Today my group had our yoga practicum. We had to collectively sequence a 1 hour and 15 minute class and then teach it. Because I’ve had stage fright for most of my adult life, I found those familiar little butterflies soaring around my stomach right before it was my turn to teach. My heart beat grew a little bit faster. My body temperature started rising. Always, the anticipation of an exam is worse than the exam itself.
I took a great big breath and began. As it turned out, this teaching, all teaching, has nothing to do with the teacher and everything to do with the student. I looked around the room to see what they needed, what they would find helpful in the moment. If they needed a break, I wanted to give that to them. If they needed to release a specific part of their bodies, I wanted to provide a way for them to release. Teaching, and particularly yoga teaching, is service of the most beautiful kind. My job was just to support the members of the class on their own paths to wellness.
As the class wound down, I was overcome with gratitude. I could feel the love and support pulsating in the room. Despite my initial nervousness, I didn’t want the class to end. I wanted that feeling to go on forever. I have been so fortunate to be a part of this program, to share these days with the other students and my teachers, to discover parts of my own soul that I never even knew existed. There are no words to express how moving it is to provide relaxation and peace and joy to another person. The best tribute I can pay to the great benefits I’ve received from this training, and to all of the people who made it possible, is simply to go out into the world and teach what I practice. Perhaps I’m closer to my golden compass than I realized.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
Today my group had our yoga practicum. We had to collectively sequence a 1 hour and 15 minute class and then teach it. Because I’ve had stage fright for most of my adult life, I found those familiar little butterflies soaring around my stomach right before it was my turn to teach. My heart beat grew a little bit faster. My body temperature started rising. Always, the anticipation of an exam is worse than the exam itself.
Christa Avampato 
“There are no words to express how moving it is to provide relaxation and peace and joy to another person.” — wow. This is why I want to be a yoga teacher. Now isn’t the right time for me – I know this, somehow – but it is definitely in my future, and you’ve captured the reason why.
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You’ll know what the time is right, Amanda. For a long time I wanted to get this full certification and finally it just all worked out. Right place, right time, right price, right me. Life is like that – chance-y and synchronous.
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