"I know sometimes you feel like you don't fit in, and this world doesn't know what you have within. When I look at you I see something rare, a rose that can go anywhere. And, there is no one I know that can compare. What makes you different makes you beautiful. What's there inside you shines through to me, in your eyes I see all the love I'll ever need. What makes you different makes you beautiful to me." - Backstreet Boys

"The problem is you're...too busy holding onto your unworthiness." - Ram Dass

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleannor Roosevelt

"Every man stamps his value on himself...man is made great or small by his own will." - J.C.F. von Schiller

"Resolve to be thyself...he who finds himself loses his misery!" - Matthew Arnold

I just finished my first official week of teaching Yoga at Exhale Spa. I am already experiencing many changes within myself as I embark upon this new opportunity and journey. Something I am becoming aware of is my uniqueness. And, how much I struggle with embracing what makes me different. There are three teachers, including myself who currently teach the majority of classes at Exhale. Two of the teachers have been based in the downtown area over the past couple of years teaching at various locations up until they made the transition over to Exhale. As a result, they have developed a "following" of students who are considering making the transition over to Exhale. This whole week, Exhale has been offering complementary classes for the community to be able to try out and experience their Yoga and Core Fusion programs.

The main style of Yoga which is currently taught at Exhale's Dallas location is called Music Yoga Flow. Music Yoga Flow is Vinyasa Yoga taught to modern day music which the teachers put together on their ipods making playlists for each class. Anything goes from rap to reggae to rock. The music is played fairly loudly as the teacher guides the class through various postures, without significant attention to detail. At several of their other locations throughout the country, Music Yoga Flow is not the main class on the schedule. Because Exhale employs some of the best teachers in the nation at their studios in New York and California, teachers like Seane Corn, Erich Schiffman, and Shiva Rea, each of these teachers teaches their own unique style of Yoga. Therefore, Music Yoga Flow is not the main class offered and at some of their studios it is not on the schedule at all.

However, here in Dallas, it is the main style of Yoga currently being offered. The reason for this, is the two teachers who teach several classes a week, both teach similarly, having practiced together for the past year, and they both teach Music Yoga Flow and have taught it previously. One of the teachers studied with the founder of Music Yoga Flow in Arizona, before moving to Dallas a few years ago. So, needless to say, their teaching style is in alignment with the signature style of Yoga class Exhale is currently offering here in Dallas.

One of the things which attracted me to Exhale, is they really embrace the individual styles of their teachers. This is why at their other studios or here in Dallas, it's not about making their teachers teach a certain way, i.e. Music Yoga Flow, but celebrating the individuality of what each teacher has to offer. When the two founders took class with me, this is what they experienced. One of the founders told me I would be completley aligned with what Exhale is about after taking my class. He told me they offer several different styles of classes, i.e. Music Yoga Flow which is more of a fitness oriented class, set to music, and a vigorous flow. He said I could teach this, but that my style really would fit under a more "spiritual" style of class. That's why on the schedule, I am not listed as a Music Yoga Flow teacher.

"Spiritualtiy is...the awareness that survival is the savage fight between you and yourself." - Anon.

"Believing in our hearts that who we are is enough is the key to a more satisfying and balanced life." - Ellen Sue Stern

So, I've found myself embracing new challenges this week, as I begin my journey with Exhale. I am looking forward to these opportunities for awakening and growth. Yet, sometimes I become scared or fearful, or uncertain and insecure about who I am and what I am doing. To be the different one is not always easy. The tendency is to question if I should just change what I am doing to fit in with everyone else, and maybe have more students attending my classes, if this is what's most popular right now. I trust eventually, I will develop my classes at Exhale, but, how much easier would it be if I just adapted myself to what's popular right now. Even though I don't take these thoughts seriously, they still present themselves. I've had experiences where I've questioned what I'm doing in the past, and everytime I've had one, I become stronger in the process when I move through that uncertainty and doubt, which ultimately awakens me to increased clarity of vision, focus and purpose.

I really have struggled with this over the past day. I taught quite a large group of people last night at Exhale. A few of those people were students of mine from a previous location. But, most of the class was people I'd never met before, who were in essence, "trying me out" to see if they liked my style.

Sometimes the temptation to follow the crowd is powerful. Sometimes, it has me question myself and doubt myself when I realize I'm not like the crowd. That's when I remembered the words from the Backstreet Boy's song when I was on my way to teach class today at the Pizza Hut Headquarters. Ah, that's right. What's special about me, is my uniqueness, my individuality, my differences. And, embracing my own unique and special light and allowing it to shine, is the greatest service I can give.

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people to do the same." - Marianne Williamson

As I walked into Pizza Hut today to teach class, I was feeling a bit down and emotional. Overwhelmed by everything and doubting myself. I asked the security guard, Lavette, if she could buzz me into the workout center. As she walked me down to the door, I began talking to her about how I was feeling. About my new experience at Exhale, and how challenging it had been for me during the one evening class I taught the night before. How I felt like everyone was their "trying me out" seeing if they liked "my style." How I struggle with being different, and how sometimes I doubt who I am, what I'm doing. She replied:

"God made you to be different. That's how he wants you to be. You're unique and special and that's what makes you wonderful. Don't every forget that. God made you that way, that's the way he want you to be."

Here's to letting your own, and my own unique and beautiful and different light shine. What makes you different makes you beautiful.

Have a wonderful weekend embracing your light!

"We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people's models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open." - Shakti Gawain

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