POV - you don't fit the 'industry standard' image for yoga - 

Have you ever heard yourself say that you are too big, stiff or old to do yoga? Or maybe heard others say this, as I have heard 100's of times in my 23 years of teaching.

It's a fear that many people carry, and I too am not immune to the fears of being judged - in fact  many teachers carry shame - for not 'measuring up' to the 'standard' image of a yoga teacher. 

....And then comes the fear of being 'too old', so much so that many yoga teachers and students opt out of yoga - at precisely the time they are a well spring of knowledge, when they have the most to offer, or as a student, can benefit from it the most!

We all fear being judged, and with social media it has become a minefield, although this depends on what you look at and allow into your 'feed'.

Thankfully, there is also a growing movement happening now - a much healthier one that is embracing...

'Iti noa ana, he pito mata'

'From the withered tree a flower blooms'

This whakataukī ( māori proverb ) is the inspiration for this months blog.

The whakataukī reminds me that knowledge and wisdom are passed down through generations from our tūpuna (ancestors), like the tree that passes its energy and nourishment to the flower.

Like te ao māori, the māori world, yoga also has a form of whakapapa…-  a lineage, with knowledge passed from the elders of the tradition down to students - the next generation. 

In past blogs I have talked about the importance of practice, however, one crucial element of your journey is your teacher.

MY JOURNEY: 

I have been blessed to have begun my journey with yoga over two decades ago.

My teachers came out of the yoga brought to the west from India, and most followed a path or lineage with a particular guru.

It was the nineties and yoga wasn't often practiced to...