I awake with apprehension. I have just dedicated myself to yoga teacher training through Life Power Yoga (affiliated with Lifetime Fitness).
We will meet each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We commence with an Ashtanga practice with our instructor then go into a 20 minute silent meditation culminating in metta-meditation (well wishing for self and others).
From here we break for an hour lunch, then come back together to discuss yoga history, philosophy, methodology. We practice teaching techniques with one another and give constructive feedback. We review work to be done over the next week and end with a hug and Ujjayi breathing.
About my group:
There are 17 of us. Mostly women. Two men (three if we count one of the instructors).
We agreed to the Five Precepts (these are summarized by the Thich Naht Hahn):
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future (from Plum Villiage website see: http://plumvillage.org).
1. Reverence For Life
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.
2. True Happiness
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming.
3. True Love
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness – which are the four basic elements of true love – for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.
4. Loving Speech and Deep Listening
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.
5. Nourishment and Healing
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations. I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption. I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth.
We agree to read and discuss The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony. Will Tuttle.
... At the end of the day I am not yet sore, but I feel quite incapable of doing another Chaturanga.
[transcribed from physical journal]
Daily Yoga Meal Record:
9/22: Lifetime Cafe. 1:30-2:15 p.m. Shared with Heather (hummus and vegetable sandwich wrap).
- Remained seated. ✓
- Refrained from conversation while chewing. ✓
- Refrained from external distractions. ✓
- Waited until food was chewed before taking next bite. ✓
- Refrained from putting more than two handfuls of food on my plate. ✓
- Waited 3-5 min. to see if I wanted any more food, did not want more. Satiated. ✓
- Waited 2-6 hours before next meal. ✓
Daily Meditation: Did not complete except for 20 min. silent meditation during class.
Daily Practice: Did not practice outside of Ashtanga class that I started the day with.
Daily Gratitude Journal: Grateful for the opportunity to practice teaching in front of other teachers. Describing Ujjayi breath to one another and practicing Sun Salutation A. It was good to learn the set up: Breath, Movement, Drishti. This will be invaluable as I move forward in my observations and practices as an instructor. Good to meet group and learn others' stories; some are new to instruction, some are experienced and here to learn new things/enhance their teaching. It was a beautiful day, I am glad I got to go on a walk during my lunch break. I had a good hummus sandwich wrap too.
