Showing Up

Linda Kuo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:28:10 +0000

A few years ago, I was in a yoga teacher training with my teacher Rodney Yee. His topic was teaching methods. I’m a double virgo which means that my rising is virgo which I often hear more defines your personality traits than your earth sign. Lucky me, my rising and earth sign are both virgo. As my friend Jenni says “You’re screwed” Now if you know nothing about astrology, Virgos are known for being very controlling and fastidious. And that is putting it nicely. So when I taught a yoga class, I would show up with an outline of the class I was going to teach that day. Complete sequence laid out from beginning pose to the very end. So when Rodney asks “Are you the kind of yoga teacher that plans your class before you teach it? Or do you just show up and see what is?” I had my note pad with my class sequence outlined in my lap and slowly concealed it as he went on. “What if the vibe from your class is not aligned with your plans? What if you plan a vigorous class but instead the energy you’re getting from your class is more subdued? Sometimes it’s nice to just show up and remain open to what your class is giving you and let that be your guide.” That really struck me. I felt that if I didn’t have a specific plan, that I would show up like a deer in headlights and have no direction. I suppose it came down to the fact that I didn’t trust in my skill enough, to just let it come to me. To be present, see what I’m given, and trust in my ability and also to listen rather than direct. The next time I taught, I took a leap of faith and didn’t bring my notebook. It was one of the best classes I ever taught.

When I plan to photograph someone, I have the shoot all laid out in my head. The composition, styling, I have it visualized as much as possible down to the last detail. But art doesn’t necessarily work that way. Often times I show up, notes in hand, shot visualized in my head, and I end up going in a completely different direction altogether. I don’t end up doing close to what I had planned yet it all works out. I’m not saying it’s better to show up unprepared and that flying by the seat of your pants for a job means it will all turn out, but being present to what is, what is given and listening rather than dictating often works out for the better. Often times the most wonderful results are invented through serendipity.

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Showing Up