phew.

Things I need to work on upon setting out to teach a beginning yoga class:
Actually, nevermind, it's basically variations on the same issue, pacing. For one, in the very-beginning context that that particular class had, I would have done well to do several more repititions of each flow or pose; where I was concerned they might become bored, they actually wanted more, so they would be able to build confidence with each try. Also, pausing to add footnotes and sidebars of medical concerns, bits of philosophy and such, can help in giving the class a physical break, in a sense without them realizing it. Which is basically what my teacher was doing with her interjections, thankfully. And slowing down, natch. Yay nervousness. But hey, it was okay, all in all, I think.

Interesting local metaphor: instead of the lotus being representative of the crown-chakra, the saguaro flower was used. Which I could see working in a different way, involving something about the saguaro's far-spreading roots, and it's slow growth...interesting to think about, anyway.

-the middle road, heh

Hm.

I'm at something of a loss for one last bit of my application for yoga school. That is, basically, what do I see myself doing with that education? I have an idea of what I would like to do, I'm just not sure how to explain it.

My main interest in yoga is not actually the physical, asana aspect - as much as I'm a very physically inclined person - but rather, in the philosophy and tools for self-development and self-study that are contained within the other limbs of yoga. In that regard, I'd like to combine those limbs with a creative outlet - poetry, or possibly even photography - as a way for people to get into those less well known aspects of yoga, and also just as a kind of contemplative creative outlet, like, say, zen calligraphy. So, perhaps a class would consist of some light hatha or vinyasa yoga, and/or meditation (or even pranayama/breathwork?), and then some discussion of, say, a niyama or Ayurvedic concept, leading into a writing workshop, tying back into the earlier exercises and discussion.

Now, how to word that well and concisely for the application...

Between steps, between breaths,
I saw a hundred suns.
They were strung, sparkling pendants,
from the nascent leaves of a youngling plant
(succulent with verdant life)
each bright star floating in a drop of dew,
and in that pacific moment
the wind chimes still sang
from each point of light.