Category: Uncategorised
For this week, I am veering away from my website slightly because in the creation of my website and my research I have been inspired to create a poster using Canva to put up in my community offering one-on-one yoga classes or a yoga mentorship program on a sliding scale or for trade.
I typed this into ChatGPT to see if it could pull out the bits of into I should add:
I am a yoga teacher who wants to start offering one-on-one yoga classes. I want to make a poster to put up around my community. I am going to give a bunch of information and then can you take it all and write up some text that I would put onto my poster. I dont want the poster to have too much text, just enough to get the person looking at it interested. Here is my philosophy on yoga: Yoga isn’t just a practice for me; it’s a way of life, a profound path to uncovering the beauty and depth of each moment. My teaching philosophy is rooted in creating a space where individuals can arrive exactly as they are, shedding the layers of judgment and expectation to simply be present in their bodies and breath. In my classes, you’ll find a blend of playfulness and discipline, intuition and inquiry. I believe in the power of yoga to cultivate curiosity and awareness, offering a gateway to understanding the fluctuations of the mind and the habits that shape our lives. As your guide, I’m here to provide gentle encouragement and suggestions, allowing the practice itself to be the ultimate teacher. With a background in nature connection and somatic movement, I infuse elements of the natural world into our practice, whether it’s exploring the elements within us or flowing through sequences inspired by the rhythms of the earth. Each class is an invitation to dive deep, to explore the depths of your being. And here is just a bit more info: I trained at Vinyasa YogaShala Riskikesh, India in 2018 My focus tends to be rooted in the somatic experience of using the body and breath to guide the practitioner to the present moment. Curiosity, exploration, compassion, discipline tend to be other focuses that will be woven into most practices. There are no prerequisites. What I teach in yoga i What I teach under the umbrella of yoga include: the asana (postural practice), Breath practice, meditation, philosophy, and lifestyle. I want to attract all people of all ages. I want people to feel warm when they read the text.
This is what it gave me:
🌿 Discover Yoga with [Your Name] 🌿
Embark on a journey of self-discovery through yoga, where every moment is an opportunity to find beauty and depth within yourself.
🌟 Philosophy of Yoga: Experience more than just poses – uncover a way of life. Embrace each moment with openness, shedding judgment and expectation to simply be present in body and breath.
🧘 What to Expect: Join me for classes filled with a blend of playfulness and discipline, intuition and inquiry. Together, we’ll cultivate curiosity and awareness, allowing yoga to reveal the fluctuations of the mind and shape our lives.
🌍 Nature-Inspired Practice: Infused with elements of the natural world, our sessions explore the rhythms of the earth and the elements within us. Dive deep into your being with sequences inspired by nature.
🎓 About Me: Trained at Vinyasa YogaShala in Riskikesh, India in 2018, I bring a focus on somatic experiences, guided by body and breath. Expect practices rooted in curiosity, exploration, compassion, and discipline.
🌸 All Are Welcome: No prerequisites required – yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or experience level. Step onto the mat and into a warm, inclusive community.
📅 Join Us: [Contact Information/Location/Class Schedule]
Let’s flow, breathe, and grow together. Embrace the journey with open arms. Namaste. 🙏
I sent this over to some yoga friends to see what they thought and only got one response so far. Their response was “😍😍😍”
I watched this video on Youtube to get some more information on how to create a poster.
Below you can see my progress as I play around with different designs on Canva.
I thoroughly enjoyed this activity and look forward to participating in more events like this in the future, and perhaps even organizing similar events myself.
The two talks I attended focused on unstructured play and inquiry. I was eager to join these discussions to gain insights from others on these topics.
It was fascinating to hear everyone’s perspectives and comfort levels regarding unstructured play. During the conversation, I shared a story with my group that I’d like to recount here.
One afternoon, while teaching at Oak and Orca, the students began discussing the “mat game.” When I inquired about it, they simply replied, “Just wait and you will see.” So, during physical education class, we ventured out onto the field with five or six large mats. As a newcomer to the school, I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. There was a group of 15 students, ranging in age from 4 to 17. Two kids at a time would hop onto a mat and attempt to through the other one off. Initially, it seemed chaotic and even a bit alarming, as some students would aggressively try to throw others off the mat, resulting in tears. However, whenever someone got hurt, they all paused to check in with each other and inquire if they wanted to continue. Later, my mentor explained how they were learning about consent, understanding what a “yes” and “no” feel like, through playing this game.
Initially, I struggled to see the benefits of this game. However, after discussing it with my mentor and the students, I gained a full understanding and appreciation for it.
However It was not as funny as this wrestling…
I find the concept of Ed Camp intriguing because it allows you to hear stories from others and gain deeper insights into topics you may not be familiar with.
This week I was inspired by Simone Littledale from VISII on her discussion on individualized learning through inquiry and the school. While she was speaking all I could think about was Oak and Orca Bioregional School. There are many similarities between the two schools. Some of the major ones being the inquiry style of learning, 1:1 check ins, quite spaces, body breaks, and the overall schedule.
These schools are spaces for kiddos who do not succeed in the traditional schooling system. Some needing more challenge, and some just need way less stimulation.
Days after the conversation with Simon, some of my peers and I raised questions about the accessibility of attending an inquiry school given its high price point. Other questions emerged regarding how to identify an inquiry program suitable for adoption by the school. This inspired me to contemplate ways in which the public school classroom could foster inclusion, curiosity, and connection through inquiry-based learning. Here is a list of methods through which a public school teacher might cultivate an atmosphere of inquiry in their classroom::
Project based learning
Listening to the students and really hearing them!
Being super clear about expectations and the BC curriculum and creating unit plans together
Emphasize critical thinking (Encouraging questioning)
Cultivating belonging in the classroom
And this is from Chat GPT asking the question:
“How can a public school teacher create an atmosphere of inquiry in their classroom?”
- Encourage Questions: Foster an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions about the subject matter. Reinforce the idea that there are no ‘silly’ questions.
- Promote Curiosity: Stimulate curiosity by presenting intriguing problems or topics that prompt students to want to know more.
- Provide Resources: Offer access to a variety of resources such as books, articles, videos, and experiments that allow students to explore topics in-depth.
- Emphasize Critical Thinking: Encourage students to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information rather than simply memorizing facts. Teach them to question assumptions and think critically about the material.
- Facilitate Discussions: Arrange discussions where students can express their opinions, share their perspectives, and engage in respectful debates. Encourage active listening and constructive feedback.
- Hands-on Activities: Incorporate hands-on activities, experiments, and projects that allow students to actively engage with the material and discover concepts for themselves.
- Support Investigation: Provide opportunities for students to conduct their own research and investigations. Guide them through the process of formulating research questions, designing experiments, and analyzing results.
- Model Inquiry: Demonstrate curiosity and a passion for learning yourself. Show enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and encourage students to follow your example.
- Encourage Collaboration: Foster a collaborative learning environment where students can work together to solve problems, share insights, and learn from each other’s perspectives.
- Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback that helps students deepen their understanding and refine their thinking. Encourage them to reflect on their learning process and identify areas for improvement.
- Celebrate Curiosity: Recognize and celebrate curiosity and inquiry-driven learning by highlighting student achievements and showcasing their work.
Overall, I think it is our responsibility to hold space in the classroom for inquiry to thrive.
The first class was exciting and also a bit intimidating. I am excited about the freedom within the assignments but also a bit nervous because I tend to have an aversion to learning new technologies due to stressful experiences in the past. I think connecting our passion with the learning of a new software will make it smooth and fun process however.
I appreciate the clear instructions on the class website on how to set up our WordPress. It was an easy process however at times a bit confusing only because I was not following the directions… It’s like building a table from Ikea, all you have to do is follow the instructions.
I am looking forward to learning!