[KHuttsell]

I really enjoyed my Karma yoga teaching. I learned that I enjoy the challenge of balancing all the cues, class timing, and the students’ needs while creating a positive environment in which to practice. This part of the YTT journey has made me more interested in teaching upon completion of the program.

My Karma Classes were as follows:

1. Worthington Dental (5/7/18) – 6 attendees – I designed this class to allow for stretching since most of the individuals who would be attending were either working over patients or at computers. Everyone in this class was a beginner except for one student. I enjoyed being able to relate their situation of needing to relax and stretch after working all day. And with many of the students being avid athletes – I gained an insight into how tight muscles can be – and how this may limit the poses they can comfortably practice.

2. Dash for Down’s Syndrome – (5/17/18) – a crowd! – This experience was unique from the rest of the experiences I had because we had to encourage people to participate. A typical class would have students who have previously chosen to attend. Our “students” made a decision when they saw us. Once we had a few people working with our YTT teachers – other bystanders began to watch and even participate. I liked how we worked together as a team to stretch the runners and their family and friends. We were also able to advertise for Balancing Owl which is another skill we need to learn as YTT – how to promote ourselves and our business.

3. Girl Scout Troop – (5/20/18) – 6 attendees – The girl scout class was structured to meet the requirements of a girl scout yoga badge. The badge requirements includes a traditional class. I used basic poses that allowed the girls to practice and also play with the poses. The badge also included incorporation of some of the Yamas. We discussed truthfulness and nonviolence. This was an important discussion for the girls as it discussed how we treat other people that we may interact with. In addition, we discussed how the girls should love themselves- and appreciate their own uniqueness.

4. Worthington Dental (5/21/18) – 5 attendees – For my second class at Worthington Dental – I themed the class “fully supported.” My intent was to bring blocks into every pose and allow the students to attempt more challenging asanas. This was based on the fact that my first class at Worthington Dental had many athletes – and seemed to want more of a challenge. This plan backfired on me when I had a completely new group of 5 students who had not practiced yoga previously. So I improvised and altered the sequence I had used in the first class with a few changes to freshen it up. It worked out great – and I learned a valuable lesson about having to make changes when you think you have a different class than you planned for.

5. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Class Fundraiser – (6/4/18) – 7 attendees – The friend I was holding this fundraiser for had unexpected knee surgery. So to allow her to fully participate in the fundraising class – I held a restorative class. I arrived early to set up a mat and props for each student – which I believe is a necessity. First, because it takes a long time to get all the props out and you do not want to cut into class time. Second, because it makes the room feel calm and inviting as students know exactly where to sit for class. I also learned a lot about anatomy since I had to adjust each pose to accommodate my friend’s knee brace.

6. Worthington Dental (6/11/18) – 3 attendees – With summer in full swing, I chose to hold a beach themed yoga class. Our opening for the class was a guided meditation that led students to the beach. This was the first meditation I incorporated and I loved seeing how the students were able to relax so early in the class. In addition, all the poses were associated with the beach such as: boat, sun salutations, dolphin, (palm) tree, etc. The students seemed to enjoy how they were able to associate the class with something they enjoy doing.

7. Scout Mom Restorative Class – (6/25/18) – 4 attendees – I loved the small size of this particular restorative class. It allowed me to give more detailed attention to each student as they moved into the restorative poses. Since I had more time with each student, I obtained a better understanding of the challenges different bodies can have in these poses. In particular, I learned how supported child’s pose may not be as natural for some and additional props under the thighs might feel better. I also used another meditation to allow student’s to fall deeper into the relaxation.

8. Balancing Owl Community Class – (7/21/18) – 10 attendees – This was my largest group one on one, and I learned a lot about how to manage the room. I had everything from fellow YTT teachers (thanks girls!) to beginners to those who had been practicing for awhile. In addition, I had one student arrive almost halfway through the class to begin – and had to quickly get her mat set up during a flow. I learned the key is to just be patient with yourself and know that what you put forth is the best you can do. I also know that I need to begin moving more off my mat during teaching so I can be more present with the students. Understanding how I may need to change a pose to allow more students to participate or noticing when students are confused can be remedied by releasing one’s self from the “teacher’s mat.”

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

I found the body awareness review helpful to better understand my ongoing issue with stiff neck and shoulders. As I’ve observed my body – I’ve realized that ongoing stress about work and personal life balance is when I find my neck and shoulders extremely tight. I’ve been known to grab an “emergency massage” because I can stand how stiff my neck is. As my yoga practice is increasing and I’m learning to deal more positively with my stress – the neck and shoulder issues have begun to decrease. With so many men and women complaining of stiff necks and shoulders – I try to incorporate neck and shoulder stretching into my class. Typically, right in the beginning to help them loosen up before practice. I often allude to working in front of computers or other types of reaoonsibilies that require ya to be hunched over. In addition, I’ve been really working to incorporate heart openers into my classes that can help students begin to release their shoulder blades. I explain what a heart opener is and why including it in ones practice can be beneficial for sore necks, backs and shoulders.

Fortunately, I’ve been relatively healthy most of my life. However, I’ve had a few issues close together over the last few years. As I reflect on my illness/injuries – I realize everything occurred on one side of my body – the right. This now makes more sense as the greatest struggle I have had is how to be in a male dominated industry and maintain my feminist and my role as a mother. Yoga teacher training has taught me to look at pain and unltinately injury in a different one. Understanding where my imbalances are and what may be the root cause has helped me be less injury prone and I feel healthier. To incorporate the idea of masculine anf feminine and left/right brain into classes I teach – I would like to really focus on each side of the body when doing asanas. I would discuss how the energy works on each side and how we need to understand how an imbalance could impact how we feel on one side or the other. And frankly, discuss how this can differ just day to day – it doesn’t have to be a major change for a long period of time to notice an imbalance.

[KHuttsell]

Anne made the study of anatomy accessible and understandable. I enjoyed all she had to share, as she was able to simplify some of the most challenging material we have in our yoga teacher training. In particular, I felt that the group exercises she had us do to determine what parts of our body had been affected by tasks, like shoveling snow, was helpful. These exercises helped me to critically think about what could be going on in someone’s body in regard to strained muscles and discomfort. We then discussed poses that could aid in healing these ailments.

I found that I actually enjoyed learning anatomy – and frankly realize how important it is to understand how the human body works. The poses we suggest as teachers and our approach to them could easily help or harm a student.

To learn more about anatomy – I would like to attend more of Anne and Stephanie’s classes, as they discuss the impact of our anatomy as they are teaching class. Since I have a personal interest, I will continue to read materials related to anatomy and yoga.

[KHuttsell]

I have been completely blown away by Ayurveda. I started reading “In Your Elements” on vacation – and I couldn’t put it down. This is the piece I have been missing the last few years – how to get my internal physical body back in balance.

I began to realize how poor my eating and sleeping habits are. So I have started a process to focus on these two elements.

EATING: I have incorporated drinking warm water into my day – especially in the morning. I have found that restaurants are actually very accommodating if you ask for water without ice. In addition, I am eating the foods that support my Pitta dosha. When I don’t – I find that I feel ill or lethargic. At times I find it challenging to give up some of my favorite fiery spices and my absolute favorite, French fries. But I can put that aside as I like how much better I feel. Ghee has become my new “oil” of choice and makes my veggie stir fry taste great!

SLEEP: This one has been tough – I am a self-proclaimed night owl and love to sleep all morning. I have begun to try to move my bedtime back 30 min every few nights. I am trending in the right direction and using gentle yoga to aid in moving my body toward sleep. I also have started to naturally wake up earlier in the morning. I use yoga in the morning to ground me for the day and give myself some “me time.”

From a teaching perspective – I believe I can be more observant of my students to determine what doshas are in the class and work to support their needs. Balancing Pitta-Kapha-Vata energy is beneficial to all students as much as the physical asanas themselves. I also realize I need to ensure that I am not “teaching to my dosha.” I reviewed some of my sequencing and realized that I am probably guilty of that in most hatha classes.

[KHuttsell]

Since I attended curvy yoga on “free yoga day” – I not only learned Colleen’s style for this particular population – but also how to manage a large number fo students at varying levels!

Colleen gave options for many of the poses to allow students to meet her where they were in their practice. For example, when we did a wide legged forward fold – Colleen started everyone with blocks. Then she said “for my bendy people you can place your hands on the floor – but be sure to keep your back flat.” I appreciated how much she remind students about proper form – especially in the folding asanas.

I also like that she had a half Sun Salutation approach in lieu of the full Sun Salutation. Not only did that play to making the class more gentle – but again it allowed her to focus on proper form in the forward fold and halfway lift.

Finally, Colleen discussed not comparing yourself to “Instagram yoga poses.” This was very empowering – as many of us tend to think that there is a “perfect way” to do the asanas.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

1) Dosha: Pitta – with low, but equally balanced Kapha/Vata
2) This dosha absolutely resonates with me. I tend to be fast paced and often feel “fiery.” Putting into practice the elements that aid in “calming my fire” have made me feel so much better.
3) I hope to understand how to recognize when my dosha is unbalanced. And how to create a plan to bring it back into equilibrium.

[KHuttsell]

Five A-HAs in regard to special populations:

1. There was a common thread for me in many of these populations (except kids) – and that was asking “Is there anything going on in your body that I should be aware of?” – this universal question is applicable to most of the populations we discussed – it will aid in determining where someone is in their body and potnentisl alert the instructor to pregnant your, injury or frankly apprehension on the part if the student (I.e. I am not flexible)

2. Athletes / Weekend Warriors – not into spirituality but looking for another workout – using fast paced Sun Salutations at the beginning of class may address the adrenaline but then moving into more of a stretching type class to help the athletes nurture their bodies and provide some much needed rest – use the term “dedication” in lieu of spirituality

3. Kids – I love this population since they are so creative and into discovering things! Safety and limited attention span are the two most important factors when teaching this group…. well and fun too! I loved all the game ideas which I hadn’t thought of previously – using yoga dice, Simon says, duck duck goose, and making the alphabet with your body. I also loved the idea of a multi week yoga class with a recital at the end.

4. Senior Population – After Diana and I researched this population – it really made me reframe how I define this population. I believe the key is to understand the level of mobility that this group may have. Limited mobility may be a good application for chair yoga. There are so many wonderful exercises available to be done in a chair. I actually remember my grandmother participating in classes like this well into her 80s and it made her feel confident since she had no other means to exercise.

5. PTSD / Abuse / Trama – This is a population that requires more extensive training then we will receive in our 200 hr training. Melanie gave a great overview to how this population may feel when in a class. Door/window placement and a feeling of security in relation to those spaces is extremely important. Props such as straps can instill negative responses. I recently spoke to a friend that not only served in the military but also had a tough home life growing up. He talks often about his anxiety and frankly anger. He is finding ways to deal with his feelings through relaxing activities like gardening but yoga and meditation may provide some further opportunity to rest the mind. I would love to support this teaching but I’m unsure where to start not having any experience in the area of military service or personal counseling.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by KHuttsell.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

I have learned so many new ideas, poses, and approaches from all the teachers I have observed. I like to record my new thoughts and ideas in my notebook or phone to use in future teaching. I agree that one needs to reflect on an idea you learned from someone else and you need to take the time to develop the idea with your own voice.

However, many of the ideas I have taken away from other teachers have been small bits or pieces that I believe I can incorporate more quickly. For example, I experienced an amazing mudra in my goat yoga class this weekend that I felt would be pertinent to my students in my class just a few days later.

To Kimberly’s point – what we strive for is to be authentic as teachers. You cannot just grab an idea and insert it into your own teaching unless you believe it sounds like something your students would expect to hear from you. I feel that you can discern very quickly what feels unnatural to you as you speak, teach, and present an idea to your students.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

My planning process is very yin yang.

The Yin: I carry a little green notebook with me most of the time. As I hear songs that would be great for classes I write them down. As I think of themes for classes- I write them down. If I see something great from another teacher in a class – I write it down. I collect quotes, pictures, anything that inspires me. I enjoy the novelty of being able to take an idea I want and apply it to class.

The Yang: I’m a planner who needs a framework. Once I choose a theme – let’s say I’m doing a “Fully Supported Class” – I approach the planning like a Project Manager. I determine what props I might need (lots of blocks in this case), the time I have, the level of students I could have and the environment I will be in. I ensure I address all these elements.

Then I write out a sequence that seems natural, at least on paper. I write the names of the poses only – and a few notes about poses I could add/delete if needed. I then do a dry run of the sequence so I can ensure that the flow is engaging, smooth and stays within the time constraints. I also play my music during the practice to see if it compliments the sequence.

Yin meets Yang: Although I use my framework as a guide for the class – I have found that I typically modify the sequence as I move through it. Sometimes it’s just because it seems like a modification may enhance a pose or other times because that’s what the energy of the class is telling me.

Class is a time to be creative – there is no reason one has to do exactly what they planned. In fact this freedom to “play a little bit” with class formats is what can make teaching fun.

Planning classes is probably one of my favorite parts of being a teacher!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

I have held classes in several different environments. A dental office, an outdoor pavilion and the Balancing Owl studio. Each environment presents its own challenges. I found the best way to “plan” for them is to visualize what could become a challenge in each space.

In the dental setting, I was concerned about noise from the entrance to the office since the office is open to the Worthington Mall. Therefore, I made sure I would have music that was loud enough if we experienced noise from mall patrons. Although, it ended up being a very tranquil environment. I also planned time prior to class to rearrange the furniture so we would have room to spread out.

For another class, I rented an outdoor pavilion in lieu of holding my class somewhere in the grass. This was to ensure there would be shade if it was sunny and protection from the rain if a shower rolled through. I knew the floor would be concrete so I borrowed enough blankets to be able to create a base layer for students to place their mats on. We also had some casual observers watch what we were doing – something I hadn’t thought about before I was teaching in a community park.

Most recently I taught at Balancing Owl. Since I was teaching a restorative class – I reviewed the number and types of props available so I could plan my sequencing accordingly. In addition – since this wasn’t a studio sponsored class – I had students RSVP to me directly so I could determine how many props would actually be available to each student. I did arrive early to set up mats and props for each student. It took longer than expected without the distraction of students arriving. So I was glad I arrived far enough to advance of the students or the props wouldn’t have been ready. Another item to consider when working at a studio is that you will have to help students during check-in and completing waivers. That aspects keeps you out of the room as you grow closer to class start time. I didn’t realize how distracting it was until I taught the studio class – as my other classes did not require a “sign in” element.

Music. I received so many tips about music in advance discussing the pitfalls that can occur. So I chose to bring my own Bluetooth speaker which I knew paired easily with my phone and how the speaker itself operates. I want it to be second nature to change the music – not an additional distraction. I always also download my music to my device. I do not want to depend on WiFi or cellular service to stream my music.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

Meditation is the ability to sit and be present with the moment. Mindfulness comes to mind: being in the present moment. The true joy of meditation is being able to clear ones mind and just let thoughts and feelings flow freely in and out without judgement. For some mediatation is sitting on a pillow or mat. For others it may be lying down. What is most important to remember is that there is not one right way to meditate. Music may help your mind relax or it could become a distraction. Chanting helps some to quiet the “mind chatter.” While for others it may take their attention.

Mediation is not just for the enlightened yogi. Anyone can utilize the benefits of this practice to enrich her life. I have personally found so much peace and clarity in my recent practice of meditation. When I stopped judging my thoughts and let them pass – wonderful things happened. I began to have a deeper understanding of who I was and frankly who I want to be. In a conscious state, I am more able to sort out what thoughts and feelings to dwell on and which ones to let go.

[KHuttsell]

Almost all my karma yoga opportunities are in a “non-traditional” settings. I’m very excited about this as I find I enjoy new spaces. And with my day job I’m used to working on the fly with whatever the situation presents.

My first karma yoga was for a dental office. We literally held the class in the lobby of the office, which opens to the Worthington Mall. We moved the furniture in a way that allowed for all the mats – and I found the space to be very quiet actually. Transitioning the associates from their typical workspace to a space to practice was my number one goal. (Because honestly I would have a hard time relaxing in my office where my stress originated!) I brought my own music and a portable speaker to aid in the transition to the class. As someone else said in their post – I chose a sequence that would be able to done by most students without needing props. However, thanks to advice from my fellow yogis – I packed extra mats and beach towels to ensure everyone could practice comfortably. I learned quickly that my class was diverse in abilities and previous experience. And since this class was not rated as a “level 1” or level “2” – I didn’t have a way to gage where the students might be. I made sure I was prepared with modifications for every pose. This class also had a more casual feel as some of the newer students talked to one another about the poses during the class. The positive element to this talking was that students felt comfortable asking me questions and discussing how their bodies felt or if they needed additional modifications. I learned a lot teaching this class.

Upcoming, I am co-teaching a Girl Scout Group outdoors. This will be a different group to plan for as they are younger and may or may not embrace the structure of the class. To aid it making it more “fun” – I am suggesting that we include a music soundtrack with more top 40 hits and upbeat music. We will use a shelter house in the park for class to guard against possible sun and to create a stable surface. We will also incorporate some additional elements into the event to aid the girls in earning their yoga badge. We will discuss part of the yamas, work on a meditation and also collect trash to support the environment.

I will teach my first “traditional” class in a week or so. I’m looking forward to seeing how different my planning process is for that type of class since I will have more control of the physical environment and access to props.

I think I will feel more pressure in a traditional class – as it seems like everything should be “more polished.” I believe a non-traditional class allows more opportunity to be flexible and creative as students don’t necessarily have a direct comparison to something they have done before.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by KHuttsell.

[KHuttsell]

A few years ago, I lost my grandma. It was devastating for me – as we had such a close bond. She was an amazing woman & someone who shaped my life. We talked every day – just because. And after I lost both my mom and my dad – she was the rock I needed to move forward. And once she was gone – I didn’t realize how much it would impact me.

After my grandma was gone – my yoga practice basically evaporated. All the exercise and mental awareness I practice was pushed aside. I found myself not working out the way I once had. I also ate badly. What was really happening was I was not truly experiencing my loss. And ironically, I had been more realistic when my parents were gone – grieving and taking care of myself as I dealt with the loss. But my grandma felt like the last chapter – and I wasn’t sure how to move on.

So about a year ago or so, I started taking yoga like I once had. I began to feel like myself again. Embracing emotions and trusting who I was. I realized yoga helped me integrate the pain and the good feelings. I loved how I felt. I loved the way I was human again – accepting the things that hurt and feeling joyous during the happy times.

As a teacher – I want to allow my students to get into this state of mind. The healing state of mind – where is it acceptable to feel both sadness and joy all at once. Where students of all experience levels find a common ground.

I realize that for those who never have experienced yoga – the physical healing may be a first step. I just found this in my first karma yoga class – the new students liked how yoga helped them recover from aggressive workouts and physical discomfort. I didn’t discuss spirituality or mantras – but just allowed them to rest and be at peace. This is the outcome I hope continues in my future classes.

[KHuttsell]

Although breathing has always been part of my practice – I feel like it is only recently that I have been able to truly breath.

For years I would follow the cues that were put forth by the teacher. Though I was listening to the cues and placing the breath in the proper timeframe – it still was not something I internalized. The breath to me was just the same as dropping your shoulders or protecting your knees; it was part of doing the pose “properly.” And I knew that if you held your breath – you couldn’t truly relax into a pose and effectively hold it.

So about a year or so ago, I finally started to understand what a powerful tool the breath can be. I was working with a yoga teacher to improve my energy flow. I was told to use my breath to aid in the flushing of the body. As I focused my breath to different parts of my body, I found how incredibly powerful my breath could be. I began to realize that the breath was a way to make my practice more substantial and more grounded.

Over the last few months – I have focused more on my breath as a primary source of strength and relaxation. Perfecting the poses has become secondary in my mindset. And what I found is that I actually move more easily into the poses and my breath is much quieter and calm.

So as a teacher – I want to remind students to breath through their practice. I would like to incorporate the benefits of breathing into the cuing, as often teachers just say “to breathe” without explanation. Students need to understand that our breath allows us to ease into a pose and ultimately more fully experience our practice.

I would like to use the 3-part breath as part of the warmup in my classes. This breathing technique seems to help students understand how important the breath is since they focus on it.

[KHuttsell]

Arm balances can be a wonderful addition to one’s practice – but they can also be intimidating and even cause injury if not performed correctly. Personally, I have just begun to add them back into my practice after taking a break from them for several years.

I believe the arm balances are for more advanced students who are ready to be realistic about where they are in their practice. Breath control and the ability to slowly ease in and out of the pose are key here. So – typically I would offer these poses in a more advanced class.

However, there are opportunities to work into the arm balances with modifications and props. I personally love to attempt Crow – but I will use a pillow under my head as I tilt forward. The wall and a pillow can be the perfect support for a more novice student. I was also enlightened at the Tapestry Arts Center (thanks Tammy & Betsy) that a “headstand chair” exists. This made headstand less frightening and made me feel empowered in the pose.

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