What Do You Teach When You’re Teaching?

No Comments

Of course we can begin with a topic. It could be quantum physics or geology. Calligraphy. Poetry. Or maybe it’s Traditional Chinese Medicine, or Yoga, or Taiji.

There’s also what we teach through how we teach. How we are. This one is important. Because how we are – the beliefs, mindset, and habits we carry with us always – might be most of what we give to each other.

And there’s choice. When we teach, same as when we practice, we always have this choice.

 

We can push into an idea of correct,
or ease into a feeling of correct.

 

Take yoga as an example. Maybe our topic is safety. Our belief is there’s a correct shape to take in poses, that keeps us safe. Our mindset is we need to burn through some suffering, so we can get it right. Our habit is to follow this approach rigidly, because we know it will lead to something good. After all, it’s yoga. It’s supposed to be good for us.

When we push into an idea of what’s correct, we teach that idea. So here we teach poses that all look a certain way. And something else. We teach following. We teach people to follow what they’re told to do by an outside authority.

There might be a better how, that leads to a nicer what.

Let’s take the same topic, safety. Our belief is the shape we take arises uniquely from each of us, when we follow our nature. Our mindset is that feeling is our best guide, and feeling good is the best way to get everywhere there is to go. Our habit is to drop rigidity and instead soften, enough that we can feel, and respond to how we feel.

So what do we teach in this way, easing into a feeling of correct? First, we teach ease. Bringing our whole self into harmony, moving with grace and coordination, the science of natural movement. Second, we teach feeling.

 

Softening, enough that we can feel from where we are
feel-able, move from where we are moveable.

What we follow here is quite different.
The unendingly responsive and creative flow
that draws from our internal authority.

 

Of course, this keeps us safe. It takes us to a much greater potential, always hidden by the push to copy or be like someone else. And it just plain feels good. Because it feels like you.

-Mike

 

About Strala Yoga Training

Strala combines the movement and healing wisdom of tai chi with the form vocabularies of yoga, tai chi, qigong, and Traditional Chinese and Japanese Medicine, to help people release stress, move easily through challenge, and live radiantly inspiring lives.

It begins with a mindset, that says our best way to get where we’re going is to feel good along the way. It also works miracles for whole health, helping us to find ease in our bodies and minds, and create the right conditions both for healing and optimal performance.

In our Strala Yoga Training Courses, you learn to shape your destiny on every level that counts, from your psychology, chemistry and neurology, to your chromosomes and even gene expression. The unique set of skills you develop – for connecting with yourself and others, unblocking your energy, healing what needs healing and accomplishing challenge with ease – uncovers your ability to create the life you want, and be an inspiring leader to the people around you.

Who’s What’s and When’s of Strala Yoga Training

 

21558698_10155096582643666_4056013869842039346_n