Recently, I had to change the way I usually teach yoga. I knew that I would have to do things quite differently…but I was very uncertain how to make the necessary changes and if my students would still enjoy the experience.  I do teach that change is the only constant….change is just a breath away.

I underwent laporoscopic surgery. Three incisions, one in my belly button and two above each ovary. For all the women who have undergone this procedure, I salute you. While not a huge procedure, still quite invasive and sobering. They removed a cyst about the size of a tennis ball from my right ovary, and I was left with a very, very sore stomach area. Sitting down, standing up, coughing or laughing became a completely new sensation…to put it mildly. I never realized how many stomach muscles etc. etc. had to work in concert just to get in and out of bed! So needless to say, a full forward bend or a spinal twist was 100% not going to happen. Ouch!!!!

I had considered (for a nano second) cancelling my yoga classes. But…then I thought, what a challenge for me as a teacher. My usual way of teaching is of course to use my words as effectively as I can to convey the shape and tone of a posture, but along with that is the security of showing, demonstrating. That security is now gone. The class I taught on Monday morning was thankfully a gentle class, and the majority of the students have been with me for a long time.  I also considered not telling the students of my physical situation, but then thought it was unfair not to explain why I wasn’t sighing deeply into a wide leg forward bend.

The class was wonderful….I had an opportunity to not miss a single movement from my students. I could see them all, every moment. My gaze was not over my right shoulder in a twist but rather straight ahead, seeing their spines elongate as they inhaled. Inspiring! At the beginning I felt as if I had no safety net…I could not rest comfortably in the safety of, “here, let me show you..” but rather the wilds of “let me tell you..” In that one hour and a half I added a huge chapter to my learning, and a huge amount of respect for my students, their trust and love was immense. At the end of the class one student approached me and without a word bent down and started to roll up my yoga mat and put away my things for me.  She was nurturing me, taking care of me. I was humbled and thankful to be in their presence.

We live and learn, change and evolve. A challenge is a very good thing, we sometimes do things one way, all the time. There is a certain safety and security in that. What we fail to see is that there can also be a heightened safety and security in making a change, taking a chance, exploring. We only have to trust ourselves to go ahead and create a new reality, a new trust and ultimately a new wonderful freedom and outlook.  Take a step ahead, watch your path unfold.

The light and love in me bows to the light and love in you! Namaste.