Perpetual Quietness of the Heart: Teaching Yoga at the Makena Golf and Beach Club: December 30, 2021

Morning yoga at the Makena Golf and Beach Club restores my faith in yoga.

Not that I ever lost my faith mind you. But sometimes it’s easier to access, and this feels like one of those times.

I’ve been teaching yoga at Makena Golf and Beach Club for two months, a private members-only situation. I appreciate another avenue for sharing yoga. Another opportunity as a yogi scientist to commune with others in a sweet and peaceful way. Never, not once, has it been a bad idea and while i feel like sometimes i’ve lead “good classes’, and sometimes "not awesome” classes, when it comes right down to it, the yoga always “works”.

On the mornings I teach I always get up early and set up a plan for class. It never follows the plan exactly. Having a plan relaxes me, but being present and open to who shows it is the sheer thrill of sharing the practice. Even I surprise myself to what unfolds. I don’t hear voices or anything, but I for sure am guided from beyond as to what direction the class takes.

This used to freak me out a little, but now try to tap into it further. For me I do my best to be clear of negative energy, which often begins at least 24 hours before a class, and I don’t count morning coffee as disturbing to the vrittis. What I’m finding after a eighteen months of teaching in four locations and unencumbered by a rock tour, is that life as a yoga teacher brings a discipline to my spiritual life that I rather enjoy.

Life on the quiet side suits me. I can already feel my feathers getting ruffled as a new tour season draws closer. And maybe that’s why today’s Makena practice kept bringing up the word “surrender”.

Here’s our sequence (something like this)

Sukasana with breath awareness

Green tara side bend, twist
Easy vasistasana

Bridge

Cat and cow
Barrel rolls
Tabletop earth twist with elbow stand. play

Downdog

Cobra
Locust

Low lunge with Garuda
Twisted high lunge

Criss cross half moon

Warrior I
Humble warrior
Warrior II
Peaceful warrior
Trikonasana with hand release

low lunge
Twist
Twisted high lunge

eye of the needle with hamstring release

savasana

sit
Namaste