8/14/25 Live Session Recording

Just caught up with the last hour that I missed, really enjoyed hearing the reflections on asteya and I really resonated with the idea of procrastination as stealing from ourselves - and how over time that becomes a samskara. I do struggle with procrastination and I feel it stems from avoidance and fear but I am stealing from myself by taking the opportunity away from myself. 

I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to watch these recordings, thank you for another great session! For me, I really resonate with invitational cueing. However, on reflection, I also think it will take a while for me to become fully proficient in this type of language use because my previous yoga training was very directive, and cueing was based on “proper” alignment. One way I will shift my own language to become more invitational will be to use words such as “perhaps” and “maybe” before introducing a cue/movement so that this provides the individual with a tentative option rather than a command to do something. This would hopefully provide genuine autonomy, safety, and a sense of choice in relation to how/if they move. The principle of non-stealing could be applied by ensuring that my communication shows that I am genuinely interested and attuned by being an active listener with the aim to understand their perspective rather than to respond too prematurely. In turn this would provide the opportunity for individuals to find a sense of connection, community and a sense of being heard.

I just finished watching the recording of last Thursday's wonderful session focusing on Asteya. Ideally a yoga class is a setting where non-stealing should be prevalent, however it can be a place where stealing occurs in sneaky ways. In the way I hold space or share yoga with others, I can best practice Asteya by being fully present - both on and off the mat. There are times I have "Imposter Syndrome" when teaching a yoga class which results in me trying to create a "perfect" class. Unwittingly, I am stealing from my students when I engage in this way since I am not focusing solely on the people before me, but on the class that I want to deliver. I guess I'm also stealing from myself when I allow my self doubts to interfere. In addition to being more fully present, I can also practice Asteya by offering more invitational cues to help students embody and be curious about their own practice. I'm looking forward to adding more of these cues in my instruction. A question such as "What do you notice?" may help them further explore their personal practice. Reminding students that everything is an option is powerful. I really appreciate having access to the slides, especially the one providing invitational cues throughout the practice. 

Off the mat, the place I can start with my practice of Asteya is holding space for others, without being attached to an outcome or my responses.

I am feeling such deep gratitude to you Jen for this amazing opportunity!

I loved this class—so much so that I had to watch it in two parts. Usually, I power through in one sitting, but this time I felt the need to pause, regroup, and center myself. The material was heavy, and the mirror we hold up to ourselves on this journey is no small thing. This is not light work, and I think we should all be proud of the courage it takes just to be here.

I was especially moved by one of my fellow participants' shares. I won’t name names, but their vulnerability really resonated. I, too, struggle with self-judgment, perfectionism, and the nagging thought that I should be further along in my journey. But the simple act of showing up is so profound. Showing up is half the battle. I mean, I’ve literally driven to the gym only to turn around.

One of my instructors once said something that stuck with me:

“It’s not all or nothing. It’s something or nothing.”

For someone like me who tends to think in black and white, that completely shifted how I view discipline and consistency. It gave me permission to be in the process.

Also, I’ve noticed there’s always some fear involved, what am I giving up by showing up? And often, as we learned in Nikki’s lecture, the answer is: an addiction, or a survival pattern I’ve clung to in order to escape reality. That hit hard.

The little cartoon about the autonomic nervous system made me laugh—the brain with a face! But underneath the humor was something deeply clarifying. I found myself watching it not just to learn, but actively trying to figure out how to heal myself… and raise my daughter in a safe, conscious way.

I’ve started applying invitational cuing in my daily life, even in regular conversations (though it’s definitely challenging with my partner!). Still, I believe yoga doesn’t end at the edge of the mat. As a facilitator, I want to meet others as equals, why not carry that energy into everyday life too?

Robert Sturman’s formula was groundbreaking for me:

Never look down on anyone.

That’s such a powerful reframe. All beings deserve invitational language. Consent is everything.

One thing that really blew my mind was the concept that asteya (non-stealing) also applies to missed opportunities. That one really landed.

At the same time, I wrestle with the idea of stealing from large corporations. That kind of camaraderie-based logic—“If you see someone stealing food, no you didn’t.”—feels emotionally true. Who’s really doing the stealing in a capitalist society? I could go on and on…

This week’s mindfulness prompt mirrors my therapy homework. I’ve been asked to assess my feelings around spending money. It’s wild how these practices overlap—yoga, therapy, life. They’re all different doors to the same room.

I’m really looking forward to this week. Thank you for holding space for this journey.

Sorry I was in sunny Scotland last week with no WI-FI so still catching up with the recordings . I use invitational cueing in my classes but not to your level and I am now aware not to “ challenge “ the individuals in my class ! 
I think everyone who works on the landings or lives in prison is in a constant “ fight or flight “ and their ANS is constantly “ on “ due to the daily violence of prison life . Hopefully regular yoga classes can help re set the ANS systems of staff and prisoners ?

I just finished this session finally.  I have a lot to say about this yama and how it pertains to how I treat myself.  However, I need to think on it more.  I look forward to learning more about the Kleshas involved especially attachment.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge once again.

Just finished the session. I missed being live but am thankful for the recording. Im learning so much and at the time know how much more I need to learn. I love the invitation cueing.  I love the way, as a participant,  the invitation allows me to relax and not focus on perfection or placing my body in ways I dont feel comfort in. I am working on changing my language to match the flow. Moving the participants in the right direction but allowing them to get the benefit from the practice in the way that helps their body. 

I think the practice of Asteya will remind to to be respectful of the journey of individuals in the space. By respecting boundaries of the participants and being mindful of letting their journey truly belong to them.

Prompts to focus my sharing is a great idea. Flow follows focus and as I type I begin a 72 hour fast to kick-start my body and mind post-Covid. It feels rubbish to be stuck in a cycle of sickness and I need to do something radical to restore an equilibrium!

• On Invitational Cueing: What’s one way you might shift your own language in facilitation to increase agency, choice, and safety for your students?I use different methods to practice a warm and genuine invitational queuing. My voice, eye contact, and language. I might sometimes just be explicit and make it a question as in 'would you like to...' or 'I'm wondering if you thought about...' with absolutely no ,loading of expectation. Sometimes I might demonstrate first and invite a co-experience or joint venture as in 'I'll show you this, and if you want to try yourself, you're most welcome. If you don't, that's also cool'. I'm sure if I am genuine the invitation is received well, and I know this because it's important to me. I know from my own experience that if I feel I have a choice, where many times I have been coerced or threated, I will shut down or come out fighting, and where before the option to fight has been more enticing, I might have intended to ignore an invitation for peace anyway, so I am mindful of this, autonomy, and non-harm. I must not steal the other person's awareness of a sense of agency or choice. A soft, quiet, warm voice and good vibration is the best invitational queue.

• On Asteya (Non-Stealing): How might the principle of non-stealing apply in the way you hold space or share yoga with others—beyond the physical practice?Holding space and sharing yoga where Asteya is concerned means to be as involved or invested as my students want or need me to be. There is a literal non-stealing of opportunity, respect, and appreciation, or prizing of my client/student in how little or how much they want or need to contribute, and my staying in a place of non-attachment and non-interference where I do the opposite to stealing, to protecting the space or yoga practice. I have my own resources and I don't don't need yours, but I'll also honour Asteya by protecting yours as little or as much as you need, by asking and respecting your response.

You’re also welcome to share any personal connections you noticed between the movement practices (energetic release, dynamic warm-up, centering) and your own nervous system responses.

I box-breath to centre, stretch to prepare my body for yoga practice, and to settle my mind, imagine that everything is perfect outside of my perception and experience, with nothing to do and nothing to change. I am well and truly in the groove now today with the recordings. What a luxury to go at my own pace with pauses for coffee and to open windows. 

This was a super interesting topic for me. I really appreciated the initial discussion about music and its impact, and how important it is to be mindful of the music we use in yoga classes. Even instrumental music can bring up certain memories or emotions for people, and it reminded me of the importance of creating a space that feels safe and supportive for everyone.

I also enjoyed the conversation about cultivating curiosity and exploration in class, as well as considering the motivation and intentions of both myself and my students. It’s so important to create space for variations and accessibility. Reflecting on my personal practice, I originally came to yoga for the physical aspect, but over time I’ve realized how much I gain mentally and emotionally from it. I started out doing more power yoga, but I now really appreciate a slower, more intentional flow. This training has been so helpful in guiding me as I explore what kind of teacher I want to become.

I found it eye-opening to learn about anatomical cues that help us connect with our own bodies like specifically naming and identifying body parts and also the discussion around avoiding words that can create competition, like “challenge.” I realized how often I’ve heard that kind of language in classes and how it can sometimes make me feel like I’m not meeting expectations.

When we talked about the idea of  “stealing,” I thought about how those lessons came from my own family and religious experiences. I considered how stealing applies to yoga like when there’s unconsented hands-on assists or misinterpretations of what a specific class offers. I also really appreciated the conversation about recording in class, because it’s something I see often and it does seem to take away from both personal practice and the shared experience of the group.

Lastly, I loved the video on a healthy autonomic nervous system (ANS) and resilience. It was powerful to see how being around people with a well-regulated ANS can positively impact others. This feels so relevant to being a yoga teacher: creating a space where students can feel safe, supported, and begin to heal their own nervous systems.