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Nearly Enlightened
Join Nearly Enlightened's host Giana Giarrusso and discover the body, mind and spirit connection! The Nearly Enlightened Podcast is for the soul-centered seeker who is on the path of personal growth and spiritual development. This podcast takes a light-hearted approach exploring topics rooted in themes of mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Nearly Enlightened
Evolving Yoga: Trends vs Tradition & Balancing Feedback
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How do you navigate feedback that feels more like a personal attack than helpful guidance? In this candid and thought-provoking episode, I’m joined by Deirdre "Dee" Doyno, a yoga teacher living off-grid life in Panama, as we explore the realities of navigating criticism while staying true to our teaching styles. Together, we dive into the delicate balance of authenticity and growth, honoring yoga’s rich traditions while adapting to modern trends.
We’ll discuss the complexities within the yoga community, from the diversity of teaching styles to competitive dynamics among teachers. Discover how props, once resisted, have become invaluable in making yoga accessible, and reflect on the impact of evolving trends like shorter class durations and innovative practices such as laughter and shake meditations.
This conversation shines a light on fostering inclusivity, building a culture of openness, and embracing yoga’s deeper philosophical roots beyond physical postures. Whether you’re a teacher or a student, this episode will inspire you to connect the ancient with the contemporary, advocate for authenticity, and cultivate continuous growth within yourself and your community.
Highlights:
Navigating criticism as a yoga teacher
Honoring yoga’s traditions while embracing innovation
The role of props and accessibility in modern yoga
Balancing personal teaching styles with student growth
Building inclusivity and dialogue within the yoga community
Exploring yoga as a holistic practice beyond asana
Have thoughts or a different perspective? We’d love to hear from you—reach out and join the conversation!
Nearly Enlightened Podcast
Your high-vibe toolbox to connect with your body, mind, and spirit. Empowering you to uncover your Inner Wisdom.
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Welcome to the Nearly Enlightened podcast. This is season four people, can we believe it? This is a high vibe toolbox designed to help you connect with your body, mind and spirit. I am your host, gianna Girusso. I'm here to guide you on a journey of self-discovery, healing and growth. Each episode is packed with inspiring conversations, practical tools and soulful insights to help empower you to find the answers that already exist within. Whether you're diving into meditation, exploring spiritual practices or navigating life's ups and downs, this is your space to get curious, stay grounded and feel deeply supported. Let's dive in and get nearly enlightened together. I am here and joined with my good friend Dee Dee. Welcome back.
Speaker 2:Hello, thank you.
Speaker 1:If you want to know a little bit more about Dee, she's been on multiple podcasts literally since 2022, like since pretty much the beginning. So if you're curious about Dee and what she does, she's also a yoga teacher. She is in Panama on an off-grid farm. She is in Panama on an off-grid farm. I mean, you can talk more about it.
Speaker 2:Let me not butcher it, no, no, no, I don't know what you want me to say here. Yeah, just kind of diving into a bunch of different things, living how I feel like I've always envisioned that I was gonna live, and you know, it definitely comes with its hardships, um, but it's also beautiful, um. So, yeah, we're kind of in the thick of it right now. You know we're, I think we're going into our summer season, but, um, we've had a little bit of challenges because of the rain and we have solar panels. So it's been. We always get really happy when summer comes around because you know we, we have full power and if I want to watch TV at night, I can watch TV at night, or you know that kind of stuff. So it's very, it's definitely a different way to live, but it's, it's empowering, oh yes, I love that.
Speaker 1:Eventually, I'm going to get down and visit.
Speaker 2:Oh you're, you're coming yeah.
Speaker 1:So there's something very specific that I want to talk about today, so let me just give our listeners like a little bit of background. So, as you know, I'm a yoga teacher, I teach a lot of in person classes here in Rhode Island and I like a little bit of background. So, as you know, I'm a yoga teacher, I teach a lot of in-person classes here in Rhode Island and I took a little bit of a hiatus where, back from a winter break, I really needed just like a reset. So I was away for a little over two weeks and, like I was just about to come back to start my routine and to get back into teaching a little bit of a new schedule. So my classes have like shifted here or there and I get a message from one of the studio owners and you know what? So that I'm fully factual, I'm just going to we come with receipts, receipts, receipts. Factual, I'm just gonna. We come with receipts, receipts, receipts. So she's gonna read the message right from right from her phone where it came from. Maybe this is petty of me, I don't really know. Um, let me see where did it go. Okay, it reads hi, I received some feedback from a few regulars that I wanted to share.
Speaker 1:They aren't loving the lengthy flow on your own aspect of classes. I like to share any and all feedback. Hope you had a lovely holiday. Now let me tell you some human ego stuff came up and I realized that it was human ego. But I also think it's pretty nuanced, because it wasn't really feedback. Because feedback is like, oh, your cadence is a little bit fast, like why don't you slow it down so people can flow with you better? I don't know that's feedback, constructive criticism, problem solution.
Speaker 1:To me, this was, or it felt like, and this is what I'm sitting with right now. Yeah, it felt like an attack of my personal style of teaching. Yeah, and had I been a new yoga teacher, this would have really, I mean, it did throw me. So I guess it still threw me. I think I would have wanted to make a change more to like people please. But since I'm coming on my 10th year of teaching nine and a half years I've been teaching it really just felt like a personal attack. One because she has been to my classes before and I have taught exactly the same for the last year, um, and two because so this is where I want to get in with two with you, because you've also been practicing for a long time. You've been teaching for a long time, so I feel like you get it we love to talk about the shadows yeah, yoga is not about what you like and what you don't like.
Speaker 1:Like yoga is not a fitness class. Yoga is not a democracy.
Speaker 2:You're practicing it right now, just dissecting all of this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and this is what I've been doing. And it's funny because my boyfriend was like you went off the handle, you shouldn't have acted like that. Because, yeah, I like flew off the handle. I was kind of like fuck this, fuck this. Because from my perspective, my point point of view, what should have happened? The student should have been invited to get curious. Okay, why don't you like flowing on your own?
Speaker 1:I, I teach a lengthy flow, like I'm not understanding. I teach a sun a, a sun b and a sun c. They're different. Every time I walk, walk everyone through slow, multiple breaths per movement. We move so slow for a power class. I walk everyone through each and every pose very slowly, multiple breaths Second time through.
Speaker 1:We flow with the breath. It's a little bit quicker, but we set that base foundation. You know where we're going. It's not little bit quicker, but we set that base foundation. You know where we're going. It's not unfamiliar now, if you're paying attention, if you're present, if you are in the moment, if your brain is in class and not elsewhere, where you know, like you know if it is, that's fine too. That's, that's the practice. It's like staying present. So then we walk through multiple breaths per movement and then, yeah, I have students flow on their own. The first time you do it, is it uncomfortable? Yes, the first time I did it did I fucking hate it? Yeah, I fucking hated it, but I allowed it to break me out of my comfort zone and now it's something that my body craves Like.
Speaker 1:I don't want my teacher standing up there talking for an hour hour and 15, hour and a half like allow a moment of quiet, allow a moment for students to be with themselves. So yeah, I took this as a personal attack and still I am like I mean, you can probably hear it, this is probably the most fired up I've ever been on this.
Speaker 2:You're fired up, girl let it out.
Speaker 1:But I was just really disappointed because and this is where I have a really big issue with the yoga community at large is it becomes very political, it becomes very my class is better than this class and this teacher has more experience than this teacher, and yeah, it just it. It just sends me over the edge, because the practice of yoga is over 5,000 years old, right, so it's been for most of history.
Speaker 2:It's been passed down verbally from generation to generation, from teacher to student, student to teacher, and every teacher has put their own spin on it own flavor, their own genesis, if you will okay, yes, bring it, give it the lineage would have never been passed down, it would have never survived 5 000 years if we didn't have this way of honor and honor the origin, yes, which is like you're just saying, like I feel like and this is where West has adopted, where we are right, as it's been passed down and passed down.
Speaker 2:And for me, as a white yoga teacher, one of the very things that I always check myself about is like, when I walk into my class, I do it with intention to honor the origins of the practice. And when you, when I hear you talking, like my mind is going directly and I think you said something touched upon this when you started, when you started the fire, we were like get curious about why you can't sit in silence. Our culture right now is so uncomfortable with sitting with themselves in silence. And one of the limbs of yoga okay, because it's this eight limb practice is self-study. So you are incorporating that into the practice which most people in the West generally I'm not putting everybody into this category, but most people go in thinking and doing it just for the asana, which is just one practice.
Speaker 1:Yes, and especially in a power yoga class, which is, I have to say, it's power yoga, power vinyasa is a majority of what I teach. So, yes, a lot of people are coming for the physical practice. They're coming for a good sweat, they're coming for a workout, but guess what, which is fine, right, but sweat, they're coming for a workout, but guess what, which is fine, right, but that's not why we're here and that is not why I'm here, and that is not. The practice goes far beyond that and that's why I thought it was a really big opportunity for the teacher that it was presented to, for it to be a teaching opportunity for both. Yes, and so you know what? Gianna's not here. Yes, and say you know what?
Speaker 1:Gianna's not here. I can't speak to why she teaches the way she does, but I'm sure she has a why as to why she teaches the way she teaches. So why don't you have this conversation with her? Yeah, why don't you have this conversation with her? So maybe you can understand. And you know, I do have a why of why I make students flow on their own. Because, first of all, maybe you want to add poses, maybe you want to take poses out, maybe you want to try something you've never tried before, maybe you want to sit in child's pose for one to three minutes, and I offer all of this. So my why is so that you can do what your body needs, which is why you're here. It's different than what's happening on the mat next to you. Yes, I love it. Yes, it's different from what's happening on the mat next to you or in front of you, and those one to three minutes per flow. So maybe we're talking 10 total minutes of a 60 minute class. Is you flowing on your own? If you can't handle 10 fucking minutes of like being in your own body, just go to the gym, yeah, if that's what you're looking for. So, yeah, this fired me up. This felt like a personal attack and I feel like it is an opportunity for the yoga community at large. It's like stop letting students talk shit about other classes, other teachers in your class. So yesterday was my first full day back back to teaching and at the studio, and how many of my regular students came up to me and said, oh my God, don't leave again. Like I hate going to other people's classes. No one teaches like you do, and that was my opportunity to shut them down, because every teacher offers value. Every teacher offers a little golden nugget of the practice and and experiencing those other teachers, experiencing those other classes, is what advances the practice. So I felt like it was personal, because I thought that that teacher, that that student went to it, was an opportunity for her to shut it down and say, hey, you know what? I've never been to Gianna's class before, so I can't speak to it, but why don't you have this conversation with her? Because she's been teaching for a really long time, so I'm sure she'll give you good insight as to why she does what she does. And a lot of times nine times out of 10, when somebody comes to me after class, they've never been to one of my classes before it's their first time flowing on their own.
Speaker 1:There's always somebody who has a conversation with me after class and says something about it, and usually it's not negative. Usually it's just like oh, that was kind of uncomfortable and my like, fabulous, I'm doing my job. I did my job Exactly, exactly, because, like, why are you here If not to get pushed outside of your comfort zone? It's why you go to any fitness class. So if I'm making you uncomfortable, then great, we're pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. You're like inviting growth in.
Speaker 1:Like I said, it's 10 minutes out of maybe 10 minutes out of a 60 minute class that you're flowing on your own. You're having this own inner body experience, like I, I really I'm. I'm like having a hard time digesting what happened and I, again, I really think it was an opportunity for that teacher and student to be like hey, have a conversation with Gianna and even even the owner, like I don't think it was handled right, like, uh, and you know what? Maybe that's me being judgmental and maybe that's me that maybe that's where the practice lies for me and where this is an opportunity for me to grow and to learn is Like I really think it, instead of it being like a business, handled like the needs of the business, or this regular student doesn't like the way you teach, so we have to be nervous that this student is going to go somewhere.
Speaker 1:No, it was an opportunity to say, hey, this is the practice, this is the practice of yoga. Get uncomfortable, get curious like have this conversation with the teacher that teaches the class. Because, because, yeah, I do have a good why as to why I make you flow on your own. It's designed to make you uncomfortable. It's designed to make you practice the actual practice of yoga, which goes beyond the asana. So I feel like if the student was um invited to have a conversation with me, their perspective might change on it and, and you know, maybe my perspective would change on it too, because maybe they have like a little bit more meaty, substantial feedback for me, because I feel like the feedback that was brought to me wasn't actually feedback at all. It was, like I said, it felt more like a personal attack.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think even like a conversation with the owner too for you to have, for you to have with her and say, say like, hey, if this happens again in the future, like let's make it a conversation. And I would even bring that up to the other. Like I don't know if you guys have meetings or whatever. Like bring that into the conversation all, not like all have each other's back, but all grow from something like this. Like I think this is a conversation that all yoga teachers should have, Because also, the other thing too is, as a yoga teacher, we are also forever students. Like I'm not gonna be teaching you, like I know every single thing, because I don't.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And again, you know not to go back to this again, but especially as a white yoga teacher, I am making sure that my continuing education, that I do, I'm first looking for Southeast Asian people to learn from where this act, where this yoga culture, actually originates from right, and I think that is, and this is a bigger topic.
Speaker 1:I think that's why the practice has started to get watered down into a fitness modality and we've lost the other seven limbs of yoga and I will say, like I in my classes that I teach.
Speaker 2:I do a lot of one on ones right now. Even in my one on ones. I will invite the student to flow on their own, like I. That's something I also do regularly in my classes, because you don't know what their body is saying and, like you were, were just saying, like get curious about what this is bringing up for you. I literally say those words in my class, you know. So I, I mean I can completely understand why it fired you up, because it is a big, it's a conversation for the yoga community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's funny because I talked to like obviously I went to all my yoga teacher friends and it's funny because I I talked to, like obviously I went to all my yoga teacher friends and I was, like you know, fired up and more of them actually disagreed with me and they were like, oh, this is your ego, like check your ego and this is about you.
Speaker 2:and and like, yeah, it it is it is yeah what you're, but you're exploring it, you're exploring it and I'm exploring it.
Speaker 1:But also I feel like not everything is black and white and and there is, there is a nuance here. So, again, like if I think I would have been more receptive to it if it was constructive and it was like hey, this, you know, like your voice, mean this would never be me. But you know, like maybe if the feedback was more like oh well, I can't really hear you in the back of the room, like your music is too loud, maybe you can like soften the music and project your voice more, like to me that's constructive criticism. Like yeah, I just felt like there was nothing constructive about this. It was like a direct attack on my style of teaching and it's like take it or leave it. If, like, you're gonna tell me to take it or leave it, like why the fuck are you even bringing it to me? Like I don't know whole thing, just like it's a lot and I'm still exploring it and I know this is an opportunity for me to go deeper into me.
Speaker 2:I was gonna you have to figure out why it's triggering you.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Not figure it out, but explore. Yeah, it's actually making you get this fired up, like, and even even like I had someone recently bring something up to me that was based on feedback to like, kind of like, where you're saying very different topic in person, but it's like is there anything in that comment? That's true, that's why it's riling you up, or is it like you know, and just sit with that for a second and like, allow yourself to feel that and if it makes you angry, it makes you angry, but it makes you sad. It makes you sad, like, whatever, you just explore it yourself and use it as an opportunity to grow, and I think that that's what you're doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think, like this time of year is interesting, right, because we have a lot of new people coming into our yoga classes that wouldn't normally be into our yoga classes. So a lot of my regulars, because a bulk of who I teach they're regulars. They come multiple times a week and I see them very regularly. Um, so they know why I do what I do and chances are, when they first stepped into my class, you know I started teaching back in Rhode Island about a year and a couple months ago. Um, so most of them have been with me for over a year now, so they know the why of why I do what I do. And they also, the first time they came, they were uncomfortable too.
Speaker 1:So I get that it's, I get that it's not comfortable. I literally was there, I, I've been a student, I've. I get it, yeah. And with that said, like the whole thing, I don't know it, just it feels so weird. So I would never let somebody struggle in my class or like fall behind or be like completely lost. So, yeah, just like me, like my teaching style is very nurturing. I'm very nurturing by nature. Um, so if somebody's in my class and I can tell that, you know like I'm watching everything, all the time, aware of the energy going on right.
Speaker 1:So like if I see somebody really struggling, I go right up to them, I go right next to their mat. I'm like come on, let's do this together, let's work through this like you got this. And yeah, so more people like it than not.
Speaker 2:And and that's okay. I don't think there's one yoga teacher for everybody, and I don't know and everybody goes to the same teacher. I think that you know I deal with that too, and I've actually recently dealt with something similar and it's like that's fine. I don't want to be everybody's yoga teacher either. You know.
Speaker 1:I'm not everybody's cup of tea, and vice versa, you know, and I think that that's fine and so the other thing that I tell people so when people come to my class for the first time and they're just doing yoga for the first time ever, I say don't let this first experience be how you determine if you like yoga or not.
Speaker 1:Try three teachers, try their class three times each. Yeah, that's the other thing that I would invite this student to do. Like I really wish that I was able to have a conversation with this student, because I I would invite them to come back two more times, right, yeah, because I think when you allow yourself to, first of all, the unfamiliar is always going to be scary. It's always going to be like our brain and our body is always going to be resistant to what's new, what's unknown. So I think when we give ourselves the opportunity and for anyone listening who's never tried yoga before and they are curious and they might want to start a practice and you know this time of year is a great time of year to to start doing that I would give them the same advice yes, try a class try it three times.
Speaker 1:Try different teachers, try different studios styles.
Speaker 2:Yeah, try different studios, try different styles. Go to a beginner class, too, like that's what they're geared for, and that's one thing that I I think I was telling you yesterday. Like, I think that it's also like, as someone who is beginning yoga, I think it's important to go to those viennese classes. Yeah, you can't just throw yourself into an advanced vinyasa flow and expect to be successful.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and I also think that, as a teacher, I think it's almost like a teacher and a student. I think it's almost I don't want to say disrespectful to the teacher, but it's like if you're like, just as someone going in learning yoga, really pay attention to the styles and like the levels, right, because if I'm going to be teaching an advanced vinyasa flow, I'm doing a disservice to the people who are actually coming to receive that. If you're a beginner, and I have to cater to you because, like you were saying, you're a very nurturing person and I want everyone to feel welcome in my classes, and this is something that recently, this past year, came up for me, so I don't know if you've ever dealt with this before. I got really comfortable teaching an all-level class for a few years down here all level class from beginner who's never done yoga before to advanced in my class, Like that's what I was teaching, and I started to notice that the people who were advanced were getting like I don't want to say bored and like I want to be able.
Speaker 2:Not, it's not a people pleasing thing, but it's like I want to have a specific class for you that you can come and we can flow, and I also want to have a specific class for the beginner that's going to come and learn, like we were just talking about, what is yoga? Where does this practice come from, etc. Etc. Get curious, be uncomfortable, you know, whereas the people who are advanced are kind of already have that in their mindset and it's, it's like a it's. It's a nice, well oiled machine that's happening.
Speaker 1:It's like a it's it's a nice, well-oiled machine that's happening. And going back to the limbs of yoga, traditionally, asana is the third limb of yoga, so most people are coming into a yoga class not even knowing what the first two limbs of yoga are. And if you're coming to a vinyasa class, chances are they are not talking about the yamas and the niyamas. And if you've looked at the blog, this is something that I'm diving into, a topic that I'm diving into going through all seven, all eight sorry, excuse me, all eight of the limbs of yoga, because people who are practicing, they typically only know asana.
Speaker 2:people who are practicing they typically only know asana pranayama and that's pretty much where it ends. Yes, so I agree with you, yeah, yeah, I'm excited that you're doing that, because I think it's really important again for the community as a whole.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and not just students but teachers too. Teachers too. It's time, especially here in the West. It is time to honor the ancient practice of yoga as it was intended to be practiced, and I think we have, as a whole here in the West, we have lost sight of that because, yeah, like there's whitewashing, like you know you said it to me yesterday and I'll just a lot of my, my teaching I didn't learn from anyone from India. I didn't go to India and study, um, I didn't really study with anyone here that is of Indian descent and for the most part, like you said, it's been, you know, blonde, blue-eyed, white women and that's it's been.
Speaker 2:You know, blonde, blue eyed, white women, and that's why it's important, as a teacher, though, to feel empowered and to get curious yourself and do that not only self study, like for you yourself, but also to explore more. Okay, what am I actually doing? Where is this coming from? How can I bring this into my practice, to teach and to share it with others? Because I think that's what makes you a good teacher when you feel empowered to understand the words that are coming through your mouth and the things that you were practicing and the way that you were walking through your life. That, to me, is what's going to make you a good teacher and make you stand out amongst everybody else, because that's you know. Like you were saying, if you want to exercise that's very specific then go to the gym and get a personal trainer. That's fine, and that's fine, and that's fine. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Yes, I certainly do.
Speaker 1:I certainly do, Because where I think now and this is going to get into kind of a controversial topic, but I'm going to throw it out there I think we're towing a fine line between honoring the traditional practice of yoga and just cultural appropriation, and I know that's a word that gets A hundred percent, that's a phrase that gets thrown around a lot lately as kind of like an insult or like a jab, but seeing, observing what I'm observing in the yoga world here in the West, we're just teaching fitness.
Speaker 1:Yep, we're just teaching fitness. So if you're a yoga teacher and you're on, you're listening to this podcast like this is an invitation for me, for you, for anyone else listening, to go a little bit deeper. Let's talk about where this practice originated from and you know I talk about this a lot in my classes too, because for the most part, a majority of who comes to my classes it's women. But we need to understand that the traditional cuing of yoga Now I'm talking about the physical practice, asana the traditional asana practice of yoga was created for 12 year old boys 5 000 years ago.
Speaker 2:So like I'm just gonna say, yeah, it's very interesting and it's important to know that.
Speaker 1:That is where we're coming from and you know most yoga teachers not most yoga teachers now, but a good, this is a woman-dominated space. I'll say it's a female-dominated space in the west. Yeah, and you know how do we?
Speaker 2:how do we honor these, these ancient traditions that have lasted 5 000 years without one thing I will say is that we need to stop doing the beer yoga and then this, and then then that's like. That's what I was going to say, was my ick. That came up for me is like I love this.
Speaker 1:Yes, let's talk about this. So this has been. I've been wanting to talk about the icks of the yoga world here in the West for a long time now. And you're hitting one of my, my big ones, and I actually taught yoga at a. Hitting one of my, my big ones. And I actually taught yoga at a, at a vineyard, at a winery, and I was doing that for quite a, quite a bit and then naturally it kind of fell away and I was like I'm so glad it did because, yeah, alcohol doesn't belong in the yoga space it's just so weird to me and I never did, it's just a way to get people in the door, which, like I, get it.
Speaker 1:It's a way to plant the seed, but like also, as we're planting the good seed, we're also planting the seed of bad habit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's not just oh, whenever I get it like a business.
Speaker 1:Ok, I understand, but if you it's so nuanced, it's so messy there's, it's not black and white, it's not right or wrong.
Speaker 2:I mean, if you're going to your, your booze and your yoga classes, like maybe, explore that a little bit yeah, yeah, that's one thing that came that comes up for me whenever I see that, because it's just almost like an oxymoron to me. I don't know, it just feels, feels a little something doesn't feel right. Yeah, something don't feel right that's an egg for me.
Speaker 1:So for me, one of my big icks again and it goes back to like the teacher holding this space and I see this a lot here and it just like I get like a visceral reaction from it. But I fucking hate when teachers are taking pictures and videos of their students in Shavas say, yes, it's fine, then that's one thing, but most of these teachers are not asking permission and they're just throwing them up on social media and that just is a huge ick for me because it's such a vulnerable space and, um, it's a again.
Speaker 2:It's good. Coming back to what we were just saying, I don't really think that has anything to do with the original practice. That's not honoring, you know. It's like. The worst is when it's like a selfie with the students in the back. Yeah, oh yeah, I've seen that before. I'm like oh sweet, jesus, that's. I understand the visceral reaction when I see that.
Speaker 1:I'm like yeah, just I don't know. There's some things that I just it's questionable where we're headed in the yoga world here in the West and it's interesting I think I talked about it last season a little bit, but when I first started practicing yoga, you could not find a class that was less than 90 minutes it didn't exist and now we have like 45, 50 minute classes.
Speaker 1:Like we have watered the practice down to like I don't know, maybe it's to make it digestible to the everyday person who's just like coming for a good workout. I don't really know. I don't really know like where we've taken the turn, but like I started my practice 13, 14 years ago and I've slowly seen it pull back, pull back, pull back. And to see 45 minute classes on schedule like, yeah, that's great for spin, that's great for your cardio, whatever hit class, but for yoga class, 45 minutes is not enough. It's not enough.
Speaker 2:That's so interesting to me. I didn't know that that was happening. Oh yeah, how long? How long do you do, savasana? For I feel like I'm a solid eight minute lady, like I'm going to talk a little bit, but then I'm like we're going silent. I'm going to turn the music up, I'm going to let you go in it's funny.
Speaker 1:My students would leave. Really, they would leave With where we are here in this yoga space. My students would leave. I mean, I already have students that leave before shavasana because, god forbid, we take three minutes to like breathe. Oh yeah, you know what I taught my first 70? I was covering a yin class last night and that was a 75 minute class and it just felt so good, it felt like not rushed and got to do a long, juicy shavasana.
Speaker 1:Um, I love a yin class yeah, and people who are coming to yin, like they typically get it, they're coming for the oh yeah, they're coming for the long juicy flow and you know, this is what I tell my my power yoga classes too. Do it. Everyone who in power yoga classes, they think that they are the advanced students, the pinnacle of the practice, and those people, even if they've been practicing power yoga for 20 years, they are the baby beginners, because the real practice is in the stillness and people who are like the um, like the ones that are addicted to the power flow of it all, Like they don't have the ability to do that.
Speaker 2:I would invite anyone that loves power yoga or like love spin class to go to a yin class. Like I think it's almost like necessary, yeah, go take a yin class. I agree, it's almost like necessary, yeah, go take a yin class.
Speaker 2:I agree and like what. I just want to back up really quick and be sensitive to something, because I know that there are some people who actually and I think we've, I don't, I think it was you and I actually touched upon this in a past episode where, like sometimes people with PTSD actually like get very uncomfortable in Savasana. I get that like.
Speaker 2:I do want to be sensitive to that before we move on, because that's an, that's like I I do really understand that I've actually had students like that before and I like I honor and respect that um, but anyways, so yeah, I think I think there's a balance and that, too, is like what the practice is all about, um, and I think, like going off of what you were just saying, like the people or the students doing a lot of vinyasa and stuff like this when I first started, that's I think what really I was trained in vinyasa.
Speaker 1:Yeah, same. I mean, it's what draws you, it's what initially draws you into the practice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I will say, like I was, that I was that student who was like fuck props, like that's for like losers or whatever you know. And then I'm. Now you are going to use at least one prop in every single class that you take with me. I am the prop queen, I love a prop. That's funny, see, I still like I not that you take with me. I am the prop queen I love a prop.
Speaker 1:That's funny, see. I still like I, not that I struggle with it, but love a prop it depends. It really depends in my power classes like I'll invite people to use blocks when they need. Obviously, um, it's a style too.
Speaker 2:It depends on the style, and also like I love.
Speaker 1:I love to talk about how props came to be in the yoga world. So let's talk about it. Bks iangar um, one of you know we'll call him like a father of yoga. Um, he got kicked out of every yoga class that there ever was. He had like tight hamstrings and this is like a little 12 year old boy. He came from a long line of yogis um, who were like I think his dad and his grandfather were both gurus, like comes from a long line of of um advanced yogis, if you will. And here little bks iyengar comes. He like isn't flexible. He's, you know, whatever can't do yoga. He gets like kicked out of all these yoga classes and he was like frustrated and obviously like wanted to live up to his, his family lineage or his family legacy, and so he started using cinder blocks and cinder blocks became the first yoga props. Like that's how we have block, foam blocks or cork blocks in our classes now it's like because it makes it accessible to people who can't otherwise get get there.
Speaker 2:Quote, unquote get there. And I think one of my very first students she has MS and I actually she handed me a book. That she handed me and got her book and was like when can we start? And I, I read that book. I had that book for years and I studied it and I read with it. I used his practices with her and it allowed her to improve her scoliosis and you know all these different things and I think that for people who need it, I think it's so important and apparently I'm one of those people that needs it because I love it yeah, and like you know, it's it's the ego check and like I'm trying to do that with this situation now for myself and see where that comes up for me.
Speaker 1:But it's like the same thing with people who are like so against props, props so against blocks. It's like it's an ego thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah. And I think too I mean it's definitely the style, like I don't know, I mean I teach, yeah, like you were saying, like vinyasa it's. You offer it as an option that, like when I'm in a group setting, I a lot more one-on-ones right now, so, like when I do have a group setting, I like to have them as an option because, again, coming from an all-level, when you're teaching an all-level class, I think it's almost important and vital to have props so that you can give those options to your students. You know what I mean? Yeah, but when you're flowing in a vinyasa it's so much more flowy Sometimes it's like hard to.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think in a class I would maybe like I love using the strap in the beginning sometimes because it kind of like helps, you know, structure a little bit more in the legs and the neck. I use it a lot and then it kind of, and then I just put it aside and we flow, so it's not like I'm using it all class.
Speaker 1:When you do your privates. Is it an hour or is it longer?
Speaker 2:I say it's an hour, but I usually it's usually like an hour 15 minutes because I like it and I don't. I feel like I use I never really use a watch. I kind of just go and then I'll like only I need to get one of those digital clocks. When I was in the states my teachers would have. So I'm not like touching my phone, I just like would tap it, um, but have a clock in front of me, I like lose track, yeah the time. I just like I'm, I'm there with them and I'm just not. So it's usually like an hour and 15 minutes yeah, see, that's so.
Speaker 1:That's the other thing and that's why I think I I am taking this personal because I teach a lot of group classes a week and my classes are very curated.
Speaker 1:I'm not one of those like intuitive flow teachers like whatever comes up comes up.
Speaker 1:It's like no, I think of what I want to teach as my peak pose, and then all of my flow are leading up to part of the body to, yeah, yep, a hundred percent. So it's very curated. I have notes and like I always I don't always go by like what my, my classes are written down, like I'll see what shows up and like if we need to switch a little bit or pivot, like that's fine. But for the most part I teach the same class all week long. If you come to my power classes, like you're doing the same thing, like Monday is always a little bit different because we're like I'm like working out the kinks and then like I'll see, like where the flow needs to be improved and by Wednesday's flow classes it's like dialed in, but it's very similar all week long, like we work on a specific thing and then you know whatever. So I think because my classes are so curated and I take so much time thinking about, like all of the anatomical things and, like you know, that's your education.
Speaker 2:Like, in my opinion, you're also a massage therapist, so you know how literally and this is like the actual translation of yoga means to yoke, or to unite. You understand how to do that at such a deep level, like ligaments, muscles, all the things. So you know, and you've studied the asanas, the actual posture. So you, like you just said, you know, and I was trained to in vinyasa like you have your peak pose and that's what you're doing. You're building your class to get your students to that peak pose. You can't just throw somebody into pigeon pose. I mean, you can, but that's I wouldn't recommend that. You know what I mean. But I think that the way you're doing it and I think you might like, the reason, part of the reason why you're fired up about it is because you care so much. This is obviously such a big passion, if not your passion, your dharma in life, and that's why it's personal. Yeah, I think it's not. So it's like. I think to me that makes sense, like, and I will say like, when I was practicing in the states my, I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but my favorite teacher would do literally the exact same thing that you're talking about. It was hot vinyasa um, and it was in the night.
Speaker 2:I used to love doing that in the wintertime. I do miss that. Now all I teach is hot yoga because it's just so bloody hot here. It's the only option. Yeah, there is no other option, unless I'm at a private and they have air conditioning in their house and I'm like I need a sweater. But I feel like she would do the exact same thing you're talking about and I actually really liked that. There's some people that almost like need that routine Because for me, when I first started going to yoga it it it actually helped me to get into my body by listening to somebody else tell me what to do. If that like I don't know if that makes sense, but it was in in because it was like I, because I knew the routine, I knew it was coming it. I felt safe there.
Speaker 1:Does that make sense? Yeah, well, that's what I like all of my flows. They almost become like, not almost they do. They become a moving meditation. And that's the point it's to close your eyes, to go within, to feel the poses, to be in the moment, to breathe with your body. And, yeah, like I, I guess I, if you're so adverse to it, I don't get it and I I don't know I think that that student should have been invited to, to lean into this a little bit, to, to go a little bit deeper. Um, yeah, excuse me, they're, they're like a regular student at at the studio. So I think that this was an opportunity for them to advance their practice, and I'm not talking about asana yeah, I get it.
Speaker 2:I totally think that that makes sense yeah.
Speaker 1:So my teaching style will not be changing to people, please. So fuck that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I think that it's especially like when you first shared this with me, I was like, if I was that student and I used to actually do this when I was a student, the very beginning of my yoga journey I would just put myself into child's pose and either be like crying or just being transparent. Here. I would either be like in a tearful tizzy in the corner or I would just be in child's pose to like take a deep breath, and I think I actually really honor students that do that, Because that, to me, is telling me that they're honoring their body, they're listening to their body and they're like getting curious. Like we've been saying this throughout this, this episode is like getting curious about what's coming up for them and what and what's happening. You know, to me, I guess that's what it, what it symbolizes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and like, like you know one of the jokes in in my class, like if you actually come to class and give it a chance, like one of my jokes is always like this might be uncomfortable for you and you might hate me for this, but whatever you're throwing at me, it's not about me. This is that's your journey, that's your shit. Yeah, and like, honestly, if this student came to me like I would kind of let them know that, like this isn't about me or my teaching style, this is about you and your unwillingness to go deeper into the practice.
Speaker 1:Like sorry, hard truth, yeah, yeah, and I don't know, you know, maybe somebody out there disagrees with me and I, like I invite a different perspective in, like I let's have a conversation let's do it. Maybe my perspective will change. I don't think my teaching style is going to change. Like I said, I've been practicing for over 13 years. I've been teaching for over nine. I still continue my education. I still study. So my teaching is ever evolving. But am I going to stop people from flowing on their own? Probably not.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean one of the things I love too was like you know, I, I that same teacher I was just talking to you about. Her name was Kim. I really miss Kim. And she would say, you know, like we would flow, just like you were saying she would walk us through, and then, like the third and fourth time, we were just she's like all right, let's go through your vinyasa while I meet you in warrior two, or like wearing cat cow, move your hips If you need to sway side to side, go back and forth, like see what comes up for you.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm also too like a big if you know me and my practice, like I also do shake meditations and some of my yoga classes to really loosen, loosen people up and like if that's not something that you I don't think everybody loves that and like if that's not something that you, I don't think everybody loves that no, no, and typical, like your typical vinyasa, like power yoga.
Speaker 1:People are so adverse to any kind of like shaking, bouncing, like it is so funny yeah it's interesting.
Speaker 2:It's it's really interesting, and I think that that that, too, is something to be curious about.
Speaker 1:But it's, it's hysterical, like think that that that too is something to be curious about, but it's, it's hysterical like it is, hysterical like we laugh at, which I think also is so healing. Yes, because yoga is not that fucking serious, right. Yeah, yeah, exactly, and like have some fun, lighten the fuck up yeah, yeah, like it's not it's not that serious, like, yeah, we're here to sweat, we're here to move our body, we're here to breathe, but we're here to have a good time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I even did some one of my students who's like one of my dearest friends. She was like you need to do a laughing yoga class and I actually have done a couple and they're well, I've seen videos and they look so fun.
Speaker 2:They're so fun, especially if you have a fun group that you know will like be receptable to it. I would totally invite you to do it because it's actually really fun and it'll bring you even closer. And I think, just like, like you said, like just have a good time, loosen up, like laughter is actually so healing for the body, so healing for the body and that's like also to a big point of what yoga is. So I think it's like it's beautiful when you can invite like and I don't know if that I don't want to say like, if that's I want to say missing the mark, but I think you can invite a little bit of that in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's a way to honor the ancient and still, like, honor what people need right now.
Speaker 2:Oh, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's where lines have gotten blurred and like I really hope that conversations like these start to bring the true essence of yoga back to the practice here in the West, like I would really like to see that.
Speaker 2:I think, the intention. I think, yeah, I think everyone that's teaching needs to just check their intention and why like their, why?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think that that's too like, why am I doing this? And like, even for myself, when I'm teaching like I won't, if I feel like my energy is off and I'm teaching like I won't do assist, I won't even touch you, because I don't want. I really want to honor you and your energy. And also to mine, like, if I'm not feeling well or if I'm like in a mood, I won't, I won't assist you, I won't touch your, your body, because I don't want my energy to be passed on to you, kind of a thing. And I think that that, like, that's my intention is to help others understand what the practice is. And also, too like, especially if you're working one-on-one, some people might have specific goals that you want to help them achieve. And yeah, if want to help them achieve, and yeah, if understanding their body and connecting is one of them, then I think that bringing them back to where it all began is a really, really big part of the practice yeah yeah, this was a great.
Speaker 2:You're doing it in.
Speaker 1:In the words of chris jenner you're doing great sweetie oh, sometimes we all just need to hear that I'll tell you every day, if you mean we do um, I, you know, like, and I think the other important thing, and you know, I know that that yoga teacher, that this was brought up to, whatever she was doing the best she can, she was probably like a little bit blindsided by the conversation. But again, like I just think that this is a huge opportunity for the yoga community at large. It's like I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah there's value in every teacher there's value in every teacher.
Speaker 1:There's value in every class. Like, even if you don't like it, even if you go to those three classes, four classes, five classes, you decide, like, you know what, this teacher isn't for me, the style isn't for me, the studio isn't for me. Like, whatever it is, it's still not about the practice. Like it's. It's still not about the practice Like it's. It's still coming from a place of like I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, you, I think it's, I think it's definitely, I think you, I really love that suggestion because I will say like personally, when I first took a restorative class, I was like there was like too much, too much silence, like I couldn't deal with it. And now that's like what my body craves, if I'm absolutely honest, like I love a juicy yin or a restorative class and I feel like I teach my best also in those environments as well.
Speaker 1:So I think you definitely make a great point that you know you're not for everybody, no, and that's okay, and I also am not opposed to bringing patient to everybody, modern practices into the yoga sphere, like I also teach aerial yoga with the hammocks, there's nothing more modern or western than that. Yeah and like so.
Speaker 2:I don't know, but you're into your intention. Bringing it back like your right is, coming from a very educated studied place where I think you feel empowered and because you're so passionate about it.
Speaker 1:That's why you were like, yes, and I just think, like anyone who's listening to this podcast, like maybe they're already like heavily into the practice or whatever. But I mean, if you are listening, and I don't want this to be a conversation that dissuades anyone from from the yoga practice, like I, just I want it to be a conversation that dissuades anyone from from the yoga practice like I, just I want it to be. You know, let's all get curious, like when I'm just gonna say yeah, when you go to a studio, like what comes up for you, what comes?
Speaker 1:up for you. What um?
Speaker 2:I don't know try different teachers, try different styles. I think that's the point of this episode.
Speaker 1:is like, and really look at people's background in yoga because, like there are a lot of people who are teaching and not that there's anything wrong with this but like that have only done their 200 hour yoga teacher training and that's where their education stops, that's where their practice stopped.
Speaker 1:Stopped and like, if they're only practicing from, if they're only practicing the limb of asana, then you'll know, I mean, you'll know, yeah, yeah, they're doing the whole community a disservice, really, but I just want everyone to know that there is so much more yoga than the asana and for a lot of people, asana is the gateway into practice. But even everything that you learn in a, even a power vinyasa class, those tools, really the magic is for off the mat. Yeah, and, and I think we're missing that a little bit. So you know, if, if you find a studio, a teacher, a space that it's just about fitness and it's been a little bit whitewashed and we're not honoring the true roots of this ancient practice that's 5000 years old, that's like the basis for modern medicine. Like yoga is a science, it's an ancient science, it was a science of well being. We're just talking about the movement, like I don't know.
Speaker 2:I feel like we're just missing it, like we're just missing it. Yeah, and I think I mean don't be so hard on yourself either, because I think you're doing an incredible job of sharing what more there is to yoga besides the asana, like look at your meditation portal, look at this podcast, look at now you have a blog. You just continue to expand and share because your passion is that's you know, that's your passion, is what's driving all of that, and I think anyone who knows you is is very lucky, first of all, but also would want to learn more. What else are you doing? Like you know what I mean, what else are you offering? And I think that that's that is like you're doing your job girl.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I appreciate it because sometimes, when you know this stuff comes up, it's like do I just go get a nine-to-five?
Speaker 2:it like wherever like, like, this is just one person, this is just one person and obviously, because it's it taken a different way, you're gonna feel some type of way, but think about how many people actually support and adore and love your classes. Like, por favor, mommy.
Speaker 1:Thank you. We all need that realization sometimes and I mean this was a good check for me and my. My style of teaching is not going to change, but I'm going to do a better job as to explaining why. And if you're coming to my power classes, get ready, because we're going to talk about all the limbs, we're going in and we're honoring the ancient science like enough is enough and maybe that's what it is Like.
Speaker 2:maybe that is like this was a call, call to for you to really like you're ready. You're ready to educate and bring that medicine from all of your knowledge into sprinkle even more nuggets into those classes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's. It was like really an invitation for me to to continue to go deeper in the more philosophical, the less tangible parts of the practice.
Speaker 1:Because, the more I get familiar with them, the more it will come as second nature to interject them into these spaces where people are coming just for the fitness and I've said it before on the podcast too like if you're coming to my power yoga classes, like we're going to talk about other things too, like we're going to talk about yoga beyond the mat and um, I think this is just an invitation to go a little bit deeper into that practice. Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2:This has been a very fiery episode mean. That's what happens when you put us together. I think.
Speaker 1:I know Well, yeah, you're Aries to my Gemini like fire and air.
Speaker 2:Yeah, beautiful thing, love you so much. Keep kicking ass and spreading the good words and all of the good things and holding the intention not only for yourself but the entire yoga community thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Thank you for being here, thank you for also doing the same and and for like, honoring the true essence of the practice, because it's definitely as few and far between um now, especially as we see, like even one last ick for you, but if your yoga teacher training is solely online, like no, you're missing it and I I get it was a necessity for 2020 and all that bullshit, um, but if you're, if your yoga teacher training isn't hands-on like you're- yeah, for me, the community.
Speaker 2:For me, I'll say this for me, my yoga teacher training.
Speaker 1:For me, the biggest thing that helped me was the community and the camaraderie of that training yeah, and like the people you're going through it with, and even if your intention isn't to teach, even if you want to in your practice, deepen your practice and learn more about yoga as a whole, as the science of wellbeing, the whole eight limbs, there's just nothing more transformative than that. That first experience, like it changed me on, like a physical, emotional, level. Yeah, cellular level Like it shifted the whole trajectory of my life.
Speaker 1:I was in the fashion industry like a hundred percent.
Speaker 2:I completely agree with you and I think that it's. I think it's vital. We're human beings and we're wired for connection, and I think that's something is too is like we've become so disconnected, not only to ourselves, but to other people, and so to bring it back together, like even being in a class, like in a yoga class, together, like that's community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, make friends. Say hello to the person next to you, introduce yourself Like you're sharing this intimate space.
Speaker 2:Yep A hundred percent. So go try all the teachers, go try all the styles and if you're in Rhode Island, try Gianna's classes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and try other people's classes too. Like you want a list of yoga teachers and, honestly, like I have teachers and studios in many different states. So, like, if you want to get curious, like I got East Coast people, west Coast people no people.
Speaker 1:Like, let's talk about it. I'll give you suggestions Even here. Like you're coming to my class but you want to. You know I have a lot of people who only come to my classes like, and you're right, like they should try other teachings. Like the teachers who I've learned for shifted, uh, vastly over the years and you know you learn something from each of them and you take a little bit from each of them. Or you decide like you're not going to do what they do, but like there's nothing more valuable than Investing in your education and your well-being, at whatever capacity. That that looks like. Amen, that's a great place to wrap it up. Thank you so much for joining us, so much for having me. I always love chatting with you my sister from the southern hemisphere.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, yes, thank you for being here. Thank you for listening to this um, crazy episode. I I hope you liked it. Um, I would love to hear from you if this sparked anything for you, if you agree, if you disagree, if you disagree with me. Like, I'm all up for a conversation. I love new information. I love to change my perspective. I think that's part of my Gemini quality. I can see the duality of like many different sides of things. So if you have a different perspective on this, like, reach out, write me, send me an email, find me on social media, right on this podcast. Like, literally whatever I want to hear from you. B. Thanks so much for joining us. It's always a pleasure. Thanks for kicking off season four with me. If you like this episode, please like, subscribe, share with a friend and I will talk to you next time.