Can't Get You Out of My Head

It's just a few days before I start teaching my yoga class. I wore shoes yesterday that have left me virtually crippled. Those two unrelated things are now intertwined.
It hurts to stand, and it certainly hurts to walk, move or down dog it.
So no mat time today. Boo hiss.
This actually brought to mind something important: yoga when it's not yoga practice.
For me, yoga is more than time on the mat. It's also the time spent meditating. It's time spent eating healthy. It's time spent practicing pranayama. It's about being hydrated. It's about rest. There are other ways to move and groove.
It's important to remember that any discipline be it running, weight lifting or yoga, most of your practice happens outside your practice. Many other factors influence it, including what you eat and your mindset. I can't be promoting love and peace in class if I'm not promoting it elsewhere.
Yoga is about your mind as much as it is about your body. Running is very similar. I have friends who are marathoners who speak of the mind body connection-if you're not feeling it you're not running it.
I will admit I've been out of my head lately. Juggling all the balls I currently have up in the air has caused me to drop a few. There's quite a bit of negativity around me, and I find myself trying to conquer it. Honestly, I know that I will never live up to some people's standards, despite how hard I try.
Sure, it would be great if you liked me for me. However no matter what kind of force of nature I am, not everyone appreciates that. I've expanded so much energy on it lately, it's left me with little energy to go to the mat.
This little respite caused by a bad pair of shoes will end. Tonight I will soak them in Epsom salt and they will be fine. The respite has also given me a chance to re-evaluate and recharge, to get it out of my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFx3WX4DES0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Drifting In & Out

Starting next Friday, March 2, I will be teaching yoga at my local studio. It's been an amazing journey to this point and I'm incredibly excited by it, but also nervous as heck. The what if's tend to take over:
What if no one comes to class?
What if no one likes my teaching?
What if I mess up the flow?
What if what if what if??????
I can turn it around too:
What if there's a waiting list because my class is so popular?
What if I make a killer playlist?
What if everything flows perfectly?
It's a matter of perspective.
I will be teaching "plus size" yoga, although any size person is welcome. It's a class designed to teach body confidence and acceptance. I know in my personal experience, when you are larger you have a terrific disconnect from your body. Yoga attempts to restore that connection. When you are disconnected, you begin to mistake one thing for another, which is a disservice to everyone.
For example-hunger. I know when I'm disconnected, I am constantly hungry. I'm not physically hungry, but I feel like I am. It's an emotional hunger more than anything else. I am craving something else and substitute food for it.
Many times dehydration plays a big part of it. I don't drink enough water most of the time, which can cause me to mistake hunger for thirst. Being disconnected allows for this misperception.
Yoga helps to restore that connection. When you practice yoga, you have to intertwine mind, body, breath to move.
I credit yoga for my personal success. The discipline that it has taught me to be consistent. To listen not for the thunder and lightening, but the still small voice on the gentle breeze:

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a a still small voice.
1kings 19:11-12