Russell Smithers"Experience is the only teacher we have" – Swami Vivekananda

It’s August 11th 2011 and already I am starting to see what I want from 2012. Although personal priorities are not included!

1. Open University
1. Sign up and complete TT381
2. Sign up and complete TT382
2. Yoga Teaching
1. British Wheel of Yoga – 15 CPD points – possibly from following list
1. Vinyasa Course – bwy web
2. Chakra and Teaching – bwy web
3. Wisdom of the Heart (Mandala Yoga Ashram)
4. Ongoing Training for MYA-Graduate Yoga Teachers (Mandala Yoga Ashram)
2. Continue to Teach yoga classes, at least one class a week.
3. Organise YTTC notes  (inc. recordings) for ongoing study and revision
3. House – Clear out old stuff
4. Visit friends in Spain
5. If possible; Save towards India trip in 2013 for the World Yoga Convention will be held at Bihar School of Yoga in Munger September 7-13
6. Theme for Year – Tidy and Focussed
7. Spirit of the year – Simple and Spacious
8. Continue with guitar and singing lessons
9. Try and jam with friend
10. Have fun

In April of 2010 I started teaching yoga as part of a yoga teaching course at the Mandala Yoga Ashram. In July of 2011 I completed that yoga teacher training course. However more important than that is that on November 9th 2011 my image of how I wanted to teach yoga came together extremely well.

How do I know that? First was that the key elements of my ideal way of teaching were in place, and also that at the end of the yoga class, and without me asking anyone, a yoga student came up to me and said “you were on fire tonight”, I said back “well it did feel really good for me, so it’s good you felt the same.”

What was my ideal way of teaching? The ability to have a well balanced and themed class planned, followed by an excellent delivery of instructions whilst maintaining a good flow for the students practising. In addition adding useful information between instructions about the postures and why we are doing them in the class, whilst using observation to adjust students (verbally) to help them with alignment or prevent them from getting an injury.

So it was on November 9th that I became the yoga teacher I always wanted to be. And now it’s to quote one of my teachers from the ashram, “Onwards and Upwards”.

Would you like to attend a yoga class with me? Then please visit www.yoga-bija.me.uk for more information of yoga classes in Nantwich (Cheshire) and Whitchurch (Shropshire).

As 2010 nears to an end its a good time to workout what I want from 2011. I could drift through the year, but then I would look back and think what have achieved! Time, it’s precious, so I will focus on a few things that are important!

These are my aims for 2011. They are listed in level of importance to me looking at the year as a whole. As with everything, keeping a balance in the time I spend on these activities is key;

1. Complete the yoga teacher training course, and PASS IT! – COMPLETED
2. Establish and maintain the teaching of regular yoga classes (building on my teaching from 2010) – ON COURSE
3. Cultivate existing relationships – EASY AND ON COURSE
4. Complete the last presentation of TT380 and plan for TT381 and TT382 (Open University) – SIGNED UP for TT380
5. Attend regular yoga classes as a student – ONGOING
6. Sort out the TV situation – No Need!
7. Have fun – Friends and holidays happening

“If you can develop joy in the wonders of life and where your talents lay,
if you can cultivate attitudes of love and caring towards yoursef and others whilst single,
If you can remain accepting of how things are and work with, rather than against what is.

Then,
my friend,
then,
you will know how to foster a loving relationship with another,
and have strong foundations for a happy future together.
“, – Russell Smithers

Nice to see peoaple with dyslexia being shown in a positive light.

Im just watching Doctor Who – Series 5 – 8. The Hungry Earth

“We know perfectly well that things are not in two places at the same time in our everyday experience, but this fundamental theory of physics says that they can be,” he told BBC News.” [taken from news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8570836.stm on 18th March 2010 at 06:49]

I start teaching yoga in April this year. So I created a dedicated yoga website for my teaching activities which is; www.yoga-bija.me.uk, so feel free to visit and make comments. The russellsashtanga.info website will be retired, and I will consolidate the articles either into the new website, or maybe this one.

Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I make is what the people call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.

Alexander Hamilton
www.inspirational-quotes.info/thoughts.html

I have decided to start looking into Dyslexia and Tinnitus more because both affect me. Why start now? well the last few years have been pretty hectic and I have moved jobs and geographic locations far to many times to relax into life and have the time to do so. Now is time to look into both subjects and start sharing information. As always with this website, it is more a place for me to keep related information that I can share with friends and family on the web.