Tag Archive for: Teacher

Truth Through Creativity: An Experiment

Satya, truth. What is truth? One of the dictionary definitions of the word is, “the state or character of being true,” for me this is a typical idea of what truth is and can be, the next definition is, “actuality or actual existence.” The embodiment of truth is expression, expression of raw human experience, the flux of life that allows us to grow. I approached this project from an understanding that my heart had been lacking in a vital way. To mend that deficit I decided to implement creative methods such as writing, drawing, painting to use the inspiration and insight seen in daily life moments.

I set out with the intention of simply observing life to see what inspires me to create or be human; implying that to create reveals your humanity. I instated a meditation session first thing in the morning to still my mind and allow for if not a control but an awareness of its waves, that way I could view true inspiration and use it to form my humanity. In my daily life with work, family, friends I kept in mind the awareness of the muse, not to a point of looking for it, rather openness to it. The first week consisted of these practices. I found that I was able to contemplate why I wake up in the morning and could change that reason from oh I have to work to, I want to go see what is outside or there is a genuine conversation out there to be had. Every day for that first week I wrote a poem or drew something in order to exercise the creative flow. This enabled me to see patterns in my thoughts and life, a way of organizing on paper. Another way to penetrate creative truth into life I attended one particular highly diverse open mic in Denver. It is called LadySpeech, the performers interpret life in a colorful range of ways, when listening and being involved with a spectrum of experience and view-points my own imagination sparks cords and observes my life from new perspectives.

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Truth Through Creativity: Observations

I found that by honing my creative inspiration and applying it I am in sync with and a part of the rawness of emotion enables me to see patterns of emotion and true expression of it. There is also a free flow to existence, rather than feeling stuck or suppressed by every day cycles they have become healing because by writing I can see what matters to me and what does not (annoyances have become nonchalant). Another part of what I learned is that I inhibit myself from conveying by speaking; this has lifted because I don’t want to miss any part of sharing my true self with others or being witness to another’s truth. When I don’t hold back and I say what I feel, even when I’m nervous to (not hurtful things) it feels like I lay a bit of myself before you, this is even stronger in a performance setting the few times that I have participated in an open mic (a fair bit out of my comfort zone) it felt like I was laying out my soul for the audience. This is also apparent to me when watching others perform, they truly put themselves in a vulnerable position and it turns around as a therapeutic practice for some, this is true for me because I have a small voice and all the attention garnered from performing is almost unnerving but once what is said is said there is a release of the idea or emotion.

“Everything we are observing is at once specific to us alone and at the same time interconnected to the universal structure of all that is outside ourselves,” (MOY, pg 16). When listening or looking at another person’s art I’ve had to set aside my ideas/judgments and become like a sponge to absorb the nutrients of the others illustration laid before me.  While undertaking the experiment I had a conversation with a friend who freestyle raps, he was talking about an intense flow he experienced; he was watching himself form strings of words from the corner of the room he said, “that’s dope, oh that’s dope too,” he interpreted the meaning of the words after he said them from an outside perspective. I felt it was interesting that he told me about this at the same time that I was involved in an experiment to use creative expression as a way to reach a true state of being because what he described to my understanding is a higher state of being.

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Truth Through Creativity: Conclusion

The experiment of cultivating creative expression as means to become a part of a state of Satya filled me with joy which springs up from the minutest of things, like seeing leaves blown about in swirly patterns or patterns of colors of the cars in traffic, sharing tea with a loved friend or family. I have grown more responsible for my thoughts and the rashness of my actions, have bent into a brighter and clearer lifestyle. On a closing note it is interesting and humors me that my writing at this time reflects much of the language that is used in yoga; although my writing tends to lean towards that sort of organic and flowing mindset already, the yoga studies greatly compliment my style. I have come to the conclusion that writers are insanely sane, as are yogis.

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Sweet Silence

As part of their teacher training, Axis Yoga students experiment with the application of Yamas (restraints) and Niyamas (observances) to their daily lives. This student found a new, enhanced ability to listen and focus on others through her dedication to daily silence. The following account shows how such a seemingly small step has made a dramatic difference.

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Sweet Silence: A nervous beginning

In reflecting on my experiment, feelings of calm, relaxation and satisfaction arise. It’s my opinion that my personal experiment was incredibly successful. A part of the Tapas group, I originally struggled with choosing the parameters for my experiment. Through talking with my group members, as well as the incredibly invaluable guidance from Santosh, I carefully chose the impetus for my experiment.

I’m someone who is extremely social. I often talk with classmates after class, email back and forth with them throughout the week. I remain connected to social media networks throughout the day and night. I check my phone when I first wake up, always answer text messages, schedule events and keep in touch with thousands of people per week.

In telling my groupmates this, as well as Santosh, I was given the idea of silence. I’ll be honest, at first the idea scared me beyond belief. I was instantly worried about blog sponsors, emails, people not hearing from me, missing out on social activities and more. The fire grew in my stomach as Santosh continued to tell me that I could practice verbal and social silence. This idea of silence was something I had never done, something that was so totally against my normal constitution– I got really nervous.

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Sweet Silence: Committing to the process

Keeping with the idea that change is inherently good, I made the choice to be silent for four hours every day. Due to life conflicts like my job at Starbucks where I have to talk, I chose not to be silent all day– my Starbucks regulars wouldn’t like that very much, not to mention my boss! I chose the four hours solely around my work schedule. If I had plans during the four hours, I had plans. I was still committed to keeping silent. I wouldn’t check my phone, email, facebook, twitter, blog readers’ comments… anything of the sort until my four hours were up.

The first few days were torture. I’ll be honest, I fantasized about just giving up and knowing I was defeated by this idea of silence. I was worried I would lose friends, money, influence or even credibility. I kept on with my goal, however, and found the effects to be immeasurable.

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Sweet Silence: Seeing results

First came comments from friends, family and my blog supporters, asking where I was or questioning if I was okay. It took everything in me to not write back until time was up. I even had classmates emailing me, to which I had to wait to respond.  Fighting with my internal dialogue, I waited… and waited… and waited longer. The first few four hour sessions seemed like days.

I found that after a few days, my silence got easier. It was less hectic, less rushed and more incredible than before. I grew happier, using my silence as a solace where I could acknowledge feelings and not have to explain them to anyone.

During the second week of my experiment, I was faced with hardships at work as well as in my family. Through choosing silence, I was able to listen to concerns, to feelings shared with  me. I was able to listen to everyone around me with a clarity I hadn’t before. They shared things that were new and raw. I was able to listen and focus, not just hear or acknowledge

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Sweet Silence: Conclusion

Of all of the emotions and changes that silence brought me, the one most pressed upon me is the feeling of thankfulness. I feel as though I was able to gain insight in to myself, into those around me and also the people I come in contact with everyday. I worked to listen. To understand the things that weren’t said. To give the people I was in contact with my full, undivided attention. It was pretty incredible feeling. They noticed, too. I was more present, alert and in tune with them.

Using the idea of silence will continue to be influential in my journey towards helping others through yoga. Being present in the moment and hearing where my students are coming from will help me to tailor their experiences in my classes or in private instruction. I’m incredibly excited to see the lasting effects of this experiment throughout the journey I’ve started. It will benefit me as well as my students, fellow classmates in training and my family.

It seems to me from talking with classmates, that this experiment impresses upon us a feeling of renewal. There’s something magical about bettering yourself. It seems like a common thread between all of the experiments, no matter the group, that they’re life changing and they turn out differently (and better) than we’d originally planned or thought. It’s truly been a life changing two-and-a-half weeks. I know I’ll continually reflect on this time as one where I gained insight into myself and those around me.

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Riding the Tide

Throughout the course of Axis Yoga’s 200 hr. teacher training program, students engage in a variety of experiments, incororating the material they learn in the training, into their daily lives. This student chose to incorporate various ayurvedic self-care and supportive asana practice into her routine. Below she recounts her experience and reflections.

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Riding the Tide: Introduction to an Ayurvedic Experiment

In the beginning of this experiment my prakruti was vata, pitta, kapha, however after 4 days of experimenting I witnessed a significant change in my energy and focus due to a traumatic experience, shifting me to vata, kapha, pitta.  This shift allowed my experiment to truly test the soil of Ayurvedic practice.  This said, I decided to focus my experiment on my very vata/kapha-like nature. To add to my already long list of daily to do’s in keeping myself healthy and sane, I decided to experiment with a restorative vata yoga practice, abhyanga-external massage with oil prior to bathing, internal oleation through ingestion of ghee, and tongue scrapping every morning upon rising.

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