Over the next couple of months, I planned each class out like this. Making lists of each breath of the class, and working hips or hamstrings or backbends, or working our way to a pinnacle pose. My classes were attended, but I hadn't found a niche yet. People in my ski town came to yoga to stretch out after skiing and mountain biking, not to work arm balances (my love!)
I had a revelation during one such class. Our pinnacle pose was grasshopper, a super deep twisted arm balance. A prep pose for us was side crow. I had it all planned out. Except no one took side crow! I had to adapt.
From then on, I always began each class by asking for requests and letting everyone know to please always practice what was available to them that day. I would loosely plan class, but always be able to adapt when things didn't go the way I planned.
Over the three years of my teaching in Breckenridge, I developed a following. People came to my classes, especially hot core fusion, to work on inversions and arm balances, to do a million vinyasas, to laugh and jam out. I still modified my plan when necessary an asked for requests, but I learned not to create a rigid outline that would never go as planned.
Off-the-mat application: when I moved to Colorado, I was taking a step away from the rigid plan I'd made for my life. I was going to go to law school, become a lawyer and be married by now to some stock broker. Cheesy, but by listening to my heart (and to the great advice from my parents), I took time to go with the flow. To ski, dance, travel, date...to just be. I've learned it's good to have a loose outline of things, to have goals, but to be able to adapt when necessary and to enjoy what's happening in the now!
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