When we sit down to yog, we need to ask ourselves, “Are you a student, a teacher, or a business?”. Who am I to this particular moment? It’s understandable that as time goes on, the paths of yoga begin to teach us that we are each of these things, but not usually active in more than one role at a time. As vessels of light in these limited human bodies, we have to answer the question concretely to serve each moment as the highest version of ourselves.
When You Are The Yoga Student
Becoming a yoga student is like, showing up at the edge of the universe and saying “okay, I’m listening” and you begin to discover the world anew. Our beginner’s mind is captivated both internally and externally as we consciously evolve, and begin to unwind in mindful balance. Who are you when you are a student? What is that student’s focus?
When You Are The Yoga Teacher
Sometimes, the student becomes the teacher. And yet, I’ve never met a teacher that quit being a student. Even masters are still learning, noticing, and practicing their presence. Whether you’re teaching one or 7 days a week, being a yoga teacher is a practice of knowing, living, and teaching the wisdom that you’ve learned, and continue to learn, on your mat. As teachers, we begin the journey of maybe planning out lessons and flows and showing up at a local studio for our classes and then we go home. From teaching your first yoga class to spending years, and maybe decades sharing ancient wisdom practices, every step is a journey in universal discovery. As within, so without. We begin by visualizing our practice. Who are you when you are a teacher? What is that teacher communicating?
When Yoga Is Your Business
Working in our business and working on our business, are two totally different things. You’re not just operating as the studious teacher anymore. You see, as yoga teachers, we are the doers, the people tinkering with our most beloved philosophies and putting them out into the community for sharing. Often, we also suffer from some real disconnects between our yogic spiritual principles and the brass tacks of business that come into play while trying to make a living doing something we love in a modern world that often contradicts our leading beliefs. But it doesn’t have to. Sometimes, in order to get clear on our multiple life roles, we need to tease those people apart in order to integrate them. What is your yoga business? Who are you as an entrepreneur?
Which Layer of You Are You Serving?
Like with anything, there are always going to be aspects of each that we like and dislike and the interplay between our different roles must have clear boundaries. When we can delineate each of our roles, we intentionally circumvent analysis paralysis. In short, we can take whatever the issue at hand is to the mat and meditate on it, but we must be aware of which layer of self we are working with. In case no one has told you today; you can be a yogi, a teacher, a manager, and an entrepreneur; just not always at the exact same times. Just like we encourage students to take the time that it takes, we too have to be willing to take the time, make space, and follow thru with putting the next right steps into action. In this moment right here, are you a yoga student, teacher, or business? What does that person most need?
Need More? Click and Find: