Get On the Bus

I had a great class this morning at the Peaks--Yoga Basics at 9am. I have discovered that having a strong theme not only holds the students in the class but also holds me in the teaching. I had one woman who had never tried yoga before and didn't think she was going to like it. Clearly I had to win her over! My theme today, after watching the inauguration concert on HBO last night came to me when someone, maybe Samuel L. Jackson, referenced Rosa Parks and her famous bus ride. Apparently she got on the bus not intending to sit in the front, but once she did she KNEW she wasn't going to move. So I talked about the quality of being steadfast and resolute, the times in your life when you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you will be unwavering in your stance about something. And that was the bottom half of our bodies in all these standing poses. At the same time, we have to keep the lightness to receive what that situation is offering us, so inner body bright, upper body expansive in all the same poses. I used a lot of visuals with specific mountains here, Sunshine Peak, Wilson Peak, the heavy earthy energy of the base and then the snowy bright spires of the peaks reaching up into the limitless clarity of the sky.
I definitely had my first teaching "aha" moment of tying everything all together and watching students "get it." That woman loved class, she said, and was surprised at herself for liking it!
I am going on a long walk with M down the bike path out of town, taking a break from the mountain today and giving my body a little rest. That's all I have for now, it's so gorgeous and sunny and warm...