Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been using videos to tell people about the upcoming Sadhana of Prana retreat.  To be honest, there hasn’t been a great response.  I’ve wondered why.  Back East, this retreat is well received but so far that has not been the case here in Utah.  When I woke up this morning, I realized what the problem is.

Back East, this retreat is led by Chandrakant and he is well known there.  He is also surrounded by a large community people who practice Amrit Yoga.  I am also well known in the Amrit Yoga community but, here in Utah, that’s a handful of people.  I have no claim to fame; so, why would people in Utah be interested in a retreat that I am leading?

Just who do I think I am?  Why should you even consider coming to a retreat that I lead?

I can give you a list of credentials.  I can tell you how long I’ve been practicing, how long I’ve been teaching and where, but none of that is a good reason to come to a retreat I lead.  So, I’ll help you experience how I teach.

Tonight at 6pm, I’ll use Facebook to livestream a guided meditation.  It will last about 10 minutes is all.  Tomorrow, I’ll livestream a 90 minute yoga class.

Credentials

For those of you interested, here are the numbers, facts, and figures.  I began practicing yoga February 16, 2002.  I unintentionally began teaching yoga in 2003, my kids and their friends would join me for my practice.  I have completed the Amrit Yoga Level I, Level II and Yoga Nidra facilitator trainings.  I now serve as a mentor in the Level II advanced teacher training at the Amrit Yoga Institute and I teach recovery yoga at Maple Mountain Recover.

I have received nearly 2000 hours of training and taught roughly 8000 hours.  This is all in addition to an estimated 8200 hours spent on my own mat.  Yoga Alliance has designated me as an E-RYT 500.  I surpassed that 500 number years ago.

I teach in my home and in the community.  Most of my classes are relatively small.  I like them that way because I get to know the people who are in my classes.

I am likely the least limber yoga teacher you will ever meet.  There’s also a little jelly-roll around my waist and the highlights in my hair are all natural.  I do have an Instagram account but you won’t find any yoga poses on it.

I’ve been married for 24 years now.  My wife and I have four children, one son-in-law and two cats.  My practice of Amrit Yoga ended 30 years of life and death struggle with depression.  It has also helped me remain at peace as this family of mine works through their own struggles with anxiety, depression, autism, being transgender, being a newlywed couple, and trying to find their places in life as young adults.  That’s just my little family and that’s just a description of last Thursday!  That doesn’t even cover the self-doubt, and uncertainty that creeps into my own life.  Through it all, my sadhana, my daily practice, keeps me at peace.

So, why attend a retreat that I lead?  Because I know pain, I know suffering, and most importantly, I know peace.

Just to do I think I am? I know the answer to that question.  I do want to share the answer with you Because that is the source of the peace I experience. But more importantly, I want to share with you the answer to the question, “Just who do you think you are?”

Jai Bhagwan