Comfort zone, out you go!

​Time for confession. I am a fundamentally shy and private person. I am most comfortable behind the scenes. And yet, when I look at my life, there have been numerous times where I found myself on small stages, figuratively and literally speaking.

​A friend asked me recently what I would be doing if I had no fears. “Broadway!” I spontaneously exclaimed, with jazz hands. A surprising statement based on my confession of the day. 

My deep belief that yoga can help us feel better in so many ways, and my desire to help others, were (and remain) stronger than my fear of standing in front of a class. So I became a yoga “guide” and faced my fear of being “up front”.

Getting out of our comfort zone is a theme I sometimes explore in my yoga classes and personal practice. How do we react to unexpected changes? When we face our fears, how does it make us feel (on and off the mat?) Deborah Adele, author of The Yamas and Niyamas writes: “To live the fullness that our own life is inviting us into, we often have to let ourselves be afraid and do it anyway.”

So this is what I did when Shawn Clement, a reputable Golf teaching Professional, who has a popular YouTube channel, suggested that I guide him thru a series of yoga sessions, on camera. Before the fear could paralyze me, I said yes! Again, my deep belief that yoga can help us feel better in so many ways, and my desire to be of service, are stronger than my fear of standing in front of Shawn’s camera.

​Now that the first video is out for the entire world to see (yikes!!), my learning process starts. I am reminded of why I prefer being behind the scenes, and those reminders offer a huge opportunity for personal growth. If this resonates with you, consider doing something scary, different, or out of your comfort zone today! Observe how it makes you feel. Shawn is doing it by trying yoga for the first time, and I am doing it by stepping in front of his camera, on a weekly basis, for the next few months. Unless, of course, Broadway calls! 

Picture credit: Pixabay.com
​Shawn Clement, Wisdom in Golf
Link to our first Yoga for Golf session: