Share Yoga with Someone You Know

Let them inspire you, motivate you, encourage you, and get you out of your discomfort zone!

Two years ago, my brother and I created a tradition of doing yoga on the back deck of our cabin at Black Rock Mountain State Park. I remember how nervous I was the first time leading him through his practice. I shooed other family away because I wasn’t comfortable with them hearing me teach. Even though I knew they would be encouraging, I was scared and vulnerable. It didn’t matter that I had been teaching yoga to parents and kids for over six years or that I had been teaching adults twice a week for six months. I had to build confidence that I could comfortably and confidently teach someone who really knew me. I knew my brother needed this weekend of calm and connection. So, breath work was about calming the body and clearing the mind. I wasn’t focused on how far he could twist or bend in poses—my brother’s pretty flexible for a guy! My focus was having him slow down, ease into postures, and bring his attention to alignment for greater strength.

This year was easier leading my brother through his practice. I was more confident from teaching yoga over the past year. But the biggest difference was that I had led him through that practice the prior year. Since then, my brother has visited me and attended two of my studio yoga classes. I’ve stayed with him and attended three gym yoga classes with him. He knew what to expect of me, and I knew he could trust me as a teacher.

It is an amazing gift to have a someone show interest in practicing yoga with you, especially as a teacher. Their trust, belief, and encouragement make all the difference in the world!

Sharing yoga with someone you know is a wonderful opportunity to build confidence, share companionship, and walk a journey together. As a teacher, it can help you to become more in tune with your students. As a student, it can help you not only become aware of yourself, but it can help you to become a more compassionate human being. Sharing yoga may be the gift someone needs to invite greater peace, confidence, awareness, health, community, and love into his/her life.

Yoga allows us to focus on the inner self. But it is not a solo journey. It is ultimately a connection to those around you. We are a community of strength, support, and encouragement. So, go share yoga with someone you know!

There are so many ways to share yoga with others. Attend an in-person class with me at Full Distance Physical Therapy & Wellness in Mariners Landing at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Or join me for live online yoga 2x/week, daily on-demand classes, and monthly 5-day prerecorded yoga challenges on Burnalong:

https://connectionsyogava.wixsite.com/yoga/classes