| Anyone who decides to become a Yoga teacher | | | | estimates at night. Finally, she hires a handyman to |
| gives quite a bit back to the local or world community, | | | | repair her house and falls in love with him. |
| through selfless service. In fact, giving is very | | | | My grandfather was a jovial general contractor, so he |
| rewarding when you have the ability, or the time, to | | | | enjoyed telling a joke or story as much as we enjoyed |
| contribute to a student's well-being or give to a worthy | | | | listening. Now, what does this have to do with Yoga? |
| cause. You can be so caught up in other peoples' lives | | | | Life is a matter of priorities. You might say, "This |
| that you tend to forget about your own well-being. | | | | sounds like a time management problem to me." |
| From the outside, looking in, Yoga teachers might | | | | To be honest, improper time management causes a |
| appear self-absorbed. The student, who becomes a | | | | lot of stress and anxiety. To manage time correctly, |
| teacher of Yoga, has taken the practice to a different | | | | you need a system, but you also have to plan "free |
| level; and sometimes, places physical, mental, emotional, | | | | time" for yourself. You will need to balance time for |
| and spiritual development, on the "back burner." | | | | family, friends, work, co-workers, and students. |
| It is important to stop, "smell the flowers," and take time | | | | One simple method is to plan the day ahead on the |
| for self-reflection, once in awhile. It is difficult to "pull | | | | night before. This gives you a short-term view of the |
| your head out of the books." Many Yoga teachers are | | | | upcoming day. I still like to write it down with a pen on |
| researching, finding solutions for their students, or | | | | paper, because I can still envision the handwritten list in |
| reading scriptures. These are valuable contributions, but | | | | my mind later on. However, a lap top, personal digital |
| we must also find balance in our lives. | | | | assistant, or PC will also do. |
| After all, we talk to our students about the importance | | | | Another method is to go to bed an hour early, and |
| of balancing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual | | | | then wake up an hour earlier. If you are a "morning |
| health. We are supposed to "walk the talk," but we are | | | | person," you can get so much done in the morning, |
| still human. Yet, the time you take for self-analysis and | | | | while the world is at rest. |
| proper direction is valuable. | | | | Now, if you become very successful at planning and |
| This reminds me of a story my grandfather used to | | | | completing your daily tasks, please do not fill your day |
| tell me about a carpenter who never had time to | | | | with work. Allow some time for family, friends, |
| repair his own house. He was always busy making | | | | students, personal Yoga practice, and a little free time |
| money repairing somebody else's house. His wife had | | | | to smell the flowers. |
| a list of home repairs, but he was still too busy giving | | | | |