Dharma talk, number 1

I teach yoga.  It's been a wild and wonderful journey to get to this point and I cannot say how much I've loved it.  I'm a relatively new yogi, finding my path but it's so crazy cool and I can tell now - I'm on a path.  As a teacher at the studio, I get to give a dharma talk to help set an intention for class.  In my mind, it can range from a great workout to meditation to whatever.
My dharma talk in a class this week came from a friend and his wife, whom I may have only met in passing at a softball game.  I worked with him when we were both in a past "life," and since we have moved on.  Moving on/forward is a common theme in my thoughts but my thought about them revolved around their dedication to give back.
They've dedicated not only their lives but their relationship to a "1 of 7" concept.  Translated, one day out of every seven, give something back.  Giving back for them can range from volunteering at a soup kitchen to mowing a lawn to picking up trash.  It's helping others out in a way that they are able, in that moment, to help.
I am inspired by them.  I'm a yogi in DC.  Or in reality, I'm a #badyogi in DC, trying to figure out what's going on.  How can I apply that to my life.  And the answer hit....

I can lead a class and when I set their intention for the class.  And for this class, I set the intention to think of one person in their life that was struggling.  Struggling with health issues, financial scares, employment or whatever it may be.  While those in the class may not have the time available to give back in an "organized" manner, they were on a mat for an hour.  Whether or not you believe in the spiritual connection to the universe that the mat carries is not the issue.  Imagine if someone comes to you and says "I thought about you for an hour today."  What is the POWER in letting someone know that bit of information?
Throughout the hour, I kept bringing poses back to the person and making it relatable.  Warrior II is, to me anyway, the most proud stance.  What has this person done or is this person doing that makes you proud?  Dolphin pose reminds us that work is play and play is work; how can we help this person take joy in the little things?  And child's pose has us bowing - the ultimate sign of respect and honor.
At the end of class, I'm asked the students to tell their person they were thought of for 60 minutes.  Hopefully they did.  I told my inspiration for my dharma talk that he and his wife inspired it.  And I'm doing it again....

Kip and Liz - for those that know you or know of you, we've learned that giving of self isn't hard and should be a regularly scheduled event.  You make me want become that person that will join you on your journey giving something back to the world that we all need.  Whatever that may be, for that day.  Namaste!