When I started this journey I had no idea how things would unfold worldwide. For over 11 years I have been teaching my weekly morning yoga classes on Maui. I have a well established clientele and have always been committed to my long term community of students over at Island Spirit Yoga Studio in Lahaina, as well as my community donation-based classes at my home Ohana Yoga Shala. This particular Monday, March 16, 2020 wasn't just a regular Monday. This Monday was a little island in the Pacific Ocean getting ready for a pandemic lock down.
My family was ahead of the curve as we had been following the pandemic with all our European friends and knew the lock down was imminent. I knew at that moment I would not be able to return to my sweet little yoga studio for quite some time and realized I would immediately need to figure out a Plan B. I have always loved teaching group classes. Back in the day when I first started teaching in leotards and legwarmers (1988), I knew that teaching was always going to be my calling. I wanted to find a way to still be able to serve my community from the comforts of my own home. During these unprecedented times we now need yoga more than ever! These times can be very stressful for some and I knew that yoga was much needed to call those suffering from stress and anxiety. Yoga is a great coping mechanism and transformative. Yoga teaches us about how to be in the present know matter what is going on in your lives.
By practicing yoga daily you can open your hearts to love more, have compassion for all beings. What would be the best way forward to not only be able to keep up with my daily practice but to still offer classes to the community?
My online classes include the essence of the "Aloha spirit" and my Outdoor Ohana Yoga Shala has the calming serenity view of the ocean and the island of Lanai'i.
Teaching online has always been at the back of my mind. My sister in San Diego kept bugging me to teach online classes for ages and some of my consistent private clients in London (once I moved back to the US) had always nudged me to start a program so they could still do my classes. Alas life got in the way! Raising two children, an international move, and my ongoing yoga business 10ya Yoga.
Once I made the commitment to go online, I threw myself into teaching everyday morning and evenings to be there for anyone that needed the connection. I wanted to let my Ohana know that everything was going to be ok and we could get through this one day at a time. That is why I decided to go LIVE online and not taped recordings. People need to feel love, supported, connected. Community has always been important to me.
Starting this online program has been quite a journey and I am so grateful for the outpouring of support, the generosity and kindness. The response and connection on a global scale has been incredible! I have been able to reach out to not only my local community but worldwide. By teaching online, I have been able to reconnect with some of my students from Canada, East Coast, Mid West, West Coast, The South, (all regions of this country and Canada), New Zealand, UK, France, Italy, Slovakia, even Zimbabwe!
I hope to still continue this life long journey on and off the mat, virtual and back in the studio and at my home outdoor studio. I will continue to offer my services for all by donation for as long as I can. I've always wanted yoga to be available and accessible to all. I know that once this is all over we will come out of this with more awareness and compassion, connected to the ones we love, and making time for those in need.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu may all beings everywhere be happy and free.
Practice Aloha All Ways,
Tenya
