You may have not gone where you intended to go, but you will end up where you need to be. My education speaks about learning and teaching, beliefs and stories. Every teacher and learner has their own learning path. My story begins in early childhood, when I was making up sad songs and presenting them proudly to my family or playing cafe with my sister wearing my mothers dresses and high heals. But many times I loved to play school at home, trying to engage my sister into learning process. When growing up, it was obvious that there wasn't enough material me for becoming a fado-singer. Although I have always been passionate about cooking, I couldn't see myself spending all my working hours baking and preparing food for others. I couldn't see myself as a teacher as well, so after graduation I decided to choose another field of study. But after a year in the university I found myself changing the subject and took on adult education instead, however I was more interested in organisational development than adult learning. After 11 years of working in different organisations, I felt it was time for a change. Surely you've heard the saying that if you don't know exactly what to do with your life, think about your childhood. What did you love, what kind of games did you play? If you can"t find any direct links, you can still get some hints. So all of the sudden I found myself immersed in the role of a teacher, teaching students, adults and children. To teach what has taught me my education, experiences and yoga-life. In the university, we were constantly asked to reflect on teaching and learning, but only now I can say that teaching for me is sharing. While teaching, I share what I have experienced, learned, and what I know and can. My students will share what they know and have experienced. Although every learner and organisation have their own personal learning journey, each can take out something from the shared teaching-learning practice. The learning journey can be a smooth, high-speed road without any u-turns. But there may be an other road for you- a bumpy, rough, and without clear signs or destination. Even if an organisation or individual is on the same route, the views are different and some don't even see anything. Sometimes, you know your destination, but other times the end is the beginning of something. I believe that learning is about to notice your journey and not to forget to enjoy the views. There are so many ways to get there and role of the teacher is to lead the learners towards different destinations, but the journey and views are chosen by the learner. Even if we are on the same journey, you still learn and notice different things. Just like in yoga. Everyone has their own personal yoga practise, because every person is in a different life phase, with a different body, experiences and philosophies. Tutors can create an environment for learning, experiencing and changes in a secure way, but you can't force change or take responsibility for someone else's choices. The body and mind are ready for a change when there is the right time and place. Sometimes it takes lot of effort to see the results. But other times you push really hard and nothing happens. A lot of patience is required. Other times you need to step out of your comfort zone. Some days you feel that your physical body is willing, but the fear is holding you back. Yoga has taught me the flow of life - whether to give yourself a chance, let go or hold on to. While teaching, I share my personal practise, what I have learned and experienced. It is hard to teach teamwork or strategy writing if you have never practised strategical thinking or never worked in a team. The same is in yoga. You mustn't teach headstand, if you haven't even tried it out on yourself, even if you know theoretically how to do it. I love theories and science, but it is equally important for me to know how the theory works in practice. Therefore, I'm not attached strictly to one school or style of yoga. There is something to grasp from every style, type and teacher and to make it your own. Sometimes you need more yin yoga and sometimes your body just requires intense yang practice. Other times, it is sufficient to take 5 minutes for meditation or feel the need to practise savasana. full day. The most important thing is to listen to your body and choose the yoga that suits your life here and now. I believe that every one has to find his own path by trying out different teachers, classes and styles. My "sharing yoga" consists of sharing my yoga life, classes, practices, knowledge, skills and ideas. I am very blessed that I have had many yoga teachers to learn from and so grateful that my own learning journey has been rather devious, with no clear signs the more I have had the opportunity to experience, learn and share. I love when a yoga teacher is sincere and real, just as she/he is, with his strengths and weaknesses. To some, it seems that a true yoga teacher must be dressed in white, to be extremely spiritual, definitely vegetarian and perform perfectly all the impossible tricks seen in the media. My best friend asked the other day: "You are yoga teacher, do you listen to your body? Are you happy every day? Do you eat healthy every day and enjoy every moment as it is? " Of course not, because I'm a normal human being with all my weaknesses. I have flaws and I make mistakes. I do not live in a perfect harmony with the whole universe. I don't always make healthy choices in the food section, but I am aware of how my body feels after eating something my body doesn't like. I admit frankly that I don't perform any complex tricks and I have a lot to learn. I try to meditate and it is difficult for me as well. I don't think that the yogi must be immersed in white, because every one has the right to dress exactly how they prefer. I'm not a vegetarian, but I generally eat those things that fit my body. Even though some days seem the blackest on earth, my yoga life has taught me to recognise and acknowledge these feelings without judgements. And most of my days I smile, listen to my body and try to make healthy choices. I practise yoga every day, even if it is only 5 minutes sitting in silence. I'm just as I am, because I can't and don't wish to be somebody else. In my teaching-learning journey I have met a lot of people I wouldn't have met other way. The life of teaching-learning has led me to places where I woudn't have been, and the views have been wonderful. Sometimes I'm caught in situations where the learning is painful, but when looking back, I have realized that I gained lot more than I've never expected. Teaching has given me more happiness than any other job I have done, although it is not always easy to teach when people resist on learning. But at the same time I've heard many grateful words, that make my heart melt. You can't describe the joy when after yoga class you can see people glowing even though they don't say anything or haven't got glitter on their clothes. You can feel it. Many times I fly away with a grateful heart and clouds underfoot after teaching yoga class. I am sincerely grateful and blessed that life has given me the opportunity to learn and teach, and directed me to this journey, in spite of all my efforts not to become a teacher. To be who I am in the best possible way, learning and enjoying my journey as a student and a teacher, reflecting back the inner light of every human being and inspire to give their best. Minu haridus kõneleb õppimisest ja õpetamisest, arusaamadest ja lugudest.
0 Comments
|
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|