Yoga Journal - Teacher Tells All

This is an email I wrote to send to my students as an attempt to inspire them to come to my next yoga class. I thought I'd share it with you. DISCLAIMER: It's meant to be fun and playful, not totally serious.

10 Reasons to Do Yoga

1. You noticed your shoulders creeping up toward your ears . . . again. Yoga helps manage physical, mental, and emotional signs of stress.

2. Your yoga mat really brings out the color in your eyes. ;)

3. If someone gives you one more thing to do you feel like your head might explode. Yoga lets you slow down, take deep breaths, and encourages you to do one thing at a time.

4. You're worried about the state of the world. You can make an impact simply by setting an intention, taking care of yourself, and emitting a positive energy into the universe.

5. If you ever want to touch your foot to the top of your head, you better start practicing now.

6. You ate pizza and popcorn for dinner last night. The increased awareness yoga class brings will spill over into other areas of your life—just like the soda you spilled onto your keyboard while you were checking your email.

7. A yoga studio is the perfect place to pick up girls. (If picking up girls isn't your thing, it's also a really great opportunity to make new friends.)

8. Two words: Yoga Butt. You can be of "those people" who look fabulous spandex. And even if you're not, a regular yoga practice will bring out all of your most beautiful features—inside and out.

9. It will make you more popular. Trust me. People will like being around you more when you're calm, balanced, serene, and uplifted from your postyoga buzz.

10. A Monday yoga class will set the tone for a great week! It takes just an hour to align your body, mind, breath, and spirit.

Comments

Great list! My favorite is number four. When the world gets sad, nasty, depressing, etc., hit the mat and affect change!

Posted by: Felicity Bell | October 19, 2008 3:18 PM

Is #7 real? I'm afraid to try to pick up women in my yoga class because if they aren't interested, I don't want them to feel awkward and ruin their peaceful experience.

Posted by: Mark | October 21, 2008 6:45 PM

Mark,
No, the first part of number 7 is a joke. I'm not encouraging you to try to pick up women in your yoga classes. I do think yoga class is a great way to meet new people and make new friends, though. There's nothing wrong with that.
Erica

Posted by: Erica | October 21, 2008 7:38 PM

I think number 7 could be true, but you have to do it in a subtle way. Not start by asking the person out on a date, but become firends first. I know couples who've met through yoga.

Posted by: Lina | October 23, 2008 1:02 PM

Erica,
Great list, love it. It's true, my yoga mat does bring out the color of my eyes. And a yoga butt, while not an ideal compass point, does serve as a motivation for me, no doubt. We all want to feel, be, and look healthier. Never picked up a girl in yoga class, but if I did, i would use proper body mechanics as not to injure myself, and I would eventually set her down, on request of course.....
Thank you for teaching with a light heart. The power of humor is often overlooked. I myself am working towards my RYT 200 right now. Your blog has been enjoyable and inspirational, thanks.
Mathew Ingles

Posted by: Mathew Ingles | October 24, 2008 4:02 PM

I personally related to #10, though the whole list was pretty good in my opinion.

Matt @ DharmaBoutique.com

Posted by: Yoga Matt | October 27, 2008 8:18 PM

Thank for writing this. I agree with all those things and more. Problem for me isn't about whether to go or not- it is almost always a problem with the time it is offered. I'd go everyday if I could!

Posted by: rachel | November 2, 2008 12:06 AM

# 11: a teacher can help you toward asanas and perspectives you won't find individually.

Posted by: Mary | November 10, 2008 9:42 PM

# 7 works. But don't forget your gojji berries.

Posted by: Ogden | December 1, 2008 10:16 PM

Thank you for this, it is great. what a wonderful way to engage your students, humor and all.

Posted by: lori | December 12, 2008 10:49 PM

Waking up in the early morning and not forcing but longing to find balance and center is what keeps me going throughout the day. With all the stressors in my life a daily reprieve of sitting meditation and yoga releases the selfish inner child, and brings about the selfless truly serene me. Especially being a recovering alcoholic alot of doubts and negative thoughts are released with every breathe released, and I feel brings me closer to my higher power and in return one step further away from a drink!

Posted by: Thomas | January 22, 2009 2:35 PM

Thanks so much for this. I hope you don't mind, but I am teaching my first practice in the morning, and I copied the list to share. I hope to start the class with a little humor, then ask them to be nice to me on my first day.

BTW: just for the record, I have been asked out from other yogis both before and after class. Although I was married at the time, it was not awkward, we remained yoga friends both times. I think it is a great way to meet like minded people, and maybe make a connection. Some of my best friends are people I met in class.

Thanks!
Renee Giroux

Posted by: Renee Giroux | March 7, 2009 4:00 AM