December

Hello Ladies,
Well we are wrapping up, and I can't believe it's almost over. What a fun day Monday: Thank you for the wonderful teaching Golden,Lucy, and Carol!

This coming week we meet at Jackson House at 9:45. We will split between the kitchen and the thrift store. We will switch midway through so everyone has a chance to see how both are run. I would like everyone to get a chance to work the window in pairs. I don't need to do it so from 12-1 I will pair you up so you can serve food.

Remember to bring a side item for the potluck at Golden's following our trip to JH.

Here is the recipe for the candy I made:

2 bags of good chocolate (I think 12 oz)
3 cups Mixed nuts, seeds, pistachios, and dried fruit if you like

Melt down chocolate in double broiler, or two pans stacked: one has water in the bottom on a light boil, the top pan holds the choc.

Line 2 rimmed pans: 9 by 13 with wax paper.
Pour hot choc. in pan
Sprinkle nuts on top (divided by two pans)
Cool in fridge one hour or freezer for 40 mins.
Take out and break apart.

EASY!

Namaste,
Courtney

Nov. 30th and Dec.7th

Great Job today teaching today Sherry, Emmy,& Golden!

Your homework is to finish your thoughts on Isvara Pranidhana (Surrendering to God)

If you haven't turned in your first two pages of the test I need them by Monday. Also I need your test by Dec. 21st done in full.

Write down 10 places you would like to share your yoga/teach from the basic to the outrageous: Let your imagination guide you!

I have gone over your hours; Those who are complete early are scheduled to teach first, those that came on a little later will teach later.
Dec. 7th 9:30 to 10:30 Kathryn
1:30 to 2:30 Daniela

Dec. 14th 9:00-10:00 Golden
11:00to 12:00 Lucy
1:45 to 2:45 Golden

Test are due in by the 21st
Dec. 21st 9:45Jackson House and Party at Golden's


Jan. 11th 9:00 to 10:00 Mi Mi
11:00 to 12:00 Sherry
1:45 to 2:45 Jennifer

Jan. 18th 9:00 to 10:00 Shelby
11:00 to 12:00Emmy
1:00 Fill out paperwork for Yoga Alliance
2:00 Graduation

Be prepared to discuss the homework, practice Vinyasa's, have your test, and teach next week. Thank you!

Namaste,
Courtney

Nov 23rd and 30th

How blessed I feel to have such a wonderful group of women in the Yoga School.
You all are doing a great job teaching. Mary did a wonderful job teaching Sanskrit, I especially enjoyed the chanting.
Cindee will be covering the Chakra's on Monday the 30th.
Remember to journal and be ready to share on: (Cited from Yoga Journal,Judith Lasiter.)
Isvara Pranidhana (Surrendering to God)

Patanjali defines "isvara" as "Lord," and the word "pranidhana" conveys the sense of "throwing down" or "giving up." Thus, isvara pranidhana can be translated as "giving up or surrendering the fruits of all our actions to God."

Many people are confused by this niyama, in part because yoga is seldom presented as a theistic philosophy (even though Patanjali states in the 23rd verse of the Yoga Sutra that devotion to the Lord is one of the main avenues to enlightenment).

In fact, some yoga traditions have interpreted isvara pranidhana as requiring devotion to a particular deity or representation of God, while others have taken "isvara" to refer to a more abstract concept of the divine (much as Twelve Step programs allow participants to define "Higher Power" in their own way).

In either case, the essence of isvara pranidhana is acting as best we can, and then relinquishing all attachment to the outcome of our actions. Only by releasing our fears and hopes for the future can we really be in union with the present moment.

Paradoxically, this surrender requires tremendous strength. To surrender the fruits of our actions to God requires that we give up our egotistical illusion that we know best, and instead accept that the way life unfolds may be part of a pattern too complex to understand. This surrender, however, is anything but passive inactivity. Isvara pranidhana requires not just that we surrender, but also that we act.

Patanjali's teachings demand much of us. He asks us to walk into the unknown, but he does not abandon us. Instead, he offers practices like the niyamas to guide us back home to ourselves—a journey that transforms us and all with whom we come in contact.
Judith Lasater, Ph.D., P.T., author of Relax and Renew (Rodmell, 1995) and Living Your Yoga (Rodmell, 2000) has taught yoga internationally since 1971.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Courtney

Nov. 16th Plans are changing.

Nov. 16th I am changing some things. My conscious has been bothering me about the a.m. public class.
The class population that is showing up is a very challenging group- somewhat atypical. It is a blessed situation in that you get to see some challenges that you may face. We have three more Mondays and everyone will get the chance to teach but I felt like it would be good for me to teach this class with you all assisting me and watching so you can learn. I will put three student teachers in front doing three versions of the poses. The rest of you will be on the edges observing or participating. We may do chair yoga for half the class. It's just to tough and there is so much learning opportunity here.
If anyone sees' Benny (he comes to Karen's class) tell him about the chair yoga. He loves it and ask me to let him know. I don't have his number.
In the afternoon I will teach a class just for you all, you all will partner up.
Then we will talk about ethics in teaching, marketing, and client dependency. The marketing will be a brainstorming type exercise. I'll guide you through some scenarios, so you need to be thinking about what you see yourself doing with your training, dream up whatever you want, it can be (I want to sub or volunteer to teach kids on occasion, or I want to teach Seniors,etc.....).

You all make me very proud. Having you for my first group has been very special to me.

Courtney

Nov. 9th Teacher Panel

Hello Yoginis,
Monday you will have an hour to prep with me, then "Free Community Class" From 10-11.
The afternoon will consist of R.Y.T.'s and E.R.Y.T.'s coming to answer your questions about your future in teaching.

We need sign ups for next week : Beginning and Middle of class.
Fourth week: All areas of class.

Your Comprehensive Exam is ready: You will be receiving it Monday. The first thee pages should be in the week before Thanksgiving.

Have a wonderful day.

Assignments and Future Events.

Assisgnments forOct. 19^th.

9a.m. to 11:15 (lunch 45 mins)

Practice Teaching :

• 1st Practice:Beginning :Kathryn, Middle: Golden, End: Carol
• 2nd Practice: Beginning: Daniela, Middle: Shelby, End:Jennifer S.
• Beginning = Opening Centering includes transitioning such as meditation with pranayama together or alone, opening poses from top to bottom or bottom to top, and a Half Sun Salute.
• Middle: 1 Full Sun Salute, Down Dog, Pyramid R/L, Hikers Pose
• End: Forward Fold, Cobra, Childs pose, Bridge, Reclined Twist, Ending Meditation.

You are to prepare a sequence as we did in class. I will need to see it, you will get it back to work on, however you will need to tweak it over the week and be ready to teach it at some point. You can use your paper when teaching for now. Use your sheet on sequencing or look at the above Teaching Practice guideline.

Please read and study these in your books, write your thoughts on each one and be prepared to share:

Yama:brahmacharya

Niyama:Svadhyaya

12-3 Cindee Pranayama, Continue Sequencing, Partner Yoga.

I need confirmation on who is attending the Jackson House on the 21st of December. This is counted as a regular class day. We will probably work from 10:00 to 1:30 and then maybe we can go somewhere and have potluck if you would like. If anyone would like to host something at their home that would be great. I have kids and animals and am not in any shape to do so, or we could go to Nurture and have a potluck there.

I have copies of the Sequencing page and Principals on Teaching by Erich Shiffman, I will bring them Monday. See you at Nurture.

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, (Peace for you mind, body, and spirit)

Courtney

October

HelloYogini's:
This month we are primarily gearing up to start practice teaching. Each class day you are assigned a part of class to teach. We are also going to focus deeper on the philosophical side of yoga: The Yama's and Niyama's, two a week will be assigned each week for you to explore.This month one of your other assignments is to journal on Empowerment and Disempowerment.
Starting on Oct. 12 I will be discussing Authenticity with you. Each part of this practice is to bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself and those you interact with. I am really enjoying working on it myself and find every day I need to be reminded, so I am very grateful that I have this class and you all to keep me focused.
Later in the month we will also be focusing on alternate types of Pranayama and have an afternoon study on the Chakra's. On the 26th those going to the Anusaura Workshop will come back and share what they have learned with the other students.

Each day with you all has been a blessing to me. If there is anything you need please feel free to email me. You can call me at the house also 262-9297.

Oct. 12th - Art Church
Oct. 19th - Nurture
Oct. 26- Nurture.

Namaste,
Courtney