1. What’s your favorite part of your work?
The favorite part of my work is seeing students reach their fullest potential. Some of my students have been working with me over a decade and it’s incredibly satisfying to see the transformation that can occur over a period of consistent practice. In particular it brings me great joy to see senior students becoming teachers themselves and becoming more and more refined in their work. It moves me deeply to see someone who may have been previously crippled by self-limiting beliefs, become a confident and caring person.
2. What’s your least favorite part of your work?
Long distant travel is very hard on me physically and emotionally. Inevitably my sleep becomes unsettled being in a different city, if not country every week and this can gradually erode good health. Traveling to teach also means being away from my farm, garden and beloved horses, so it’s a pull every time I head for the airport!
4. If you didn’t teach yoga, what else would you do?
I would probably devote myself to studying horsemanship and dressage with a living master. Like Yoga, becoming an excellent horsewoman is a life long apprenticeship. One can never really master it, so there is a sense of infinite challenge and adventure.
5. What are you excited about learning next?
After being on my own for 12 years I have recently entered into a intimate relationship again. I’m excited to learn how the practice of Yoga can support honesty and kindness within relationship and how refinement of perception can allow each individual to see the other “new” each day.
6. What’s your finest advice for a newer teacher?
Many people new to teaching put unrealistic expectations on themselves to earn all of their income through their teaching. This can sometimes lead to unethical behavior where we teach in a way that is not in keeping with our highest values and integrity. For this reason, I recommend that teachers hold on to some kind of part time work that can give them a base income while they grow their student body. Then concentrate on becoming the very best teacher you can be rather than worrying about your popularity, because popularity does not necessarily mean that you are an accomplished teacher.
7. Evolutionary biology or God(s)?
To me God is Nature. They are one and the same thing.