Blog Shift + 30-Day Challenge #3 for Jenn!

Hello all!

Sorry for the delay in posting. I had been thinking for a while about this blog, and whether or not I could comfortably write about teaching without violating the privacy of students. Sure, lots of teachers in the world blog and write and share their experiences in the classroom...but at the same time, this is different, more personal...and I wondered if this was a good idea. My thoughts on the matter were confirmed today, as I was asked not to blog about students in any way by a studio owner - and that is fair, pretty much in line with what I was thinking anyhow.

I took a couple posts down and revised one other, and from here on out, I will just be blogging about my own experience in a way that is not specific to students. I think my real goal here to just to share my own experience of doing the yoga, as well as the impact teaching has on me as a person and my practice. The nuts and bolts of teaching, while interesting reading, aren't really relevant in the big picture. I'm always happy to share with someone 1:1 about what it's like to be a teacher, about my worst and best days...but that's not so, well, public, now is it? So, if you have questions, ask me! Otherwise, I'll be blogging here about yoga, me and my life in general...and with that, I feel a little better actually. My lack of posting was my own contention with this matter and I was sent a clear direction on how to proceed, and I'm good with that!

Speaking of my yoga, I'm finished Day 25 of 30 on my pre-Maui challenge! I'm moving right along and honestly, have gone through the things one does in a challenge like this. I was excited, bored, irritated, happy, excited, bored, irritated, etc. just like it happens. This is the 3rd time I've done one (not including training, of course) and honestly, the impact doesn't feel quite as fantastic as it has in the past. Still, I have endured the nuances that come with it - the forcing yourself to go because you don't have a choice...period...the manipulating your day to get yourself there, the going at 6 a.m. because it's truly the only time you can make it, the having to do it even when you're teaching 3 that day... but it's good. I don't know that I've felt any grand effects other than that of knowing I can do it, and a a bit of pain in my right shin.

I've been teaching a good bit - still between 8-12/week right now - and that is good. I really dig teaching right around 8, having a couple days where I'm not teaching and can just practice, and once my challenge is over, getting to have at least 1 day/week out of the hot room. Since other work for me has been hit or miss, some weeks I don't at all mind a heavy load, but others - it's rough.

Jill and I are off to Maui to celebrate her big birthday next week! We are excited to do some Bikram Yoga there, of course, and maybe find some other yoga that would be fun to do/try. When I get back, I'm going to diversify my exercise as my body seems to be in a bit of a rut, doing the same thing all the time...I could stand to lob off 5 pounds and just keep things looking and feeling optimal. So, more soon, thanks for your patience those of you who had been asking for a post. I should be back with some better regularity now!

p.s. I've also been working on my book, writing like mad for that which has left me a little deflated when it's come time to blog. Hopefully I can balance the two out since the writing is so different!