Category: Perspective

Be Vulnerable and Ask for Feedback

10/28/2017

On October 27th, my pitch for Lake Tahoe Yoga was shown on the Vistaprint Facebook page as part of a live feed during which they provided feedback to business owners.

As I watched the feed with one of my practitioners she commented; "Talk about being vulnerable." I was more overcome with excitement to have Lake Tahoe Yoga reach thousands of people rather than concerned about the fact that I was putting myself out to be critiqued.

I have always seen LTY as a reflection of who I am and what I want for our community. When the studio doesn't do well, I feel like I am failing. When it succeeds, I am encouraged. Regardless of success or failure, I will continue to strive for change and growth both for myself and LTY.

The feedback I received was valuable and will guide me as I move forward in promoting what we offer. I should note that this is not the only feedback I have ever received and certainly not the only contest I have entered. I belong to multiple business groups both locally and online and am often asking for guidance and honest feedback from others. In fact, when we remodeled in 2015, the funding came partially from a contest that I won through a business group created by Quickbooks.

As a business owner, I know that the best guidance comes from those who are in the same boat; people who own or have owned businesses in a variety of locations and fields. Their guidance helps me to learn lessons without going through the struggle and to take consideration of things that may have never occurred to me.

As a yoga practitioner and instructor, I know that there is much to be learned from teachers outside of my local area. I strive to bring traditional, new, and unique practices and ideas to our studio and hope to spread them throughout the basin. My husband often comments that Lake Tahoe Yoga is "where good ideas come from" and that we "populate Tahoe with high quality teachers." I would never assume that I am the only one who is drawing from outside of the area, or that I am the best in Tahoe, but I hope that which I am teaching is having an influence on the yoga community in Tahoe.

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What do you bring to the battlefield?

1/5/2016

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In the story of the Bhagavad Gita the main character, Arjuna, faces his family and friends upon a battlefield. The reason for the battle is ignorance; they are blind of the Truth.

Humans are often limited in their ability to view the world truthfully. We are limited in our capacity to see things without the shade of our own perspective. Everything we experience is based upon our past experiences, expectations and desires. We struggle to shift our perspectives and to accept other viewpoints.

We practice yoga in order to shift the dynamic; to invert our perspectives. Every movement, breath and focused practice gives us new tools for seeing the Truth.

We live our lives on shifting battlefields. We may be fighting for our job, our family, our beliefs, our morals. Every day we choose the battles to fight and the ones from which we must walk away. Every day the world is changing around us. Even the Earth is shifting at every moment and through every season.

Look around you. Things are never the same as they were. Every snowflake and raindrop causes change. The sun, the wind, rivers and lakes mold the Earth around you. What is molding you?

When you head out onto your battlefields you can choose what to bring. Do you carry with you anger, aggression and violence? Do you approach each battle defensively?

Practice yoga. Learn to carry different tools with you when you head out to battle. Use knowledge, wisdom, patience, devotion and love. Approach these battles differently. Shift your perspective.

Next time you come to your mat, consider the battle you are about to face. Consider the approach you usually take. Breathe, pause and shift your focus. Take a different approach. Perhaps you will be the one who begins the change.

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Be Vulnerable and Ask for Feedback

What do you bring to the battlefield?

Jenay, E-RYT, Director

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