After a dozen years of attending yoga workshops and teacher-trainings, usually in the background accompanying my wife, I am finally beginning to teach yoga myself at the Heart of the Village Yoga Studio. My inspiration to teach has been growing for years: I’ve witnessed the healing effect yoga brings to people’s lives through the seemingly simple practice of focused breathing and coordinated movement; I’ve seen how present-moment mind-body awareness can improve athleticism and reduce injury; and I have a keen awareness of how the practice of yoga can put each of us in a better place to deal with stress, aging, changing circumstances, and fast-paced lives.

Oahu 2013

For 3 years, my wife and I worked out-of-town with combat veterans through our work associated with the Wounded Warrior Project. I was engaged intimately in developing and facilitating experiences intended to help participants transition from combat to community in ways that were holistic in nature and based on our understanding of yoga and mindfulness-based practices. These experiences changed lives (including mine) and I will be forever grateful for these experiences. They form the basis for my understanding of the integrated nature of wellness… and the foundation from which I hope to develop my yoga teaching career.

As an experiential teacher and intuitive person, I am used to feeding off of the natural talents and energies of the group; I hope my teaching style will bring a sense of learning through group interaction as well as personal practice. As an athlete and trainer, I hope to include movements that I’ve learned over the years that will help athletes become both stronger and more mobile. As an outdoor educator and team-builder, I hope my classes will bring a deepened connection to our place in nature and within our community. And as a caring human being, I hope to heighten a sense of inner peace and renewed energy through a flowing and joyful asana practice.

I enter this work with both a sense of excitement and apprehension… I will do my best to live up to the heart-felt standard students have come to expect at HOTV Yoga Studio, and to “co-create” (with students) life-enhancing and educational yoga class experiences!

Another Path: Leading Upward and Onward!

For me, writing helps me reflect on what’s going on NOW in my life. It also helps me reflect on what I’ve learned RECENTLY in my life. The reflection helps me be a part of the change that is happening; it helps me re-connect with my authentic inner-self and my inter-connectedness with all that is going on around me; and (in this blog) it helps me document my “Learning from Living…Living by Learning” vision.

I’ve been writing in this blog for about 2 years now. Looking back and reading many of the posts, I am reminded of the change, the learning, and the desire to live my “vision” in whatever I do. I am reminded of my path… and my way of being.

A year ago, I was working to bring my values-based vision for success to the place I worked. I tried to create a systematic approach to implementing a new vision for a “mountain sports” school at a large ski resort here in Vermont. As I look back on my notes, and as I look back on my blog articles, I am reminded again of a set of personal values that seem to be consistent…

For kicks, here is an outline of the “systematic approach” I started to work on last year. I think the ABC’s listed at the bottom of the outline may provide a good foundation for any relationship-building process. What do you think?

Lately, I have been focusing on acceptance. I find that a person’s tendency to compare their own personal experience (and perspective) when listening to another person often forms the basis of judgment, a roadblock to authentic acceptance of the other person’s uniqueness and a potential barrier for heartfelt, trusting and empowering relationships. Do supportive relationships and communities start with feelings of authentic acceptance of others (in addition to ourselves)?

As I look to enhance my coaching and teaching careers and enhance the relationships I build with others, I remind myself that practicing these ABC’s are a good place to start. Accepting each person for who they are, with their own special uniqueness and talents, and having an understanding of their perspective, personal experience and vision, forms the basis any supportive relationship… especially if it’s as a coach, teacher, or mentor. Yes?

The New Way: A Systematic Program Approach to Creating Enriching Educational Experiences

(March 2013 notes: Goal- To create a vision for a program identity, to create program consistency; to provide a basis for program training, success, and measurable improvement.)

Assumptions:

People come to our resort to find health and happiness in a Vermont mountain setting;

Reducing the stresses of day-to-day living, and finding peace in the moment, is fundamental to health and happiness;

Having an attitude of learning, being open to trying new experiences (change happens), is fundamental to health and happiness;

Being in nature enhances feelings of health, happiness, and present-moment awareness;

Learning happens naturally when people feel safe, have fun, and are motivated to try new experiences;

Active experiential learning in non-judgmental setting facilitates present-moment awareness.

Key Components of Outdoor Educational Experiences:

Adventure-based: Create sense of excitement and fun, promoting mountain sports environment;

Strengths-based: Focus on positive attributes of individuals and group dynamics promoting positive learning environment;

Skills-based: Reflect on learning of specific skills that are relevant, practical, and transferable to everyday lives;

Stress-reducing: Create awareness of, and teach, mindfulness-based, stress-reducing skills and practices;

Relationship-building: Facilitate supportive atmosphere; develop sense of community & connections between people;

Experiential: Continuous learning cycles of brief (foreshadow); experience (do activity); debrief (reflection). Learning is facilitated and guided, not judged, and is based on group goals, relevancy, and activity outcomes;

Outdoors in Nature: Take advantage of natural beauty and Vermont mountain setting;

Holistic: Recognize connections of total body and mind and integrate programs accordingly;

Life-changing: Strive for health and happiness experiences that change perspectives, build knowledge and abilities, develop sense of purpose and achievement, and encourage on-going learning, transferable skills, and loyal guests.

Relationship-Building Process:

A-           Acceptance: Have friendly attitude of authentic acceptance- all are welcome without judgment or comparison!

B-           Belonging: Make guests feel like they belong there- get to know them; make them feel safe and welcome;

C-           Community: Facilitate guests getting to know one another, building a trusting and supportive atmosphere;

D-           Dignity: Create community of mutual respect and understanding, inter-dependence and accountability, and recognize with praise (and a sense of gratitude) the strengths and contributions of each individual;

E-            Empowerment: Empower guests to improve their lives (health and happiness), to learn, to achieve, to just be!

I am very fortunate to have always been able to see the positive side of things. Not always, but usually. Certainly, part of this comes from a safe upbringing that allowed me to explore who I was, who I wanted to be, and feel loved and supported in the process. But I believe it also comes from practice, a practice of seeing things for their beauty, yes, but also a practice of avoiding people and places that don’t support positiveness. In other words, I avoid negativity.

For me, negativity follows:

Judgment- when we accept things for the way they are, rather than place some sort of value judgment or engage in critical thinking, we are more likely to see the positive and avoid the negative;

Sarcasm- in my view, sarcasm is usually a put-down, an attempt to disguise in humor what you don’t have the courage to say directly and compassionately;

Lack of personal responsibility- when you accept that you have the power to choose, you learn to accept that you are largely responsible for your life and your own actions; you learn that the negative behavior of others isn’t an excuse for your own negative behavior;

Divisiveness- when we seek common ground, connections, and similarities, rather than focus on differences, we all win and there aren’t losers;

Unsupportive behavior- simply put, if someone or something doesn’t bring out the best in you, move on!

Resistance to change- when we let go of our attachment to the way we think things should be like, we open our eyes, our hearts, and our future to endless positive possibilities.

Positivity follows: Acceptance, understanding, personal responsibility, common dignity, mutual support, connectedness, non-attachment, and a general attitude of compassion for others and a sense of worthiness for one’s self.

Positivity usually comes from thinking from your heart-space. Negativity usually comes from thinking from your head-space.

Positivity leads ultimately to the realization that each of us is made from the matter of the Universe, connected to and dependent on all things, and with that, the deep sense of spiritual belonging and importance.

A positive person brings out the best in others, allowing everyone to be authentic and inspired.

A negative person casts shadows over others.

Positivity starts with feelings of love; love of self; love for all others.

A mentor inspires positivity and helps others avoid negativity.

A mentor casts light onto others and provides support for the wings of others to fly.

Random Acts of Inspiration