Yoga at OHM Newsletter Victor Cotto Vicyasa™ 5/12-5/18/2025: YOU DON'T OWE YOUR PRACTICE TO ANYONE5/9/2025 WHEN REDDIT YOGA GETS REAL: YOU DON'T OWE YOUR PRACTICE TO ANYONE  (This week's newsletter was composed by our dynamic on-demand teacher and full time writer Elinor Cohen. Check out her Instagram HERE and her amazingly empowering advanced & intermediate sessions on our on-demand archives.) Recently I was on Reddit, one of the grittier social media forums, and I came across a thread on the /yoga subreddit. The topic was Class Energy and the OP (original poster) was asking if it would be acceptable for her to go to yoga classes even when she was in a bad mood. She said was in a “fitness burnout” and was dreading doing physical movement. Still, she felt like going to yoga could help her find some bliss. The issue was that she was worried “if it will disturb the vibe of the class too much if I go and smile even though I want to flip out internally.” She acknowledged that the yoga room is meant to be a sacred space and she didn’t want to disrupt the energy of the studio and of the other practitioners by bringing her less than yogic aura into the mix. On the other hand, she had paid for an unlimited membership and wanted to get what she could out of the classes. So she felt torn: to go or not to go?
I don’t often reply to people on Reddit because a) I’m not typically in search of an argument and b) I’m not sure my contributions would be all that helpful. In this instance, however, I felt like I had something valuable to say. Here was my response: "Hi OP. Here's my take: you don't owe your practice to anyone. Your yoga practice is your own. You're allowed to show up in a bad mood, speak to no one, not do half the class, and leave without ever having interacted with anyone. And honestly, that's not rude. You're also allowed to come in with a happy demeanor, be cheery and say hi to everyone, remain chipper and optimistic, and smile the whole way through. But the thing is that no matter how you are, you don't owe your practice to anyone; not to the teacher, not to the other students, not to the front desk...as long as you're respectful of the space and getting what YOU need, you're good. Yoga isn't meant to be performative. It's not a show; it's not about who can be the most "into it" or spiritual. Take the pressure off yourself. If you want to go to a class and see what shows up for you, go for it. If you think that will end up making you more frustrated, maybe opt out. It's totally up to you. Hope this helped!" I thought about that Reddit thread for a while, a long while, and it inspired me to expand upon my initial response a bit further. You don't owe your yoga practice to anyone. There's no need to force a smile because the teacher is looking at you or "perform" because you think it'll impress the other yogis in the room. Here’s a secret: it won't. You also don't need to be in a good mood or a spiritual state to go to yoga. Come as you are; bad mood, good mood, heck, let your mood ring decide for you. Your job is to show up for your practice, not for anyone else's. As a student, your job is to get what YOU need out of the practice. Yes, be respectful of the others in the room and the sacred space that is the yoga room, but don't feel pressure to act, move, or breathe a certain way. Feeling like being a little extra and really going for it? Good, do that. Feeling like dialing it back and being low key, doing the absolute minimum? Or even lying in savasana for 45 out of the 60 minutes? Go for it. You don't owe the teacher or the other practitioners exuberance, smiles, or praise. You owe them respect and consideration and as long as you're giving that, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to. A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™... Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been impacted greatly by our bespoke mentoring program. Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts. Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you. I am willing to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered to you manual with loads of vital information and to take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discovered, felt, experienced, or learned through the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to. This relationship is important for professionalized yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own. What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me. Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment. PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK! If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE! SINGLE CLASSES We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott (@leannerays), Elinor Cohen (@elinorraerigby) and others. YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 5/12/2025 NO CLASSES TUESDAY: 5/13/2025 NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY: 5/14/2025 NO CLASSES THURSDAY: 5/15/2025 NO CLASSES FRIDAY: 5/16/2025 NO CLASSES SATURDAY: 5/17/2025 NO CLASSES SUNDAY: 5/18/2025 NO CLASSES *ALL CLASSES EST *SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES *WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes. REGULAR RATES:
PAYMENT: VENMO -- @Vicyasa Paypal -- [email protected] NAMASTE, Victor Cotto www.YogaWithVictor.com Instagram: CottoVic Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™
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AuthorVicyasa™, your full-time dopamine dealer ... don't allow my confidence to offend your insecurity. Archives
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