We are both teachers AND students!

I’ve had the most amazing experience at the Caribbean Yoga Conference. I’ve been SO inspired by all of the people here and all of my fellow teachers and facilitators.

One of the things that’s come up is the beautiful combination of life coaching and yoga and how they go together. Yoga opens up the body and life coaching opens up the mind and the heart.

I did two classes about purpose while I was here, and each time my friend and yoga teacher Tommy Rosen opened up the class with some breath work and basic yoga postures.

And I ended my last class with a long “OMMMM”. It was powerful because the combination of moving the body and exercising the mind and challenging limiting beliefs is a fun and powerful combination.

I’ve been so inspired that I am thinking about taking the next step in my education. Sometime in the next year I want to complete both Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga teaching certifications. I’ve felt so called to learn more about yoga and this seems to be the right path. And experiencing the combination of the two can be very powerful.

Kundalini Yoga is primarily a breath-based practice that changes your consciousness by changing your breath. Hatha yoga is body-based, up dog, down dog, etc. When you combine them, you get a full spectrum experience. Adding on top of that the powerful tools of life coaching, and there’s something amazing that shows up.

I truly believe that true transformation comes not from knowledge, but from experience. When you have an experience, THAT is when life shifts. You can have all the knowledge in the world and it can be meaningless without an experience of what that knowledge is pointing towards.

Philosophy is beautiful, but experience is powerful. And what’s been so illuminating about this trip is to see the experience that results when you combine these powerful practices into one meta-practice.

I’m also keenly aware that I am both a teacher AND a student, as I believe everyone is. So, I am feeling called to continue to learn yoga, this time outside of the realm that I feel comfortable. I wrote that my yoga practices are not steady, so why not jump in, not just to practice, but to teach?

I’ve found that I learn the most when I am teaching something. I would like to consider myself a lifelong learner and someone who has an open mind and is always available for new and different information.

I’m excited to plan out the next year and see where the proper teacher trainings fit in – both Kundalini and Hatha-based yoga teacher training. It’s going to be so much fun to become a student again and learn something new.

You are indeed wise, where in your life could you drop into being the student?

As always, the action happens in the comments below. Leave a comment and join the conversation! The TDL Community thrives in the comments and it’s a GREAT place to get support!

Love,

Mastin

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Mastin Kipp is the founder and CEO of The Daily Love. Follow him on Twitter here.

Take what resonates with you in this blog and leave the rest.

Join soulmates Mastin Kipp & Jenna Hall LIVE in Hollywood on Feb 9th for the first TDL LIVE event: The Love & Relationship Workshop! Livestream tickets are also available. Click here to grab your ticket before it sells out!

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Ready to rock..

Wow Mastin. This venture sounds absolutely powerful and makes so much sense. I really need to send this sincere thanks to you and what you have done for me and my life purpose. You have given me the lady-balls to go after what I truly want in my life. To go forth with my passions. Today I have officially resigned from a very stable boring pressured soul-killing investment banking position and finally said yes to a job prospect that is excites me and gives me the kind of flexibility I need to actualize my dream of holistic healing which is well underway. It has not been easy! I literally was shaking when this morning before I handed my resignation in and had to end a 2 year relationship because I really just needed the space to grow and focus on me for once in my life.. But it was your courses I embarked on that gave me the feeling that I needed to action my dreams. It did more than inspire, it moved me to action. I plan to check in a year and I have this funny feeling there will be the real me staring back giving my gift to the world. Being full and fulfilled everyday. Sending you lots of gratitude and love and respect.
- Jadegreen39
  
  Congratulations on those big steps towards a more fulfilling life “Ready to Rock”… sounds great! Wish you all the best.
- http://twitter.com/LivingUrBliss Bliss Magazine
  
  I am so proud of you Ready to Rock! There is something very empowering about following your bliss. Doing that thing that you have a passion for and are on fire for is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Now go forth and be the gift that you are to this world.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1204415497 Travis L Thomas

A great reminder to be the student and the teacher. It reminds me of The Way of the The Peaceful Warrior – that you are not better than anyone else – and no one is better than you. Everyone is our life is a Socrates.
Cathy

Mastin, thank you for your daily blog, it has certainly given me lots of food for thought and “aha” moments since I subscribed many many months ago. But one thing that strikes me is the picture you use on the blog. It certainly isn’t who you are now, it’s obviously someone you once were. I think you look so much healthier and happier in your picture with Oprah. Just as you challenge me to grow, even if it’s painful, I’d like to challenge you to grow and show us who you really are by updating your picture.

Best,

Cathy
- http://www.are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/ Kathleen Reynolds Chelquist
  
  It is no accident that I read this Cathy. I am creating a website for my blog and all my pictures were taken just 3 years ago (like the one here) when I turned 40. Turning 40 was a VERY big day for me and my spiritual growth, and my mentor (just yesterday) suggested that I put some NOW pictures (Since I cut my hair) and more CASUAL pics. I love to glam it up and I love to be casual, but I was only showing glam pictures. So, they took a picture of me that was more plain and I am going to put it in the site. Thank you for being my EXCLAMATION point this morning from the Uni-verse!
http://www.are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/ Kathleen Reynolds Chelquist

“I truly believe that true transformation comes not from knowledge, but from experience. When you have an experience, THAT is when life shifts.” I loved this sentence Mastin because it is SOOOOO true. We can read about “LOVE” all day long, AND experiencing it is quite different. Getting out there and letting the Holy Spirit of Love work through teachers… is what it takes. I am teaching through my blogs by being Cinnamon Lofton’s student. My blogs are about my own personal experience going through my ego/mind fears for people to use me as their mirror. It is not a “How To” love blog…it is a REALITY blog. I attend my Living Love Class about 6 hours a week plus Sadhana’s and teacher training by Cinnamon. By taming my EGO, I am willing to be REAL, RAW, and REVEALING. The more I expose it, the less power it has. What better way to expose it, then for everyone to have access to it. Not easy with some of my FB friends who I haven’t seen since HS. And, because I am willing to be a very courageous student, I know I am being the change I wish to see in the world. For me, being a humble student has been a death of sorts. For so long I thought I knew who I was…Kathleen Chelquist. A Dental Hygienist. A Wife. Mother. And, best friend. Now, as I am reborn to who we ALL REALLY ARE: LOVE…I am sleeping like a baby.
The Daily Commenter,
Kathleen
are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/
Aleia

I celebrate your decision to do the yoga teacher training. About 5 years ago I was meditating on “what am I going to do when I grow up?” A clear voice said you need to study yoga by doing a Teacher training class. My immediate response was but I can’t even touch my toes and I am in my 60′s. Then I transformed my thoughts to,”I am in my 60′s I can do anything I want.
Like you I learn by teaching and it was a wonderful way to take my practice to a much deeper level and I still can’t touch my toes without bending my knees.
Moni Ruiz

Love love love this Mastin! You inspire me, I have the same dreams for myself, to become a yoga teacher, writer, and self-sufficient artist. I believe in you, go Mastin go! I feel your energy through the screen, let’s do this.Wholeheartedly,MonicaXoxo
Melissa

We teach what we most need to learn:)
http://twitter.com/LivingUrBliss Bliss Magazine

I am so excited for your unfolding in this journey called life, i am also more excited of the fact that, that which you teach also teaches you.
Zoe Basil

Hi Mastin, this is my first comment on your blog. Felt I had to share as after reading your blog yesterday I was inspired to write a poem on the subject!

Who’s
teaching who?

To be a teacher is to also be a willing student.
To serve, listen and encourage
with kindness and respect,
those who look to you
with open hearts and fertile minds,
as well as those who don’t.

Empowering and humbling
in equal measure.
Holding them in a space of unlimited potential
and high esteem
so they may reach out and explore in safety,
tracing hesitant fingers
over the contours of their deepest heart-felt dreams.

But the greatest challenge is in
seeing those who tussle with themselves
and the world, as ourselves.
Seeing beyond fear and conformity,
the illusion of intelligence
known as self-importance.

Then they become the teacher
and you, the unwitting learner.
They are the ones who stretch you
and your understanding
of what it really means
to teach from your heart,
be true to yourself,
to love, even.

They are the greatest teachers of them all.

Reaching these souls
means letting go of your own safe place,
being fully accountable,
extending to the furthest reaches
of authenticity, compassion and vulnerability.

For in exposing your weaknesses and uncertainties
they might just be inspired to face

and accept their own.

Symbiotic growth is a powerful seed.
We find our highest selves
sitting at the feet of our students,
open and willing to learn.
Alex Danger Fitz

Learning is key to the human existence. I am learning to become a yoga and core instructor.
Mattstump1

You inspire me Mastin. Thank you for developing a space to promote love. It is a movement that we need to spread as it’s the only true reality.

I’ve always wanted to contribute my understanding of love to others but have never been able to figure out how to do it and stay financially afloat. For a while I had kind of set it on the back burner but reading your blogs and other articles has rekindled my desire to figure this out.

I have been a part of New Acropolis Southwest, a non-profit philosophical school designed to bring ancient philosophy to the modern day but in an actionable way. Through my studies, each philosopher regardless of time period has the same message at heart. Love the self, others, and God and know the self.

I feel that I was introduced to this school for a purpose, all of the people volunteering the time to raise other’s consciousness as well as their own. It’s like you said, be of service

Thanks for all of your hard work. We have a lot of work to do! Much love
Jason_pryc

outstanding. mind body and soul.. am on the same journey….blessings
http://www.nourishmeantforyou.com/ Dina Wilson

A few years ago, while participating in a Chopra 21 day meditation challenge, I was being taken through a visualization that brought me to the top of a mountain, alone. It was here that I was asked, “Who are you?” With no one around, I couldn’t play any roles. I couldn’t be a mother or a wife or a middle school teacher or a daughter or a …. etc. So, I really had to look at myself. “Who are you?” asked David Simon who was leading the visualization. And I found myself answering, “I am a learner, be gentle with me.” I was amazed at how easily this came out of me and how freeing it was. It opened the doors for forgiveness. Forgiveness I had to give and forgiveness for which I had to ask. I believe we are all here to learn. And we all need to be gentle with each other. Thanks for this gentle reminder!