"Online Yoga is Good, But In-Person Community is Unbeatable!"
Nothing is better than the Power of In-Person Community
I know everyone teaches online, and I do, too. Still, the experience of teaching Yoga in person and community, in your local community, is something special.
I love the ongoing relationships with the local Yoga Practitioners, Teachers, Students, and Visitors. There is something special and therapeutic about helping someone transform themselves from the inside out by doing a yoga practice.
This is not to say that all practices are equal. It's a matter of different strokes for different folks, so I teach various types of classes around town. This is very interesting and a good way to pivot from one style to another, and it benefits everyone. For instance, not everyone wants to do a power yoga class, and not everyone wants a gentle class. I teach a Hot Yoga class at 104 degrees and 40% humidity at Blue Hot Yoga, and those students are not the same people I am interfacing with at a Gentle Yoga Class. I have discipline and regularity on my side. I am called to teach yoga and work with people spiritually, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sure, some of my classes are broadcast via Zoom, but it’s not the same hands-on, personal experience.
Lots of Yoga Teachers aspire to do vacation-style yoga retreats and massive online gatherings. I do a little bit of that, teaching and taking classes remotely. It has its place and a boon for working with people at a distance.
As a practitioner, healer, yoga & meditation teacher, connecting with your students and creating regular and personal connections is essential. I use various techniques to do this, such as teaching a variety of modalities, including Baptist Power Yoga, Bikram Style, Iyengar Restorative, Gentle Hatha Yoga Sequences, Reiki Energy Healing, Sound Healing, and Yoga Nidra. I like to weave in various nondual techniques and teachings from Vajrayana Buddhism, Shaiva Tantra, Reiki, Cold Plunging in the Ocean, Yoga Nidra Meditation, Crystal Bowl, and Gong Sound Bath Healing. I also Podcast some Yoga Nidras, Tara Practices, and Sound Healing on all the major Podcasting Networks.
I love teaching Yoga—healing, and Meditation. I am also guided to write about it and have published a few books on subjects dear to my heart. I need to tell my students about these books, present and future. I am 71 years old with years of practice and experience. This is the time to express everything in a condensed form. I like to think of my books like unique treasure vases that might not be valued now but perhaps in the future. Accepting yourself and letting life live through you in the way it wants to manifest is perfect. Many people think there is someplace to “get to”; living your life in your local community is the best thing you can do. I love teaching in my local community. If you want to check out my writings on Healing, Yoga, Meditation, and Vegan Recipes, they are available on Amazon and Etsy:
Melissa Shubha Abbott's Amazon Authors Page:
Sometimes, people think a flashy jet-set lifestyle doing romantic retreats and giant online offerings is the ultimate in a Yoga Teacher’s life. Ultimately, it concerns the students who deserve and need regular practice and encouragement. They need to get on their mats in the present moment and process their life force energy somatically. This can transform a person’s consciousness mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Get on the Mat, Experience Sound Healing and Yoga Nidra, or Reiki Energy Work with me in Massachusetts, North of Boston at:
Thank You for reading, Much Love to You,
Melissa Shubha Abbott
I love this! Having been a student and teacher of a variety of yoga disciplines in a number of yoga communities I would add this: Yoga communities are like people, they all have a different "personality." If it feels more like a yoga "kingdom/queendom" to you--keep searching-- until you find your yoga home community. When you arrive you will know in your heart that you are right where you are supposed to be. And as you evolve, so will your yoga practice. So I love this message--have many many teachers of many many disciplines in many many environments-- avail yourself of all the goodness! Let it all land. ❤️