Teaching Yoga Nidra

Thursday I am going to start teaching a four-week class on Integrative Restoration - iRest - Yoga Nidra.  I am doing this for free so I can get practice in teaching it to a group.  I am both excited and nervous about this.  Most of the participants are friends of mine, but I still want to impress.  Perhaps I need to question my stressful thoughts before I do it.  I will post more after the first class to let all of you know how I think it went.

Later,
Billy 

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

Hello Billy,


Very good on teaching the class, and doing it for free. 

Interesting that you want to question your stressful thoughts before you do it.  Maybe its something around wanting to impress?    Thats usually a stress marker.  And friends are usually the first to critique our egos.    What part of you needs to impress, and what part of you, is giving freely of yourself.  Maybe the same part,    You are more than the sum of all your parts Billy.

Whatever arises,  its still you . And go well with the journey.

Best

C

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

“I need to impress them”

1) Is it true?
No – I can not know that is what I “need”

(Skip question #2 since my answer to #1 was “no”)

3) How do I react when I believe that thought?
I spend a lot of money putting together very nice binders full of handouts.  I spend much time at my computer writing an outline, creating new handouts, etc.  I go over in my mind what I am going to do, what I am going to say.  I imagine them coming up to me afterwards saying how much they loved it – how it was the best class they have ever attended.  I also start to think that this will not happen – that they will not be impressed.  I stress myself out imaging their responses to the class.  Imagining their responses to me.  I take whatever happens as a comment on me as a person, a therapist, a teacher, etc.

4) Who would I be without this thought?
Relaxed.  Teaching a class.  Letting them have the experience that they have.  Allowing them to have their own impression.  Much less stress.  A friend.  Loving what ever happens.

Turn the thought around…

“I do not need to impress them”
So true.  “I” actually might need to get out of the picture completely.  If anything impresses them it will be themselves.  They create their own impression of me, of Yoga Nidra, and I have nothing to do with that.  Also, perhaps Yoga Nidra is not for them.  I would not want them to be impressed with something that is not for them.  I also do not want to be a dictator – dictating to them, “Be impressed!”  I want them to be free to have their own experience and learn to welcome that – even if it is an experience of boredom, resistance, dis-like, etc.

“They need to impress me” 
Also true.  I need to be their student.  I want them to impress upon me their needs in the moment so that I can tailor my presentation to them. 

“I need to impress myself”
I am the one wanting to be impressed by me.  I do not need them to do that for me.  Plus, if I manipulate them into being impressed by spending money on the binders, creating nice handouts, etc., can I know that they are really impressed with me?  If I have to manipulate them, can I trust what they say is true?  Do I want that type of impression on their minds?  Why not skip the middle man and be impressed with myself.

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

Hi Billy,

Is that one true.. “I need to impress myself” ?

Maybe it's the method that is impressive and not 'anyone'….

After all, who is it that is teaching?

have a great day,
Soul

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

“Skipping the middle man” is really to the point. All this about others is merely projection. It's your own story about yourself. Have you ever felt connected to the source of Being? If you have return there. You can do so in any given moment. If you haven't you can do it now. The source of Being is the closest thing to you, so close its easy to overlook. It is the essence of non-duality. It fullfills any “need” you ever had because you are being yourself in complete fullness. All needs drop away. May you have this experience in its entirety!
Namaste
Joy

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

I think the class is going very well.  This past Thursday was the second class.  I have two more to go.  I am really appreciating the feedback that I am getting from the participants.  They are helping me to hone my skills and to determine what elements to emphasis and which ones I can do without or minimize.

Here is my latest blog entry that is also a handout that i will be giving them next week.  Let me know what you think about this.  Does it make sense?  Is it too abstract?  Would it make sense to a beginner to meditation / nondualism?

http://billyledford.zaadz.com/blog/2007/12/from_conceptual_to_perceptual_mountains

Thanks,
Billy

Re: Teaching Yoga Nidra

Thank you Billy,

I enjoyed reading your handout very much.   Now could I ask you.   Imagine that I am aged 10, how could you say the same to me…..in language which my soul would understand?

One comment I would like to make is to reassure your students that this process doesnt happen in a week, or a month or a year but may take a whole lifetime.  ( I have rarely encountered somone who was aware of their true nature without have had to plough the furrow so to speak - usually is is a state and not a stage)   I have had many many dark nights of the senses,  down through the years, and always thought that they were the dark night of the soul, but alas no….I have had just one dark night of the soul, and this lasted daily for nine months!! and only after 25 years of self enquiry and meditation…..

You students are getting the best Billy - congratulations

Clare