Hey now....

Tim: If I got you a new pair of gym shorts would you wear them?

Clare: What's wrong with these?!

Tim: They are roughly the size of Texas and you are no longer the size of Texas!

Clare: Are you insinuating that I WAS the size of Texas?!

Tim: Maybe Oklahoma?

Teaching the Teachers!

It's been a week since graduation, and I finally pulled out my take home tests last night to get started. I had glanced at the first page of questions when we originally received them, and had no stress about them. Well, maybe I should have looked a little harder, cause oops. They're going to take a little bit of time. And I leave on Wednesday for Boston for a few days. I gotta see my lovely girls! Its weird to think that its almost been a full year since Meg's wedding. Time has flown.

It seems almost as recent as last weekend's graduation! Although the past week seemed to CRAWL by. Every day felt like Thursday. But I got more done actually before Thursday than I did the entire two weeks I was gone. I did nothing but eat breathe and sleep yoga studies for 15 days. It didn't even feel like it at the time, but looking at my planner of my to do lists now, holy cow has it stacked up. I don't really mind though, James' teaching style and attitude was worth it to have to catch up on fifteen days right before another week away from home.

I can't say I agreed and liked James' style at first. He liked to "make our brains smoke" by throwing so much at us all at one time, just a little bit over what we felt like we could handle, and then changing the topic to something compeletely new. But after awhile, that really seemed like the best way to do it, because somehow subconsciously we kept processing everything and with practice upon practice in chunks and pieces of the sequencing, we all ended up getting it. And considering some of the people in my class, that was a totally amazing feat. Not that they weren't smart or good learners, it was just ALOT of information to process. And then to do it in front of a room of 20 people that knew EXACTLY how it was SUPPOSED to go, thats a lot of pressure.

Although, I must admit I am shocked at how good our group was. There wasn't really any negativity or eye rolling or people thinking they were better than anyone else. The energy was always positive and encouraging and uplifting, even in times of screw ups and mistakes. And James and Ann were a big part of that too. Even as the instructors, who's job it is to make sure that we know every little piece of information, they made it clear that it was ok to not know everything perfectly right away. Or even right away in that two weeks. Its not something that comes immediately, it takes time and experience, and they were so forgiving in all our little flubs, and when James would critique us he would even ask if we wanted them, because he didn't want us to think that he was insulting us and berating us with mistakes, but we all craved them. We wanted to know what he thought was wrong with our teaches and our ideas and he was open to not just saying what the problems were, but why it was that way, and what we could do to fix them in numerous ways in case one option didn't really fit our personality or style. It was all about us individually and making us be the best we could be in the way and style that we wanted to do it. And it was more motivating and productive than any strict teacher could have ever made us. We wanted to make him happy and wanted to hear what we could do better. He clearly was born to be a teacher of teachers. Striving for the best, but with an open mind that the best might be slightly different than the way he prefers it. You know you aren't going to change the way a 60 year old hippie goes into a headstand, so even though she is wrong, she can succeed in the headstand, so why bother?

His stories were absolutely crazy too. His growing up story alone was enough for me to be fascinated in him, but then to hear about all the different jobs he has continued to do, and the random hobbies and interests and even all the things that he learned from the one that taught HIM all of his yoga knowledge. Absolutely mind blowing. He has infinite knowledge in thee most RANDOM of topics and histories. Im sure he couldn't name a single city of Real Housewives, but he can go into great detail about the 100th Monkey Theory, or the SunEaters, or the buddhist retreat that involves people literally going into meditation for a full year, not eating or drinking ANYTHING, and surviving the experience. Just a wealth of information spurred on by just a seemingly random comment. I loved it. I love that kind of intellect. The amount of notes I took on things i wanted to google and research once I got home is kind of crazy. And most of them completely unyoga related ;-)

And I can't even get into how Ann has been practicing for only five years and is the most impressive yoga practitioner I have ever seen. The progress she has made from not touching her toes to going into handstand scorpion in that short amount of time just is a complete mind boggle. My brain might melt.

I suppose those tests won't fill themselves out just because I'm singing James' praise….

Official!

Graduation Day!!!!

Day Fifteen: James Freestyle Level up Practice, Yoga Business, Personal Story/Goals, Personal Notes, Group Picture, Graduation Ceremony and Cake!

• Wendy was super cute this morning and passed out mini flashlights so that we would all remember to let our lights shine. 
• James introduced the concept of warming up on our own, going through sun salutations or anything we needed so we wouldn't have to waste class time doing them.
• Because we warmed up ahead of time, we were able to go super freestyle and James put forward quite a few challenging, deep and fun poses. 
• Poses like Spider, Turtle and half Crane! aka, poses that make you yelp, oh! my hamstrings and inner thighs!
• But yet, getting into transverse lunge, I went  as deep as I could go, and looked around, thinking, going this deep looks like Im in a whole new position versus what it normally looks like!
• Yoga studios are failing because their business models don't work. Very few and far between studio owners are actually making money right now. 
• Sharing our thoughts on our own personal futures, its nice to hear Ann not just say that I am a good yoga teacher, but demand that I ask for a full time job, not just sign up for the sub list as a beginning.
• The more famous you become in yoga, the more you think you're a rockstar, and quite a few yogis seem to think that way. Including S. Nardini apparently. And parties like one.
• I love the idea of writing your name on a piece of paper, then passing it around the room so people can write you a little note on it. A perfect way to end 2 SOLID weeks together. Then the person right before you folds it into "origami" before giving it to you. Some creative ideas…thats for sure ;-)
• It doesn't matter how organized or adult you are about it, taking a group picture and getting everyone in place is near impossible. 
• Nothing reflected the experience more than sitting outside, and walking in the ceremony, across three yoga mats in any way we wanted (lots of bowing and curtsies) to get our certificates. 
• James had three options. Handshake, high five, or hug. No fist bumping, chest bumping, or picking up. So cute.

• I reached my time to get my diploma, "You better teach." Im telling you, these people know how to create confidence. 
• There was even graduation cake for us! Sweet treats for sweet people.

• Waiting to take pictures and say goodbye to James and Ann was like waiting in line for santa. And John was a great elf ;-)
• Leaving that room was strange, knowing I wouldn't be back. So much time spent there. 

Muppets Make My Day Better.

Day Fourteen: Student Led Practice, Feedback, Adamantine Talk,Wellness Coach Sequencing, Intake, and Practice, Wellness Coach Demo

• I had a Whole Foods bag behind me in class. So every downward dog...guess what I was thinking about. And there are a lot of downward dogs!
• Someone decided to alter mat series today, adding in a rolling bow (twice), regular bow (twice), and knee pile. Not my favorite sequence. Ouch. 
• Eyes kept closing, head kept nodding, I could NOT stay awake. Cranked the AC, no problems from there out!
• Are there people that are born without nipples?
• Yoga Wellness Coaches start their price range in comparison to an hour of personal massage. And then grow from there. I could handle that.
• I need to research the Warrior Diet some more.
• The Yoga Wellness Coaching really has led me to believe that this might be a path I want to take a closer look at. The real question is, do I have enough credibility, and would that be boosted if I got my personal training certificate?

Double Whammy! Days 12 &13.

Day Twelve: Student Led Practice, Feedback, Posture Analysis, Coaching Skills, Cross Training w/ TRX, Kettlebell

• Its a good feeling when this many people are asking me if I've finally decided that I am officially going to teach, and then pushing me as hard as possible towards it. 
• I think every person today has commented on my leg warmers at least once.
• James likes to refer to Lordosis as Baby Got Back Syndrome.
• As well as hearing, "It's show off your scoliosis day!"
• It is 100% confirmed. The only thing holding me back from drop back backbends now, is fear. Its Buck it Up time!
• When it's time for the dinner break, and someone makes us sit there listening to her debate on why its not ok for her to ask about her client's bowel movements, it makes me very very grouchy.
• My head is still spinning with the notion of personal training certificates. Spinning in a good way. I hope. Scary.
• A master yogi expecting more cardio and strength training other than their yoga practice makes me happy.
• James sees everything, he noticed that I wore a HRM and called me out on it (positively). 
• "Ever seen a ripped whale?" -James Miller
• When you have done them for workouts more than just a few times, listening to presentations on the TRX and Kettlebells is more than boring. Especially at 8pm, hour 12 of the education day.
• Still spinning with thoughts, and ideas, and reservations, and hesitation. 

Day Thirteen: Student Led Practice, Feedback, Health Concerns, Pre Natal Yoga, Nutrition

• Today was my last day of group teaching practice. I did the finishing sequence which involved the Tingsha. I like to think I nailed it. Maybe I was supposed to be a performing monkey…
• I am used to learning about the fun and interesting diseases. Learning about the normal ones is just downright boring and tedious.
• Keeping my mouth shut during a conversation about how specialized medicine hurts us because doctors won't see outside of their box and therefore it is super common to have a misdiagnosis, took EVERY OUNCE of strength I had. But I refuse to be that person.
• Today's random completely inappropriate topic right before the meal break….how she's bipolar and suicide attempts.
• Over lunch, I laid my seat back in my car. I had 8 minutes to rest my eyes before going back to class. Next thing I know, its 20 minutes later. RUNNING into the hotel at break neck speed. 
• It's amazing how much attention I have depends completely upon the topic being discussed. I can drink in one thing for three hours, and then be clawing at my eyes by hour one for others. Namely, prenatal yoga. Ugh.
• Yoga training can be guaranteed one thing. At least one massage therapist. Aka. Table massages today! 
• And that was a neck massage sent from the heavens and unicorn village.
• A hyperactive super nazi nutritionist that tells you not to eat breakfast, not to use vitamins, and is a raw vegan, talking for 2.5 hours. Not a great night session.
• Although I did learn that microwaves are illegal in Russia.
• I am on a mission to find out my blood type. In the East, they hire people specifically for their blood type. Like, only A blood types can apply for this job….crazy isn't it? 
• Also, that people's diets can be designated for their blood type. O blood types should NOT be vegetarians. 

RYT Day Eleven. Final Countdown.

Day Eleven: Student Led Practice, Feedback, Yoga Wellness Coaching, Mobility Testing & Choreography

• "Silence is a gift"
• James gave me Voice of the Day for my Mat Series. Both in front of the class and in private. Yay! :-)
• Wendy and I figured out the perfect way to remember the Foundation series sequence. Just tattoo the whole sequence down your forearm….in stick men form.
• It's hard to demonstrate your yogic strengths when you can't really do most of the original party tricks. 
• Speaking of strength, I have a decent amount of upper body strength. From kickboxing and lifting and general movement, I am perfectly capable of doing pushups. But I can't. My arms just lock stuck at a certain point going down, and I can't get past a certain level before it crashes. This has annoyed me to no end watching other people succeed far more than I when they started in a worst place. It took until this course to understand. James is a huge advocate for opening up the shoulders. We do shoulder rolls 4 times in the sequence. Now multiply that by however many times we do it a day in practice and workshops and such. We are basically blowing open our shoulders into mobility. And its fantastic. At the gym the other day, I figured I should keep up the attempt like normal, and I lowered down to pushup position. And popped through a good 15 pushups from my toes, no problem. Lightbulb on! My shoulders are so tight and locked in that my chest physically couldn't open enough to get to the full expression of a pushup. Needless to say, the revelation is potentially life changing. At least at NLXF ;-)
• I love surprising people with things, such as my hidden core strength. I do abs people. Lots and lots of them. You may not see them, but trust me, they're there.
• But also with freakish things. James had me playing with my pigeon toed ness in front of the class, I didn't realize how much I could do with my feet that others couldn't.
• Workshopping someone who is feigning to have polio with a bad short leg just seems like pure karma for all my DisneyWorld claims….

RYT Day Ten. Sunday is not meant for resting.

Day Ten: Freestyle Hatha Practice, Chakra Theory, Changing Sequence / Ethics

• Today's practice was James'  freestyle, and it was absolutely amazing. 
• Hot, sticky, and sweaty, but there was gong. And gong fixes everything.
• It never dawned on me that moving your calf muscle out of the way would make Hero pose a TON easier and safer on the knee….revelation, five years too late. 
• Benji calling reverse shoulder roll the "peak position of tears" was absolutely hilarious. Its not even that bad!!
• I've decided that I really really like when its a Freestyle Hatha practice, but interjected with a Kundalini power boost here and there. It just takes it to that edge that makes the end point that much more perfect.
• "Let the mmm sound hang out and buzz in your face" - James Miller
• I might have mentally checked out on accident and ended up participating in nap chakra.
• Wild Thing just adds a certain flare to practicing freestyle sequencing.
• After ten full days, people start to wear on you when they won't shut up. Meaning that getting out early, and skipping dinner to get out even earlier, doesn't happen because you keep talking about pointless things when we just want to leave and have relaxation and you like to hear yourself talk.
• But 7pm is much much better than 9pm.