Embracing the Light: Honoring Our Yoga Teacher(s) Along the Path
Written by Laura M. Kuah (Lauretta) | @solesincolour
E-RYT 200, YACEP & Studio/Marketing Manager at Heart N Soul Yoga
“We all have our origins, shaped by people, places, cultures, and the wisdom we inherit. Whether it was your hometown yoga teacher, spiritual mentor on Zoom, an on-demand workshop on handstands or a book you read on the plane, each step we take along the path is influenced by the teachings we receive.”
A topic has lingered in my thoughts and heart for quite some time, stemming from the exploration and reflections of my journey through Yoga Teacher Training, hours of studying hands-on adjustments, body mechanics & cueing with my { Teacher } Isabella, co-owning a yoga studio together for half a decade and traveling to India to dive into the spirituality of this practice.
This week, from May 6th to 10th, 2024, marks { Yoga } Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States—a dedicated five-day period to celebrate and honor our teachers, mentors, and guides. As a former educator in the US private school system myslef, this recognition extends far beyond the confines of K-12 education. In this inaugural HNS blog post, I want to share my personal journey to underscore the significance of expressing gratitude to our yoga teachers and spiritual guides, not only during these designated "Hallmark holidays," but every time we step onto the Mat.
I began my journey into yoga during graduate school in DC, seeking stress relief and an alternative to my nightly happy hours. Previous to physical asana, I have always been a spiritual seeker, and found myself in a variety of spiritual spaces + gatherings since the age of 16, interested in what I now know as your Dharma (your life’s calling). Over the span of 10+ years, I frequented various yoga settings, from female-owned boutique studios to gym classes, before stumbling upon the transformative Ashtanga Yoga Method. Instantly, I was hooked and knew I had found what I’m looking for… soon after we started “dating”, we entered into a serious, committed, long-term relationship that is still strong today, thanks to the grace of the teachings that have been passed down from teacher to student.
With every “inhale, hands up… and exhale, the washboard erasing everything away”, I returned to my center, creating a path towards healing.
I also never thought of myself as a yoga teacher and well, the Universe has a great sense of humor and linked me with Isabella to make it happen for me…
It’s hard to fathom how far I have come, and for all the blood/sweat/tears along this path, I am eternally grateful and would not trade it for the world. From the very first practice as a student in Isabella’s Tuesday evening Mysore class (2018) to getting up in headstand, and now assisting her in the Mysore Classroom and also teaching at the Shala, I have witnessed up close and personal the (tough) love + devotion + patience that my Teacher puts into ALL of her students — past and present — including myself.
Many of you know that Isabella is very hard on me as my Teacher. She truly wants me to be the best yoga teacher and human being that I can be (in this lifetime). The most valuable lesson I have learned from her these past 6 years is what it means to be a student. In the relationship between teacher and student, the ball is ultimately in the student's court. No one can teach you if you're not willing to learn. It does no good just to “show up”, you have to soften your heart, let go of the ego, stay present and be humble in order for knowledge to transpire.
My Ashtanga practice became the catalyst that empowered me to rise up from the ashes and be okay with the ebbs + flows of life, to get back up and begin again. It helped me embrace body-positivity, confidence and learn to love myself the way I was created.
The real test happens after the honeymoon phase fizzles out, as doubt arises, would you stay the course? Even after 5, 10, 15+ years?
The power of repetition, structure and (Sanskrit) counting was solace to someone like me with a creative “monkey mind” that could not wrap herself around other forms of yoga. Not to mention, it felt amazing to be a part of a worldwide lineage that comes from deeply rooted tradition and tangible culture.
Another significant part of the Ashtanga method is hands-on adjustments, and this is perhaps the GREATEST teaching of them all. And those of us who have been fortunate enough to be a part of Isabella’s classes know that she excels in her craft.
Feeling the internal sensations that come with maintaining a properly aligned posture provides students with inner wisdom and understanding, yoga's capacity to benefit both the body and mind is greatly diminished. Imagine doing this to a variety of students, single day for 20+ years… imagine the wear and tear on your body. Practicing hands-on adjustments with Isabella and learning about how to implement creative problem solving based on your students (per their body mechanics and energy) has given me a beyond deeper appreciation for all that she does for her Sangha.
Acknowledging spiritual lineage serves as a means of honoring the yoga practice and its origins. This custom has been a fundamental aspect of yoga for centuries, tracing back to at least the 8th century.
The student-teacher relationship is highly talked about in the Vedas, and is described as something sacred and can only be experienced between those two individuals.
Expressing gratitude to ALL the teachers who have contributed to your journey is vital for carrying forward the torch of the practice.
Here are 5 practical ways to do so:
Keep Coming Back to their Classes (actions speak louder than words)
Giving them/their Shala a shout out on social media when you post about your yoga practice
Acts of Service (setting up/cleaning the shala, watering plants, bringing flowers for the altar, etc.)
Welcome new students & help beginners start their journey
Make a conscious effort to be present and listen in class
AND… Give CREDIT where CREDIT is due! Nobody likes yoga plagerism…
*****
GU-RU : the dispeller of darkness, bringing you from darkness into the light & Self-Realization…
For me, those teachers (IRL & virtual) in my yoga path would be first and foremost Isabella, then John Scott, Julia Scott, David Swenson, David Kyle (Anatomy), Tim Feldmann, Kino MacGregor, Jen René, Peg Mulqueen, Saraswati & Sharmila Jois, MC Yogi, wonderful instructors at the gym whose classes got me through difficult patches of my life, my Vedic chanting teacher Shantala Sriramiah, my first Sanskrit teacher Sonali, Kimberly Wilson and Gina Kelley, my first yoga teachers from the former Tranquil Space in DC circa 2006-08 — thank you all for blazing a trail so that I could be here today! I am the lucky one!
But what if we “outgrow” a teacher…
Understand that not every teacher, teaching, or community will accompany us throughout the entire journey, and that's okay. Instead, appreciate the bridge that they have provided—thank it, don't BURN it. Our journey is our own responsibility; we are all integral parts of this adventure leading towards a common destination.
// An excerpt podcast clip from world-renown Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Kino MacGregor, about honoring ALL the teachers you have met along the yoga path.
From her podcast episode #167: a dharma talk from Mysore… //
Even if you discover another teacher who resonates more with your current state, our modern culture often encourages us to communicate in divisive ways when encountering differing perspectives—whether that means “canceling” individuals or speaking negatively about them. And that does not exude love.
Remember, not every teacher, teaching, or community will accompany us for the entirety of our journey. Instead of severing ties, express gratitude for the bridge they've provided—don't BURN it. Our journey is collectively ours to navigate, and each of us plays a vital role in reaching our destination.
*****
