When you (yes I am talking to you) think of yoga, what comes to your mind? Workout, zent out, bending, relaxation, or another word? People go to yoga classes for different reasons, whether it be emotional, physical, or a combination of both. Personally I got into yoga for strictly stress management. I was just starting college, working, and was in a long term relationship at the time. So I felt like I was being pulled in about 30 different directions and my health started to decline at a slow steady rate. I would always go to the gym and just do strictly cardio. It was either the eliptical or stairmaster….and with bad ankles (from 6 years of soccer) it was very painful. It would only cut my stress in half on a good workout and I would go home in more pain that when I left. So, I saw my gym offered yoga classes and I decided to go to one. I went to a Yin Yoga Class and the instructors name was Kim. I loved the class, the instructor was fine, and I decided to make this a weekly type of thing. And just with replacing one of my workouts with a Yin Yoga Class I saw my stress level slowly be cut in half. To this day I love teaching my restorative yoga class. I call it a nap in a yoga class, because yes my students stretch and get into the muscle fashia and connective tissue, but I add a more relaxing vibe to the class. I also incorporate my Reiki Training into the class as well. Granted do I have a Restorative Certificate….no…no I don’t. But, I have taken workshops, I practice restorative yoga on a daily basis, and I do a lot of research in the yin/restorative arena of yoga. So, I am qualified to teach it, I just haven’t spent the money to get a piece of paper saying I know restorative yoga. People (even in yoga) get so worked up over not having specific certifications. I understand being a certified yoga teacher is important, I understand that, I am that..but, just becuase I don’t have a restorative certificate…just because I didn’t want to spend $400 to get it…..because I don’t have $400. People think I don’t know what I am talking about…makes me sad sometimes. So, I leave you with….don’t judge a book by its cover and be informed before you speak.
I hope you all can take a Restorative Yoga Class this week , it may change your opinions on some things.
See you on your mat,
The Curvy Yogini