This past Fall, I was visiting with some friends and I remarked that I was feeling very comfortable and stable in my life at that time. I didn't feel a need to expand professionally or personally, and was just kind of "coasting" along.
This can be a really relaxing way to live, and it was. But, there is always a voice in my head that says, "Enjoy this, sister, because it will not last." I've learned to be friends with that little voice and to let her be heard. But even so, it takes some time to decipher exactly what she means.
I began my 300 hour yoga teacher training last January and this started to nudge me toward expansion in my teaching. For years, I've thought of how I might be able to teach yoga classes online, but had absolutely no clue as to how to begin.
I know that I needed to take my career somewhere further, but felt somewhat stuck.
This is when I found reference to a podcast on Instagram. In it, two well known yoga teachers described a site called Namastream, where yoga teachers and other teachers can post their offerings online. I immediately went home and looked it up.
I haven't looked back since. It has been incredibly humbling to learn all of this "tech stuff." I don't consider myself "techy," but I also don't ever want to limit myself because of that.
I have made some big mistakes, erasing videos mid-upload, forgetting to turn on my microphone, forgetting to charge my camcorder before filming...so many mistakes.
But I've also overcome some big fears and I've made huge strides.
I was surprised at how daunting it is to get in front of a camera. I have taught up to 80 students at a time, most of them complete strangers. I have walked into a room full of people I don't know at all, and instructed them in yoga. I really don't have a problem with that. But I found that when I get in front of a camera, I become a bumbling idiot. I fumbled with words and stuttered. Until I began teaching. Then, I hit my stride.
I have learned that we have strong points, and we have areas that need practice. It is actually kind of exciting to be learning new things and pushing into the areas of my discomfort.
This morning, I hit the publish button on my Namastream account. I don't think that all of the videos are perfect, but they all came from my heart and are aimed at my students who have supported this endeavor and given me a reason to do it. I've learned that we are not growing unless we feel a little but uncomfortable. So, here's to that voice in my head and the beautiful discomfort of new endeavors!
Namaste,
Neely
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