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Yoga and The Business of Real Life

Doing, Being and Teaching

BY MAGAZINE COLUMNIST BARBARA DENOWH

I am slowly settling into my life as a “real” yoga teacher. Teaching isn’t that thing I do a couple nights a week. Teaching is that thing I DO. And, it is always interesting the reactions you get from people when they ask THE question.

(You know, that inevitable question, what do you do?  Like that is all we are.  What we do. Well, I guess now it is true for me!) 

July for me was manic, excited energy

Pushing myself to my limits mentally and physically. I have now begun to settle into the dog days of summer. Which aren’t really what you would think around here. Not the hot sluggish days. This year, Montana’s dog days are 50 degrees and rainy. Or if you are in the mountains, snowy. So it is a different kind of sluggishness. 

It is that feeling that a really good back bending practice gives you…grounded down through the legs and floating in the upper body. Rooted and flying. That is where I am.
 
And, to be honest, struggling a little bit. 

Not the “oh, my life is so hard” struggle. Cause life here is super sweet. But, those unique struggles and challenges that come with being a yoga teacher. 

Like schedules

The yoga teaching schedule is something that I will always struggle with. I teach when everyone else’s day is over. When all of my friends are gathering for that well deserved glass of wine. 

When everyone else is done, I’m getting started. 
 
An evening free. Unheard of! I haven’t worked a traditional 9 to 5 in years. I have had many a late nights at my “day” job. So, not having evenings isn’t a new thing. Except now, the only evening I have free is Friday. I took the week off from teaching to soak up these dog days and it was remarkable to have evenings free.  I even got to cook dinner for the wonderful husband!
 
Then there is the reverse of that. 

When all my people are plugging away at their jobs…I actually have time. I read as much as I can about yoga. Anatomy. Philosophy. I write classes and play with sequences. I feel guilty. So guilty. I feel like I should be doing more. 

Letting go is difficult for me

I wander around my house and obsessively clean things. Or, obsessively check my email. I cut down on my “day” job, but it is still there. And I might miss something. I have developed a permanently clenched jaw and furrowed brow. 

I’m working on giving myself permission to enjoy things. Which is damn hard when you feel guilty.
 
I’m navigating my way through all of the challenges. That is why I gave myself this week off. No writing. No teaching. Just being.
 
And, next week, things will gear back up. 

In honor of National Yoga Month (http://yogamonth.org), I am offering all of my classes at Dancing Lotus Center (http://dancinglotuscenter.com/) for FREE. Yup.  FREE. 

Barbara Denowh is a yoga teacher in Helena, Montana. She rambles about teaching, her wonderful husband, and her hound at babsbabble.com. Look for Barbara Denowh Yoga on Facebook or email denowhyoga@gmail.com

Teaching schedule

Mondays
12:00-1:00 PM at IM=X Pilates
7:15-8:15 PM at Fuel Fitness

Tuesdays
6:30-7:30 PM at IM=X Pilates
8:00-9:00 PM at Dancing Lotus Center

Wednesdays
5:30-6:30 PM at YMCA
7:15-8:15 PM at Fuel Fitness

Thursdays
6:30-7:30 PM at IM=X Pilates

Saturdays
August 14th and 28th, 9:00-10:15 AM at Dancing Lotus Center

© 2011, The Magazine of Yoga, LLC.