FAQ
WRITING:
1. I don’t have a lot of experience as a writer. Can I attend, and will I benefit from your classes and retreats?
2. I am an experienced writer. Will your classes and retreats be helpful to me?
3. What kind of people do you usually work with – what writing experiences do they have?
4. What kind of writing do you teach? What kind of writing will I do when I work with you?
5. Do you follow any specific methods in your writing workshops?
6. I find it difficult to share my writing. Will my writing be critiqued?
7. If we’re not writing in a specific genre – if it’s not a short story class or a journal-writing class, for example – how will I know what to write?
YOGA:
1. I don’t have any yoga experience. Can I attend, and will I benefit from your classes and retreats?
2. I am not very flexible. Can I still do yoga?
3. I have a lot of yoga experience. Will your classes and retreats be helpful to me?
4. What kind of yoga do you teach? What kind of yoga will I do when I work with you?
5. What is Iyengar yoga?
6. What kind of people do you usually work with – what yoga experiences do they have, and what makes them decide to practice yoga?
7. Is yoga just about flexibility, or is there more to it?
YOGA AND WRITING:
1. I’m not a writer, and I have never practiced yoga before. Can I attend, and will your classes and retreats benefit me?
2. Will we practice yoga and writing at the same time – will I have to write while I’m in a yoga pose, or will we be writing about the poses? How do the yoga and writing fit together?
3. Why should I practice yoga and writing together? How will this practice benefit me?
WRITING:
1. I don't have a lot of experience as a writer. Can I attend, and will I benefit from your classes and retreats?
Absolutely. No experience is necessary. Many people I work with do not consider themselves writers at first, but this feeling dramatically changes through our work together – often in our very first session. Even before we learn to write, as children we are all writers: we tell stories and sing songs and share our lives with one another, until we learn not to. Children play with their voices in so many ways, and you may find this sense of playfulness returning as you begin to take joy in your own words. In addition, new writers often begin to feel not just comfortable, but exhilarated and renewed in every part of their lives as they learn to take creative risks in their writing. When I work with you, a large part of my job is to help you rediscover your own unique voice.
2. I am an experienced writer. Will your classes and retreats be helpful to me?
In my classes, writers of all levels of experience come together to learn from each other, and all can benefit through listening carefully to each other's words. Some of the challenges we face as writers – finding time to write, believing in our own voice, being able to see the strengths in our work, knowing where to go from here – are common to writers at all levels. The craft of writing can be taught in ways that reach all writers, in ways that support the growth of each person. And there is a wonderful energy that happens when writers with different experiences come together to share their work and make it grow.
As discussed below in the section on yoga and writing, the yoga practice itself opens tremendous creative reservoirs, bringing depth and freshness to writing that may feel like it is stuck on the same tracks. Even experienced writers face writer's block, and the practice of combining yoga with writing helps keep the pen moving.
3. What kind of people do you usually work with – what writing experiences do they have?
I have worked with a range of writers – with those who haven't written in years and are nervous about setting pen to page to those who write for a living in different capacities, with reporters and psychologists and academics, with songwriters and poets and fiction writers, with engineers and home makers, with students and retired people, with those who have never considered publishing and others who have published books and other writings. All are welcome, and all can benefit from this work.
4. What kind of writing do you teach? What kind of writing will I do when I work with you?
You will do the kind of writing that you most want to do. Because of the way the class is structured, you may find yourself writing pieces that are more vivid than you expected, powerful pieces that surprise and move you. In my classes, we do not write in any specific genre: one person may be writing a poem, while another is writing a journal entry, a cowboy tune, a screenplay, a letter to a parent or friend, or a short story. Often, we don't know what the genre is when we first write a piece; later on, we can take a fresh piece of writing and turn it into a poem or a story or a play, or whatever we want. You will find that the class will tailor itself to your own writing needs.
5. Do you follow any specific methods in your writing workshops?
I am a member of the Amherst Writers & Artists, so my classes follow the methods pioneered by Pat Schneider as described in her book Writing Alone and with Others. In my classes, we treat all the work as fiction, so we are free to write what is most important to us; we keep everything in the writing circle confidential; and we help the writing to grow by focusing on what is strong in each piece. To find out more about Amherst Writers & Artists, please see www.amherstwriters.com.
6. I find it difficult to share my writing. Will my writing be critiqued?
You will be encouraged, but never forced to share your writing with the group. Once you have tried writing together in this way, more and more you will probably find that you want to share your writing, because others will see strengths in your work that you cannot always see yourself. But each time, it is always your choice, to read or not to read.
When we comment on each other's writing, we focus only on what is strong in the piece. We nurture new, fresh writing the way we would nurture a child, by focussing on its strengths. In my weekly writing workshops, there are also opportunities to bring in a typed manuscript for review, and then you can also receive suggestions for change if you wish, to improve your manuscript. But you will find that the writing grows amazingly just through hearing what works in your own writing and the writing of others in the group.
7. If we're not writing in a specific genre – if it's not a short story class or a journal-writing class, for example – how will I know what to write?
What is common to all our writing circles is that we write following a prompt – for example, I may provide a guided visualization or read a poem or use key words or phrases or give you an object to explore, to help you to begin. The classes are alive and electric because we write in the moment – we write what is true now, and we let the words flow. This way of writing helps us to be truly present and fully alive, and it is a very creative process.
The benefits of this practice flow out to the rest of our lives, so that our lives become, like the writing, truly vibrant, fresh, awake, and alive. As one participant noted at the end of her first retreat, this way of writing well is also a way of living, and this practice begins to permeate every part of our lives, making everything more vibrant. It is a practice of deep self love and self acceptance. It is a life changing practice, one that allows you to be more fully yourself, fully present in each creative moment.
YOGA:
1. I don't have any yoga experience. Can I attend, and will I benefit from your classes and retreats?
No experience is necessary, and all can benefit from a yoga practice. I teach Iyengar yoga, and one of the great things about this form of yoga is that it is adaptable to all bodies and all levels of experience. Although it can be fun to challenge ourselves physically with a new pose we haven't tried before, the practice of yoga is not about doing some kind of pretzel-like pose. Our bodies benefit from the practice, but yoga is really about training the mind, so that the incessant and tiring thoughts that play around in our heads no longer rule us. Have you ever found your mind running in circles, making it difficult to fall asleep? Yoga can help. Through yoga, we learn to get past what is sometimes called "monkey-mind." We learn to be present in the moment, so that when a beloved child speaks his truth or a friend gives us a daisy from her garden or our own heart needs something, we won't miss the moment. This moment-to-moment awareness enriches all our lives.
2. I am not very flexible. Can I still do yoga?
Absolutely. Yoga will help you immensely, because the practice will help you gradually lengthen muscles that may sometimes feel tight and unforgiving. Iyengar yoga, the kind of yoga I teach, should be particularly helpful to you. In this form of yoga, we use props such as wooden blocks, blankets, bolsters, straps, and chairs to adapt the pose for each person. When he began to teach decades ago, B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar yoga, soon realized that Western bodies were not always as flexible as those he had worked with in India, so he found a way to adapt the practice of yoga, to make it accessible to everyone. With the proper use of these specialized yoga props, you too can practice yoga in safe and healthy ways. If you can't reach your toes, it's no problem! Just use a strap to reach your feet. Eventually, you may find that you need a shorter and shorter strap. As tight muscles release through your practice, you may also find other tensions in your life releasing as well, so that you sleep better, breathe more easily, and feel more relaxed and centred throughout your day.
3. I have a lot of yoga experience. Will your classes and retreats be helpful to me?
One of the great things about Iyengar yoga is that it is very adaptable to different levels of experience and different body types. For example, if we are practicing Revolved Triangle Pose with a chair, beginners can use the chair simply to get into the pose, while more experienced practitioners can adapt their use of the chair, with guidance and the use of a strap, to deepen the twist in strong ways. I love teaching mixed-level classes – one student may be practicing Downward Dog for the first time while the next person is doing Headstand with variations, with everything in between as well. This kind of class helps experienced practitioners link poses back, so that they can see where the particular moves necessary for a more advanced posture are learned – so, for example, Staff Pose leads to Little Bridge, which leads, in turn, to Shoulderstand. Many yoga teachers from a range of yoga traditions, and many very experienced students, have attended my classes regularly, and I am often told that students appreciate the careful attention to detail, the focus on alignment, and the meditative quality that I bring to the classes.
4. What kind of yoga do you teach? What kind of yoga will I do when I work with you?
I teach Iyengar yoga. For more information about Iyengar yoga, please refer to #2 and #5 in this section.
5. What is Iyengar yoga?
Iyengar yoga is characterized by the use of props and by the focus on alignment in the poses. It is a meditative style of yoga that is safe for everyone, and it builds strong spines, flexible bodies, and open hearts. As I discuss in my classes, Iyengar yoga is not just about the poses; the poses are just one part of the practice. This form of yoga involves an eightfold path that includes such things as ethical precepts, meditation, breath work, and other practices that enrich our lives. These practices take us through the body to arrive at our highest spirit – a place where we can discover our best selves. For more information on Iyengar yoga, please see #2 above.
6. What kind of people do you usually work with – what yoga experiences do they have, and what makes them decide to practice yoga?
I work with students who have many different levels of experience, from those attending their first yoga class to those who have taught yoga for many years. Although I don't often work with children (with the exception of my daughter at home), my classes have included all ages as well, from young children to seniors. Those who work with me vary in terms of what they want to get out of their practice as well. Some come because of a specific injury they have suffered, while others begin to practice because they have heard that yoga brings some kind of peace of mind. Some have practiced for years, and they simply want to deepen their practice. Others may be looking for weight loss or athletic training or stress relief. Some simply want to be happier in their lives. Many come because someone they know has recommended my classes. Whatever you first come for, you may find that the practice not only addresses your particular needs, but it also enriches the whole of your life physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
7. Is yoga just about flexibility, or is there more to it?
Yoga certainly helps to build muscular flexibility, but there is so much more to the practice than how far you can reach or how deep you can bend! On a physical level, yoga builds strength and stamina, and it helps us to maintain a strong sense of balance. This balance is both literal and metaphorical – as we learn to balance on one foot, for example, we learn to create balance in all parts of our lives. The practice of yoga helps to maintain flexible and healthy joints, such as the shoulder and knee joint, common areas for injury. Iyengar yoga also helps to create and maintain a healthy neck and spine. The more you practice, though, the more you may find that the benefits go far beyond the physical. In yoga, we go through the body to gain greater peace of mind, clarity of thought, and openness of spirit. Yoga is a practice of becoming present, of learning to live in the present moment, so that we live our lives fully, every day.
YOGA AND WRITING:
1. I'm not a writer, and I have never practiced yoga before. Can I attend, and will your classes and retreats benefit me?
Yes. If you have not written before, please see #1 under "Writing." If you have not practiced yoga before, please see #1 under "Yoga." If you haven't practiced either before, but are interested because of what you've read here or what you've heard about my work from a friend, the best way to find out how you will benefit is simply by coming to try out a class! You can drop in on a weekly yoga and writing class, join a monthly or weekly teleclass, or sign up for a workshop or retreat. If you have not practiced either yoga or writing before, there is a wonderful world that can open up for you soon!
2. Will we practice yoga and writing at the same time – will I have to write while I'm in a yoga pose, or will we be writing about the poses? How do the yoga and writing fit together?
In general, we will not be writing about yoga poses, or combining the two practices so that we do both at once. Instead, in retreats, for example, we alternate sessions of yoga with sessions of writing, so that each practice can benefit the other. As we open our minds and hearts in the yoga practice, the grip of our muscles starts to relax – and the grip of what I call the "editor" begins to relax as well. The editor is that critical inner voice that tells us that something is wrong with our writing, that what we are writing is not important, or that what we are writing is too important and so we are not big enough to write it, or that we certainly cannot write about that because after all, what would mother think – and so on. This editor is a version of "monkey mind" (see #1 under Yoga, above), and the editor typically manifests physically as tension in the body.
When we release this tension, a wonderful thing happens: the writing begins to flow, and the creative spirit is unleashed. The practice of writing itself is a meditative practice – as we write together, we learn to be present with what is. In this way, the writing practice also enriches our yoga practice, and together they enrich our lives by enhancing creativity, providing greater ease of movement, and teaching us to be present moment-to-moment throughout our lives.
3. Why should I practice yoga and writing together? How will this practice benefit me?
Please see #2 above.
