This week’s Dance First Member Insight is brought to you by Megha Nancy Buttenheim , founder of Let Your Yoga Dance. Dance First members are sharing their insights and inspirations during this troubled time, as well as how they are coping. Plus links to live streams and online offerings for you.
Dear Conscious Dancers
Dancing into the New (AB)Normal :: Meltdown and Success!
This last week was the best of times and the worst of times. When people say, “Using Zoom is really easy, Megha, as easy as turning on and off your computer,” I bow my head in shame and say, “Not yet for me…” And then all my yoga training goes out the window and I want to punch them. Goodbye Ahimsa, non-violence!
ENTER Positive Psychology Character Strengths! To accomplish this Herculean task of learning to Zoom, I need to really work on my positive psychology character strengths of Curiosity, Love of Learning, Prudence, Self-Regulation, and Perseverance. Megha: ya just gotta keep at it until you have an ongoing gentle yoga/qigong and Let Your Yoga Dance class.
Notes from five days ago: I am two days away from starting my very own Let Your Yoga Dance class, along with a Gentle Yoga and Qigong class. I have three different people helping me. They are all wonderful. This is such a huge deal. My assistant is getting my invitations ready on Constant Contact, and a graduate from my training is showing me the myriad steps to recording, chatting, locking down the class in case there is a Zoom Bomb. I learn one thing but if I don’t practice it within a day, it is gone, and I have to start again. At one point as Laura and I are zooming, and she is giving me new directions, my brain tilts, and tears start to spring to my eyes. She goes to teach on her own platform, and I trudge upstairs from my beautiful new Let Your Yoga Dance studio (do NOT call it a basement!). I wander into the living room and suddenly I start to wail. I sob and cry; so much sound and lamentation! Is this keening? It goes on and on and on….
About 15 minutes later, my heart and spirit calm down, and thoughts return:
“How can I do my work when this is so hard? I am failing! I am no use. How can I accomplish this? My first big class is tomorrow and 109 people have signed up! It’s so much easier just to be a visitor and teach on someone else’s platform!”
I want to throw in the towel and give up – but I can’t! I have to persevere……”
I get up and I send a text to my assistant saying I am in meltdown. I have not melted down in over 25 years. He says, “I will take care of it! GO outside in the rain and get some rest. Everything will be fine.” I obey. God bless my helper!
Today:
My TWO CLASSES WENT JUST FINE! I did in fact lead two great classes last week, in spite of the invitation glitches which are now cleared up. I’m preparing for Round 2 this week; it’s not so stressful. Not one tear has been shed. I keep learning the technology, knowing there’s miles to go before I sleep. Sometimes I marvel at the extent of my huge upset, but I had little sleep, deep worry, and a huge desire to serve and serve WELL. USE your yoga practices, Megha. Rest and play and sleep and dance and get off this computer as often as possible.
Some people are bored during lockdown. I have never been busier!
This week was the Agony and the Ecstasy, no doubt about it!
Stay safe, stay healthy, and much love to you all,
Megha
CJO (Chief JOY Officer) Let Your Yoga Dance
Megha has indeed started her classes on ZOOM!
Tues 2-3 pm EST Let Your Yoga Dance
Thurs 2-3 pm EST Yoga / Qigong
Megha Nancy Buttenheim, is CJO (Chief JOY Officer), and Founding Director of Let Your Yoga Dance, and author of the book, Expanding Joy: Let Your Yoga Dance, Embodying Positive Psychology. Megha is a 35 year legacy faculty member and trainer at Kripalu where she has trained thousands of people in yoga, holistic health, and Let Your Yoga Dance. Megha teaches weekly Let Your Yoga Dance classes for people with Parkinson’s. She also leads trainings for those wishing to teach the general population, special populations, kids, and teens. Megha’s credo: Everyone is a Dancer. Meghanancybuttenheim.com
Products for EASE during COVID-19
2 FREE MP3 Moving Yoga Classes:
MOONTIDES and POWER & GRACE.
Download for free at Megha’s online store. Visit: https://store.
– then click on: Digital Media.
