The Yoga Challenge is over and I just put out my May calendar. I have two days back-to-back off from teaching this month. I am reclaiming my old  Wednesdays off, and Jessie is teaching Core Yoga on Thursdays for the month. Not only do I get to take a class (!!!!) but I’ll get some time to make a few videos, which I’ve been wanting, yet deeply resisting, doing.

I want to make some YouTube videos of classes so people who want to practice with me at home can do so. I’m really hoping having this time off this month is going to incentivize me to do this. And I am mentioning it here to keep me accountable, too.

G is home now for a few days, but leaves Tuesday for a week at her Mom’s. While she is gone I want to set up the office/her room for videoing, and start messing around. I don’t really know what I’m doing so this will be interesting.

But one thing I definitely have to decide up front is what kind of classes I want to offer. My instinct is to go Gentle, but what does that really mean?

I’ve been to Gentle yoga classes that were more like Restorative yoga. I think every teacher has to decide what that word “Gentle” means for herself, and make sure her students know what to expect, too.

So here’s a stab at what I mean by Gentle Yoga.

No vinyasa, for one thing. No high push-up, low push-up, cobra, down dog. None of that stuff. . 

Also the tempo is slow. Gentle, for me, describes the speed of the class more than anything else. Gentle Yoga’s speed limit is like 35-45 mph.

The practice itself might not feel all that gentle, though.

That’s because even though there aren’t any flowing sequences that require being strong, this yoga nevertheless requires attention. And the ability adjust. And to be on high alert. And to be attentive to your body. And to how you’re feeling.

Also, you have to be a good listener. And that’s not easy because most of us are crappy listeners to both other people and our own bodies.

And this is especially true for me when I’ve been revving around all day, multi-tasking, doing, doing, doing.

Think of how it feels to suddenly decelerate to 45mph after cruising on the interstate at 70 mph+ for a few hours.

That’s exactly how it feels like to do Gentle yoga.

To me, at least.

It can feel a little jarring at first. Even unnatural. Especially when a pose shows up that requires I be careful, slow down, and make some important decisions. Gentle Yoga requires some very deep attention to do what seems ridiculously simple, on the surface. It’s a practice that demands deep attention.

That’s the kind of Gentle class I want to make.

So how about you? What makes a class Gentle for you? I’d love to know.

Use the comments.