This morning I planned to attend an Anusara Yoga class in Mendham, NJ. I arrived and after some time we all realized the instructor was late. After more time passed, we realized the instructor wasn’t coming. My friend informed the class I’m a Yoga instructor. The studio allowed me to teach a Vinyasa class. The class went WONDERFULLY (despite me teaching on a whim and the class expecting a different style). The students were very kind in trying a new style of yoga and turns out they loved it! Many students came to me after class to tell me how awesome and calm they felt. Although I didn’t get my personal class I initially came for, I was BEYOND thrilled how happy the students were.

This was a very good lesson learned for me to always keep an open mind, whether in Yoga class and in all aspects of life. The students were very used to a specific kind of yoga (Anusara) and I felt blessed and honored how open they kept their hearts and minds in trying the yoga I teach, Vinyasa/Hatha. I urge all of you to always keep an OPEN HEART and MIND in all Yoga classes you attend. All the many styles and teachers are wonderful in their own way and all different in some way. Embrace and enjoy the various styles and teachers. You may not “click” with all of them, but at least walk into your classes with an open mind. You never know how the outcome will be; You could end up loving a new style just as these students did this morning.

The other lesson I learned was from a teacher’s perspective; to teach what I know. My guru and other instructors have always told me this, but I don’t think I totally understood till this morning. I could have attempted teaching Anusara as I’ve taken the classes before, but I would not have been successful. Instead I followed my heart and taught what I knew… and the students loved it. As a teacher you may not always appeal to all students, but continue to teach FROM YOUR HEART and the style you know. Students will gravitate to you that are a good fit for your teaching style.

Namaste,

Shanti Om
aka Karin

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