Someone walked into class today with an energy that was so negative, so angry, so unlike anything I’ve ever experienced that it really threw me. Coincidentally my teacher discussed how energy of others can effect you in our previous class and then today this person walks in, almost as if to demonstrate her previous story of energy.
Although I have experienced this in life I’ve never experience it during a yoga class. I really just tried to focus as much as I could on the teacher in front of me, but this student didn’t even follow instruction (almost as if she was doing her own thing ) and then proceeded to leave 45 minutes into a 90 minute class! Any other suggestions on how to deal with a situation such as this?
It’s hard when you are sensitive to people’s energy. It usually only effects me if the person is close and it that case I’ll usually find an excuse to move my mat.
It sounds as though this has already been dealt with.
Of course we can’t only have an existence where we surround ourselves with un-angry people (as that would likely qualify as Aversion to anger and Attachment to manners).
I tend to follow Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (I:33) on how to treat others. But you must also take care of yourself. An interesting opportunity for discovering balance.
InnerAthlete,
I found my balance today in a class that was beautiful and full of light.
Thankfully most of my classes are with student who are happy to be in class.
Thanks for your insight.
Nichole posted this video a while ago and I think it’s a nice inspiration:
mirjana, thank you for that.
sometimes I personally get stuck in a certain energy level and when I am in that state I may be very similar to the person you describe as far as the vibe I give off. I have finished every class I went to and I followed along to the best of my ability. The person may have been stuggling with something but yet was still trying to help themselves it seems. when my energy goes in a direction I recognize where it is and I dont like the state. How to get out of it is the hard part. I also make a conscious effort not to speak negatively to others and sometimes I avod interaction because my issue is not because of those whom I come into contact with. My point is that the person may well be aware of what you describe about them but sometimes changing that can be very hard. Maybe one day I will find the reason for why I have gone through what I go through. I do know for certain I have gained more compassion for other people because I realize that certain struggles may be hard to overcome, the world is not always an easy place. when you see a person like this my advice would sent them your best thoughts or prayers, they obviously need it.
hope that makes sense
I enjoyed the video link as well it made me think of something current and see it with a different perspective
just thoughts
Neil
Hi,
I always start my yoga classes with a little karma yoga which involves the breath of gratitude and the blessing breath, both of these end of with three Om’s. I have found that these six Om’s really change the energy of the yogis in the class as well as the general vibe of the class as well. So, when somebody enters who had a bad day and they are affected by that and they bring those energies into the class, these Om’s seem to change the energies.
Alternatively you can use such a person entering the class and if the teacher does nothing about it as an opportunity to practice some Tantra yoga, by using the I AM affirmations and some visualisations to surround this person with Light, Love, Peace and Harmony. In the process you also practice some Karma yoga as you are helping this person who is, as Neil puts it, stuck in his/her emotions at that moment. In the process you will cultivate compassion and loving kindness as well. This is Yoga for me, to be aware and not to meassure your yoga practice according to how many hours or classes per week you do yoga, but to be aware and practice yoga everywhere always.
Thanks all for your time and comments.
Yoga is teaching me far more than the physical postures and this experience certainly brought to light the idea of compassion and loving kindness (as you mentioned Pandra). I am a very sensitive person, and I also need to learn that even though someone may say or do something negative to me (this person made a rude comment when we were talking before class that I did not mention above) that it does not have to do with me. Obviously it didn’t, as I did not even know them, but I still feel a little hurt when people intentionally say something unkind. Especially when I go out of my way to be kind to people.
Anyways , thank you again for your comments.
If the person said something rude to you for no reason just because they are in a mood, does not equal a free pass to take it out on you. You can always ask, “did I say something to provoke that kind of response” If the person lets their negativity dominate and they never get challenged then they may have a hard time growing out of that state of being. in my opinion, yoga is about awareness and if someone says something mean, instead of reacting to what they say, stop for a moment, bring awareness to what is going on and then take action. by you doing this you may help the person to see what they are doing to others and this may help them to get out of it or it may help how they act towards others in the future. Now sometimes your awareness may recomend saying nothing at all, because you recognize the person may be very hostile and it would only make it worse for any comment. so you just ignore their comment and send your best to them, each situation is different.
pandara, your comment remind me of a little story I read about a “yogi” who was up in the mountain practicing his tamas (not sure if that is the right word) for twelve years. The day he came down from the mountain and into civilization a man recognixed him and purposefully tried to provoke him. The “yogi” proceded to get mad and the commaner laughed at him and told him he better go back up into the mountain and practice his tamas some more.
just more thoughts
Neil