I began teaching a Stretch and Meditation class for my clients at the Care Center for Mental Health well before I ever even considered taking a Yoga teacher training, last July.  When I started the training, and through my own ongoing practice, I feel that I developed a deeper understanding of the innumerable benefits and inner knowledge the practice of Yoga is offering. 
 
I learned to use breath, and I began introducing the focus on it in my teaching.  I learned to relax and let go a little more with every practice and I began to transmit this concept to my students, by gently reminding them of the importance of allowing, opening, deepening, holding and breathing.  I learned to shift my focus to look at and pay attention to my students, taking their cues, tuning into their needs, limitations, and edges.  I learned to continue to provide positive reinforcement and feedback, communicating to them the importance of respecting and listening to their own bodies and conditions.
 
The main thing that has changed for me from the first class to the tenth and on, is my sense of confidence, an ability to relax more within myself and to let go of some (some!!) of my perfectionist way of approaching tasks and endeavors.  I have begun to be able to look more at the students instead of just being inside "my practice", and to feel the narrowing of a purely mental gap between "I" as a teacher and "them" as the students.  We teach each other, we learn from each other, we practice together, we share a special time and energy.  I feel honored by the students' presence and attendance.  I am more relaxed and trusting of myself and the guidance within me.
 
As I continue to teach, I hope the vastness and richness of the yogic life will continue to infuse my way of being, on and off the mat, in my thinking, believing, experiencing, acting, relating to others, and being in the world.
I look at teaching as one of many ways of learning, changing, evolving on my spiritual path: practicing, studying, and teaching Yoga will continue to support me on the journey.
 
Sharing my experience through teaching Yoga is exciting to me, as is the awareness that there will be always new learning going on, new openness to explore, more integration to be had. Through continuing to teach, I am continuing to open to saying "yes!" to life!!!!