Too often we rely on others to form our opinions about ourselves and the world. Too often we allow others' voices to speak for us. Too often we keep quiet for fear of being wrong. Too often we do not give our own hearts and our experiences enough credit. 

Too often, by not using our voice, 

we slowly lose confidence in anything we have to say.

Of course, like everything in life, we walk a narrow path. We do not want to become so sure of ourselves that we never rely on others for support or input. Likewise, we don't want to veer completely in the direction of never being able to form our own opinions without someone else's approval. All of our being is informed, affected, and every experience we've ever had shapes our viewpoint and adds to our knowledge-base.

This weekend is the LIVE online Yoga and Writing Retreat. The first retreat was held last January, in-person, on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. It was a beautiful, soulful, transformative weekend. I learned as much as I gave back. And this is the most authentic way we can walk on this earth, as a student and as a teacher.

The experience this weekend will be new and different, somewhat because the retreat is online, but also because we are in a new time in our lives. The pandemic, the fear, the unknown, the distancing, the freshly-learned ability to conduct everything online. Everything happening right now is practically unspeakable - if you would have told me 6 months ago I would be leading yoga classes strictly online I would have thought - that will never work.

Yet here I am. And here you are. We are all still here, having this experience.

As a yoga instructor, I have had extensive training and education - on yoga philosophy that is over 10,000 years old, on postures, on anatomy, on breathing techniques, and on ancient teachings. Yoga is not a new concept that I invented. So when I am leading a retreat, the teacher in me wants to present the facts - as an expert. I have been reading books and highlighting sections, all to bring the best teachings and philosophies to attendees.

To be honest, it's all sort of exhausting. Then I thought, what about me? What about my experience? What about my VOICE?

Yoga has been with me for over 25 years. My experience speaks and holds as much merit as someone else's book or opinion. I can rely on my education and training, but I can also rely on myself for expertise. My experience and my interpretation of how yoga works, and why it works, is also valid. 

Likewise, I rely on the participants in the retreat to bring their knowledge, their experience, and their teachings. I learn from others by listening to their writing, observing them in poses, and sharing in their experience. We are all teachers and we are all students. We allow our shared conversation to keep us curious, open, and compassionate. How boring the world would be if everyone thought and behaved just like us, or just how we wanted them to.

We are forever a student and a teacher. We walk the narrow path of learning and imparting, of growing and handing down, of novice and expert.

When I let go of the idea that I have to teach from someone else's viewpoint, planning the retreat has made much more sense. I am able to be myself - which is honest, from the heart, and relatable. It's also informed and accurate.

Where are you a teacher, a leader, or an expert? What experiences have shaped you enough to have confidence from your core? Where can you rely on yourself, your voice, and your truth? Where can you honor your experience and lead from your heart? We are all experts at something. We just never see ourselves that way.