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July 21, 2011

Take Your Yoga and Business to the Next Level with a Tigress Yoga Class. ~ Diane Sieg

Photo: Lisa Picard

I bravely ventured out to a Tigress yoga class yesterday and I have the battle wounds to prove it.

In case you haven’t had the experience, Tigress Yoga is a two and a half-hour, advanced Anusara yoga class taught by Boulder’s internationally recognized Anusara Yoga teacher, Amy Ippoliti.

Photo: Luke Robinson

Although I teach Anusara-inspired yoga and am on the path to certification, to say I was a little out of my comfort zone would be an understatement.The 22 beautiful, strong bodies in the room — many of them fellow teachers — were nothing short of amazing. As they moved in and out of advanced poses, including Mayurasana (Peacock) and Ruchikasana (leg behind head), they displayed not only grace, skill and strength, but also a remarkable level of commitment.They make it look easy, but practicing at such an intense level requires a lot of knowledge and focused time on the mat.

So why did I go?

I mean, besides the fact that Amy is an amazing teacher and that my friend has been prodding me for weeks, and that the class was, conveniently, taught at Sacred I, the studio where I teach, right in my neighborhood. Turns out, I went so that I could take my business to the next level. I just didn’t know it at the time.

Photo: Tambako

Pushing myself outside of my yoga comfort zone may have given me a literal knock on the head (when I fell backwards and hit the wall), but it provided a broader one as well: I’ve been too easy on myself in my daily yoga practice. Surrounded by such expertise and beauty in motion, I realized that I had a choice; I could either be intimidated and threatened, or I could be inspired and empowered by all that tigress energy.

Although I was unable to do a third of the poses, I left the class energized and with a real sense of accomplishment for not just showing up, but actually pushing myself to practice at a whole new level. I also left with a fresh awareness that I have been slacking in my yoga practice by staying comfortable.

As always, lessons from the mat translate beautifully to life. I have been too easy on myself in my business as well.

As a speaker, writer, life coach, and yoga teacher — not to mention, avid hiker and biker — I have a variety of distractions to keep me busy — especially in summer. I had been staying quite comfortable in my familiar world of routines.

The Tigress class was a wake-up call.

I now realize that I need to get out of my comfort zone.  I need to upgrade my computer system, hire a marketing director and finish my current book. I need to put together not only a marketing plan, but a plan to meet the Anusara certification requirements as well. I need to push myself in my business, just as I pushed myself on the mat in class.

Photo: Arianne

It feels really good to push yourself — whether in a pose or in your business — and to be fully awake and engaged in life. Taking ourselves to the next level keeps us energized and inspired to do good and live our best. Find yourself a coach or mentor, start a Master Mind group or attend a Tigress yoga class.

Surround yourself with like-minded people who can pull you up to that next level, show you amazing things and support you — even if you do get a little banged up along the way.

Hope to see you soon!

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Diane Sieg is a speaker, author, life coach, yoga teacher and retreat facilitator who helps people energize their lives both on and off the mat.  She is the creator of 30 Days to Grace and leads yoga retreats all over the world, including Costa Rica.

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