“How can we develop the consciousness that what is good for the part can also be good for the whole and that the highest good of the unit within the whole guarantees the good of that whole?”

— Alice Bailey

I get nervous before every yoga class or event I host.

I center before each class by doing reiki. This allows me to reconnect to my intent for the class. It also helps me digest and release the previous portion of my day before I feel the energies of the practitioners.

My sister has launched her business and is in the process of meeting new clients. Before her first session, she shared that she was nervous about the event.

When I received her message, I sat down and asked myself why I felt nervous.

I bring my entire being to the situation when I am with people, whether in yoga or Pilates, Reiki sessions, or discussions. I am present and listen with my whole body.

I soften into the experience and feel the sensory and subtle impressions of what is shared.

I absorb the words and observe the body language. However, my ability to listen for what is not said (aka, read between the lines) gives me a sound grasp of what to offer the individual or the group.

After each session, I sit to feel for the lucid impressions. My current practice is to sit on my purple rug with a cup of tea or coffee and watch the birds.

In this luminous space of awareness, I gather the subtle reflections and expressions of the experience.

These moments have highlighted that my interpretations of what has occurred are not always accurate. My assessment at the moment is sometimes unique from what arises later when I am relaxed and absorbing the event’s nuances.

Writing is one way I process my experiences and understand my thoughts. It helps me review my thoughts and then delve deeper into WHY I think what I think.

For example, in my early days of teaching yoga, I thought people did not enjoy my yoga classes because of their somber expressions. However, I discovered they were concentrating on what was being said or their posture; it had nothing to do with my offering.

Through writing and over a decade of teaching, I've learned that my nervousness before each event is attached to a desire to create a heartfelt experience for individuals—I want people to feel good.

I want to guide individuals to hear the sonata of their souls!

And I feel this way when I am teaching at every single moment.

And so, when my sister said she was nervous before her first session with a new client, do you know how I responded?

I said: good, that means you care.