My Fabulous Students
I am starting a new page to highlight the reasons why my students come to yoga and the benefits they gain through the practice, both mentally and physically. I'm asking them randomly, not because one is more proficient than another, because all their stories are inspiring.
I had one o f the proudest moments of my life When I was on Samasati Teacher Training Retreat in Thailand.
While I was away I had organized for some of my senior students to take classes so the studio could keep running and the students could keep practicing while I was away. I was sent a photo of the first class at my studio being run by one of the students while I was eating dinner in Thailand. I felt so amazed and happy. So much work and planning had gone into that moment and it worked!
What a wonder and a joy to have created an opportunity when others could step up to show their full potential.
I believe Mandy, the teacher for the night did a wonderful job and the class was fabulous. Congratulations to her. It was a big call for Mandy as she is a naturally shy person, in succeeding at this I bet she has released inhibitions and grown in confidence. She has been studying with a Drew yoga for some time and will eventually qualify with them as a teacher.
Thank you to the students for coming to the class. 8 students is a great turn out. Without them to teach there would not have been a class.
Thank you to Sarah, she is my moral support and she sent me the photo. Sarah is a private student and she is taking the class next week for the first time too.
Well done girls. And thank you for making it possible for me to continue my yogic journey of discovery of the self. Here in these beautiful surroundings I am learning so much I will be able to bring back to share with you.
Some of what I am learning is about manifesting and that has happened at the studio. What a wonderful endeavor I embarked on when I opened it. I am so proud to feel I have succeeded beyond what I ever imagined.
Chryse is another of my students who has taken on a senior student teaching roll and she is keen for me to train her to professional teaching standard.
While I was away I had organized for some of my senior students to take classes so the studio could keep running and the students could keep practicing while I was away. I was sent a photo of the first class at my studio being run by one of the students while I was eating dinner in Thailand. I felt so amazed and happy. So much work and planning had gone into that moment and it worked!
What a wonder and a joy to have created an opportunity when others could step up to show their full potential.
I believe Mandy, the teacher for the night did a wonderful job and the class was fabulous. Congratulations to her. It was a big call for Mandy as she is a naturally shy person, in succeeding at this I bet she has released inhibitions and grown in confidence. She has been studying with a Drew yoga for some time and will eventually qualify with them as a teacher.
Thank you to the students for coming to the class. 8 students is a great turn out. Without them to teach there would not have been a class.
Thank you to Sarah, she is my moral support and she sent me the photo. Sarah is a private student and she is taking the class next week for the first time too.
Well done girls. And thank you for making it possible for me to continue my yogic journey of discovery of the self. Here in these beautiful surroundings I am learning so much I will be able to bring back to share with you.
Some of what I am learning is about manifesting and that has happened at the studio. What a wonderful endeavor I embarked on when I opened it. I am so proud to feel I have succeeded beyond what I ever imagined.
Chryse is another of my students who has taken on a senior student teaching roll and she is keen for me to train her to professional teaching standard.
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Chryse
I asked Chryse what makes her happy about coming to yoga?
She replied, "Yoga makes me feel graceful. "
She continued, "I'm usually a bit of a clumsy person but when I am at yoga I don't feel clumsy, I feel graceful"
She loves the calm and peaceful environment of the studio. Coming to yoga is her happy time where she can escape into a bubble away from the busy world.
Chryse keeps fit by walking, riding her bike, lifting weights and going to boxing classes. The ambience of the studio is a contrast to the bright lights and noise of the gym. Classes at the studio are small and personal.
Yoga is a good compliment to her other activities, it stretches sore and tight muscles. While the other activities exercise her body, yoga also exercises her mind.
She says, "I find it hard to switch off. My brain usually runs a million miles a minute. Yoga has helped me train my brain to slow down."
Chryse comes to the 6:30am sessions Tuesday and Friday and 8:30am on Saturday. She is a bit like a jelly bean. She says she is a very pragmatic, down to earth person.
On Friday mornings, during the warmer months, we practice in the park. It's wonderful.
Chryse describes it as very spiritual. "When we are in the park I feel like I'm in that yoga bubble. I feel connected to the earth and the universe, which is not something I would normally be consciously seeking as part of my life experience."
Yoga in the park gives her time to live life in the moment and appreciate the world around her.
"Now when I am out walking or cycling, especially if I am alone, it is just me with the world and I draw on that connection with the universe."
Since this interview, Chryse has been joined my teacher training program and will soon be qualified as a teacher.
She replied, "Yoga makes me feel graceful. "
She continued, "I'm usually a bit of a clumsy person but when I am at yoga I don't feel clumsy, I feel graceful"
She loves the calm and peaceful environment of the studio. Coming to yoga is her happy time where she can escape into a bubble away from the busy world.
Chryse keeps fit by walking, riding her bike, lifting weights and going to boxing classes. The ambience of the studio is a contrast to the bright lights and noise of the gym. Classes at the studio are small and personal.
Yoga is a good compliment to her other activities, it stretches sore and tight muscles. While the other activities exercise her body, yoga also exercises her mind.
She says, "I find it hard to switch off. My brain usually runs a million miles a minute. Yoga has helped me train my brain to slow down."
Chryse comes to the 6:30am sessions Tuesday and Friday and 8:30am on Saturday. She is a bit like a jelly bean. She says she is a very pragmatic, down to earth person.
On Friday mornings, during the warmer months, we practice in the park. It's wonderful.
Chryse describes it as very spiritual. "When we are in the park I feel like I'm in that yoga bubble. I feel connected to the earth and the universe, which is not something I would normally be consciously seeking as part of my life experience."
Yoga in the park gives her time to live life in the moment and appreciate the world around her.
"Now when I am out walking or cycling, especially if I am alone, it is just me with the world and I draw on that connection with the universe."
Since this interview, Chryse has been joined my teacher training program and will soon be qualified as a teacher.
Sarah
There is a certain amount of mystery that occasionally borders on envy surrounding my private student, Sarah. Some students wonder why, if she has been coming for so long they have never met her. Sometimes I think they think I have made her up and I am secretly doing yoga with my alter ego named Sarah ;-).
Anyone is welcome to join us, but the 7:30pm time slot doesn't seem to suit. Norah suggested she could join the 'Sarah' class because her name ended in rah, but my son pointed out that she would leave the class lopsided as she would only be able to do half the exercises.
Sarah has been coming to yoga for 4 years, starting a few months after her second child and continuing through the whole of her next pregnancy because she didn't actually notice she was pregnant for some time. It is not usually a great idea to start yoga till the second trimester but if you already have a strong practice, as Sarah does, it was fine.
Sarah began at the studio in day classes. When she went back to work she moved to the 7:30pm class, a class full of beautiful girls who all gradually moved away or moved on with their lives. Numbers whittled down, till now, there is only Sarah.
Sarah is in a high powered and sometimes stressful job as well as being a great mother to three children. Yoga helps her balance her life and helps with stress. Our weekly sessions give her a chance to have some time out just for herself.
She says "Yoga gives me a clear mind and the ability to think with clarity."
This clear mind helps her work through problems and issues that come up at work and she is able to make good decisions and act with compassion and sound judgement with a positive attitude.
Our sessions are a lot of fun, we chat through asanas and enjoy a laugh.
She says "yoga is never boring".
Being an evening class we stick with quiet asanas, we don't want to be stimulated by the time finish about 9pm, we want to be ready for sleep. But even so she says that yoga has made her strong.
"I didn't used to be able to stand on my head and now I can do it!"
Anyone is welcome to join us, but the 7:30pm time slot doesn't seem to suit. Norah suggested she could join the 'Sarah' class because her name ended in rah, but my son pointed out that she would leave the class lopsided as she would only be able to do half the exercises.
Sarah has been coming to yoga for 4 years, starting a few months after her second child and continuing through the whole of her next pregnancy because she didn't actually notice she was pregnant for some time. It is not usually a great idea to start yoga till the second trimester but if you already have a strong practice, as Sarah does, it was fine.
Sarah began at the studio in day classes. When she went back to work she moved to the 7:30pm class, a class full of beautiful girls who all gradually moved away or moved on with their lives. Numbers whittled down, till now, there is only Sarah.
Sarah is in a high powered and sometimes stressful job as well as being a great mother to three children. Yoga helps her balance her life and helps with stress. Our weekly sessions give her a chance to have some time out just for herself.
She says "Yoga gives me a clear mind and the ability to think with clarity."
This clear mind helps her work through problems and issues that come up at work and she is able to make good decisions and act with compassion and sound judgement with a positive attitude.
Our sessions are a lot of fun, we chat through asanas and enjoy a laugh.
She says "yoga is never boring".
Being an evening class we stick with quiet asanas, we don't want to be stimulated by the time finish about 9pm, we want to be ready for sleep. But even so she says that yoga has made her strong.
"I didn't used to be able to stand on my head and now I can do it!"
Janet
Janet has been coming to my classes 2 or 3 times a week for several years. She is probably my most inspiring student in that at the age of 70 she has always kept active and she is still young in her mind and body. Her practice is elegant and many students aspire to be able to do what she can accomplish in her asanas. She can do side crow and stand on her head with ease!
Janet takes good care of herself, often coming to me for a massage, and regularly visits the osteopath and naturopath. She is very proactive with her health.
She made a comment to me that as you get older the body gets stiff, it's as if the muscles fall asleep from being inactive. Yoga wakes them up and we are able to move again.
She says "I practice yoga for myself, but I'm a competitive person and when I see someone achieving certain things in yoga I strive to improve to be able to do it. I love a challenge, and yoga is definitely a challenge."
Her competitive edge may come from her enthusiasm for horses, in particular dressage riding in which she competes and has horses that compete regularly. She is always looking for something new to fulfil her and took up Spanish riding about a year ago. She often tells me that the benefit yoga has brought to her riding and her relationship with her horse is huge.
Janet says, "I notice that a lot of people are fearful. Maybe it is fear of hurting themselves or falling over or looking foolish, and while sometimes I am fearful, I don't let my fear control me." While remaining mindful of what she does physically, she lets go of fear and is able to accomplish things with her body. She remembers how to do summersaults and cartwheels and has the confidence and ability to still be able to do them!
Janet comes to yoga to relax, take time out from being in charge, and for the physical, spiritual and emotional benefits. It helps her to stay fit and healthy and active and thus be able to be useful to other people.
Janet takes good care of herself, often coming to me for a massage, and regularly visits the osteopath and naturopath. She is very proactive with her health.
She made a comment to me that as you get older the body gets stiff, it's as if the muscles fall asleep from being inactive. Yoga wakes them up and we are able to move again.
She says "I practice yoga for myself, but I'm a competitive person and when I see someone achieving certain things in yoga I strive to improve to be able to do it. I love a challenge, and yoga is definitely a challenge."
Her competitive edge may come from her enthusiasm for horses, in particular dressage riding in which she competes and has horses that compete regularly. She is always looking for something new to fulfil her and took up Spanish riding about a year ago. She often tells me that the benefit yoga has brought to her riding and her relationship with her horse is huge.
Janet says, "I notice that a lot of people are fearful. Maybe it is fear of hurting themselves or falling over or looking foolish, and while sometimes I am fearful, I don't let my fear control me." While remaining mindful of what she does physically, she lets go of fear and is able to accomplish things with her body. She remembers how to do summersaults and cartwheels and has the confidence and ability to still be able to do them!
Janet comes to yoga to relax, take time out from being in charge, and for the physical, spiritual and emotional benefits. It helps her to stay fit and healthy and active and thus be able to be useful to other people.
Wayne
Wayne's Chief passion is skiing. When he decided to take it up seriously he arrived at the door of my studio fully keen to do yoga to help with his flexibility.
He comes regularly to a private lesson and a class each week.
He didn't realize how much yoga would also improve his fitness and strength, especially his core strength.
He was also surprised to discover that yoga isn't just a set of exercises for the body, it is a whole philosophy for your mind and spiritual self.
When I asked him what was the main thing he had learned from yoga he said, "It is the ability to focus my mind."
"My initial drive for coming was for flexibility and suppleness. That comes," he said, "almost as a by-product. Yoga has taught me to stay present in the moment and keep my thoughts centred. I don't find myself thinking of this thing then swinging to this thing and this. I keep myself present."
Yoga has also taught him to honour his body.
He had an accident on the ski slopes injuring his knee. He said that previously he would not have worried about proper treatment. He credits yoga for making him aware that he needed to give his knee proper loving care. He iced it straight away then sought and followed professional medical advice.
Now his knee is completely cured and he has been able to return to his yoga training in readiness for his next thrilling ski trip to Austria.
Good Luck Wayne!
He comes regularly to a private lesson and a class each week.
He didn't realize how much yoga would also improve his fitness and strength, especially his core strength.
He was also surprised to discover that yoga isn't just a set of exercises for the body, it is a whole philosophy for your mind and spiritual self.
When I asked him what was the main thing he had learned from yoga he said, "It is the ability to focus my mind."
"My initial drive for coming was for flexibility and suppleness. That comes," he said, "almost as a by-product. Yoga has taught me to stay present in the moment and keep my thoughts centred. I don't find myself thinking of this thing then swinging to this thing and this. I keep myself present."
Yoga has also taught him to honour his body.
He had an accident on the ski slopes injuring his knee. He said that previously he would not have worried about proper treatment. He credits yoga for making him aware that he needed to give his knee proper loving care. He iced it straight away then sought and followed professional medical advice.
Now his knee is completely cured and he has been able to return to his yoga training in readiness for his next thrilling ski trip to Austria.
Good Luck Wayne!
Jess
Jess is a new student, she has been coming for about 7 months. She is so lovely, she makes us laugh. When she had her 22nd birthday she said she felt sooo old. We all burst out laughing, the rest of us in the room ranged from 30ish to 60ish. Since then 22 has become the new 90.
She had just moved to town and the stress of moving and starting a new job had left her feeling a bit tense. She googled massage places in Singleton and Sahasra's Hope popped up. She rang and was able to get an appointment for the same afternoon.
"I was a bit nervous and didn't really want to come," she said. "I hadn't had a good experience with massage before. The Thai places touch way too much private areas and I felt violated. I felt that they hurt me and hadn't done me any good."
"But I had heaps of knots and I really needed it," she said.
She reminded me that she had come with a sore neck, she hadn't been able to move it. By the time she left her neck was better.
She said the massage was "Fantastic!"
While she was having the massage we got talking about yoga and she said she really wanted to try it and that as she had just moved here she wanted something to do. So she started coming to yoga. We are so glad she did, we love her.
Jess works in aged care and is also studying very hard.
"In my job I am continually on my feet, continually squatting, bending over, rolling, pushing, doing assisted lifting, using machines and I get quite tight in my shoulders and my back," she explained.
I asked if the yoga was stretching that out and she said that when she comes regularly, twice a week, it really helps.
She says she finds it difficult to practice at home because she is trying to focus on her study. She needs the classes to be motivated to practice.
She assures me that she does a couple of things at home, but not as often as she should.
I see a lot of potential in Jess. She is very dedicated in whatever endeavour she is undertaking.
She had just moved to town and the stress of moving and starting a new job had left her feeling a bit tense. She googled massage places in Singleton and Sahasra's Hope popped up. She rang and was able to get an appointment for the same afternoon.
"I was a bit nervous and didn't really want to come," she said. "I hadn't had a good experience with massage before. The Thai places touch way too much private areas and I felt violated. I felt that they hurt me and hadn't done me any good."
"But I had heaps of knots and I really needed it," she said.
She reminded me that she had come with a sore neck, she hadn't been able to move it. By the time she left her neck was better.
She said the massage was "Fantastic!"
While she was having the massage we got talking about yoga and she said she really wanted to try it and that as she had just moved here she wanted something to do. So she started coming to yoga. We are so glad she did, we love her.
Jess works in aged care and is also studying very hard.
"In my job I am continually on my feet, continually squatting, bending over, rolling, pushing, doing assisted lifting, using machines and I get quite tight in my shoulders and my back," she explained.
I asked if the yoga was stretching that out and she said that when she comes regularly, twice a week, it really helps.
She says she finds it difficult to practice at home because she is trying to focus on her study. She needs the classes to be motivated to practice.
She assures me that she does a couple of things at home, but not as often as she should.
I see a lot of potential in Jess. She is very dedicated in whatever endeavour she is undertaking.