Healthy Kids Day!
Today, Saturday, was a beautiful ending to a difficult week. Quite frankly, I’d felt “stuck.” Stuck in the old habit patterns, feeling disappointed when opportunities that had at first looked promising, seemed to bring no results. I even found myself feeling a bit irritable in our art class on Friday. I just wasn’t “myself.”
A month or so ago, I was asked to teach art class and a Family Yoga class at Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA. Of course I jumped at the chance to so…it sounded like a lot of fun, plus a chance to reach many kids and families. As the day drew near, I became concerned because there was only a very loose plan for how I could do things. I didn’t know where I would be teaching, and things felt a bit unsettled. The week did not go well here at home. I was feeling discouraged with the things happening in my life and wasn’t getting much relief. I felt like a referee and a chauffer this week, instead of an artist! The events of the week had seemed to drain me of my enthusiasm and creativity.
On the way to the YMCA this morning at 9:30, I had all my “magic bags” packed, and that perked up my spirits a bit. Still, I was tired and drained. My daughter asked me if I was hoping that no one would show up for my classes. You know, a part of me DID feel that way! But truly I was hoping for a good turnout, and hoping I would be up for it.
Once I arrived at the Y, the day went great. Especially the Family Yoga class…I must have had 40 people show up. At 10:30, someone came to get me for the class…she said, “Lisa, you might want to get up there, because there is already a crowd gathering outside the studio…” I became very excited! We ran out of mats and space. They all tried to cram into a small studio, which only holds about 15! But it was a blast. I often feel after I teach a class, “I wish I would have done this,” or, “I wish I had left this out.” Today was different, because I was full of passion, and I don’t know where it came from. All the stuff I have been working on, all that Sydney has taught me, all the time I thought that I was stuck…it was still there, ready to pour from me at a moment’s notice!
My favorite part was when the room was full of parents and kids of all ages, crawling around on the floor in a crab walk. They looked SO happy, smiling and laughing, so full of life. And then when they stopped and felt each other’s breathing, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
I have my puppet Rainbow the Dragon and Rainbow helps to build my confidence. It is so cute that Rainbow has found her own special job, she collects the kids’ instruments and they love giving them to her. I don’t even know where that came from, but it must have come from Rainbow herself. She also loves the Seashore Warm-up, so whenever Rainbow is out, I have to do that warm-up. Seashore Warm-up also really boosts my confidence and my energy level. I ended up telling a very short version of the Peddler’s Dream. It is by far my best story. I know I can give a great performance, and Rainbow loves to talk about following your dreams. It truly came from my heart.
My favorite comment today was a girl that said at the end of class, “I wish we had yoga EVERY DAY!”
I have no photos to show you, only words to tell you, that spending an hour in a room full of smiles and laughter was good for the soul…my soul. I am really tired, but filled with contentment from a job well done. I can pat myself on the back, and know that I gave those kids my best today. I love it when I finally realize that I don’t have to be “perfect” to give all the love I have to others. They can undeniably feel the difference. It isn’t about precision, or perfection, it is about doing it with your heart!
In the art class this morning, we did Mandala Art. I was going to do a mandala collage project, but, did it a bit differently. I guess you could say I “winged it.” This is what I do, when I do my best work. I did not have a large group of kids, but I would say I had about 20. That was plenty. They all did some very nice work. Kids love telling stories about themselves. This also gave me a great idea to use for my upcoming workshop on teaching yoga to special kids. Anyway, kids could relate to the idea of circular art. Many of the kids even cut their art out!
I will share the details of my project and how I did it, in case anyone reading this would like to try it too!
Have a fabulous weekend! Live Creative!
Lisa
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