Teacher Blog: What I love about Teaching for Yoga 4 Change
Growing up as a teen in the 80’s, I had a lot of angst and a few pounds to lose. I found long distance running and it was life changing. Yes, the pounds started to drop off, but more importantly, the chatter in my mind became quieter. Breathing in the fresh air while moving my body was a moving meditation I looked forward to everyday. After I turned 30, I replaced running with swimming to protect my joints, but I still enjoyed the benefits of clearing my mind for that hour each day. In my early 40’s I started to attend local yoga classes as an addition to swimming, to stretch my muscles, and as time passed I started to enjoy yoga more and more. It finally hit me; this is exactly what I had been searching for. Moving my body with my breath, withdrawal of the senses and self-study. I truly began healing from my past traumas from the inside out. I wanted to learn more about yoga so I enrolled in my first teacher training. After three different trainings, I was ready to share my passion for yoga with anyone.
Focusing on breath, physical sensations and sounds are tools to anchor us to the present moment. This sentence was the beginning of my journey to becoming a Yoga 4 Change instructor. These past six months have been incredible. I am so thankful for everything I’ve learned, continue to learn, experienced and continue to experience about trauma-informed teaching. My vocabulary has expanded, my understanding of the benefits of trauma-informed yoga has broadened and my quest for knowledge has deepened.
Self-compassion, Forgiveness, Vulnerability and Courage are terms that have a profound effect on one’s wellbeing. Every Sunday evening, I check to see what the theme of the week is (Yoga 4 Change classes are theme-based) and I conduct a deep internet search for definitions, quotes, poems and whatever else I can find to give me inspiration for my upcoming Monday night class. These concepts are so important, and even though I have covered them all at least once, participants never get tired of hearing them. I see students nod to themselves as they recognize their own personal experiences in the theme of the week, and occasionally share parts of their own stories with the rest of the class. This is what I love about Yoga 4 change.
When we lengthen our breath, we slow the heart and quiet the mind. When we practice yoga postures, we release all sorts of chemicals that not only help us to relax, but also lower stress and anxiety levels. Adding a discussion around one of the themes of Yoga 4 Change to this state creates the perfect environment for healing. I love everything about teaching yoga and I will teach anyone, anywhere, but the students at Yoga 4 Change are my favorite. They are extremely dedicated. I have one student who takes two buses to get to class and she never misses a week. The passion brought to class is contagious and when there is a new person in class they are immediately welcomed by all. I quickly see them shift from nervous, to curious, to fully engaged. While everyone seems eager to practice yoga postures, they do not hesitate to interrupt me with questions or to tell me if something doesn’t feel right. I love this because it means they trust me and it provides real teaching and learning opportunities for all of us. The open dialogue also helps me plan for future classes because it gives me insight as to what the students want to see more of and what they could do without. For example, they love a long body scan at the end of class, guiding them into relaxation from head to toe.
I am so grateful to Yoga 4 Change for the teaching opportunity but more importantly for everything I am learning about connecting with students from all different backgrounds. Individually, we come from different walks of life and each and every one of us brings unique experiences to class that only enhance the yoga journey for all.
Blog written by Yoga 4 Change Instructor: Elena Rabinovich