I've created a monster. Oh dear.

I've been trying to learn Yoga at home for several years now with almost no success, and just last month started taking formal classes. My husband says that I have become a nicer person in the last few weeks. I'm not sure how to take that.

Anyway, I also just started working as an in-home caretaker for individuals with brain injuries and developmental disabilities. In my first three weeks, many of the clients and most of the other staff know me as the "Weird Chick:" black clothes, dog collars, health food, yoga, fiber crafts... yeah...

But we're supposed to be pushing the clients to eat more healthy foods and exercise, and many of them complain that the people who are pushing them will eat MacDonald's in front of them while making them eat salads and the like. I've been having better luck, asking them to show me the gym, rather than asking them to go exercise, and the like. None of the staff are actually promoting good health, just ordering it in others. Grr.

Here is the dilemma: I've been taking my Yoga Journals to work, as we get a lot of free time. I should have known someone would catch on, last week I wound up trying to teach a man with severe manual motor disabilities to crochet after his watching me for about a half-hour. Fun for all! But one of the lower-functioning clients, a full stereotypical redneck with the mind of about a five-year-old, got ahold of my magazine and begged me to tell him ALL about it... then to bring one of my DVDs so he could try it. My trainer didn't see any harm, so I told him that the next time I worked he could try a few poses. Down dog, a simple tree, some warriors, even I can show someone that.

Hey, we can't get this guy to exercise more than a little walk a couple of times a week. Yoga is GOLD for brain injury patients. The household team leader fell all over it. Yay, redneck dude! But he obsesses about things at random, and for days. And he has started gleefully telling everyone he can find (managers, staff, other clients...) that "She's gonna teach me some Yogas!" Now management is talking about finding more mats, and some blocks to keep in the rec center.

What have I done??? I've only been doing this for a few weeks and it's spreading! I can't do any more than provide DVD access and relay a couple of things my teacher has told me. Oh, bloody hell!

 

well youre not drinking Pee yet. I think youre good..

 

Huh?

 

then you aint learning yoga honey with the huh.. try again..
Drink to Your Health; Amaroli, Urine Therapy; Agama Yoga School

 

Maby your teacher can come along and teach you as a group?

 

This sounds great! It sounds like you've started something really positive where you work. Good job!

I understand your concern about not feeling qualified to teach yoga. Keep in mind though, as long as you are showing your clients simple, relaxed poses and encouraging them not to push it, you are almost certainly benefiting them - it sounds like the fact that they are willing to engage in any exercise is a big step in the right direction.

But hey, if management is excited about this, why not see if they'll pay for you to take a yoga teacher certification course? It's worth a try!

 

I have spoken to my instructor, and while she didn't have time that day she said she'd show me some modified poses to relay, and that this was really cool.

As for me getting certified, I've been practicing seriously for about a month and a half now and I won't be in the area anymore after I graduate in two years. The nearest certification school is an hour's drive away, and their budget won't even really cover DVDs and mats. I told them that if they got some of the other clients into it, I'd spring for some cheapie Ebay mats and blocks and pirate some disks. I adore the clients, and don't really think I can tell them no because of a lack of funding. I know I'll be keeping a disk or two and a couple sets of goodies in my car from here on out. But it's too soon in my practice, and it wouldn't be a worthwhile investment.

But I might take one after graduation when we move. I could see me putting together a class especially for mental disabilities.

 

I just have to say that that is really, really beautiful Yoga can really change peoples lives and at the very least, be an interesting and healthy new activity to take part in. Keep learning yoga and bring what you learn to the others, bring in dvd's and learn *with* them...can you talk to your employer about perhaps bringing in a yoga instructor once or twice a week? The instructor might be willing to do it at a reduced rate if they know it's for such a great cause!

It makes me smile to see people bringing things like yoga into other peoples lives, even if by accident!