Monday, September 17, 2007

After School Activity #2: Advanced Studies Program

Also known as the "200 Hour Teacher Training Class" at PYS.

Sometime late last winter, perhaps in February or March, I got an email newsletter from PYS about an Advanced Studies Yoga Program that they were planning for the fall. The newsletter said that more information, including an application, would be coming soon. April came and went and nothing changed on the website. So did May. Finally in June, the application appeared.

The first part of the application was easy. Name, address, health concerns, current teacher, length of time practicing. Then came the writing section. For the first few weeks of June, questions like "Describe your home practice," and "Why do you want to be in the class," started taking over my brain. Fortunately, I had answers to these questions.

By the time I got to the last question, I was really wondering if I still wanted to be in the program. "What is yoga?" What? Was this a trick question? What kind of answer were they looking for? What do I actually know about yoga, really? Isn't it just that stretching thing that middle aged rich white women do with bare feet on mats in their fancy designer yoga clothes, taking classes during the day time when most of us have to work?

I fumbled my way through an explanation of yoga being this journey of discovery... connecting mind, body, and spirit... stress reliever... appreciation of my god-like temple... confidence builder... and somehow they thought it was all good enough to accept me into the program.

It's a 200 hour program designed for people who have lives. So, meeting every Thursday night for 3 hours will take us until June 2008 to finish. We also have one Saturday a month where we have a 6 hour intensive class. Our first Saturday was just a few days ago.

There are 18 people in the class, of which 2 are men. (surprise, surprise!) This is similar to my after school yoga program which has 15 girls and 2 boys. I am close to the lower end of the age range, but that's ok. I have concerns about my abilities, but so far no one has said anything to me to make me feel like I don't belong amongst this group of students. I'm relieved that flexibility isn't everything! Just a willingness to show up and learn a ton, because we do learn a ton since we have great teachers.

Our first month's focus is on standing poses. So, as one who practices yoga might imagine, I feel alot of stretching in my hips and hamstrings.

(for those of you who don't practice yoga, what's up? what are you waiting for? get to it! your body is not getting any more flexible just sitting here reading my blog!)

12 hours down, 188 more to go!

2 comments:

LaurieK said...

Loved the blog entry Robin. As someone who is back into practicing yoga after a 20+ year hiatus, I appreciate your efforts and honesty. I hope to learn something when we visit in December!!!!

Laurie said...

Best of luck with your new endeavor, Robin! I enjoy the occasional yoga session, but what you're doing seems like a real lifestyle-based commitment. Good for you!

By the way, I love your idea about leading backpacking trips for women. I'm hoping, maybe via our next church (we have to find a new one when we move) that I can do something to help expose more women to mountain biking. :)