Yoga is For-Giving.

Four, five…eight.  Blankets in blues, smokey greys, tans and chocolate browns.  Packs of thermal socks for women and men soon follows.  Choosing each item with care, I roll up to the cash register with my cart and add two environmentally-friendly bags to my list to hold my purchases.   As I bounce out the door into the cold air, the warmth of the sun cut through the chill, heating my cheeks.  My lungs feel full with each breath I take…freer….  No, this is not shop-therapy and these gifts aren’t for me, they’re for people unknown to me; a donation to a local shelter in my community.  I feel so alive!

As a yoga teacher for 18 years now, I find moments like these remind me the most about why I became a yoga teacher. 

The act of simply giving for the sake of giving can sometimes get lost amidst our financial commitments as teachers.  Overhead expenses such as studio leases and purchasing the newest products to sell, tend to crowd our daily thoughts.  Raising our class fees in hopes of affording all of the above, sometimes makes it hard to attract enough students.  Adding too many yoga classes to our studio calendar in an attempt to appeal to everyone, eventually makes it impossible to keep up.

In the midst of staying buoyant, we sometimes forget to forgive ourselves when we struggle to  face challenges.  We forget to pace ourselves and find our own rhythm as individuals and as teachers.  We also forget to practice what we preach and to remind ourselves that yoga isn’t about keeping up with the Joneses. 

So, when I slow down and remember that I teach yoga because I love it, I can breathe.  Staying connected to that breath of fresh air is an important part of continuing to teach yoga in my community.  As yoga teachers, it’s also good to remember to forgive ourselves if we sometimes forget to be completely present in our giving. 

Purchasing these necessities for families in need — blankets and socks — came from a very primal place in me.  Giving reminds me that what I do is a calling and a gift to myself and a way to better serve my community. 

Namaste.

(Note: I certify that I hold the rights to this article and that this article has already been posted on my website, but elephant can have “free to use” rights. — Dianne Denise Ellis)

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