The Importance of Authenticity

Photo via alijohnson.org.uk

Um, PHEW. Monday morning and I'm exhausted. Why? I had a LONG (but AMAZING!) first weekend of Advanced Teacher Training at Tranquil Space this past weekend. Although it wasn't as physically demanding as many of the weekends that I experienced in my Level 2 Training (TT2), it was even more mentally exhausting than TT2 and of course, much more time-consuming. I do have to say, though, that it can be kind of nice to know that you only have one place to be and one thing to do for the entire weekend...at least you can't stress out about getting things done for the week :)  Anyways, one of the things that we touched on this past weekend that really resonated with me was our discussion of the importance of authenticity. We discussed it in relation to being a teacher, and more specifically, to teaching yoga, but I think that we could all use a little work finding out what is authentic for us in our lives.

What do I mean by this? As a teacher, it means teaching what you know--and what feels authentic, real, right--to you. It means finding your authentic voice and that which is essential for you as a teacher, and expressing that in some way in every class. For me, I believe that my authenticity is finding the joy in the practice and helping my students to find happiness and contentment in the moment. As a student, authenticity can mean finding a teacher who speaks to you or challenges you in some way (who taps into what is authentic for you), listening to your body and finding your authentic expression of each pose, or getting in touch with your true self on your mat. As a yogi or yogini it can mean learning more about the values and philosophy of yoga and learning to take these values--or the ones that feel authentic for you--off of the mat and into the world. As an individual, it means figuring out what it is that you truly value in life and then living, talking, and acting, in accordance with this (or these) values. I know, all of this is easier said than done, right? And there are many more ways to honor who you are and to discover your true "authenticity" through yoga and in your day-to-day life, but these are just a few examples that have helped me to start thinking about this topic.

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Photo via amara173.blogspot.com

Something else that I find helpful in beginning to discover your authenticity--whether it's associated with your yoga practice, your job, your role in a relationship, or pursuing your passions? Setting an intention for each day around what you would like to put out into the world that day. I know, this sounds totally new-agey and I just lost half of you, but I'm serious (don't leave!!!)! Maybe it's a calming energy, maybe it's an excited or energized feeling, maybe you just want to make people laugh, or to laugh yourself, or just not to get mad at someone that day--something authentic or REAL for you each day. And then, over time, you'll notice a pattern. What is is that you want to reflect to others the most? What is it that you want to put out there, or to receive from the world the most? That's your authenticity. The same goes for your practice--what intention comes up for you most often? That's what you truly need to work on, or discover, or honor in order to explore it. 

So that's where I leave you. Just think about it. You can brush it off as more of my new age psycho-babble (I won't be mad at you :), or you can ponder this idea of authenticity. I know that I'd like to do less falling into routine in my life, in my practice, and in my teaching, and more REALness, brought on by what I need, what I want to put out into the world, and by what those around me need, energetically, physically, or emotionally.

Is that enough for you on a Monday morning? I'll try to lighten up a bit tomorrow ;)

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

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