Namafit.com Blog

The Fitness & Yoga Job Network (blog)

You are here: Home / Archives for 2018

Archives for 2018

Healing through stillness

by

Have you ever stepped into the darkness, the space you’re afraid to enter? The cosmic unknown? It calls to you the breathe of your spirit, gently whispering for you to step inside. Waiting for your arrival with an open embrace.  I have, and in this space is where my true healing began.

burning candle for meditation
Burning a candle during meditation can be calming.

For me I thought meditation was never going to happen. Easy , soft, gentle, uncomplicated. I wanted to just close my eyes, focus on the dance of my breathe, and float away into bliss. I was struggling, my mind always racing, my breathe short, and shallow, always fidgeting, never able to fully embrace the space. Then it happened, The breakdown. The physical and mental kind of breaking that shuts you down, and you feel as though you can no longer go on this way.  I had so much going on in my body and mind. I was having multiple surgeries, health issues, nursing my mom who didn’t have much time left, as she was battling stage five lung cancer, going to school, and working as a preschool teacher. I also suffer from mild depression, ptsd, and fibromyalgia.  My soul said enough! You need to make some changes, I listened.

This is when I found the silence, the stillness I had been turning away from. I was finally ready to listen to spirit, and free myself from my own self destruction. I was ready to begin the journey to freedom. Freedom from the confines of my own negative thoughts and patterns. I knew deep down I needed to greet, and embrace meditation without any expectations,  to just ebb and flow with the river of my mind and see where spirit guides me.

Meditation and I became best friends, we are now inseparable. No, it was not easy, I had to make it accessible and simple for me. I made it a ritual. I wake every morning with the birds signaling me to rise and embody the day full of joy, curiosity, and compassion. I light my candles, the soft glow warming the space.I brew my tea or coffee, sit in the lovely space I created as my altar welcomes me with objects that move me towards my highest self, and bring me love. These are pictures, poems, crystals, candles, my journals, fresh herbs or flowers from my garden. I burn some sage, get comfortable in my seat, close my eyes, and I begin to focus on my breath. Slow, gentle, deep, and expansive, I begin to explore and bear witness to my body and mind. My heartbeat slows with each inhale, and my body becomes soft with each exhale. I am at peace. I made it

I can’t say this was an easy habit to embrace. Patience and I were strangers, we needed to welcome and hold each other on this journey together. Allowing myself that 10 minutes, some days twenty minutes without  the pressure of doing, just being in the present. Yes, thoughts would float their way in, I would acknowledge them , greet them with grace and acceptance, then watch them float away in contentment.  I would allow my body to feel any sensation that would arise, and not fight it. I would embrace , receive, and let go. In time this meditation, {sometimes silent, sometimes guided} not only connected me with source, but with my most authentic self. In these moments of stillness and quite magic happens for me, I feel alive, I feel love, I feel spirit. I see clearly, and with clarity. I know that I am home, and the door to peace is always open.

Ask yourself, How often do I tend to my own garden, get in the dirt, dig in the soil of my beautiful life, muddle around, soak in the sunshine, water my soul, and watch my journey bloom? When we take the time to sit in stillness, and bear witness  to our souls calling, to walk into the space of unknown, and open our hearts, we can heal. We can love and feel gratitude for the gift of life. In turn, we can radiate this love, and peace to all beings everywhere.

If you are in need of resources to help guide you in your meditation practice, I highly recommend the Namafit website. They are great resource for finding experienced meditation and yoga teachers. I also love guided meditations by Tara Brach, and an awesome read that really helped my meditation practice is “Bliss More”, by “Light Watkins.”

Photo credit George Becker

Meditating In Meetings

by

Meditation in a studio can be difficult. Sometimes the person next to you is breathing healthy, we hear a door close or are interrupted by someone moving in their cushion. Meditation itself is difficult – it’s a practice, almost like training for a marathon.

on, some days you run with ease, other days you can’t get through 3 miles and the training never stops. It’s a continuous effort for the rest of your life, if you are willing to embark on it. And we all do it for the positive side effects including increased health. You can say while running is for the body, meditation is for the mind.

The goal is of course, to be at peace with your thoughts and feelings and to regard them with no judgement. Its effects should reach outside of that studio with the heavy breathing person. So how does this work? If its hard enough in a studio, how could it possibly work in every day life? I may practice meditation for the rest of my days, but how can I increase its effects in my daily business? Luckily there are some exercises you can introduce into your life, without having to be in the studio –  which is what I will share with you.

meditating while in office meeting

One of my favourite exercises is tracing your fingers. I do this in meetings when people overwhelm me or I notice I am getting agitated: Under the table, with your left had, trace up each one of your fingers. Breath in as you trace up, and breathe out when you get to the palm of your hand. Do that for each finger. Focus on how you breathe as you trace your fingers. This shifts your focus from the content, by moving it inward and diverting your attention from the meeting to your breathing. So many times in life we forget to breathe, and just focusing on breathing in and out is not enough – this action drives your focus and makes you take a step back. It’s ok if you zone out for a bit – the exercise takes no longer than a couple of minutes and has stopped me from letting people know my true emotional state or even better – has stopped me for letting it out on them.

Another one I like to do is under the table. I concentrate on breathing in as I roll my feet to the balls of my feet, and breathe out as a move to the heel of my feet. I usually do one foot at a time. It has helped me deal with my anxiety by focusing on the movement and the breathing a long with it. If you find yourself the type of person that often shifts around or fidgets easily, this is a great way to feel grounded and focuses. Plus its not a large movement so people wont notice and it allows you to still take notes and seem present. No one will know you are taking a moment to step back from the challenging elements of the world.

Life is beautiful, but sometimes it can get hard and then on top of that, we tend to throw meetings and deadlines to make it more challenging. Meditation can help with that. It takes little things and little steps, but the benefit you’ll get cannot be compared to the little training you have to put in.

Simple Mindfulness for School Teachers

by

What are some mindfulness tools that could work for teachers?

I think one of the most effective ways teachers can bring mindfulness into their classrooms is to integrate it into things they already do. Mindfulness is about being present, so think about ways you can get kids to be grounded in a moment.

Are you walking through the hallway after lunch? Try to get your students to notice 3 things in the hallway. Is your class in the middle of having a snack? Have your students think about what flavors they taste in their food. When you’re doing this, leave room for silence, but call things out. Guide them in noticing the details around them and what’s going on in their heads.

Another important concept to remember when practicing mindfulness is to hold space for resistance and discomfort. Acknowledge that there are stressful factors around you and create space for them as you ground your mind and body in the present moment. Be aware that the tension between your mind and body might be uncomfortable. Not doing this would be disingenuous, and being honest with what is in your head is part of being mindful.

cairn of rocks by the ocean

Teaching Yoga Is The Hardest Job I’ve Ever Had

by

Please don’t misunderstand the title of this post. I’m not trying to warn you, set a record straight, or even provide advice of any kind. This story is simply my attempt at authenticity, something cherished by yoga teachers the world over.

There is the practical business of yoga teaching. It can involve driving more than an Uber driver, creating sequences while filling studios and learning the entire hustle in those ways, but none of that is what I’m referring to. I am talking more about the difficulties of practicing yoga, as this is where everything starts. How could an ancient practice involving all aspects of the human condition be straightforward?

Let me clarify and say that I’ve had jobs. Many jobs. I’ve debated the merits in said jobs and learned about likes versus dislikes. Being a professional “yogi”, like anything else on my CV, has been something I’ve wanted to do well. And that’s where it is the biggest challenge, though challenging for everyone in different ways to be sure.

yoga class in child's pose

What it’s like to teach yoga will look different depending on the location and setting. Even thinking about small group teaching versus a big gym. Here is why I’d argue that all of these situations are the hardest thing EVER.

Walking into space means to feel the energy in the room. Within brief moments you will recognize one’s need for being challenged, another needs winding down. Our needs are in motion, and it is not easy to meet them all at a given time. There’s also a desire to avoid being offensive. As a student, I’ve found myself sensitive to something and even turned off or tuned out within a phrase, such as when a teacher tells the class “This pose should start to feel good right now”. What? How do you know how anything will feel in my body right now?   

When I talk about the more trying aspects about teaching being similar to those of studying yoga, what I mean is that for the last decade plus, my practice has been constant and constantly hard. My interests are always changing, though one thing I tend to struggle with is boredom. No matter how much love I hold for my relationship with yoga, I default into the negative spiral of monotony. “Ooh, a Warrior Pose with Eagle Arms this time,” my inner Debbie Downer will whisper. “Way to ‘mix it up’.” No wonder I feel like a stressed yoga teacher every time I wonder whether I’m boring any of my students!

There are lessons here, too. And I’m learning to trust, on a positive note, where my interests take me. I’ve allowed myself to go through phases: a little more power yoga here, a bit more Yin there. These days I’m most interested in the more meditative aspects of yoga. I enjoy brief moments where I feel “mindful enough” to notice a new thought, feeling, or sensation in an old and familiar position.

I’m often critical of myself when it comes to teaching students from my angle. An inner voice whispers, “You’re not giving them the fullest experience.” I’ve spoken/written about this Imposter Syndrome before, and find within the responses there that I’m not alone.

Hard as it may be, as any Chair Pose or sustained plank will show you: hard things are usually worthwhile. And in the end, we’re all stronger than we think.

How To Use Your Namafit Profile Page As Your Professional Webpage URL

by

Did you know that when you create your profile on Namafit that you get a professional URL so you can share your page?

That’s right.  You can customize your profile to highlight your skills, expertise and interests, so you will stand out to prospective employers and partners.

To get your Professional URL address just go to your profile page, https://namafit.com/profile and highlight the website address at the top of your browser window. Then click “copy” (command + c in Mac, windows + c in Windows).  You now have a shareable profile URL copied to your clipboard.  Go share it!!!!

Of course, sharing is even better when your profile is complete!

Update your profile

  • Go to https://namafit.com/profile/edit to complete your profile details.
  • Add your profile photo.
  • Update your “About Me” section.
  • Confirm your location city and state.
  • Update your social links.
  • Update your certifications.
  • Add your resume.
  • Update the styles and levels that you teach and practice.

Update your personal preference settings

  • Go to https://namafit.com/settings and select the settings you prefer.
  • You can:
  • Change the distance for job notifications you receive
  • Select who you would like to be able to see your professional profile
  • General Public
  • Only logged in Namafit members
  • Only those businesses you apply
  • Update your password
  • Update your email address
Namafit profile preferences
That’s it- we’ve worked hard to make it easy to make you profile page and keep it up to date. Please email or message us if you have any questions.

divinity in the individual: astrology x veganism x yoga

by

by Maren Altman

Often when I explain what I do to people, they get confused. I get lots of questions. I get lots of defensive explanations as to why they’re not into the same things I am. Being an astrologer, yoga instructor, and vegan activist may seem like a handful of weird niche titles, but I came to such a position along a path of healing, integration, and coming to terms with who I really am.

I began reading horoscopes in the newspaper when I was around five or six. My parents thought they were entertaining me with the cartoon section of the paper. I didn’t see horoscopes necessarily as true or false, as I knew nothing about astrology coming from my split Jewish-Christian home, but they provided something I didn’t realize was missing at the time: an acknowledgment of me as an individual. Personality tests grew to become an obsession of mine – anything and everything that could tell me who I was. Abusive childhood situations, all too familiar to many, left me considering if I really existed or, if I somehow did, if I even wanted to exist. Simply being told something like “your Harry Potter character is Hermione Granger” or “you’re a Virgo Sun” kept me asking these outside sources to tell me who I was inside. Astrology never failed to be a rabbit hole that I could lose myself in, getting involved in nonstop study by the time I hit double digits. Unfortunately, at fourteen, I realized my mother had given me the wrong birth time, and for the last six years, I had incorrectly believed I was a Libra Ascendant. My mother happened to mix-up my birth time with my sister, who happens to be a Libra Sun, Moon, and Ascendant. (If you don’t know what any of this means, a simple Google search can catch you up.) I attribute constantly appearing “mature for my age” to growing up quickly from this early identity crisis.

Astrology described not only me in complicated, intricately-nuanced ways also but outside events happening in my life. It gave me hope through displaying cycles. It allowed me to realize that I did, in fact, exist. This is why, beyond all the bells and whistles and timing techniques it encompasses, I’ve found astrology to be the biggest celebration of both the individual self and of overall human diversity. Each person is wildly unique yet tied into a larger picture relating to when and where they were born, and that makes (at least) me feel both special and connected .

Veganism, the single largest passion of mine, also depends on such a realization of the sacredness of individual life. It requires being comfortable with the truth that there exists value outside of human form, and that making a pledge to reduce cruelty as much as practicably possible (The Vegan Society definition) is the corresponding step. Coming from a place of believing, early on in my life, that I must not matter due to how much pain I experienced, led to making the connection for veganism fairly early, at sixteen, after going in-and-out of vegetarianism for most of my life and constantly questioning why we were eating a dead cow while at our feet was a pet dog. My mind understood the way in which the sacredness of each and every life can be trampled on, covered up with lies and patterns and habits which drown out our innate empathy. The ethical logic which undermines eating animals catapulted me into researching veganism, and the countless health studies demonstrating the benefits of a whole-foods plant-based diet (I highly recommend www.nutritionfacts.org as a starting place if you’re new to vegan nutrition) along with the awareness of the environmental devastation of animal agriculture (it causes 45% of all climate change, 90% of rainforest destruction, and 50% of ocean acidification, just to start) kept me there solidly. Years later now, the reason, heart, and conviction behind me has never been stronger. It is a rung on the ladder of spiritual growth: to recognize the value in oneself so much that the same light can be seen in all other sentient beings who simply want to live and stop suffering. In the same vein as the wheel of karma, not contributing to animal suffering then allows for less suffering as humans with our health, and less suffering for Earth as a result of less ecological destruction.

Yoga is a celebration of the body that carries each of us as a divine Self. It is an exploration, a reconnection to that spark each and every time we make space for ourselves on our mat. Like how social patterning puts up blinders for us to prevent us from considering the food on our plate, the inertia of such a fast-paced world can tear us away from the beautiful individual within. Astrology allows for us to mentally inquire about who it is we are as a fractal of the universe, and the asana practice of yoga is a playground to ebb and flow through that. There is not only a celebration of our personal individuality happening on the mat. There is individuality in every movement, every breath. No matter how hard we try to run, or no matter how painful it is to surrender to presence, we cannot escape reuniting with our personal truth as we practice asana.

The Journey Begins. How Namafit Got Started.

by

How I Solved My Own Staffing Problems At My New Fitness Studio

handstand

When I opened a yoga, fitness and dance studio in 2010 I was embarking on a journey very new to my family and me. Prior to opening our new studio, I had been a software engineer for over 16 years, a husband and a father of 3 boys. As you can imagine, my wife and I were very busy — on top of being an awesome mother to our boys, she owns and operates a busy local restaurant.

I always knew that I wanted to open a small business close to our home — something that would help contribute to the overall wellbeing of our community. After living in our area for several years, we realized that there was a need for an awesome local dance/fitness studio. We had lamented the fact that there was nowhere in Menlo Park to take good fitness and yoga classes. We also noticed that the dance studios where our boys were taking classes were packed with kids. We have both been active and into athletics our whole lives, and as parents, that segment of our lives had definitely been neglected for years! So, looking back, I guess opening a yoga, fitness and dance studio was a pretty natural thing to do.

Getting the business systems setup, finding a space to rent and getting ready to open was time consuming but all fairly straightforward. I called a contractor to help with the interior build out. They took care of the details. I opened bank accounts. I signed up for MindbodyOnline to handle reservations and payments. Making a schedule of classes was actually pretty difficult because it meant taking into account the demographics in the neighborhood and neighboring cities, figuring out what types of classes were appropriate at which time of day. The initial goal was to offer youth classes, mostly dance, in the afternoons, so factoring in the times that schools let out was important. But in the end, it was all set in place. This was all in motion leading up to an opening date.

Staffing for a new fitness, yoga and dance business

Staffing (hiring professionals who were going to instruct my classes, not to mention represent my business to the public) was something of an unknown. After doing some research online, Craigslist quickly became my go-to resource for posting job ads to find teachers. Being a new business, I had a budget for marketing and advertising, which helped cover the cost of the $75 each job post cost with Craigslist. Everyone knows Craigslist — you write up a job title and description, pay $75 and submit. The job loads into the “fitness/spa/salon” category search results and you wait. At some point for most Craigslist posts, just like anyone else who posts on Craigslist, I received emails from people interested in my open positions. Sometimes I would get an email with a nice paragraph about the person, along with their name, email, phone number and resume attached. Sometimes, I would receive a quick request to be hired, with a name and nothing else. The rest of the responses I saw fell somewhere in between those two extremes.

When I did receive enough information about a person applying, my next step was to google their name and hopefully find out more about their background, where else they teach, how long they’ve been teaching, etc. After several email and phone call chains, followed by onsite interviews, ultimately, I was able to hire enough professionals to fill my staff sufficiently to run thebusiness.

Connections

A big part of running a business that relies on independent contractors for its staff is the maintaining and building of professional connections. I found out very quickly that my day-to-day staffing needs relied heavily on my ability to search my rolodex in an efficient manner for not only “great instructors”, but “great instructors” that could teach the types of yoga/fitness that we were filling classes for. (I don’t actually have a rolodex, as I’m sure you may have surmised, but instead have several email lists that I am constantly curating.)

Basically, this is how my current “networking” efforts have gone:

  1. Post to Craigslist
  1. Email/phone back and forth
  1. Invite potential instructor for an onsite chat
  1. HIRE them for a class
  1. After hearing feedback from those who participated in the class, add the instructor to my list.
  2. Repeat steps 1–5 next time an instructor bails on a class (which happens more often than you’d think)

After going through this process more times than I can count, I started to think that there had to be a better way. After doing a bunch of research, and interviewing a bunch of my instructors and many similar businesses, I came to realize that there wasn’t anything available that suited my needs. As it turns out, the fitness/yoga industry is very word-of-mouth driven when it comes to staffing. Most other studios and gyms follow the same pattern of Craigslist and email lists to fulfill their staffing needs.

Enter Namafit

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been a Software Engineer for years, for startups all over the Silicon Valley. After experiencing the above issues for months in my own business, I decided that enough was enough! I hooked back up with a buddy of mine that I’d worked with for years on other projects and we built namafit.com.

Namafit is a platform that completely solves my fitness instructor staffing problems. I’m able to quickly post opportunities, which are then automatically broadcast to all of Namafit’s extensive database of instructors. Instructors have the ability to create their own profile, which includes information such as their qualifications, styles/levels they teach, and even their resumé. We have been hard at work building a product that will replace the dreaded email list, and will give businesses such as myself a tool to find quality instructors quickly. And it’s a tool to for fitness instructors and trainers to find more work, and more importantly, have more work find them.