Gayatri Mantra

Hmm, the Gayatri Mantra is a great way to wipe the slate clean each new day, I could do with that after my last post. This is sooo cool, in a slightly cheesy way - link courtesy of a student:

Use your VOICE

om, originally uploaded by State Of Mind.

A couple of days ago, Mary was saying that when she returned to yoga class after a hiatus, the asanas came back easily, but chanting OM at the beginning of the class proved more of a challenge. Mmmm, interesting that.

Sometime in early April, I completed my thousandth hour of teaching yoga. That is a lot of teaching, I am sure you will agree. Although I still keep a log in case I need it at some future time, I am no longer totaling the hours, but I would guess that I have taught a few hundred extra hours since. So much teaching has changed many things about my style, but one of the most noticeable changes has been to my voice. Those of you who have been practicing with me for a few years may have observed this: the pitch of my 'teaching voice' has dropped, and, most of the time, I am able to project sufficiently. This was not always the case.

Nor was it always comfortable for me to get up in front of a group and lead the chant to start class. Now I do it all the time, and often chant other things too! I really love vedic chanting, one of the reasons I am so excited to return to KYM. More chants learned and taught, yay!

As my voice has changed, I have observed how others use theirs. Mary's chanting issues are so incredibly common. I notice that many people just can't make a sound issue from their throats, and many others, mostly women, chant from the top of their throats in a falsetto.

Now, think about the link between sound pitch and power. Do you find you are more inclined to listen to a speaker with a low melodious voice, or one with a high, wavering one? Thought so.

Strangely, several people have told me they were taught to chant in a high voice. I will keep to myself my political views about women being taught (not) to use their voices. But if you chant from deep in your guts, the sound resonates powerfully from, well, deep in your guts. And to my mind, this makes it far more effective. Try it, try it at home if you have to!

Chanting OM is a great place to start since it is, after all, the pranava, the great syllable - as Wikipedia says,

praṇava, from a root nu "to shout, sound, praise"

If you know other chants, and like them, chant those. Use your voice - shout, sound, praise!

PS when I return to SA, if enough of you are interested, we can have a chanting workshop. Lots of fun!

Teacher as Student

There is a popular chant with which to begin a yoga class:

Saha navavatu
Saha naubhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejasvi navadhitamastu ma vidvisavahai
Om santisantisantih

Let us be protected
Let us enjoy the learning process together, without force or compulsion
Let us work together towards our goal, with energy and enthusiasm
Let there be clarity between us, never enmity or hate
Om peace peace peace

I love this chant because it reminds us yoga teachers that we can, and should, learn as much from our students as they do from us. This has been a huge learning week for me and I would like to thank a few people in particular:

The student who showed up for practice despite her unintentional self-sabotage. Its often hard to do what you know is good for you, when it makes you uncomfortable.

The student who reminded me of the power of yoga when she was moved to tears during class - brave woman for owning her emotions like that.

The student said that nobody is irreplaceable, except a parent or a child. This is good to remember as I leave my classes at Old Eds - soon I won't be missed at all!

And lastly, Pendra, for adding her own beautiful take on the kneeling sequence, and for giving me permission to share it here:

Through Prayer

I Seek Humility

And I Ask For Courage

For Forgiveness

Through Endurance

I Reach Celebration

And So Have Strength

For Acceptance

For This I Offer Gratitude