The kale and kombucha, the juice cleanse hostings!
And soon, oh so soon, they would be yoga singing!
The sound of their OMs! Well, it would have his ears ringing!
Then he got an idea! A crazy idea!
This “unyogic” Grinch got a crazy idea!
The Grinch held his breath, not knowing what was in store.
He walked up to the studio, and opened the door…
The Grinch came from the outside and found his way in.
Which is often how many of us also begin.
He stepped onto a mat, without expectation.
The evolution was slow, but he found meditation.
And there on the mat, released of all drama.
The Grinch discovered more than only one of the yamas.
It just takes some presence, a trust in the self.
In mindful action, the Grinch found some wealth.
And the Grinch, with his grinch hands touching his toes,
looked around in amazement, thinking, “How could it be so?”
“It came without judgment! It came without goals!”
“It came without challenges, selfies or ‘no’s’!”
And he sat down a few moments, till his breath became longer.
His mind became quiet, his inner voice grew stronger.
“Maybe yoga,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a pose.”
“Maybe yoga… perhaps…is an exercise for the soul.”
And what happened then? Well…in Yogaville they say,
That the Grinch’s trapped heart broke open that day!
And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite such a mess,
His mind opened up too and he found yoga bliss.
And he stepped on his mat. Both feet firmly at home!
And he, he himself! The Grinch sang the last OM!
PART TWO
When last we left off in the Yogaville district,
The Grinch had found yoga; his heart optimistic.
Dedicated yogi he was, trekking to town every day.
Heading straight to the studio, never going astray.
One day in particular as he walked in with his mat,
A new flyer was posted, he stopped in his tracks.
With eyes growing wider, he lost his Grinch cool.
In bold letters, he read: Yoga Teacher School!
Then the teacher strolled in, the breathing started.
The practice began, his effort half-hearted.
His mind so distracted, excitement barely contained.
He remained calm on the outside. The inside he strained.
And the more the Grinch thought of this whole teaching thing,
The more the Grinch knew he must do this TRAINING!
And the longer he pondered, with wheels endlessly turning,
His head grew bigger, his ego mindlessly yearning.
“Why, for two years now I’ve come to this space!
I know I can do it, I can take over this place!
I will be the best teacher this town’s ever known.
From miles they will come, they will build me a throne!”
So with focus and agenda, his journey began.
He studied and practiced, fine-tuned his grinchy plan.
Bought all the books, memorized all the right words.
Practiced the sequence, his goal never deferred.
And the day finally came, his certificate arrived.
He gave his dog a sly smile, and then a high five.
Of course, first on his list, doing what all legit teachers do,
He opened a Twitter account and a Facebook page too.
He took a few selfies; upside down in the snow.
Posted on Instagram with requisite yogic style prose.
He filmed YouTube videos, with his dog Max as his pupil.
It took only one day, and his followers quadrupled!
This was still not enough for his yogi star scheme,
The final touch was added, a completion of his dream.
A new studio he began building on top of Mount Crumpit.
He called it Grinch Yoga. Well, that pretty much summed it.
As he stood on his mountain, looking down at the town.
His shifty eyes landed on his final takedown.
Watching the yogis, the tall and the small,
Bustling to class, this would not do at all!
So just for good measure in the middle of the night,
The Grinch snuck into his old studio and stole everything in sight!
He took all of the mats! The candles for lighting!
The sign on the outside! His emotions delighting!
All the pictures on the wall! All the cubbies in the hall!
All the lights that were hanging! He left nothing installed!
He stole all of the schedules and workshop brochures.
Then he snatched his teacher’s notes, just to be sure!
And then, just in case, all that wasn’t sufficient,
He tweeted cruel words. A clearly grinchish decision.
And before you could say #yogaeverydamnday,
His new home was completed; Grinch Yoga here to stay.
He bounded through the door, new clothes on display.
Prepared to teach his first class, without any delay.
His teacher’s words mastered, his yoga jam cued.
Exuberant and giddy to the utmost magnitude.
With great confidence and ease, he patiently waited.
His ego, of course, ten sizes inflated!
He waited, and waited and waited all day.
But not ONE yoga student came, not ONE,
Through the doorway!
And there the Grinch remained, puzzling for hours.
No sense to be made. Why he had even planted fake flowers!
As he sat on his mat in deep contemplation,
He heard a soft noise, a humming vibration.
He looked out of his window; eyes followed the sound.
He shook in surprise as he gazed down at the crowd.
And he shook, and he shuddered at this most disturbing of views!
In the yoga studio he had emptied, the yoga class grew!
They twisted and turned and chanted away.
Nothing the Grinch did had ruined their day!
“No, it can’t be! I’ve done everything right!
Photos and followers! Hashtags and websites!
New floors and fresh paint, in the perfect location.
Thousands I spent on this yoga education!”
And then what the Grinch did, without even thinking,
He packed up old Max, crept to town, his pride shrinking.
He walked into the studio, well, some would say slunk.
But all would agree his high hopes had been sunk.
He looked at his teacher, Yogi Lyn Lou,
With questioning eyes, heavy heart, feeling blue.
And she tilted her head, raised an eyebrow.
Told him to sit and to get rid of his frown.
And with a slight wink, she proceeded to speak:
You can’t steal yoga, within is what you seek.
It’s not a fancy pose. It’s not rhyming prose.
It’s not a personal platform, for a Cirque du Soleil show.
Not matters the location or the color of the walls.
The flowers planted. The track lights installed.
Doesn’t matter the words strategically placed.
What matters are actions executed with grace.
Followers will follow, and likers will like.
But none of this matters if you behave with dislike.
For students to emerge you must teach from your heart.
It’s inside of you too; it just needs a jumpstart.
The only way out is to go through, the only way through is to go in.
You must do the hard work, stop believing your own spin.
Some days will be easy; others will not.
(On those days two words: tequila shot!)
It’s an on ongoing process this self-study thing,
But in the end, will be discovered the best kind of bling.
The glow from the inside will be quite distinct,
When your intentions and actions are completely in sync.
And the knowledge you search for, you already possess.
At this moment it is there, it just needs to be accessed.
Your purpose discovered. Clearly defined.
It is here my Grinch friend, you will find peace of mind.
And this wisdom you have cannot be shanghaied.
No matter what happens. Though, some will surely try.
Oh, they will try! Oh yes! They will TRY, TRY, TRY, TRY!
But when they go low it will teach you instead how to FLY!
Keep the focus on you and others won’t matter.
Silence you will find, trumps the meaningless chatter.
And it won’t be about selfies or how many likes.
Your followers on Facebook or a playlist contrived.
It won’t be something learned in two hundred hours.
Your silent voice inside contains all your power.
And it won’t be what’s trendy or Instagram fame.
Or the RYT letters you attach to your name.
Find the teacher inside, and the students will appear.
Not always an easy task. Trust yourself and don’t compare.
So, back to his mat went the Grinch and his Self.
Old Max snoozing soundly in his bed on the shelf.
His playlist deleted, his pride feeling cheated.
But the worst part of it all, his spirit depleted.
He got out of his head and started to work in.
It didn’t take long for the transformation to begin.
He found his way back to where he began.
And slowly let go of his grinchy yoga plan.
His ego grew weaker, his monkey mind meager.
His compassion expanded, mindfulness was eager.
His goals disappeared, replaced with intention.
And in this still space, he found his connection.
And what happened then? A revelation some say.
The door opened up, students walked in and stayed.
They laid down their mats, spaced barely an inch.
They all stood together, surrounding the Grinch.
And the Grinch looked around, not believing his eyes.
They finally opened up as he slowly realized…
“This teaching it seems doesn’t come from a book,
Not words that are mimicked or how a studio looks.
It’s not perfect alignment or music that rocks.
Not mastering poses or using five different props.
It’s not how you speak, or the way that you walk.
It’s in owning your truth and walking the talk.”
Then, the Grinch found his voice, and also his heart.
(A bit shaky at first, but an impressive good start.)
He guided the practice; they breathed and they flowed.
Compassion and honesty always in tow.
In unison, they moved. Together sang the last OM….
And there in his Self, the Grinch finally found home.
__________________________________________
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Lyn
300-Hour Advanced Training with Lyn – Self-Study, Self-Paced Remote Learning
Love Dr. Seuss? Love yoga? Buy Lyn’s book, Om, the Poses You’ll Do!
Available on Amazon.com
Yoga Teachers and Studio Owners: Let’s be sure to practice asteya, when sharing please give credit to the author.
Featured on Elephant Journal:
Read Part One and Part Two
For My Dad
“Teach the truth, whether it fills the room or clears it out.”
As a yoga teacher, I have a choice: to give my students what they want or to give them what they need.
Trends or truth?
As a yoga studio owner, I have to find a balance. The teacher in me will give them what they need. The owner in me will give them just enough of what they want to keep them coming back. Well, maybe it won’t keep everyone coming back.
You see, for me, teaching yoga isn’t about instructing poses from the perspective of physical fitness. It’s about using the poses as a tool toward personal growth. There is a difference between leading a student through movements and exercises with impeccable cuing – a technical skill – and guiding them to use these movements and exercises as a path toward self-study and transformation.
In a nutshell, I use the pose as a tool not to get better on the mat, but to become better off the mat.
And just in case no one ever told you, self-study and transformation are not always fun. Which means, inevitably, it will piss off some people.
Of course, the yoga industry as a whole has changed a lot over the years since I first started my own yoga practice.
With the influx of social media sites, the emphasis is more and more about elevating the physical component and less and less about ethics and philosophy. (See #yogisofinstagram on Instagram.) Classes are often just fitness with “yoga” thrown into the title.
And no, I’m #sorrynotsorry, but posting on social media a thoughtful quote about how yoga is not about the pose while demonstrating a ridiculous pose where you practically have your head up your ass does not count. (See #hypocrisy.)
The philosophy has become downgraded. The pose has become upgraded. It’s what I like to call the dumbing down of yoga.
I guess I should backtrack just a bit. To understand where I am coming from, you need to know, well, where I came from. At least when it comes to my yoga background.
After working in the fitness industry for years, which included teaching aerobics, step, and spin classes and running an average of six miles per day, I started to get burned out. Shocking, I know. I lost my desire to run and my passion for teaching fitness classes. All of those things seemed so very…unsubstantial. And that’s when I stumbled upon yoga. My life changed. Or, I guess you could say, I woke up.
There weren’t any yoga studios nearby at the time. At least none teaching ashtanga yoga, which is what I was practicing. Because of this, I had to do a lot of reading and studying on my own, which I now look back on with gratitude. It opened me up to a yoga practice that went beyond the asana (pose). My attitude about everything changed. The way I looked at life, but also how I looked at myself. You know, it helped me be less of an asshole.
For me, teaching was a natural evolution. I figured if yoga helped to make me less of an asshole, it would help others be less of an asshole, too. Fewer assholes in the world make it a better place. #winning.
I didn’t put much thought into it. I just started teaching. I wanted to teach the physical part of yoga while incorporating the life-changing elements of it, too.
So, that’s what I did.
I mean, what’s better than that? You can work on a healthy body at the same time as you gain a healthier mind.
It’s interesting to look back at how it all evolved. I didn’t have a grand master plan. I just taught. Opportunities arose. Doors opened. I never had visions of yogi rock stardom (the fact that this is even a “thing” is what’s partly wrong with the industry right now). And even though I never had a desire to own my own yoga studio, here I am, owning my own yoga studio. (That’s a whole other story. You can read it in my upcoming book called Fuck This Shit: A Guide to Surviving the Yoga Business.)
I made a conscious decision to mold the business plan of my yoga studio on the same foundation and principles from which I teach. Rather than envision my studio as a service-based business, I built it on the concepts of growth and learning…a space where I encourage students to stop looking out for themselves and begin looking into themselves. Which is hard work.
Hard work can be a hard sell. Let’s face it, it’s probably not the most revenue friendly business plan.
Which brings me to this whole positivity movement thing that has seeped into some yoga classes and has contributed to the dumbing-down process.
Listen, I’m all in support of trying to keep a positive attitude. But this idea that to live a fulfilling life, we need to be happy all the time, that we should suppress any negative emotions we might have, and nothing but good things will be in store if we do because our positivity will surely keep all the bad things away is, well, f’ing stupid.
As humans, we have a wide range of emotions. We should be allowed to freely embrace them all and be encouraged to work through them. We shouldn’t be made to feel bad because we feel, well, bad. When we don’t work through them, that’s when the problems start. I mean, when I’ve been sad it was because I cared, when I’ve been angry it was often because I had self-respect and values, when I’ve been heartbroken it was because I had the ability to love. I think we can all agree that those are good things. Things that are never easy. But we eventually do move forward, if we allow ourselves to fully feel them.
To me, it is more about redirecting negative emotions into positive energy. We can’t control how others behave or events that happen around us. We do have the power to control how we respond. So perhaps anger does not become hate, sadness does not become depression, with the understanding that we might not be able to just snap our fingers and “let it go.” Moving through the process of feeling these emotions is important, or they will never be resolved and keep coming back. We might have to do some hard work. Some soul searching. Some self-study.
The only way out is through, right?
So, while offering a 60-minute yoga class (and do not get me started on this new trend of shorter yoga classes!) that includes a rocking playlist for you to tune out to with a guaranteed sweat and good time might be better for my business, well, then I would have to ask myself what business am I actually in. A gym or a yoga studio? Performing exercises or transforming the mind? Am I cheerleader or an educator?
I think there is always a time and a place to put life aside and tune out completely. As a matter of fact, I think it’s necessary that we all make time for that. It’s healthy to take a pause in life, and it serves a purpose. But at some point, you have to hit that play button again. Because reality always has a way of catching up to you.
That’s where a yoga practice comes in. And that’s why I teach. Because yoga is not about tuning out. Yoga, by definition, is about tuning in.
When I look back at all the teachers in my life, the ones that stand out are the ones that made me do the work. They were tough but kind. They didn’t coddle me, but I knew I was in a safe and supportive environment. They often said things I didn’t want to hear…hard truths about myself I was trying to avoid.
My father was a teacher. So maybe that’s why I have such a strong opinion about what teaching means and entails, whether it is physics or yoga. He passed away when I was just 21, long before I had discovered that there was a teacher inside of me, too. I came across a tribute to him in the newspaper at the high school where he taught. One of his students said:
“There are two sides to Mr. Gerfin. There was Mr. Gerfin the teacher, and Mr. Gerfin, the friend. Sometimes one side would show more than the other, but for the most part, the two sides would balance one another. Mr. Gerfin the teacher would push you to do your best, make you understand the material and often test your patience. Mr. Gerfin the friend would reassure you with his wit and mild manner. In a chat outside the class, he would put you at ease by throwing aside the teacher and joke around with you. You always got the impression that he was on your side.”
I know for a fact that I often test my students’ patience and probably on occasion piss them off. I don’t sugarcoat, and I don’t believe in a lot of fluff. Shit, life is hard, and the universe very rarely sugarcoats. But I am also always on their side. Sometimes being supportive means being tough. It also means knowing that sometimes humor is needed to help make it through and lighten the load.
Tuning in is hard work, and I realize there will be those who walk into my class looking for a feel good 60-minute getaway and then walk right back out and never come back. And, that’s ok.
As a yoga teacher, it is my responsibility to create a safe and welcoming environment for my yoga students. But it is also my role to mentally push and challenge them to be their best self. Sometimes it will make them laugh. And sometimes it will make them uncomfortable.
When I step onto my mat to practice, it’s like going home. Going home to a house that’s usually a bit messy. If I don’t clean it up, the mess keeps getting worse. The clutter keeps piling up. And before I know it, I don’t recognize my home. I’m not always in the mood, but I know if I don’t clean it up, no one else will do it for me. The longer I wait to clean it up, the more likely I am to get lost in the mess.
And I know when my students step onto their mats, I do the best I can to help them clean up their own houses. I won’t be able to find what they are looking for or recommend what to throw out. Or even tell them which mess to clean up first, that’s for them to do. But I’ll be satisfied that if nothing else they find me a worthy guide. I might not always do it perfectly, but hopefully I can help them learn to deal with all of life’s ups and downs with a bit more grace and grit. And not lose themselves in the process.
Like that song says, you might not always get what you want. But if you are open to this practice we call yoga, you just might get what you need. And that, my friends, is substantial.
And from me, well, you will always get truth over trends. Purpose over popularity. Transforming over performing.
You in?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
For information about my teacher training program go HERE.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss, a true yogi.
Featured on elephant journal.
When last we left off in the Yogaville district,
The Grinch had found yoga; his heart optimistic.
Dedicated yogi he was, trekking to town every day.
Heading straight to the studio, never going astray.
One day in particular as he walked in with his mat,
A new flyer was posted, he stopped in his tracks.
With eyes growing wider, he lost his Grinch cool.
In bold letters, he read: Yoga Teacher School!
Then the teacher strolled in, the breathing started.
The practice began, his effort half-hearted.
His mind so distracted, excitement barely contained.
He remained calm on the outside. The inside he strained.
And the more the Grinch thought of this whole teaching thing,
The more the Grinch knew he must do this TRAINING!
And the longer he pondered, with wheels endlessly turning,
His head grew bigger, his ego mindlessly yearning.
“Why, for two years now I’ve come to this space!
I know I can do it, I can take over this place!
I will be the best teacher this town’s ever known.
From miles they will come, they will build me a throne!”
So with focus and agenda, his journey began.
He studied and practiced, fine-tuned his grinchy plan.
Bought all the books, memorized all the right words.
Practiced the sequence, his goal never deferred.
And the day finally came, his certificate arrived.
He gave his dog a sly smile, and then a high five.
Of course, first on his list, doing what all legit teachers do,
He opened a Twitter account and a Facebook page too.
He took a few selfies; upside down in the snow.
Posted on Instagram with requisite yogic style prose.
He filmed YouTube videos, with his dog Max as his pupil.
It took only one day, and his followers quadrupled!
This was still not enough for his yogi star scheme,
The final touch was added, a completion of his dream.
A new studio he began building on top of Mount Crumpit.
He called it Grinch Yoga. Well, that pretty much summed it.
As he stood on his mountain, looking down at the town.
His shifty eyes landed on his final takedown.
Watching the yogis, the tall and the small,
Bustling to class, this would not do at all!
So just for good measure in the middle of the night,
The Grinch snuck into his old studio and stole everything in sight!
He took all of the mats! The candles for lighting!
The sign on the outside! His emotions delighting!
All the pictures on the wall! All the cubbies in the hall!
All the lights that were hanging! He left nothing installed!
He stole all of the schedules and workshop brochures.
Then he snatched his teacher’s notes, just to be sure!
And then, just in case, all that wasn’t sufficient,
He tweeted cruel words. A clearly grinchish decision.
And before you could say #yogaeverydamnday,
His new home was completed; Grinch Yoga here to stay.
He bounded through the door, new clothes on display.
Prepared to teach his first class, without any delay.
His teacher’s words mastered, his yoga jam cued.
Exuberant and giddy to the utmost magnitude.
With great confidence and ease, he patiently waited.
His ego, of course, ten sizes inflated!
He waited, and waited and waited all day.
But not ONE yoga student came, not ONE,
Through the doorway!
And there the Grinch remained, puzzling for hours.
No sense to be made. Why he had even planted fake flowers!
As he sat on his mat in deep contemplation,
He heard a soft noise, a humming vibration.
He looked out of his window; eyes followed the sound.
He shook in surprise as he gazed down at the crowd.
And he shook, and he shuddered at this most disturbing of views!
In the yoga studio he had emptied, the yoga class grew!
They twisted and turned and chanted away.
Nothing the Grinch did had ruined their day!
“No, it can’t be! I’ve done everything right!
Photos and followers! Hashtags and websites!
New floors and fresh paint, in perfect location.
Thousands I spent on this yoga education!”
And then what the Grinch did, without even thinking,
He packed up old Max, crept to town, his pride shrinking.
He walked into the studio, well, some would say slunk.
But all would agree his high hopes had been sunk.
He looked at his teacher, Yogi Lyn Lou,
With questioning eyes, heavy heart, feeling blue.
And she tilted her head, raised an eyebrow.
Told him to sit and to get rid of his frown.
And with a slight wink, she proceeded to speak:
You can’t steal yoga, within is what you seek.
It’s not a fancy pose. It’s not rhyming prose.
It’s not a personal platform, for a Cirque du Soleil show.
Not matters the location or the color of the walls.
The flowers planted. The track lights installed.
Doesn’t matter the words strategically placed.
What matters are actions executed with grace.
Followers will follow, and likers will like.
But none of this matters if you behave with dislike.
For students to emerge you must teach from your heart.
It’s inside of you too; it just needs a jumpstart.
The only way out is to go through, the only way through is to go in.
You must do the hard work, stop believing your own spin.
Some days will be easy; others will not.
(On those days two words: tequila shot!)
It’s an on ongoing process this self-study thing,
But in the end, will be discovered the best kind of bling.
The glow from the inside will be quite distinct,
When your intentions and actions are completely in sync.
And the knowledge you search for, you already possess.
At this moment it is there, it just needs to be accessed.
Your purpose discovered. Clearly defined.
It is here my Grinch friend, you will find peace of mind.
And this wisdom you have cannot be shanghaied.
No matter what happens. Though, some will surely try.
Oh, they will try! Oh yes! They will TRY, TRY, TRY, TRY!
But when they go low it will teach you instead how to FLY!
Keep the focus on you and others won’t matter.
Silence you will find, trumps the meaningless chatter.
And it won’t be about selfies or how many likes.
Your followers on Facebook or a playlist contrived.
It won’t be something learned in two hundred hours.
Your silent voice inside contains all your power.
And it won’t be what’s trendy or Instagram fame.
Or the RYT letters you attach to your name.
Find the teacher inside, and the students will appear.
Not always an easy task. Trust yourself and don’t compare.
So, back to his mat went the Grinch and his Self.
Old Max snoozing soundly in his bed on the shelf.
His playlist deleted, his pride feeling cheated.
But the worst part of it all, his spirit depleted.
He got out of his head and started to work in.
It didn’t take long for the transformation to begin.
He found his way back to where he began.
And slowly let go of his grinchy yoga plan.
His ego grew weaker, his monkey mind meager.
His compassion expanded, mindfulness was eager.
His goals disappeared, replaced with intention.
And in this still space, he found his connection.
And what happened then? A revelation some say.
The door opened up, students walked in and stayed.
They laid down their mats, spaced barely an inch.
They all stood together, surrounding the Grinch.
And the Grinch looked around, not believing his eyes.
They finally opened up as he slowly realized…
“This teaching it seems doesn’t come from a book,
Not words that are mimicked or how a studio looks.
It’s not perfect alignment or music that rocks.
Not mastering poses or using five different props.
It’s not how you speak, or the way that you walk.
It’s in owning your truth and walking the talk.”
Then, the Grinch found his voice, and also his heart.
(A bit shaky at first, but an impressive good start.)
He guided the practice; they breathed and they flowed.
Compassion and honesty always in tow.
In unison, they moved. Together sang the last OM….
And there in his Self, the Grinch finally found home.
_______________________________________
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Lyn
300-Hour Advanced Training with Lyn – Self-Study, Self-Paced Remote Learning
Love Dr. Seuss? Love Yoga? Buy Lyn’s book, Om, the Poses You’ll Do!
Available on Amazon.com
Yoga Teachers and Studio Owners: Let’s be sure to practice asteya, when sharing please give credit to the author.
Photo Credit: Sarah_Ackerman/Flickr
My first article published in PRINT!
On the stands now in Mantra Yoga + Health magazine…
pick up your very own copy HERE!
Read elephantjournal.com version here!
Many are doing it. Oodles are practicing it. Plenty are teaching it.
Yoga is far trendier today than when I started practicing almost 20 years ago. Though, I would argue that the part of yoga I found to be so life-changing is not necessarily the same part of yoga that is attracting the masses today. I sometimes think that in this ginormous industry yoga has evolved into over the years, that particular component has some how lost its way. But that’s just me.
Just to clarify, this is not another article about what real yoga is, isn’t or should be.
I honestly believe that only we can determine for ourselves what we want to gain from it. And in turn, that will ultimately determine what we get out of it. And if a person chooses to approach yoga as just exercise, then that’s their decision.
But isn’t it possible to still do both? What if we not only used yoga as a path towards fitness but also used it as a doorway towards mindfulness…
What if when we stepped on our yoga mat we understood that touching our toes is about more than whether we can touch our toes.
What if we questioned more often why we do a pose, and worried less often why we can’t.
What if how we get into a pose is more important than how far we can go once we are there.
What if we paid more attention to how our movements affect others than how are movements look to others.
What if we killed ourselves with kindness rather than insensibly beat up our bodies.
What if we spent just as much time on healing the pain when our heart has been stabbed as we do straining our muscles so we can feel the burn.
What if we didn’t just practice yoga on the mat, but off the mat too.
What if we ceased defining our yoga practice by how we appear, and instead by how we behave.
What if we discontinued all the empty talk, and started to lead by example with a meaningful walk.
What if we put more importance on aligning our heart with our actions than we do with stacking our knees over our heels.
What if instead of repeating words because they sound good, we speak words because they are true.
What if we put an end to believing in our own bullshit so that we can start to clearly see the facts.
What if we accepted that we will all fuck up and sometimes act like an asshole. But we don’t have to be a fucked up asshole.
We can be this: strong and confident.
Without being this: arrogant and callous.
What if we understood that it’s no one else’s responsibility to make us happy, and instead worked on cultivating our own contentment.
What if our beliefs and truths were in sync with our actions and words.
What if we agreed that not all relationships were meant to last forever and it is possible to move on gracefully, rather than spitefully.
What if we appreciated that what is best for someone else might not be best for us, and there is no one to blame.
What if telling others what they feel and need was less important than listening closely to what we say and why.
We used these words less: authentic and unyogic.
We lived these words more: real and raw.
What if we discerned and didn’t judge.
What if we made a pact that when my purpose and your purpose are not in tune we can dance to our own rhythm and still share the floor.
What if a prerequisite for balancing on two hands was being able to stand grounded in our own true self.
What if we didn’t just do yoga, but actually tried to practice too.
What if we preferred a yoga mind over a beach body.
What if we practiced a soul search rather than just a seated twist.
What if we meditated on life rather than fixated on things.
What if our intention was in how we go rather than in what we get.
What if we transformed the world rather than performed a pose.
It’s how we think.
The words we choose.
It’s how we act.
Trusting our internal cues.
It’s a discipline not an art.
It’s an attitude from the heart.
It’s just mindfulness.
It’s just yoga.