“Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard and valued” ~Brene Brown
It’s been almost a year since I taught a public yoga class.
Prior to the pandemic, I’d arrive at the studio early, long before class would begin to create a safe, warm, inviting environment to gather and move and breath.
If you’ve practiced with me in person, whether here in Idaho or on retreat in Costa Rica or Mexico, you know I’m passionate about creating a welcoming space for people to care for themselves deeply and connect with each other. You know that I pride myself on giving individualized attention to each person that steps on the mat with me when possible.
Sometimes that entails offering modifications to the poses we’re exploring and often it includes hands on attention and assists when desired. I truly enjoy chatting with students about whatever is unfolding in their lives and how their yoga practice can help with them move through their experience.
When the pandemic forced studios around the globe to close their doors, many permanently, I saw two choices: I could explore new ways to teach and connect or wait out the storm. Given the prospect of a prolonged period of isolation, it was important to me to offer people a dependable place to connect and care for themselves, so I jumped off the proverbial ledge of comfort and moved everything online within a week. New website integrations. Zoom tutorials. Vimeo tutorials. New equipment purchases. Zoom room prepping. Business system updates. The works.
Switching to online teaching was exciting and overwhelming and rewarding and frustrating all at the same time. What if it didn’t work? What if people didn’t like it? What if no one came to class? Those first few classes I taught on Zoom were nerve-wracking. I was petrified about all the things that could go wrong. Thankfully, my kiddos, Mason (14) and Ellis (12), jumped into the mix to help and learn with me. Everything is better with support, right?
What I found on the other side of my big leap was the birth of a brand, new community and a new way of connecting. Women from around the country, that have joined me on retreat, showed up to practice and see their friends in class. Yogis from my Idaho and San Miguel de Allende communities joined in, along with friends from high school, and college, and even my sister.
Some of sent messages sharing that the stress they felt to perform in a group class disappeared now that they could practice in their homes. They told me that they stopped worrying about doing the hardest variations of the poses and just did what felt good – and their body felt good. They shared that their yoga practice was more consistent now that they didn’t have to travel to a studio. And many just thanked me for showing up week after week during this crazy time.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed gathering in this way. It’s been a joy to see the four legged and two legged loves in peoples homes and meet friends and partners and children.
I’m truly grateful for this new opportunity to connect with those who find a home in the way I teach movement and breathe and I’m excited to continue teaching online in the future.
I will also return to the studio to teach in person when the time feels right and can’t wait for this reunion.
And I’m beyond excited to return to Costa Rica in 2022. Clearly many are ready to have travel plans on the horizon, for all three of the 2022 retreats are almost booked. If starting next year off in the tropics sounds appealing, please let me know.
Right now, I want to raise a glass to this new budding community for all of the ways we handled change this past year and thank you for connecting with me in new ways during the pandemic – your support has allowed me the gift of doing what makes my heart soar. I’m grateful to each person that showed up for class, introduced me to their friends, booked private sessions, reached out to make sure I’m ok, and donated money to help me offer free yoga to those who are unable to pay at this time.
And if we haven’t met, I invite you to connect with me on the mat in your home in one of my LIVEstream classes or on retreat in Costa Rica. I look forward to meeting you.
Let’s keep on learning and growing and stretching into who we are becoming together.
Love, Tener
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