Photo: CC Flaurentine
Classes going flat? Make time for refueling.
BY MAGAZINE COLUMNIST BARBARA DENOWH
I’ve been throwing around the word “stale” lately.
Teaching ten classes a week is beginning to wreak havoc on my creative being. Every class is starting to feel the same and I think I’m risking teaching on autopilot. You know, where the whole class just seems like a script?
I’m amazed by long-time teachers. Where do they draw their inspiration? Does it ever dry up? What do they do to recharge?
Here is what I do for inspiration
Hit the mat The more I play on my mat and in my personal practice, the more inspired my teaching feels.
Ditch the plan I wrote out a hip opening class, but it seems like everyone would rather do a quiet practice and then some self-care. Being able to go with the flow always adds a spark, and a personal touch, to my teaching.
Hit the books When I hit a rough patch, I go back to my yoga library and pick up the books that I haven’t in awhile. I find that books speak to me where ever I’m at in my life and something that I’ve read a dozen times might bring me something different.
Cruise blogs I’ve found a lot of inspiration in my blog roll. And while others might not write specifically about teaching, there is a whole lotta love for yoga out there.
Go to a class I recently rearranged my schedule so I could attend one class a week. As a student. It is amazing! It isn’t without difficulties though (read more about that here.)
Take time off Those couple of days off to recharge can make all the difference in the world.
Expand my practice I’ll be taking off at that end of the month to begin my advanced teacher training with Cora Wen! I’ll have all sorts of yoga goodness to bring back to my students.
Barbara Denowh is a yoga teacher in Helena, Montana. You can find her in cyberspace on Facebook or at her website denowhyoga.com. She also rambles about yoga, teaching, her wonderful husband, and her hound at babsbabble.com
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© 2011, The Magazine of Yoga, LLC.
