Category: teaching

health, stress, teaching, yoga

Beginning: A Weekend of Therapeutic Yoga and a Proposal for You

Christa Avampato

Cheri Clampett guiding a student through a therapeutic yoga posture
“You are already perfect, whole, and complete. The work we do, the work of yoga, is to remove the obstacles to our own truth.” ~ Cheri Clampett

I spent the weekend at Integral Yoga Institute for Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal‘s Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing a lot about all of the powerful lessons that Cheri and Arturo generously handed to all of us.

What is Therapeutic Yoga?
Therapeutic Yoga, as Cheri and Arturo have defined it, combines restorative yoga, gentle yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage, breathwork, energy work, and guided meditation. A session is composed of a handful of poses, supported with props as needed, that are held for 5 – 15 minutes each. The goal is to help the student deeply relax into a meditative state, exerting minimal effort, by having each pose tailor-adjusted to meet the needs of the individual. In this way, therapeutic yoga is available to everyone regardless of age or health issues. Even people who are in the final days of their lives can find comfort in these postures. It is truly a practice for everyone.

Teacher as guide
All weekend, I was struck by the honesty, grace, and kindness that Cheri and Arturo gave to us through their own teaching. Though we covered a tremendous amount of material, I never felt rushed or stressed in their presence, and when it came time for me to work individually with my teaching partner, I didn’t feel the nervousness that I became so used to feeling when I went through my 200-hour training. All of a sudden, the knowledge that Cheri and Arturo gave to us was just there for me to freely incorporate into my usual teaching methods. It felt so natural that all I had to do was be with my partner and focus on what she needed. The class became all about her, and very little to do with me. I was just the guide who helped her open the door to her own peace.

What teaching teaches the teacher
When I got home, I went into the bathroom to wash my face. I looked up into the mirror and surprised myself. I actually looked younger. I had expected a full weekend of teacher training to leave feeling happy but spent, as it had during my 200 hour teacher training. Instead, I just felt present and whole in a way that I haven’t felt in some time. “I see now,” I thought. “So this is where I am supposed to be. This is the hour and method of my teaching.” I began to think of all of the people who could benefit from this practice, particularly those who are navigating their way through trauma such as veterans, police officers, care givers, those managing difficult illnesses, and people who are undertaking any kind of major transition in their lives. In that moment in the mirror, I became acutely aware of just how much I have to offer to those who want to heal. As Arturo said to us, “What feels good is good.” After this weekend, I feel amazing.

My offer to you
And now my proposal: In light of all this goodness that Cheri and Arturo shared so freely with us, I want to pay it forward. If you’re based in NYC and would like to have a free private therapeutic yoga session with me, or have a friend or family member who would be interested, I’d love to introduce you to the practice. Leave a comment, send me an email, FB message, tweet, or text, give me a ring, and we’ll find a time to make it happen. Thanks in advance for your partnership as I explore this path.

teaching, yoga

Beginning: ISHTA Yoga Teacher Training Info Session

Christa Avampato

Yogiraj Alan Finger, Founder of ISHTA
Last week I went to an information session at ISHTA for yoga teacher training. About a year ago I completed by 200 hour level teacher training at Sonic and since then have been tossing around the idea of doing a 500 level training. I almost took that up at Sonic, though I had some reservations about the style, scheduling, and cost of the program at Sonic. I have also increasingly become interested in a more integrated holistic approach with yoga as a piece of the pie combined with Ayurveda and therapeutics. This interest in a holistic approach led me to ISHTA (which stands for Integrated System of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda.)

The info session included a mini class which felt very familiar to me and in line with the way I approach my own teaching. Alan Finger, the founder of ISHTA, offered a meditation that felt good to my heart. His approach, and the approach of all of his teachers, focuses on helping each teacher find his or her own voice, their own best version of the practice. I like the personalization and the feeling of openness and acceptance I found nestled into their safe space on East 11th Street. I was able to relax and smile in the warmth and glow of that community. It felt comfortable, like home.

I have decided to explore the possibility of further teacher training for three main reasons:

1.) The 200 hour training certainly improves an individual’s practice and further understanding of yoga. What it doesn’t teach you is now to teach. While sequencing and practice teaching were certainly a part of my 200 hour training, there simply are not enough hours to delve deeply into the art and craft of teaching. I have a natural gift for teaching, though I want to have the opportunity to hone that skill under the guidance of a master teacher.

2.) Because of my interest in therapeutic yoga, and specifically in the area of trauma, I need further training in anatomy and neurophysiology. While I have been reading books and materials on the subject, the cases I’m most interested in working on are with populations like veterans, disaster survivors, civic workers like those in the police and fire departments, and rehabilitation patients. This is very specialized work and in order to help these people to the very best of my abilities I want to feel confident that I am fully prepared to help them through these challenges.

3.) My favorite part of my teacher training at Sonic was the group of beautiful souls that I traveled through the training with. They have become a precious part of my life and if there is an opportunity to have that experience again while gaining all of these skills that I’m so passionate about then I’m glad to snap up the opportunity!

Timing
Now the question remains about timing. ISHTA has a program coming up in the Fall that will be happening right around the time that I plan to move to a new apartment and possibly begin my next career adventure. This could be challenging so it will be a few months before I know how everything is shaking out. I promise to share the details here and soon as I have all my yogic ducks in a row! Thanks for sharing in this journey with me.

determination, teaching, yoga

Beginning: What Babe Ruth Teaches Yogis About Landing Teaching Gigs

Christa Avampato
The late great Babe Ruth - a man who never gave up

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” ~ Babe Ruth via @Inspire_Us

Last week I attended a wonderful event put on by BizeeBee, the creator of software to help yoga studios and instructors better manage their business, and the always delightful Yogadork. Poornima and Jennilyn, the gracious hosts, put together a list of questions to get our small group talking and sharing ideas of how to grow our yoga businesses and what products and services would be helpful. To no surprise my pitta nature (a.k.a., my fiery, supportive, build-your-own-road persona) was present in full force. I was surrounded by really talented yogis who have something very vital to offer this world. I didn’t want to see them sell themselves short.

One woman explained that she was trying to grow her private client list through partnership and one of the partners she wanted to work with was a flake. I’m sorry to say that some stereotypes exist for a reason, and some yoga instructors are not known for their timely responses, nor for organization. I told this very talented, obviously caring teacher that she couldn’t let a flakey partner prevent her from moving forward. That flakey partner doesn’t deserve her – time to move on and find a new partner.

Non-yogic, you say? Isn’t yoga all about sunshine and rainbows and butterflies? Sure – just make sure you can live your yoga teaching existence in la-la land. I live my yoga teaching existence in NYC, and in case no one told you yoga teachers here are a dime a dozen. Now when I meet new people I just assume they also have a 200 hour certification or know someone else who does. It’s that prevalent. I don’t make my living teaching yoga, but it’s a nice boost to my bank account and it gives me a feeling of real purpose and usefulness. When I teach I am part of something greater than myself, and that’s why I want to teach as much as I can. This means I have to hustle, network, and dedicate a lot of time to drumming up new business. All teachers, particularly new ones, need to do the same thing.

What I find unconscionable is that yoga training programs don’t tell you that piece of the puzzle. They take your money to the tune of $2500+, leading you to believe that this brand new life is just around the bend waiting for you. They hand you a certificate of completion, maybe give you a couple of hours about the business of being a yoga instructor, and send you on your way into the big wide world. It can feel like someone just stole your wallet and tossed you off a cliff. How’s that for non-yogic? It’s sickening.

There is a “traditional” path that you can follow. You pledge undying allegiance to a studio where you trained, pay an additional boatload of money to take classes at that studio or take more training, and hope you may get to sub (which can be very last-minute and at unfortunate times like 7am on a Monday), do a community by-donation class, and then land a regular gig. That works very well for some people, and by all means I applaud them for finding their success! I couldn’t take that road. It didn’t feel authentic and my schedule is too hectic to take a road that I didn’t design myself. I also have a mountain of school loans to pay. Plus, I think the system really takes advantage of new teachers and I didn’t want to feed that system.

I put together this list of ideas of how to land your first yoga teaching gigs if that traditional road isn’t for you. I hope you find them helpful or know someone whom you can pass them on to. Got questions? Leave a comment on this post or contact me via email or Twitter.

5 ways to land your first yoga teaching gigs:
1.) Offer up your teaching services for free. This will give you experience and practice. Teaching is a muscle – to get better at it, you have to practice whenever and wherever you can. If you’re interested in teaching free classes through nonprofit organizations, check out my Karmi’s Angels program that I created through Compass Yoga.

2.) Check Craig’s List. That’s how I found my first gig. New York Methodist Hospital needed a yoga teacher for pediatrics, geriatric psych, and physical rehab. I wanted to teach in a therapeutic setting to see if that might be my teacher calling. Happily, it was a match!

3.) Get your basic business building blocks in place: business cards, a website, a blog, a twitter account, and a Linked-in profile. Not a blogger? Don’t worry – just post links to yoga stories that you find interesting and of course give credit to the sources. Promoting the work of others is a great way to network that has great karmic value. Start putting yourself out there and when you meet people who are interested in your expertise, you will have a place to send them for more info.

4.) Fill a niche. Think about what you have to offer as a teacher, and then find a population that needs your skills. There is no end to the number of places and types of people who need more yoga. I wanted to work with underserved populations, people who don’t have access to regular yoga classes. Nonprofits were perfect partners for me to contact, and I sent off email after email until I filled up my roster to the point that I had to start passing gigs to other yoga teachers. It’s a lot of work, but I really wanted to teach and the work paid off.

5.) Don’t give up. Seriously. You will be tempted. You will kick yourself wondering what on Earth ever possessed you to spend all that money on teacher training. Instead, channel that energy into determination. Take a note from the late great Babe Ruth. It’s really true – you can’t lose if you never give up. You’ll find your road, I promise you. There may be some wrong turns and dead ends. Don’t let that deter you. If you really want to teach, you’ll find your students.

teaching, yoga

Beginning: You Have to Go Where You Can Help

Christa Avampato

http://www.flickr.com/photos/revcyborg/5228173/
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.” ~ Dr. Seuss

I’m just about 4 months into my year of writing about new beginnings. This writing intention has brought a lot of clarity to every aspect of my life and as I look back on these four months of posts, I’m truly surprised to see all that I’ve been able to begin and how much I’ve been able to share about the beginnings of others. I feel more inspired by the topic of beginning than I have ever felt about any writing intention. Perhaps this is because the very word “beginning” carries with it one of my very favorite sentiments – hope.

With all these new beginnings, I’m focusing on how and where I’m of the best possible service. This means that some endings are within sight now, and with every ending there is some kind of sadness, some kind of mourning and loss. Endings are deaths, and they deserve to honored. Without them, we wouldn’t have new beginnings.

In the past few months I’ve been finding a number of opportunities to share my yoga practice and teaching. Some of those experiences have been more satisfying than others. Many times, I’ve been able to find people whom I can truly help. I am the right students for their needs at this time. And other times, I’m exerting a lot of effort to no avail. I just don’t have what some students need. I am not the right teacher for them, and so I need to release them in the hopes that they can find a new teacher.

This fact became apparent over the weekend as I taught a regular gig I’ve had for some time now. It was actually my very first teaching assignment after I finished my 200-hour certification. It’s a very long distance from my house and I’ve learned a lot there. I’m grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend with those students and all that they’ve taught me, but I can’t take them any further. I sat in the treatment room after both classes, took a look around and felt a profoundly peaceful feeling. My work is done there.

This is in complete contrast to the teaching I’ve done at Columbia Medical Center, Columbia Law School, at the New York Pubic Library, and with my handful of private students. In those situation I feel alive, and I know I have more to offer. In the situation over this past weekend, I could feel the book closing, could see the credits rolling. I just knew deep within my heart that I was needed elsewhere by other students.

For a moment I felt very sad. I wanted to make a bigger impact there. I had hoped for a longer amount of time with those students. I was reminded of a scene in You’ve Got Mail when Jean Stapleton says to Meg Ryan that closing her book store and starting fresh is the brave thing to do. The right thing to do. It was time to move on. And then I also thought of The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. “You gotta know when to fold ’em.” That made me giggle, but he’s right.

In my meditation later that day, I made sure to give thanks to this wonderful opportunity that was now past. I thought of each of my students and how much they helped me grow. They opened my eyes to the power of therapeutic yoga and all the gifts that it has to offer. I’m grateful that I had the time there, and will always be grateful for it. And now with that door closing, I see a new window opening already. We’re all needed somewhere.

teaching, yoga

Beginning: Starting to Teach Advanced Yoga Students

Christa Avampato

Chin Mudra (hand gesture) - symbolic of the connected nature of human consciousness
Most of my yoga students are beginners. Sometimes my class is the very first yoga class they’ve ever been to. Other times, they tried yoga a number of years ago and this is their first time back in quite a while. They have ailments and areas of sensitivity. They seek out my class because their doctor, friends, or family members told them to give it a try to help their knees, back, hips, increase their flexibility, and lower their stress.

So it was a change of pace for me as a teacher to be asked to sub several times at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). They have a strong yoga program as part of their Student Wellness Office. I got to my first class, ready to focus on stress reduction and relaxation, and quickly realized it wouldn’t work. All of the students had been studying yoga for years and had a very strong practice. They were young, super-healthy med school students who wanted to go to their edge. As students, their edge is identical to mine. I would have to pump up my usually mellow class quickly.

For a split second I panicked, reverting back to old patterns of self-doubt. And then I reminded myself to read the room and take my class up several notches. The only thought running through my mind was, “give them what they need.” I used the sun salutation as a building block, and then added a lot of strength, twist, and balance postures. I was going to have to go for broke so that these students got what they needed. They needed me to bring my A game, and I couldn’t let them down. I had to bring my whole heart and mind into that classroom. I had to tread that line of challenging my students while also being very supportive. It is a tough balance to maintain but I had to go for it because that is exactly what these students need. I needed to fully be there with them, in my top-form teaching zone. My creativity needed to shine through.

The classes went far better than I ever dreamed they would go. I had a student who attended the Friday evening class and then returned Saturday morning bright and early because she enjoyed the Friday night class so much. I had a few students who asked me for advice and help after the class. A few asked for my card because they want to attend my other classes. After a third week in a row of my day job feeling very much like a daily grind, my yoga teaching freed up my spirit and my energy. It amped up my imagination as developed new sequences on the fly. My CUMC students inspired me, challenged me, and ultimately made me feel lighter and more at peace. Finally, I found confidence in making it up as I go along; all I had to do was draw upon my own practice as a student of yoga .

As I boarded the subway after the Saturday morning class, I smiled wide. “Ah, this is where I’m supposed to be. Here is my path.” This is no small revelation.

teaching, yoga

Beginning: My Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute

Christa Avampato

Last week I found out that I was awarded a scholarship to the Integral Yoga Institute to participate in their Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training in June. Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal, both of Santa Barbara, California, will be leading the training. Cheri currently teaches yoga at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Yoga Center. Arturo is a yoga therapist who also holds a Masters Degree in Chinese Medicine and practices Craniosacral Therapy.

I’ve really enjoyed my work at New York Methodist Hospital, and want to continue to grow my yoga career in that vein. Even at the New York Public Library, I see a number of students who have a very specific health ailment. I’m able to help them to an extent but I know I could do more for them. They have a keen interest in using yoga as part of their wellness plan, and with a bit more training specifically in this area I know I can have a very positive impact.

More lessons on choosing a yoga training program
I’ve previously given advice about choosing a general yoga teacher training program. Choosing a specialty program is a bit different:

1.) Know how you want to use your teaching. Is there a certain health condition you want to help treat or a certain population (the elderly, children, athletes, etc.) you’d like to work with? Specialized training allows you to delve deeply into one specific area. I know I want to use yoga in healthcare settings so therapeutic yoga was the best option for me.

2.) Choose a reputable school. There are a lot of specialized training program out there. Many are legit and many are not. A few things that can help you determine a program falls: Does it provide hours toward the 200 or 500-hour Yoga Alliance certification? What is the general reputation of the school; is the school itself certified as a teacher training institute by the Yoga Alliance? I’ve wanted to study at Integral Yoga Institute for some time as they are recognized as one of the leaders in therapeutic yoga. The school and this program are certified by Yoga Alliance.

3.) Research the instructors. This goes for the instructors of the program and the school as a whole. What is their training? Where do they teach now? Do they use their teaching in a way that is similar to what you’d like to do? What institutions do they have ties to? Have there been news articles written about or by them? Cheri’s and Arturo’s teaching is something I am abundantly interested in because they work in healthcare settings. I’m also intrigued by Arturo’s training in Traditional Chinese Medicine that will add an interesting dimension to the therapeutic yoga.

4.) Ask around. And this can be asking questions through yoga blogs and websites or asking students who have gone through this training. Ideally, do both! I spoke to Cheri and Sevika at IYI, asking very specific questions about the program and introducing the work I currently do and where I’d like my yoga career to go. They were both very open to answering all of my questions and welcomed the dialogue.

5.) Certification. When you finish the program will you have a specific certification that adds to your qualifications and expands what you can offer your students and places where you teach? Once I complete this program, I will be certified as a Yoga Therapist and will have the opportunity to be listed in national directories of yoga therapy. Because I’m trying to grow my student base, this certification and listing is very important to me.

Are you thinking about a specialized yoga program? Got questions or some advice for others? Fire away!

choices, decision-making, teaching, yoga

Beginning: So You Want to Teach Yoga? 5 Key Considerations When Choosing a 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training Program

Christa Avampato

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” ~ Bhagavad Gita 2:40

What is all of this yoga teacher training for?
After completing my 200-hour yoga teacher training at Sonic Yoga in May, I immediately began to think about getting my 500-hour teacher training. I thought I would sign-up on the spot for Sonic’s training, though I decided to take a bit more time before jumping in. I wanted to make sure I fully understood why I wanted and / or needed this training, and that I thoroughly understood the financial and time commitments.

At that point I also wasn’t sure how my teaching would take shape and if I’d like to concentrate in a certain aspect of yoga. I needed to get clear on these points before moving forward, and since I didn’t have clarity at that moment, I waited. And waited and waited and waited for some wisdom, some sign, to arrive.

To hear the message, we need to quiet down
Recently, I’ve been staying in my daily meditations longer, practicing longer and more rigorous asana (pose) sequences. Every once in a while I would tap into something. A very soft voice, very far away. It had some sense of urgency though I couldn’t make sense of its message. Kind of like being at a cocktail party hearing lots of talking but not being able to decipher any specific conversations.

Discovering my path foward in my teaching required more patience than I originally thought I’d need. Eventually I knew the answer would surface in a way that I could understand. The Universe is like that – it’s on its own timetable, not ours. It will make itself known when it’s good and ready, and not a moment before.

So I went about my life, going to work, seeing my friends, walking Phin, teaching and taking yoga classes, following my own personal practice. I made pictures on my Wacom (see above!) and kept my eyes and ears open as wide as possible.

The Universe speaks in mysterious ways
The other funny thing about the Universe is that it has a marvelous sense of humor. It reveals itself to us in some hilarious ways, and when we make the connection we can’t help but chuckle. Just when I get clear on what I need, someone sends me a link or a message that points the way forward. Sometimes it’s through a random, unexpected conversation that comes about from just day-to-day living. It’s not that signs are scarce; it’s that we often miss them because we’re looking but not seeing.

After months of debating about how, why, when, and where to pursue my 500-hour teacher training, I’ve had a few revelations about choosing a program:
1.) My focus is most certainly providing yoga to under-served populations that are seeking yoga for therapeutic reasons that are vast and varied. It doesn’t need to officially be called “Yoga Therapy”, but that aspect of practicality is important to me. Because of my interest in anatomy, mechanics, and medicine, I need further training.

2.) The philosophy and reputation of the instructors is a critical factor to consider. Are the lessons and teachings that they have to offer what I need / want to learn? Does their teaching style fit well with my learning style?

3.) What’s the culture of the training, as well as the schedule and the cost? Here comes my rational brain that’s probing for the logistics. Can I feel comfortable spending many hours with the people in the program and at the studio? Can I get it to jive with the many other variable aspects of my life? It’s a heck of a lot of hours – they need to be enjoyable as well as beneficial.

4.) Ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. Of the instructors, students, yoga blogs and websites, and teachers using yoga in the way you’d like to use it. The world of yoga certification is murky and weird. Some of it’s legit and some of it’s a racket. There are incredibly humble and gifted teachers, and some who haven’t done their homework.

Ego gets in the way far too often on the teaching path, and you’ve got to be careful because this path can be expensive in terms of both time and money. Know what you’re getting before you buy because getting certified to teach is most certainly a business just as much as a spiritual path. There’s no lemon law when it comes to yoga teacher certification.

5.) Know what you want before you go shopping around. I have a nasty habit of just looking at the options out there and then choosing from that palette. Brian’s working with me to try to change that MO.

First, visualize what you want and understand your needs in a program. Then, and only then, begin scoping options. It’s like dating, finding a job, or getting an apartment. This is a search in the truest sense of the word.

If a program doesn’t fit into your vision, keep looking. Shop around. Go to classes. Take some workshops. We’re ridiculously blessed in this country to have more options for yoga teacher training that we know what to do with. Honestly, there are so many out there that I bet you don’t have to make a single compromise. Take your time – this isn’t a race. And as with any other aspect of life, we get what we settle for.

Do these tips resonate with you? Have you decided on a training program? I’m taking suggestions!

The image above is my latest doodle on my Wacom.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

change, health, teaching, yoga

Beginning: Teaching Yoga Requires An Ability to Ebb and Flow at Every Moment

Christa Avampato

After a few weeks of teaching my yoga classes on Sunday nights at Pearl Studios, I’ve come to fully appreciate the power of knowing a craft well enough and having the confidence to make it up as I go. Getting used to a new space and a new class always takes time. I expected that. What I didn’t expect, and what I am absolutely delighted about, is the incredible variety of people who are attending the class. Truly an open-level class (from the newest beginners to long-time practitioners), come as you are environment, it’s both challenging and exciting.

The universe is also sending me a sign about where my yoga teaching is headed – in the yoga therapy / medical application setting. To-date, I’ve had several shoulder injury students, and students with fibromyalgia, spina bifida, low back strains, fused vertebrae, and scoliosis. Age has ranged from 18 to 67. Thanks to Meetup, my blog, the Compass website, and general word-of-mouth, the diversity is stunning. And what a gift!

What all this means is that the class I prepare is not the class I give. Every moment, I have to connect with the students, figure out what they need most at that very moment, and provide it. I change out cues and postures. I alter the pace. I offer different imagery. And the students let me know what’s working and what’s not working, and we figure it out together. I’m learning as much as they are, if not more.

Teaching yoga is equal parts giving and receiving. It requires listening, compassion, and empathy. And above all, it requires the ability to throw away everything you thought you knew and had rehearsed for many hours for the sake of providing students with exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. Ego and pride have no place on the mat or in the studio.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

creativity, entrepreneurship, teaching, yoga

Beginning: Yoga for Taxi Drivers

Christa Avampato

“We must use time creatively.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” ~ also from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

My friend, Erica (of Yogoer fame), sent out a tweet over the weekend that highlighted an article in the Times that described a yoga class created expressly for New York City taxi drivers. Can you imagine a more stressed out group of people? They never know who’s getting into their cars, what those people are bringing into their cars, and they have to contend with the lunacy of New York City Streets. If anyone needs yoga for stress reduction and relaxation, it’s our city’s cab drivers.

That’s exactly the opportunity for goodness that entrepreneurial yoga instructor Andrew Vollo saw and brought to life. “Taxi Yoga” is his creation. He’s been running this class for 7 years and it has grown through his distribution of 3,000 fliers (mostly through a wide variety of houses of religion that the cab drivers attend) and several interviews in channels that cab drivers are likely to patronize. He refused to be discouraged by any naysayers or critics of his cause. He knew what the cab drivers needed because he used to be one himself.

Whether your life has yoga in it or not, Vollo’s story is nothing short of inspiring. Take a look around your world. What does the world need and how does that match what you have to give? There’s so much opportunity for us to be part of one another’s lives in helpful and magical ways. What’s your story? How are you giving to the world around you?

The image above depicts a scene from Vollo’s Monday night class for taxi drivers at LaGuardia Community College. It was taken by Michelle V. Agins.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

teaching, yoga

Beginning: Compass Yoga Weekly Classes Are Underway

Christa Avampato

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

On Saturday night I was talking to my friend, Allan, about the first weekly yoga class that I was teaching as part of Compass Yoga. Allan is very perceptive – he’s one of those friends who seems to instinctively know exactly the message I need exactly when I need it. “Maybe do less,” he said. “No need to tell them everything you know in one class.” Allan’s comment came out of the blue and I didn’t know I needed to hear that at that moment. As usual, he said just the right thing to wake me up to exactly why I was a bit nervous about the class. I was trying to do too much, so I planned at that moment to do less.

26 gorgeous souls made their way to Pearl Studios NYC for the first weekly Compass Yoga class. I couldn’t have been more honored to be with them and am looking forward to the next one already. It is really a dream for me to start my own classes, and I’m so excited for all of the learning that will come from this new experiment. It’s going to be an adventure, and by far my biggest, brightest new beginning of 2011.

All day I had some butterflies – the jitters that come from all new beginnings. Seeing so many friendly, familiar faces was an enormous help and I have to publicly thank Michael, Sara, Andrew, Brian, Sarah, Pavani, Ujwala, Vipin, Cari, Cindy, Jennilyn, and Erica for their in-person support. And to so many wonderful people who sent me emails, tweets, and good vibes across great distances – I certainly felt the good vibes coming through loud and clear!

The next class is next Sunday, February 6th at 6pm at Pearl Studios – check out the Meetup group or the Compass website for details. Come play!