A New Profession

So, after being in McLeod Ganj for nearly three months I have finally (I think) become a yoga teacher. With the spontaneous departure of his long term assistant, Vijay had no choice but to put to use my new yogic knowledge. For the past two weeks (since the reserrecting of my neck) I have been assisting him in the morning Ashtanga class. This has meant 'correcting' asanas and pushing advanced practitioners. However, it is much tougher than it sounds, as it requires a great deal of mind reading (as well as the swallowing of ones ego, which as a yogini should be easy). My guru loves to repeatedly tell me: “Ah you forget everything I've taught you” or “NO! No no! Not like that” etc etc. Therefore it came as a surprise that I was asked to teach the 'Free' Sunday class last Sunday. But then again, it was more of a rhetorical question, and before I knew it I was standing in front of 31 unsuspecting students trying out my newly acquired qualification. Indeed I still have much to learn – where to stand for each of the 31 unsuspecting students to see me, how to talk and balance in an inverted posture at the same time, how quick to go when I have been trained to teach a full power Ashtanga class and yet have a room filled of half powered beginner wannabeyogis. My saving grace Sonam, The Monk who Isn't, who rushed around trying to 'fix' people into the position I was trying to talk them into.

I ended the two hour class by revealing my newly acquired status (and saying a quiet thank you to a Cloud, who had insisted I take some premature teaching practice) and was given the reply of a round of applause. Whether or not they were just trying to build my confidence (and after all it was a free class) is besides the point, the point is – it worked, and last Sunday I received the assurance needed to know that I am now firmly on my new path as a teacher of another of my passions. There is also something very satisfing about creating dreams, and knowing that one day they will be fulilled. As always I am feeling so grateful for my life and so in love with life. Again, I realise this 'attachment' is not so in accodance with yogic thought, but for me to live any other way at the moment, would be to stop learning everything which loving life has to teach.

Now all that I need to do is juggle the rest of my ambitions...does anyone know of a Guru who can teach me how to teach yoga to blind children?!