(originally sent 24/08/26)
Did I ever tell you about the time I worked at a lingerie shop in the airport?
Indeed, selling bras and undies to rich businessmen was one of the part-time positions I held while undertaking my first yoga teacher training in 2008.
Like many people, I’ve had my fair share of odd dabbles in different industries.
A few days at a call centre (not for me).
Many years selling chocolate bars at my local country-town cinema (much better).
I helped students at TAFE get their textbooks.
I babysat.
I washed dishes.
I did a paper round.
I was a shop co-ordinator for the hippie co-op.
And this was all before the age of 21, when I decided that teaching yoga would be my career.
One of the things I’ve found to be so incredible about the work I get to do is that it’s multidimensional, and allows me to put so many of my strange skills together in one place.
My teacher David Life said something to the effect of (and I’m paraphrasing):
“Jivamukti teachers morph into philosophy lecturers, choreographers, DJs, therapists, spiritual guides, motivational speakers, masseurs, Sanskrit scholars, musicians…”
And then, yoga teachers don’t often talk about how much “other” work takes place outside of teaching. The book keeping, the graphic design, the relationship-building, the cleaning (and washing!!), the on-going study, the song-sourcing for playlists, the harmonium rehearsal, the driving, the body maintenance etc etc.
I watched a TED talk a long time ago about “multipotentialites” (if you wanna watch it, it’s here), that talks about how some people thrive with putting multiple skills to work. We should never feel ashamed of having hobbies or interests that don’t lead us down a “specialist” path, if that’s not what we’re into.
The gist of it is this:
“It is rarely a waste of time to pursue something that you’re drawn into, even if you end up quitting. You might apply that knowledge to a different field entirely, in a way you couldn’t have anticipated”.
I like to think that all those times I helped someone pick out a new set of underwear, or walked around my neighbourhood observing mail boxes, or looked after children, I was somehow gathering skills to help me do what I do now, even if I can’t see a direct link.
“kṣaṇa pratiyogī pariṇāmāparānta nirgrāhyaḥ kramaḥ” YS 4.33
– The succession of changes (the uninterrupted sequence of moments) is only recognised as distinct moments when one has transcended those moments and is at the other end.
Teaching yoga is something I could have never imagined for myself, and now I cannot imagine having any other career. It is fulfilling, exciting, energising and different every day.
Thank you for allowing me to do this and share my multipotentialist ways with you.
How about you? What strange skills do you possess?
Are you quietly dreaming of teacher training? Do reach out…
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