Lightening the Shame of Being Seen: The Top 10 Humility Inspiring Moments as a Christian Yoga Instructor

Babies spontaneously perform all sorts of  yoga poses without reserve or contraction.  As babies mature and acquire shame, the posing becomes less.  Starting a yoga practice takes humility.  Humility lightens the weight of shame.  Humility feels better than shame...a lot better than shame!   I can breathe and move and be flexible in humility.  I too have humiliating moments as a yoga instructor.  Fortunately, these moments have lightened my shame of being seen and freed me to be unconcerned about what side is up in down dog.  I hope my "Top 10 List" will make you laugh and more importantly embolden you to lighten up, take a risk and show up to a yoga class sometime.

 The Top 10 Humility Inspiring Moments as a Yoga Instructor

10.    Wearing my yoga pants to class inside out.  That white diamond shaped lining in the seat of my yoga pants is suppose to be on the inside.  Must have been tired getting dressed that morning. 

9.  Faucet Nose.  Starting the Sun Salutations at 6:30AM, my nose begins to leak like a faucet in forward fold.  The angle changes to down dog and more streaming.  At plank, I'm amazed that my nose can do this because there is literally a tablespoon of thin fluid on my mat.  Note to self:  Don't do yoga right after using the Netty Pot.

8.   Relaxing every muscle...I'm always hoping these will be silent and unoffensive.

7.  Enough said...

6.   Happy Baby Pose.  If only we looked this cute!

5.   Wedgies in spandex!  I've had many and I'm not posting a picture.

4.  Titillation.  I wear padded sports bras now and always recommend two because gravity belongs in the same category as death and taxes.  

3.  Teaching yoga pregnant.  I taught yoga throughout my four pregnancies.  Ironically my classes had a noticeable spike in attendance each time.  I'm guessing people didn't feel so vulnerable following along with the pregnant instructor.

2.  Face plant in Bird Pose.  That's what you get for having an ego.  For the record, I'm now working on hand stand poses and haven't fallen yet...

1.  Leaking Milk.  After class, a woman asks me if I am nursing my new baby.  I proudly reply, "yes, I am."  She nicely says, "I can tell." and points to my soiled tank.  Wonder how long I was teaching with that wet spot there anyway??

See you in class soon, hopefully with my pants on correctly and body fluids under control!  Remember, you don't have to be perfect, you just have to show up!!