Ive been asked so many times. I remember when I was starting as a yoga teacher, I didn`t want to meet my colleagues from previous jobs. I`ve had so many fancy titles before yoga and felt somehow embarrassed that this highly educated woman is just a yoga teacher. So I hid myself behind other activities and tried to find another jobs to be somebody. I was saved by my other teaching- consultancy jobs. And I`m still doing that, because I feel like being just a yoga teacher is just not enough for the world.
I` ve heard so many times, that you have such a nice job, you can teach yoga and work out on the same time. Although I love teaching yoga so much, its not a class for myself. Its for people that come to my class. I prepare, not on the paper anymore, but in my head and heart. Although I`m demonstrating postures, I can`t breath on the same time, I`m thinking all the time and keep my awareness on you. Ill guide you, help you, listen and be there for you. I`m there to answer your questions and many times listen your worries. Ill give you advice if needed and if I know the answer or guide you to meet somebody who is more competent. Its not about poses, its aligment behind postures, its creating logic in sequence, preparation for something. Its about knowing anatomy, philosophy, teaching methodology and theory behind. Human body is so complicated and every body is different. And its not about body, its the mind that is way more complicated. Being a good yoga teacher is demanding, intellectually, experimentally and emotionally. Although I love people and teaching so much, I feel tired of being present all the time and miss my own practise. But its not enough to answer the world. To survive as a yoga teacher, you need to teach at least 10- 15 classes in a week and even then, you may need additional income, privates or trainings. Also you need time for your own practice (to have your own training time), to prepare and keep your adhikara (competence) up to date, as every other teacher/trainer does. So you end up running around between jobs and prove the world that you are somebody. And then they ask you, what is your real job? Millega teie naine päriselt tegeleb, küsiti minu abikaasalt? Ta vastas ausalt, et on joogatreener ja teeb aeg ajalt koolitusi ning konsulteerib organisatsioone. Aga tema igapäevane töö küsiti uuesti? See ei ole esimene kord, kui see teema minu jaoks ülesse kerkib. Ma mäletan aega, kui ma otsustasin hakata joogaõpetajaks. Kui palju minu käest küsiti (küsitakse endiselt), mida ma siis päriselt teen? Päris alguses ma lootsin, et ma oma endisi kolleege ei kohta, sest välismaailmale tundus nii arusaamatu, kuidas üks kõrgelt haritud naisterahvas teeb päristööna midagi nii vähe nõudlikku. Eks ma siis otsisin endale ka väljundit, et mul oleks midagi, mille taha varjuda, mis mind tõsiselt võetavaks inimeseks muudab. Mind päästis/päästab endiselt koolitus- ja konsultatsioonitöö, mida ma joogaõpetamise kõrvalt üsna palju teen. Joogatöö tundub inimestele selline tore hobitöö- saad õhtul koos teistega trenni teha, venitada ja pikutada. Nö kaks ühes- teed trenni ja selle eest makstakse. Ideaalne. Kuigi ma armastan joogaõpetaja tööd väga, ei ole see joogatund mulle endale. See on tund neile, kes tulevad. Ma valmistun, aga alati otsustan olukorra ja sihtgrupi põhjal, mida ma õpetan. Kuigi ma näitan ette, ei saa ma ise täiel määral oma kehale ja hingamisele keskenduda, ma jälgin ja kuulan inimesi ruumis. Ma juhendan, õpetan, kuulan ja aitan,. Ma vastan küsimustele ja annan nõu, kui ma oskan või suunan edasi spetsialisti juurde, Asi ei ole asendites, vaid tehnikas, joonduvuses, anatoomias, kinosioloogias, psühholoogias, õpetamise tehnikates ja miljonis muus asjas. Iga seeria on kokku pandud eesmärgiga, iga eelnev valmistab ette millekski. Inimese keha on keeruline ja iga keha on erinev. Veel keerulisem on see, mis toimub inimese sees ja eriti peas. Hea joogaõpetaja olla on intellektuaalselt väljakutsuv. Samuti peab sul olema aega, et ise praktiseerida ja õppida, et oma adhikarat (kompetentsi) tasemel hoida. Nii tihti tahaks ise hoopis joogatundi minna, et 100% praktikale pühenduda, nautida ja pühenduda. Kui sa oled ainult joogaõpetaja, siis peaks sul olema 10-15 tundi nädalas, et oma igapäevaseid kulusid katta tõenöoliselt sa vajad ikka lisatööd või sissetulekut, eriti kui sa pead üksi toime tulema või tahad end koolitada. Nii sa siis jooksed mitme töö vahet ja üritad tõestada, et sa oled siiski mõtlev ja haritud inimene. Ja siis sinu käest küsitakse ikka, mida su päris töö on?
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It has been a while since I wrote something. Feels like life is passing by in a second. In 2018 I travelled a lot: first Malta, almost a month in Thailand, then Italy and in last fall my 300YTT started (when it will be over I´ll write longer post about it), which means travelling in every 2 months to Berlin. And now I just came back from Bali, where I had really needed Restorative Yoga Teachers Training. It was a real blessing, because I was so exhausted- almost no vacant days from November. So I had 4 days of sweet meditation in addition to learning and after the training short vacay in Bali, mostly in Ubud, but also in Lembognan island. It feels like it was a short flight there and back- I really regret not staying longer, because my body and mind needed longer break. Soon after coming back, I got cold and now suffering at home. 2018 was a great year. Besides travelling, I would call it year of learning. And seems like 2019 will be the same. First I took an extensive anatomy course, which opened my eyes in many ways. Then I had course with Marlene Henny on deep core vinyasa and then 4 days intensive with Mark Stephens http://www.markstephensyoga.com/, who has written so many books on yoga and is extremely knowledgeable and has non dogmatic approach which I loved so much. And he is so nice as a person, which I value highly, because in yoga world (or in teachers world) you never know:) And in October I started my 300YTT with Noah Maze https://themazemethod.com/instructor/noah-maze/, which means a week long modules within one year. And few weeks ago I did my Restorative Teachers Training with Anne Wanda Tessier. So lot of learning and teaching so far and it will be same in 2019. Besides learning, I have been teaching a lot. In addition to regular classes, I did yoga fundamentals course and mindfulness course. Organized one yoga retreat in the beautiful surrounds of southern part of Estonia. Taught 3 rounds of teachers training on kids yoga for physical education teachers, which I enjoyed so much. It makes your heart melt, when teachers come and thank you for changing their perception on yoga. As I try to make courses really practical in terms of philosophy, anatomy and asana, I could see how theory comes into practice. Hopefully they will practice yoga at schools and soon it will be in physical education curriculum. Highlight of my year was one of my dreams coming true. I have always dreamed of helping local governments to organize their education. I have done plans for non formal education and helping in change management of art and music shools but now I had chance to design the future of full spectrum education for local government. Even it wasn`t the easiest job ever, it was most interesting challenge I`ve met so far. But here is short video about my last visit to Bali and one video about our summer highlight when organizing one-day cafe in our home. Tundub, et aeg kiirustab. 2018 oli õppimise ja reisimise aasta ning tundub, et sama jätkub ka 2019. aastal. Kõigepealt olime pika nädalavahetuse Maltal, siis sõitsime juba kuuks Taisse ning suvel avastasime Itaaliat. Suvesse jääb ka meie esimene hipikohvik Põhja- Sakala valla kohvikutepäeval, mis osutus üle ootuste menukaks ning eriti soojalt meenub tänuüritus kohvikupidajatele valla poolt. Oktoobris alustasin ma oma 300h edasijõudnud joogaõpetajate koolitust, mis tähendab üle kahe kuu reisimist Berliini terve aasta vältel. Nüüd just tulime tagasi Balilt, kus ma läbisin Taastava jooga õpetajate kursuse, mis pakkus lisaks õppimisele ka totaalset puhkust kehale ja meelele ning tunde kestvat meditatiivset seisundit. Seekord jäi Balil veedetud aeg eriti lühikeseks ning tundus, et alles lendasime, kui juba tulime tagasi. Ka keha ja meel ei jõudnud ennast veel korralikult maha laadida ning nüüd ma siin istun kodus haigena. Peale reisimise oli 2018 üks suur õppimiskogemus. Kõigepealt läbisin ma anatoomia kursuse, mida viis läbi tegev füsioterapeut ja TÜ õppejõud ning mis tekitas veel rohkem huvi inimese keha ja füsioloogia vastu. Lisaks Kas Sa oled mõelnud joogast, aga ei ole julgenud tundi tulla, sest sa pole enda arvates piisavalt painduv või tugev? Või oled sattunud joogasse, aga ei ole täpselt aru saanud, kuidas hingata, kuidas asendeid võtta või mis mõte sellel savasana-l täpselt on? Või oled juba pikemat aega joogatundidest osa võtnud ja sa tahaks teada, kuidas asendis korrektselt püsida ning milline mõju asendil kehale on? Jooga algkursus on suunatud kõigile jooga huvilistele, kes soovivad joogaga alustada või joogast rohkem teada. Kursus koosneb nii teoreetilisest kui praktilisest osast. Kursuse läbides tunned end kindlamalt joogatundides ning saad ka juhised koduseks harjutamiseks. I osa 03.11 JOOGA PÕHIALUSED Jooga alused. Joogastiilid. Hingamine (pranayama), erinevad tehnikad. Kehalukud (bandhad). II 10.11 JOOGAASENDID I Asendid keha soojendamiseks. Päikesetervitus A (surya namaskar A) ja asendite joondumine. III 17.11 JOOGAASENDID II Päikesetervitus B (surya namaskar B) ja asendite joondumine. Tasakaaluasendid. IV 24.11 JOOGAASENDID III Ette- ja tahapainutused, pöörded. Meditatsioon. Õpetaja: Helina Kibar. Koolitaja Helina Kibaril on bakalaureuse kraad kasvatusteadustes ja magistrikraad andragoogikas. Lisaks erinevate joogatundide juhendamisele (hot yoga, vinyasa jooga, yin jooga, beebiootajate jooga), töötab Helina ka täiskasvanute koolitajana. Läbitud joogakoolitused: Yoga Level 1 200h Yoga Alliance Certification 2014, It`s Yoga Kids Certification, Itś Yoga Kids Helsinki 2015 (Michelle Wing), Prenatal Yoga 20h 2015 (Temea Milliron), Embodied Yin Yoga 50h 2016 (Satu Tuomela), Hot Yoga 45h 2016 (Silja Siller), Yoga adjustments and aligment Mark Stephens 30h, Anatoomia ja füsioloogia 74h. Hetkel õpib Helina Noah Maze juures 300h advance joogakursustel. Hind: 1x pääse 10 eur. Kui tasud korraga terve kursuse eest, siis 30 eur-i. Saalis on olemas kõik vajalik: matid, blokid ja tekid. Palun anna endast teada, kas pannes fb üritusel osalen või kirjutades [email protected]. Ruumi mahutavus seab grupi suurusele piirangud- kes ees, see sees:). 1. People I have been travelling a lot, but in Bali I have met most beautiful people. They are friendly, happy, open and can surprise you when you least expect it. Last time when I was there, family from my homestay, surprised me with a cake, flowers and song in my birthday morning. They even apologised that the flowers were local! And I only met these people a week ago. They are willing to share their traditions and customs with you and are so happy if you are making your efforts to understand and show respect to their culture. Balinese people follow strictly their religion and karma, so they believe that whatever you do, everything comes back sooner or later:) Yes, there are exceptions, but in general, they want that you remain happy, even fixing something takes long time or compromise lot of negotiation. Yes there are lot of men on the streets offering you taxi service or tours, but they are not pressuring you to take it. If you say no, thank you, they thank you in return and ask maybe tomorrow:) Same in shops- they are grateful for visiting it, but not trying to make you buy everything. Always ask better price or ask from different sellers, there are always better offers available, because it brings good karma:) Life in Bali goes along with ceremonies and they have ceremony for everything from birth till death. There are ceremony for every thing on earth and nothing happens without ceremony. People stop working, if there is a ceremony, if you bought or sold something, make a ceremony. So more than half of their incomes goes to making ceremony and if you have lot of money, you make more and bigger ceremonies. I asked, what they would do, when they earned more money, they said, that they would put all their extra money for making bigger ceremonies! Because it brings luck and protection to their family, house, car, food, for everything. Balinese are really open to share all their ceremonies with you, but you must show respect to their traditions. Please wear sarong and sash, shoulders covered. Please dont touch children s head (it is the most sacred place on human body), please dont face your bare feet to somebody. Please take off your shoes, if you enter rooms, temples, shops. I have seen so many tourist willing to take part of ceremonies, but not understanding that it is not show for them, but its something very sacred for Balinese people. I even saw a lady wearing mini skirt when visiting most honoured healer in Bali. Yes she had really long legs, but this is not the place, I was so embarrassed. If you dont know how to dress or act, please ask before you do. Bali juures ma armastan kõige rohkem inimesi, kes on nii siirad, lahked ja valmis jagama sinuga oma igapäevaelu. Nad oskavad sind üllatada, kui sa kõige vähem ootad. Viimane kord, kui ma ööbisin ühes kodumajutuses, siis minu sünnipäevahommikul üllatasid nad mind tordi, lillede ja lauluga, ise veel vabandades, et lilled on kohalikud! Balilased jälgivad rangelt oma tavasid ning üldiselt enamik elab põhimõtte järgi, et kõik, mida sa teed, tuleb sulle tagasi. Loomulikult on ka erandeid, aga üldiselt tahavad nad alati, et klient oleks õnnelik, isegi kui see võtab kaua aega või peate omavahel vaidlema ning kompromissile jõudma. Tänavatel olevad taksojuhid (taxi-taxi) ei ole pealetükkivad ja kui sa neid tänad pakkumise eest, siis soovivad nad sulle head päeva. Sama on poodides, kus sulle ei üritata kõike pähe määrida, vaid ollakse tänulikud, et sa nende poodi külastasid, sest see toob neile head õnne. Õnne ja kaitse jaoks on neil igapäevased tseremooniad, mida viiakse läbi sünnist surmani ja üleüldse kõikide asjade puhul, mida sa ette võid kujutada. Tseremooniatele pannakse üle poole oma sissetulekutest ja mida rikkam on perekond, seda suuremad ja uhkemad on tseremooniad, Kui näiteks perel ei ole raha, et matuseid korraldada, siis maetakse esialgu surnu maha, kogutakse aastaid raha ning ühel hetkel kaevatakse surnu ülesse ja tehakse suur põletamise tseremoonia. Kui ma küsisin, mida sa teeksid siis, kui sul oleks rohkem raha, siis vastasid nad, et korraldaks rohkem ja suuremaid tseremooniad, sest see toob veel rohkem õnne ja raha sisse. Praegu kulub aeg lihtsalt töötamiseks, et tseremooniate jaoks raha koguda:) Balilased on väga avatud sinuga jagama oma igaäevaelu, aga eeldusel, et sa austad nende kultuuri ja traditsioone. Vahel tundub, et turistid arvavad, et kõik see on üks suur etendus turistide lõbustamiseks. Tegelikult on tegemist väga pühade protseduuridega, milleks tehakse suuri ettevalmistusi. Seega kui sa tahad olla osaline, siis austa Balit, kanna sarongi, salli ümber piha kattes õlad. Ära katsu laste päid (sest see on kõige püham koht) ja ära istu paljaste jalgadega inimeste poole. Võta ära jalanõud enne ruumidesse, poodidesse, templitesse sisenemist. Küsi enne, kui sa otsustad midagi teha. Ükskord ma isegi nägin ühte kaunist pikajalgset naisterahvast miniseelik seljas, külastamas Bali kõige pühamat tervendajat ning mul oli tõesti väga piinlik. 2. Magic I believe in magic and there is a lot of magic in Bali, Island of Gods. First time when I visited Bali, I didnt have any expectations and it was wonderful experience. Second time I had expectations, I was looking for answers, because there was a great mess in my life, but nothing happened and I was so frustrated. People often go to Bali to look for something. They visit several healers, readers, go to ceremonies (water, fire, flower, dancing etc), get many healing-ayurvedic massages, buy different magical things and try everything to get healed and find their ways in life. Then the vacation is over, you fly back and nothing really changes. Been there and done that:) Yes, there are lot of people who know and can really work with magic in Bali, but as it says: "Teacher appears when the student is ready". It happens, when you have yourself. There is an inner Guru in every one of us, but its hard to find him, or listen to her. So we go far away to find it, but you cant run away from yourself. If you dont find it here, you dont find it in Bali either. So if you want to solve something or find the answers, dont go so far, dont waste your money, dont look your answers from somewhere or from someone. There is time and place for change. If you have found yourself and time is there, go with open heart. Dont expect anything and everything is there, all that magic, everywhere and when you least expect it. Ma usun maagiasse ja öeldakse, et Bali on jumalate saar, kus igal sammul võib kohata maagiat. Kui ma esimesel korral balil käisin, ei teadnud ega ma ei osanud oodata eriti midagi. Kogemus, mis ma sain oli nii eriline, et tahtsin järgmisel aastal kohe tagasi minna. Selleks ajaks olin oma eluga päris puntrasse jooksnud ning ma uskusin, et see reis muudab minu elu ja mul on aega mõelda, kuhu ja mida edasi. Ma mäletan hästi viimast päeva, kui ma tagasi hakkasin sõitma ja mitte midagi polnud muutunud. Raha oli otsas, vastuseid polnud ja puhkus sai ka läbi. Kuigi ma olin teinud läbi igasugu tseremooniaid ja leidnud aega mõtisklemiseks. Balile tõmbab inimesi tihti just maagia, mille abil loodetakse end tervendada, leida vastuseid või rahu. Külastatakse mitmeid tervendajaid, osaletakse vee- tule- tantsu-lille puhastustseremooniatel, ostetakse maagilisi kivisid-viirukeid-vett, võetakse tervendavaid massaaze või ayurveda hoolitsusi ning külastatakse tervendajaid, ennustajaid. Puhkus saab läbi, aga elu läheb ikka oma rada pidi edasi, mitte midagi ei ole muutunud. Kindlasti olete kuulnud ütlemist, et kui õpilane on valmis, tuleb ka õpetaja. Ehk nagu minule meeldib öelda, on meie endi sees olemas sisemine Guru ehk sina ise. Probleem on pigem selles, et sa ei tea, kes see Guru sinu sees on või mida ta sulle öelda tahab või lihtsalt keeldud teda kuulamast. Niikaua, kui sa isennast üles ei leia, ei leia sa seda ka kuskilt mujalt. Seega pole mõtet raisata oma aega ja raha. sõita seitsme mäe ja mere taha ning otsida sealt iseennast. Mine Balile avatud südamega, valmis vastu võtma ja kogema seda, mida see imeline saar sulle pakub ja sinu ees avaneb palju maagiat, igal sammul ja igal hetkel. 3. Views Plan your journey, but do not forget to enjoy the views and views in Bali are stunning. The nature is an amazing, so green, so lush, so fresh. Although it is hot and humid and there is lot of heavy rain in the low season (november till may), I love it. There are so much to see in Bali. Every household is like a temple with beautiful garden. Every house in compound is located according their rules like a labyrinth, because they have belief that demons cant take corners:) Every family has their temples in their households, there are temples in the village and big temples in every county. Definitely visit waterpalace near to Candidasa and watertemples, that you can find everywhere around Bali, Depending on the ceremony, the temple is decorated with textiles, flowers in different colours and bamboo. Offerings to the gods are also colourful, big and consists of flowers, bamboo, sweets, rice and other food. Same are their national costumes, handmade, bright and with beautiful patterns. In Bali, everybody finds something to fall in love. There are high mountains, black, yellow, white sand beaches. Blue, green, grey sea or beautiful waterfalls with spring water. Amazing rice terraces around. My favourite places are Candidasa (east, on seaside), Ubud (centre of Bali), Uluwatu (west). Most touristic places are Kuta and Seminyak, where are all the popular brands and food courts are presented and nightlife is wild. Sanur is also touristic place with big hotel chains, but more quiet and suitable for families. Uluwatu and Canggu are popular among the surfers. Nusa Dua is a resort where all the fancy hotels are located. Kõige rohkem ma armastan reisides vaateid, mis avanevad sulle igal sammul. Balil on eriti ilus loodus, heleroheline, lopsakas ja värviline. Kuigi kliima on üpris niiske, kuum ja vihmane (eriti madal hooajal novembrist-maini), on vaadata nii palju. Iga majapidamine (tavaliselt elab mitu põlvkonda koos) on nagu väike tempel ning ehitatud teatud reegleid arvestades. Balilastel on uskumus, et deemonid ei saa liikuda, kui on palju nurki, seega on hooned ehitatud ka nagu labürint. Igas majapidamises on tempel, kus viiakse läbi erinevaid tseremooniaid. Templeid on hulganisti ka külades ja suuremad maakondades. Templid on ehitud vastavalt tähtpäevadele erinevate värvide, tekstiilide ja lilledega. Sama värvilised on nende rahvuslikud kostüümid, millel on käsitööna erinevad mustrid. Kindlasti külasta veetempleid, mida leidub palju üle kogu bali. Samuti kuningale ehitatud vee-lossi, kust avanevad imelised vaated. Balil on igale maitsele midagi vaadata. Mäed on, vulkaanid ka. Vesi on kas sinine või roheline, soolane või mage Rand kollane, must või valge, kõik sõltub asukohast. Vaatamist väärivad kosed ja lõputud riisipõllud, millest ilusamad Ubudis. Minu lemmikkohtadeks Balil on Ubud ja Candidasa. Kõige turistikamad on aga Kuta ja Seminyak, kus leidub kõike kodust ja euroopalikku ning on elav ööelu. Sanur on vaiksem turistikeskus ja sobib rohkem peredele. Surfarid liiguvad Canggus ja Uluwatus, kultuuri on rohkem Ubudis. Kõige peenemad hotellid on aga Nusa Dual. Bali ida osa on aga minu meelest kõige ilusam, mägine, ilusate vaiksete randade ja lopsaka loodusega. 4- 5 Yoga and Food
Bali is a yoga and food heaven. Do yoga 24hrs 7 days a week. Eat as much as you can, you can get everything vegan, non vegan, glutenfree, lactosefree, raw, juices, smoothies, healthy, non healthy- sky is the limit! Bali on toidu ja joogaparadiis. Tee joogat 24h päevas, 7 päeva nädalas ja söö kõike, mida hing ihkab. Kõike on saadaval taime-liha, gluteenivaba, laktoosivaba, toores, mahlad, smuutid, tervislik, mitte tervislik- ainult taevas on piiriks! Read more about yoga and food in Bali here/Loe rohkem toidust ja joogast siit: http://estonianyogini.weebly.com/blogblogi/my-bali-vol-3-yoga-and-food-heaven-minu-bali-vol-3-jooga-ja-toiduparadiis. I love the saying that aim of the yoga is to create space were once stuck. To unveil layers of protection you have built around your heart. To appreciate your body and become aware of the mind and the noise it creates. To make peace with who you are in creating our natural wholeness, balanced integrity of our yin and yang nature. I am naturally yang-type of person. I love sun and light, hot weather and spicy food. I function better on daytime and love to be active and spend time outside. I'`m not good at keeping emotions inside and tend to act before I think. I am loud and want everything happen here and now. Although I`m pretty earthy, I love to dream about many things and sometimes feel like the sky is the only limit. Although I love to be a woman, passionate about my home, beautiful clothes, cooking and dancing, on the same time I' m a true warrior who can handle everything without help. Tough, independent woman with lot of fire inside. So for a long time I created a very yang-like lifestyle for myself. Always planning, controlling and leading at work and home. Yes, I did achieve a lot, I had a wonderful career as a manager and I surely seemed like very gentle and amiable person. I had always my agenda in my pockets and no matter what the weather or how many times I had to try, I did it. Because I was a warrior and many times even acted like a true marshal. My way or no way. Yep hard to admit, but same at home and everywhere. Even though I was a true woman, my life was lacking yin side of being. I couldn’t trust the flow of life, I have used to plan and control everything. I was constantly planning, thinking and reacting emotionally. I didn't hear my body, I had terrible headaches, I was intensive and unbalanced. I kept on going very yang-way, when eventually life gave me painful lesson to learn. I couldn't plan anything, I just lived my life day by day not knowing what`s going to happen next. I had to live in the present moment, there was no clear future and past was full of memories. Other way was impossible. I got lesson for a lifetime. Although everything worked out fine in the end, I needed a help to find myself again. The very first yoga class I took, was kind of Yin, slow, holding poses long and just being there with my body and mind. I couldn'`t understand what was the idea of sitting there and doing barely nothing. I was counting minutes to get out of the room and away from my thoughts that were circulating in my head. I wanted to have physical exercise, to move fast and burn lot of calories. So I stepped into intensive yang yoga practice just to take care of my body. That’s how my personal journey started and how yoga approaches to many students, via physical exercise in order to get in shape, reduce stress or to find the way out from something that doesn't feel right anymore. At one point during my regular yoga-life, I got noticed that yang yoga practice was quietly sneaking into my lifestyle. I started to notice my emotional body, how my thoughts are flowing and changing and affecting my physical body. Yoga taught me flexibility in life, how to cope with other’s needs. And patience, still my biggest struggle in life. I understood that I can' `t control everything and learned how to live peace with myself when everything doesn'` t go the way I planned or decided. I started let go of things or just let them be the way they are. I understood that I can't change others, but myself. I followed the moon and let things happen way they are. I trusted the flow of life. I started to love yin in yoga and life. I let myself be in yin yoga and it was deliberating. I was amazed how it can be, that without sweating and intensive exercise you feel so light and relaxed. I felt more energy and the mind was clear as well. And believe me, it isn' `t easy to sit there with all your flowing thoughts and body that wants to move out from posture. Yin side of yoga has taught me to lose control, let things go and let them be, and this has been and still is hardest lesson in my life. While teaching, I share my personal practice, what I have learned and experienced. I teach mainly yang-style of yoga, because my personal journey began from there and I am still in love with vinyasa. To begin with the tangible part of us is more common in many ways, but still yet pretty hard to understand and control. We always say that do your practice, but listen to your body. And that listening part is very hard, we are still pushing strong and shaking in the postures doing more harm than good for our bodies. So many times we start with the yang practises, sometimes we feel something, even fall, get angry or start to cry. Then we start noticing, during or after yoga. Maybe we even listen our body and mind, learn something and the yin part has started. Sometimes while I practise, I start with yin postures to get into the skin and bones and slowly continue to feel the tangible part of human, muscles and body. I use yin yoga in my prenatal classes, I do breathing exercises to get connected to body and poses that help body to be more relaxed. I love how children get naturally yin, they feel their bones and skin, could imagine deeper tissues of the body. We are on constant journey towards wholeness and balance, integrating yin and yang sides of life. Sometimes there are more yin and other times yang, the challenge is to acknowledge the current state and to try to find balance again. Every single day of your life. Yang part is more understandable and achievable for us, because we see it, we can touch it. The yin part of life and yoga takes more time to understand, because it is hard to touch untouchable. Holding space for now is hard, being in between is difficult. You can`t push anything nor force yourself, you have to feel it in your skin, bones and with your heart. It takes time, but it is worth it. It can change your life and yang practice. It opens your body and mind in many different ways. It teaches you how to let things be as they are, when you can`t change anything. It gives you time, extends reaction time, teaches patience and stillness in life. But in the end its all about wholeness. Where dark meets light, water with fire, cold with hot, speed meets stillness, activity with patience and moon with sun. Where yang and yin are both present. Ma usun, et jooga eesmärk on luua ruumi ja rahu enda sees ning ümber. Õppida tundma oma keha, märkama oma mõtteid ning müra nende sees. Luua oma loomulikku terviklikkust, tasakaalustades yin ja yang poolt elus. 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. |
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