More students share their stories

I keep coming back to yoga because being there is as comfortable as my own home. I don’t have to worry about people judging me because I know that we can all love each other! There is no real status quo.
Natalie

Yoga has really helped me gain my balance and not be so all-over-the-map... even in other activities it's much easier for me now to find my center. Whenever I get too crazy during the day, I always remember to chill out and focus on my breath, thanks to yoga. :)
Abby

I am able to see much more of another person's views because I am able to see my views more clearly. I am able to manage stress by breathing and knowing whatever happens will be for a reason.
Robbie

My first experience with yoga was when I went to the teen yoga summer intensive a few years back. I was at a really hard time of my life. I had struggled with weight issues my entire childhood and at that point I had stopped eating and I started doing really destructive things to my body in hopes that I could alter it. Once I found yoga everything changed. I discovered peace with myself and began appreciating my body and it's capabilities. From then on I tried to go to as many teen classes as I was able to. Now that I am in college, away from Show Me Yoga, away from Megan and her wonderful, insightful, and emotionally strengthening classes, I have realized how much yoga really means to me. I have also realized how much I personally want to teach yoga and further my studies of the practice. Meghan, a fellow Show Me Yoga goer, and I were together the other day and told her that I want to become a teacher. She gave me a big hug, told me that she knew that it would be!

So right for me. And that she was so proud of me for making that decision. She said that even though yoga comes easily to her because of her dancing background and that it is harder for me to do some of the poses, she thinks that I get so much more out of accomplishing a pose. She said that seeing me have so much joy in doing a pose adds so much to her experiences in class. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't found yoga, but I know that I wouldn't be fully at peace with myself and my future plans as I am today.

I know that’s more than two or three sentences, but your classes Megan have meant so much more than two or three sentences to me. I love you for all the strength you have given me. I will forever be thankful.
Nomi

Yoga has affected my life by giving me a chance to relax every part of me when things get chaotic. It's the one place that makes me optimistic about life. :]
My experience with yoga has changed me into an individual who is more confident in herself and her abilities as a person. When I am participating in yoga, I feel as if nothing in life matters besides the fact that I can be accepted for who I am; yoga helps me find the truth in life.

Hope that's okay! I know I'm not a regular, but I truly enjoy yoga when I get to come!
Thanks,
Hilary

Yoga changed my life. I was going through a divorce and I was in a deep depression. With the insistence of a good friend, I took my first yoga class. I could literally feel the stress melt away and I remember finally letting go one night during a heated Yoga class and crying. I was overwhelmed. Yoga to me is a religion.
Candice

Yoga Pushed through a Crowd...and Got To Me.

This week has been blessed for me.

Two students of mine wrote, very personally, about their practice, and the subsequent fall-out.

It's funny, because when I write *fall-out*, I tend to think of the stock-market bail-out, or nuclear proliferation...all in all, not good...

But these students' *fall-outs* have been quite spectacular. A shift in their mental paradigm, so to speak, towards viewing their lives differently.

They are Happier. More Peaceful. Blissful.

I love Ken Wilbers. He's the man behind Integral Theories. And he's so incredibly clear.

He says that we must continue to practice. That's all. And through practice we, *Let our own presence Be what convinces the World*.

I'll let Laura Stickann (AG office), and Robbie Barnhart (Teen-Yogi) speak now, and let their presence convince you:

Laura Stickann:

If someone had said to me before my first yoga class,"Attending this class will change your life," I wouldn't have believed them. But, it seems hypothetical questions are 20/20 in hindsight in this instance,because yoga has undeniably changed my life and reintroduced spirituality into my life. Furthermore, yoga has helped me to realize that it's okay for me to be who I am, and that it's okay for me to be happy and to seek happiness within myself. My introduction to yoga didn't come about because I was pursing spirituality. I had been trying for some time to get into shape. I worked out at a gym for about a year. I tried pilates. Nothing seemed to work. None of these activities captivated me enough to keep me interested. So, when a friend asked me to accompany her to her weekly yoga class, I decided it was worth a try. I have to admit, the minute I reached the top of the stairs, and took my first step into the studio, I felt like I was in another world: a place where you were greeted with a big, warm smile and treated with kindness and compassion. Instantly I felt at home. The actual classrooms felt seemingly temple-like. A few people sat and talked, but most lay on their mats with their eyes closed, preparing for class. I didn't know it then, but they were taking time to relax their bodies and beginning to focus on their breath in preparation for class. Attention to the breath is a big part of yoga. It's amazing what I've learned from just turning my focus inward and harnessing the power of my breath and in turn, the power of my body and mind. For example, when I'm getting to a point in class when I'm really starting to challenge my body, I remember to breathe deeply and focus on the breath. This allows me to turn away those negative thoughts that are telling me, "you're getting tired" or "you can't do this." When the breath is properly utilized, nine times out of ten, I can, and do, finish the pose. It's that feeling of "I can" that has been one of the most beautiful things about yoga for me; and it has manifested in my day to day life. Since I've been practicing, I no longer doubt my ability to accomplish my goals. I feel that I am capable and worth so much more than I ever believed. For a long time, for many different reasons, I had punished myself for my failures. I didn't have a religion to bear my burdens. I didn't have a God I wanted to confess to. Anytime I made a mistake, I would tell myself how stupid I was. Anytime something went wrong, I immediately blamed myself. It got to a point where I believed that I was stupid; that I just wasn't intelligent. How unfortunate is that? But thankfully, because of my practice of yoga, I've learned to turn those negative thoughts away. It's as simple as breathing. That's how yoga has changed my life. Through yoga, I have realized that every minute of every day is precious, but every minute of every day passes. So, why spend the stress and energy to be unhappy about it? Yoga allows me to be spiritual within myself now. Focusing on me more and beginning to realize my place in this universe has lifted a huge weight from my shoulders. I no longer have to carry around so much frustration and sadness. I can be happy. I hope to practice yoga for the rest of my life and to eventually teach its science to others. I believe that if people loved themselves a little more, they would love each other a little more, and then hopefully this world will be a better place. Namaste.

And from a Teen-Yogi....Robbie Barnhart:

SMYC - Teen Yoga
Yoga. That bendy, stretchy, ow that hurt, and I never knew that was there until it hurt, thing. But what does it mean, what does it matter to study yoga?? Well in all honesty, it is to discover the closest thing to you; yourself.Which is exactly why I attend Teen Yoga at the Show Me Yoga Center downtown. Imagine a place where, upon arrival, all tensions, stresses, judgements, prejudices, and essentially life drains away and you turn the spotlight on the very most important person. YOU!For an hour a week, I travel down a road that is mine in an attempt to figure out what makes me, well, me. It isn't selfish by any means. I challenge myself by exploring different poses that I wouldn't normally try. What is the symbolism of the poses?? Well in a sense one could say that it's a test of physical abilities; however, it's more of a mental dare to say, "I am stronger than I think I am, and I can take this on." I set myself up to achieve more than I thought possible.By getting into one's true self, he has a better understanding of himself, and through that he becomes more efficient in daily life. In the meditation portion of the class, we clear our minds and focus on one thing only. What energy we put out is heard all around the world. It's exactly like the saying, "what goes around, comes around." One thing I've learned through the helpful instruction of wonderful Megan is that our bodies can mold, and we can shape them to however our hearts desire. If we don't like something about ourselves, we have the ability to change whatever that is. And that in itself is a reason to participate in yoga.It opens my heart, it opens my mind; and most importantly it makes me smile when I walk into class, get my props ready, and start letting go of all events, activities, homework, and plans. When I walk out that door, although my legs are wobbly and I feel like a piece of salt water taffy that has been overstretched, I feel like I can take on the world and that nothing can get in my way of being who I want to be.Thanks SMYC and specifically Megan Sappington who makes each class enjoyable and mellow, which is how I want my life to be.

Yoga is like chocolate. You have to try it to get it.

Learning to be okay with who we are isn't easy, and the path can be difficult, but ultimately? We can accept that we are enough. And that, my friends, is where happiness lies.

Try Yoga. At Show Me Yoga Center, we are a Donation-Only Center, meaning you pay what you want to. That's all. We Teach. You Study. No demands, No expectations, No criticism.

Namaste,

Megan Sappington, R.Y.T.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

I changed my hair color last week.

And not just "sorta" changed it....I went from bleach-blonde to dark brunette.

I've been struggling with it. It looks great, don't get me wrong, but I feel different...not-the-same. I find myself shirking my face downwards, wearing sun-glasses alot, and trying desperately to read people's reactions.

You see, I haven't quite owned this change yet, because I've been assuming the worst.

Facebook "changed" last week too. It went from a very familiar format, to a more complicated version. And folks have howled. Most are angry.

My son turned 9. He has changed from a little "boy", to a little "man". And I, myself, howled.

All of these changes got me thinking....Am I reacting, to my hair color/Facebook/child growing up, because of the change itself? Or am I reacting from Fear? Fear of an unfamiliar and new path? Fear of What-if's? Fear of the Unknown?

"Reacting" to change, according to Buddha, is the cause of suffering. It's when we knee-jerk react to differences in our lives that pain ensues. Because quite honestly most of our reactions are based on an assumption of an outcome. And most of us assume the worst. It's a really "Human" way to think. It's kept us alive for quite sometime now.

Entering new postures on the mat can bring out the same fear, an assumption of the worst-case scenario. It's interesting to follow our mental-stories when confronted with change. In my own practice, my mental-stories could always be traced back to humiliation, which for me meant death. WOW. What a leap my ego would make! Logically it makes no sense....but that's the beauty of practice. I now see what I didn't before, and can therefore make a choice.

Change is inevitable. We know this, right?

So it behooves us greatly to LOOK at how we may react to change. The mere act of LOOKING, allows for a split-second recognition. Allows us to see that, sometimes? We are responding out of fear, and not reality.

And identifying the Fear itself can sometimes make you laugh.

Would I really DIE because my hair is brown? Because Facebook changed formats? Because my son is growing up? Of course not.

I love to introduce folks to change, on the mat. Practicing change here makes it a little easier to do it out there. But it's not just the change itself...it's looking at how we react to it. That's the fruit. What story is my mind refabricating because I'm different now? What does it lead to? What is this fear based on?

Trying, experimenting, feeling a different type of Yoga will give you a great opportunity to look at your own reactions to change. Most of us are very accustomed to, and quite happy with, Hatha Yoga. Warrior, Triangle, Down Dog....It's familiar. And that's great.

But taking the time to explore your reactions to change on the mat will prepare you for the moments in your life when change hits you...unexpectedly....because it will.

"Most change will hit you blindsided, on some idle Tuesday afternoon...."

Kurt Vonnegut

Come and explore Kundalini Yoga with me, on Saturday September 20th, from 10am-11:30am. It's a type of yoga that strives to open up energy channels in the body through repetitive movements. It's different. It's a change.

And we'll look at how we react to change, from the safety of our mats, and the comfort of community, making the inevitable changes we'll all experience in our lives a little less.....arduous.

"Changes are taking the pace I'm going through."

David Bowie

Namaste,

Megan Sappington

Teens giving back

(Photo: SMYC student Megan Brown)

From Megan Sappington, SMYC Instructor:

I've been thinking. A lot.
Reflecting on choices made, and the repercussions.

Objects set in motion, tend to stay in motion.
~Albert Einstein

In the summer of 2006, Show Me Yoga set in motion Donation Yoga. I remember that meeting vividly. All of us, Jan, Judi, Kevin, Sallie, and myself, wanting to Just Teach Yoga, No Matter What! And 2 years later, we are still doing what no other Studio, Nationwide!, has the guts, or rather the Trust, to do.....Offer all classes for whatever the student can afford.

Show Me Yoga Center is the ONLY studio in the USA that offers All classes for Donation.

I'm pretty darn proud of us.

And I still get calls from potential students who, inevitably, say "WHAT? Please explain, I'm confused....Donation-Only?"
(I've got the response down pat...."Yes. You pay what you what. We teach. You donate. Literally, into a basket...")

You see, we all believe in the power of this practice. We all believe in the power of Intention. We all believe in the goodness of the Universe. We believe that If we teach...They will come.

And we have been proven right.

Trusting in the Universe to support Goodness and Integrity has bowled me OVER!!! Now we have teenagers...yes, teens....who single-handedly created another way to generate revenue for SMYC. They too have been affected by that momentous decision 2 years ago. They now want to Give Back.

CHAKRAPAREL. June 28th, 1pm-3pm. At Show Me Yoga Center.

The teens, specifically Megan Brown, felt the generosity of our studio. So Megan created a fashion line based on the Chakras of the body. All of her clothes are handmade. All of her clothes come from her desire to give. She saw the congruence of gratitude with creation. And recognized that the gift of her talents, and the gift of yoga, can create an event that ultimately benefits All of Us....

CHAKRAPAREL, an afternoon of Fashion and Teen-Yoga Demonstrations, was born. And all donations received go directly to Show Me Yoga.

The donation based classes at Show Me Yoga embody the selflessness of yoga, teachings based upon the consciousness of others, and not the coin in their purses.

This was written by the teens, for a press release. Do they get it? You bet! And what's more, the TEENS themselves have organized this entire event! From the clothes, to the jewelry, to the make-up, models, music, promotion, food... Judi and I have provided little guidance, in fact nothing more than making copies, and helping choreograph. The Teens of SMYC are so compelled by OUR trust in them, OUR trust in this practice, OUR trust in the Universe, that they have walked forward on this path alone.

And inevitably, isn't that what yoga is about? Trusting yourself. Trusting in your atman, inner-teacher. Trusting that being yourself is Enough.

Ultimately, the yoga teacher's goal is to help the student trust his/her own intuition..to trust themselves...and then? They will no longer need you.
~Erich Schiffman

Support this brave and trusting event created by our vibrant and nationally recognized teen-yogis. Support the youth of Jefferson City who are investing their time and energy into Gratitude. Support...

CHAKRAPAREL!!!
June 28th 1pm-3pm.
at Show Me Yoga Center, coinciding with the Downtown Summer Solstice Event.

Plan to spend the afternoon supporting our Downtown Association, and the Teens of Jeff City, seethed in gratitude and abundance. After all, THIS is the generation that will lead the Nation next. This is the generation that will decide the future of our planet. This is the generation that wants to GIVE BACK.

A vision without action is but a dream; action without vision is a waste of time; but vision with action can change our lives.
~M. Ignacio Tinajero, 1995 Texas Teacher of the Year

I am proud to be a part of their dreams.
Namaste.

Megan Sappington, a teen at heart.

(Megan teaches the teen yoga class and other classes at SMYC.)

A student speaks

Have you all seen Jake? He's the tall, quiet, 20 year-old, who comes to class at least 30 minutes early to meditate, stretch, or pursue the elusive free-standing-hand-stand. He's in the teens class AND adult classes. He's dedicated. He's relentless. He's whole-heartedly passionate about Yoga. Yoga has reached this young man.

Jake is a student at Linn Tech, and, in a public-speaking class, chose to speak of his practice. I asked him to share his speech with us.

And this phrase really hit me:

If you have mastered a particular pose physically, there is always progress to be made mentally. The experiences you have spiritually can be far more fascinating than what you feel physically.

Isn't this why we all keep practicing? Because of the bottom-less well of our minds and hearts? Because we learn something new, physically, emotionally, spiritually, every single time we hit the mat? Because we can always go deeper?

Thanks, Jake, for being such an amazing member of our community. And for sharing your wise speech.
~Megan

Jake's speech:

The best workout I’ve ever had wasn’t while playing football, wrestling, or basketball, but in a yoga class.

Every exercise in yoga is designed to work on a specific part of the body. This includes muscles, ligaments, organs, and tendons. When you activate areas of the body, you increase circulation, which increases health. Health is what yoga is all about.

I’ve learned that yoga has many opportunities for psychological advancement as well. If you have mastered a particular pose physically, there is always progress to be made mentally. The experiences you have spiritually can be far more fascinating than what you feel physically.

When I practice yoga, I focus on alignment, weight distribution, and being mindful of my whole body. When you get into a pose, your focus and mental aspect becomes energy. This happens when you get past the effort of whatever you’re doing, and there are no more agreements to what you think you can do. This is where complete mindfulness of the body takes place.

Yoga is also a great way to progress in sports. It is like the spirit of all sports because you’re using strength, flexibility, balance, and concentration. Yoga has been a great way for me to keep myself healthy, and progress mentally also.

~Jake Parris

...Maybe??...

"I feel like I died."

A healthy, strong, red-head teen boy said this to me and his classmates after coming up out of Savasana (corpse pose) Friday at Simonsen.

I asked him to clarify what he meant, and he said this:

"I don't feel dead, I feel really alive, but it's like I had to die."

This young man unintentionally, and without ANY training, understood with absolute clarity the purpose of Savasana (corpse pose). To die a little death, to practice stillness, in order to feel life. To feel alive.

"We know too much, and feel too little." Bertrand Russell

I am consistently amazed by the teens I work with. They are universally open and ready to receive new experiences without the *adult* filter that seems to manifest during these transitional years.
Incidentally this isn't the first time I've been floored by the natural understanding of yoga by teens....last year, a tall African-American teen stopped me after class...he asked me about non-dualistic theory. But not in those *adult* terms.
This is what he asked:
"Ms. Megan, you said that we are all unique...that we are all works of art..that we will never be repeated again...but what about the fact that we are all the same? That there is no difference between any body, or anything? What about the idea that we all exist here together and that there is no separation?"

This beautiful young man had inadvertently hit upon a theory called non-dualism. It's originally a Buddhist concept, but folks like Ken Wilbur have taken it to new levels in Integral Theories. It's the notion that the concept of *you* and *I* are the misguidance of the ego. As Ram Dass says, "The *I* that you speak of when you say *I*, only you can see."

I was so floored by this young man. All I could muster was a lame "Please Google non-dualistic theory when you get home..."
If he did, I'll never know...the next time I saw him was during a break between blocks. He was being yelled at because he was listening to his I-Pod. Apparently a no-no at Simonsen....I gave him a knowing nod and walked on. He then surrendered his I-Pod, and went onto class.

I also teach the teens at JCAC, the alternative High School. These teens are absolutely beautiful. Either they've hit a wall or society has given up on them, but yet they are still trying, still kicking, still trudging forward. And STILL open to new ideas...like Yoga...
And just like their fellow students at Simonsen and JC, they get yoga. They recognize the power of this practice, they recognize the power they hold. They recognize the power of their mind, body, and spirit.

I don't pretend to understand the depth of this practice. And I'm not going to pretend that I fully get what is happening in the hearts and minds of teens that are introduced to it.
All I know is this:
1. Teens love yoga.
2. They get it.
3. I love it when they get it.
4. They love it when they get it.

The teens at Simonsen have recently been applauding after *Namaste*. Is this a sign that, maybe?...just maybe...we can change our future? Maybe we are reaching young adults, and teaching them to *die a little death* in order to know bliss? Perhaps even paving a path to peace, knowing we are all indeed inextricably linked together.

Let's not ration our compassion...let's give and give and give until we take our last breath! I firmly believe that if we keep giving and giving, then, and only then, will the giant grinding wheels of change begin to move! THEN we, or perhaps our children, or grand-children, will see the path to living in love...living without anger and violence and terror. Living in a world where love permeates everything, and compassion for all is our focus!

Teaching yoga to teens is one path to this goal. The one path I am on....and I'm so optimistic.

Shanti...
Megan Sappington

One student's story

Hi all,

Megan asked me to write about the challenge of continuing my yoga practice while dealing with/healing from frozen shoulder. At least that's what I think she meant when she said, "Please write a blog entry about it."

This time last year, I was a pretty functional yogini. I could do downdogs, headstands and handstands, all with good range and no discomfort. But by the end of the year, I was doing downdog with one hand (looks hard, but isn't) and other inverted poses not at all. My left shoulder had frozen.

Adhesive capsulitis is a spontaneous tightening of the shoulder joint. The soft capsule that holds the bones together inflames and binds the connective tissues, making it impossible to raise your arm above chest level. And it really hurts.

Eventually the pain subsides and the shoulder loosens, even becomes nearly normal again--but the whole process can take from 6-36 months. Doctors don't know what causes it, but it seems to strike fine-boned women in their 40s more than any other group.

If any classmate thinks she might be facing frozen shoulder, please talk to me. It can be very scary if you're dealing with it for the first time.I had it on the right side from 2002 until early 2005. Just when I thought it was finally gone, my left side started tightening up. I was horrified--"It's not fair!" I ranted.

Fortunately, my joint-care team was able to help me stall the process for about 18 months. Treatment included daily physical therapy to keep the shoulder mobile. Somehow daily PT became a daily yoga practice, which led me to SMYC last spring. Imagine my disappointment when I felt my left shoulder tightening again last fall.

I scrambled to "outsmart" the condition again. My care team proposed various alternative treatments--prolotherapy, hormone-replacement therapy. None of them worked. The pain and restriction overtook the left shoulder, and it followed the same freezing/frozen/thawing schedule that my right shoulder had followed in 2002. It was locked from December until early May, then gradually started to release.

Now it's July, and my left shoulder is getting looser and stronger every day. I've just started doing downdog on two hands again (still can't sink into my armpits, but that's coming), and I can sort of stand on my head again. I feel like my yoga practice is helping me regain my strength and range of motion faster this time. Last time it took years for the pain to completely fade and full range of motion to return.

I'm grateful for yoga in general and SMYC (my teachers and fellow yogis/yoginis) in particular. There were days when I didn't feel well/strong enough to get on the mat or come to class. But on the days when I could do even one brief, one-handed downdog, the power of the practice--and our community--helped me stay focused and hopeful.

Thanks--Megan and everyone--for asking about my shoulder and cheering me through the dark, painful months and back into the light. It feels good to put both hands on the mat again!

Namaste--Bonnie