Community
Went to Peter’s Forrest Intensive this morning at Back Bay. It’s a great new event — once a month there’s now a 2 hr Forrest class held at the usual teacher training/intensives Ana-time of 7-9 am. Got to see the sunrise on the Charles as the train crossed over & was truly excited to be heading in, even that early. Had an almost irresistible urge to sing all the Forrest chants. 
Fab class, very fun & also got deep into backbending. Followed it up with an hour rest & lesson planning, then did Lynne’s 10 am Hip Hop yoga to rock out. Great morning.
There was definitely an extra strong sense of community in the early Forrest intensive session. I’ve observed a fair amount in studios & gyms what makes a community happen… folks seem to bond much more in situations where they are in close proximity to each other physically & when there is a definite damn-we’re-nuts-together sense. This morning there really was a happy acknowledgement of “yes, we all ARE crazy enough to want to be here for this!” that helped open everyone up. I’ve had the best bonding when sweating profusely right next to me mates, like during spin classes or yoga classes when people are mat 2 mat. It doesn’t work as well in classes where folks form satellites & little walled enclaves of props.
How the teacher carries the mood is important also, letting there be space for laughter, falling down, asking questions, not being perfect. Peter, for example, mixes light-hearted sweetness with precise instruction very naturally. Lynne is a bit more rambunctious but also firm about making the practice for & about the student.
I’ve been in studios where the teacher asks students to say hello to someone they don’t know after class, or greet the people around them beforehand. This is kinda cutely reminiscent of “offer each other a sign of peace” from Catholic mass, but nice because it gives explict permission for students to do what they may want but fear to do; namely, reach out & connect to the people around them in an easy, non-threatening way.
However, forcing people to bond with partner work in classes (rather than specifically stated partner workshops) doesn’t sit well with me — sometimes we all want our space & the freedom to go in, take care of ourselves & leave. Also, people don’t necessarily want to be touched by just anyone some days & that needs to be respected.
Part of the community bonding experience comes though with being willing to reach out, laugh, interact, act a little silly oneself. Gotta be the change we want to see in the world; gotta try & connect to forge community.
Or just get up ridonkulously early in order to work hard & marvel that there are compadres willing to do the same!!
September 30th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Hi!
I would love to see yoga more accessible to seniors, particularly in assissed living facilities, nursing homes, and senior centers. Seniors may benefit the most from yoga. Do you have any suggestions on how to make this happen? Perhaps you know someone I should talk to?
Take Good Care, Joe Anderson
September 30th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Joe — that’s a really great point.
First thought: Try contacting a local yoga studio and asking about volunteers to come out. Some studios have bhakti or karma yoga programs to give back to the community. Also, some yoga schools that offer teacher training may have eager new teachers wanting to work with folks & build experience, or may even require some volunteer work for certification.
Another route is to see if any of the workers or residents at the facility have a movement studies background, including physical therapy, Pilates, dance or studying yoga themselves. Someone may be able to organize an informal class to explore yoga together that way.
Best of luck, Joe — lemme know how it goes!