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

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

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.

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” – Oscar Wilde

Having been a dedicated photographer for many years, the same is true of photography. The photograph is the result of a meeting between person, subject and how the photographer was being in that moment. But mostly it is a manifestation of how that person was when they were taking the picture.

Copyright © 2008 by Russell Smithers

“She stood up, and I rose with her. Under the street lamp her green eyes were jewels of desire, wet with light. Her lips widened in a half-smile that was mine – a moment that was mine alone – and the beggar, my heart , began to hope and plead.”

Gregory David Roberts from the book Shantaram.

Hi

I have just started to read a book called Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts). The first paragraph is amazing, I get the feeling that this will be like Star Maker (Olaf Stapldon) not because of the content, but because the first paragraph in both books are awsom, and in Star Maker each page was no decent from the original greatness of the first paragraph. Maybe Shantaram will be like that, according to the reviews it will be. Third time lucky, he wrote this book 3 times in prison, 1000 pages (nearly), the first two copies the guards in his prison trashed. Amazing, I shall read on.

All the best
Russell

Nothing wrong with small, small doesn’t mean it can’t be perfecty formed. Small is neither positive or negative, it just is in relation to other things.

Copyright © 2009 Russell Smithers

A quick note to friends and those who know me. I am moving address on the 21st Feb 2009, and this is only a few months after moving to Wales in July 2008. So if your unsure of where I am living, which would be understandable considering recent events, please contact me if I haven’t let you know my new address.

As the gaze of the Sun ever watchful, looks towards Earth
Earth rotates, and gracefully passes under her watchful eye

Earth always asleep and awake, as the Sun’s gaze comes and goes
The caress of the Sun, awakening lands of Earth
While nighttime comes and puts to bed, the tired lands

Earth’s wisdom to always rotate, giving all it’s lands the chance to rest and play
As all mothers know, Earth looks after her children and bears their sorrows
But children do not always know what pain they cause their mother

Copyright © 2008 by Russell Smithers