Tag Archives: honesty

Once upon a time…

Posted on by Nadine Johnson
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I’ve always been shy…seriously.  I started teaching not only out of frustration with the quality teachers I encountered as my practice advanced, but to open up more.

It’s worked…sorta.  I’m now an ambivert.  Well, one step at a time, right?   But, I like to think that I’m still shy.  I stopped wearing my hair over my face.  I don’t hide behind glasses that I don’t really need, yet.  But, my story about myself remains the same.

At work, I talk a lot about the story.  In design, and especially in marketing, we identify what story the consumer wants to hear.  Not just about the product but about themselves.  Companies like Apple and Whole Foods have mastered this.

But, it isn’t just a corporate thing.  We all do it everyday with one another:

“I didn’t tell you because I thought it would hurt your feelings.  I did it for you”

= I’m a giver.  I’m a good person

translation:  “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to risk that you wouldn’t like me anymore”

= If you don’t like what I’ve said, I’m a bad person

“Well, maybe we should meditate on this a little while longer. (awkward pause)   ‘Cause…I just…well, I don’t know what you think about this but…(sigh)…well…(awkward pause)  Well, maybe we should meditate on this a little while longer.”

= We’re in dialogue.  I’m a good person

translation:  “I’ve already made up my mind but don’t want to commit.   You tell me what you’re thinking first”

=   I don’t want to compromise.  I’m a bad person


Over the last few months, I’ve had several conversations that have not been truly honest.  People aren’t lying to me on purpose…I think.  They’re just trying not to tell the truth.  They’re not taking the risk.

The funny thing is that I like people more when they tell hard truths.

This has forced me to take my yoga off the mat in a good way.  Not an easy way, but a good way.

It ain’t chocolate!

Posted on by Nadine Johnson
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Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the benefits of my practice and my teaching. Many have already heard the story about my very first yoga class. Baggy sweats…oversized tee…socks! And, those sun salutations! Torture!

It’s my fault for walking into a level 2-3 class.

I came to yoga to loose weight and help my knees. I was resigned to be a BBW for life and just wanted to be a healthy size 14. The weight came off when I wasn’t paying attention and my ACL-less knees work better than before. But, the biggest benefit I’ve gotten in the practice is dealing with my own bullshit.

Since I’ve started teaching, I’ve had some interesting experiences.  One of the greatest lesson from teaching is that I know that what comes up in the class comes from within—each of us.  I’m not creating what comes up.  Now, I’m not saying that I lack ego…it’s just not present in my yoga-teaching or practice.  The good, the bad and the ugly that happen are outside of me and I’m there to help create a safe space for it to exist.

I overheard my grandfather tell someone, “don’t let them hand you shit and tell you it’s chocolate”

Can’t be more direct than that!

This picture from designboom.com just sums it up for me.

How often do we sling our own bullshit, ego, etc at someone else and expect them to receive it as chocolate, love, or compassion?

As a student, I find myself looking around the room occasionally.  I know, I know…I’m supposed to be SO focused that the rest of the world disappears.  Yeah well, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t.  So, when I’m looking around the room, especially in level 3-4 classes, I’m surprised by amount of ego on the mat but love the earnest effort.  People yank their legs into full lotus, strain tendons to get that bind and other very painful looking things.  I try to remind students, when I teach, that everything takes time.  There is no magic pill for anything, especially yoga.

One of the greatest gifts yoga has given me is a little more patience.   Take it all one day, one breath, one millimeter at a time.  My ego, my bullshit, has to step aside for that to happen.