Post-Street Yoga Teacher Training

The Street Yoga Teacher Training wrapped up late Sunday afternoon. First thing in the morning, we were given a beautiful back care and pranayama class by Chandra, a skilled teacher and a member of Street Yoga's Board of Directors. Our discussion, for most of the day, revolved around Boundaries - emotional, physical, and psychological. We also used role playing to explore the many layers of youth social services and to get an idea of how the young men and women in any given Street Yoga class have been shuffled around from shelter to shelter, foster home to foster home, social worker to social worker, hospital to street, again and again. We also hashed out boundary scenarios and designed custom classes for specific populations: the chronically ill, pregnant women, obese people, hyperactive kids, etc. The training came to an end with all the teachers and students in a big circle, giving thanks and celebrating each other. 

The next several steps: observe a class at a site of my choosing. Decide upon the specific population I would be interested in working with. Educate myself further about that population's needs. Select a site of interest in which to volunteer. Make a long-term commitment to teaching there.


In other news: organic rolled oats cooked with chopped up apricots and dates is delicious.

Also:


Big Green Smoothie


5-6 leaves of kale
5-6 leaves of lettuce
2-3 carrots
1/2 Granny Smith apple
1/2 tbsp. organic apple butter
1/2 tbsp. organic almond butter
1/2 tbsp. hemp seed oil
Ginger root
1 c. water 
Ice, if desired

This smoothie can come out a little thick, so add water as needed. It's really yummy and energizing, with tons of raw, unadulterated vitamins, minerals and protein. The apple butter sweetens, the ginger spices, and the almond butter/hemp seed oil strengthen the whole concoction.