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The Right to Know

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This past weekend marked the “liquid-only” phase of our fall dietary cleanse. This phase is a necessary component of the cleanse and supports “the right to know”.

The liquid weekend used to loom large in my mind. Comparable to how Frodo and Samwise must have felt as they crossed the swampy plains preceding towards Mordo, filled with a bit of dread accompanied by a simple “I must”.

This weekend was different, surprisingly uneventful in fact. I attribute this to one simple principle, what the yogis call adhikara. 

Adhikara loosely translates as “studentship” thought the spirit of the term means “the right to know”. The right to know is two-fold. 

Number one, it is our human birthright and capacity to experience higher knowledge.  

Here, “knowledge” takes on a deeper dimension. It is not mundane facts but rather, direct insight into the subtle layers of creation, accompanied by the will to live in alignment with them. 

As a practical example, seeing that the source of a dysfunctional pattern has its roots in a childhood trauma. And to move towards love once again, is an exercise in adhikara.

“We have the capacity to experience knowledge with a capital K.”

The second order of adhikara–the right to know–has to to do with earning the right to know. The right to insight is earned through some regular practice or even ordeal. There are many myths that tell of the sacrifice entailed before the boon of Knowledge is bestowed. 

And so it is with seasonal cleansing. Cleansing is skill grown through repetition; fear and obstacles are important parts of the curriculum. Adikara is revealed overtime when live in accordance with our higher Self, our natural birthright.

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Reflections on Teaching Yoga

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Students in Denver Yoga Underground’s yoga teacher training instruct classes outside of the studio. They offer their written reflections on teaching yoga in the community. Here is one such example from a dedicated student who fully embraced the process.

I enjoyed this teaching exercise. I have a background in teaching, so I am already quite comfortable with giving instruction in a group. As a teacher, I sometimes doubt myself or get stressed when I don’t know the content. This came up when I taught my first two yoga classes.

I was very focused on what I was doing, but it wasn’t until the end class that I actually looked up and realized I had students to engage with! After the first few classes, I started to become comfortable with more of the content and the flow of the class, so I was able to start engaging with the students (this also aligned with our YTT classes as we began to discuss the power of observation and different language techniques).

We began to discuss the power of observation and different language

woman with pink hair teaches yoga to a male student

Like anything, by my fifth class, I became more comfortable with what I was doing. I think I still have a lot of areas to work on, for example: reading the students, working on directive language, adding creativity to the class, and practicing safe sequencing. Overall, this exercise was a great way to jump in the deep end of teaching and just start somewhere.

I am often the type of person who needs to make sure everything is aligned before I start to do something, so I appreciated that this exercise forced me to start and begin to learn something from each experience as a teacher. I would like to continue providing practice classes for friends and family so I can continue learning and growing in my teaching skills.

How to integrate these reflections on teaching yoga?

1. Connection (with students and their needs)

2. Experience (teacher as a guide)

3. Fluidity (sequencing and flow)

As I progressed through my practice classes, I believe I was more and more able to incorporate these intentions into my classes. And discover more reflections on teaching yoga. After a few more practices, I started to ease into what it meant to create an experience for the student.

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