Finding the Perfect Yoga Teacher

A posture with the perfect yoga teacher

By Joyce A. Gillis

Today I met with my most favorite Yoga Teacher in the whole world, Patricia Gray, for lunch. Her opening question to me was, “So how is your endocrine system?” I love it when she asks me that! I understand her question. She and I have had previous discussions about our respective endocrine imbalances and the healing effects of yoga. As always, we start right off, mutually inspiring one another and lifting each other’s spirits.

Patricia is the owner of the Yoga Gallery in Mission, Kansas, which has received the highest rating of Yoga Studios in the Greater Kansas City Area. I am Patricia’s student, and also began my own yoga teaching career at Gold’s Gym last year. This is great experience for me. How did I discover yoga, and then how did I stumble upon Patricia? My discovery of yoga is like my discovery of avocados. For the life of me I can’t remember exactly how I found out about them. I simply found something great through my ongoing thirst and search for holistic health, and loved it.

I do remember how I found Patricia. As I fought my way through the brambles, seeking sanity, spiritual, emotional and physical health, I read self-help, metaphysical and spiritual books galore, visited countless meditation groups, support groups, therapists, metaphysical and church groups. I was determined to be sane and healthy no matter how hard I had to search for help. During my wild search, I somehow stumbled upon yoga. I loved it immediately. It hit the spot. My first yoga class was in 1992. It was a Kundalini Yoga Class. The teacher was a tall slim man, in full Sikh garb from white clothing to white turban. He was unbelievably limber and knew what he was doing. I attended two or three classes, and then my job schedule interfered. Yoga fell by the wayside. I got caught up in the grind of the work force and rushing to aerobics after work each week. High Impact Aerobics was interesting. I did it with two girlfriends from 1992 to 1999. It was a great workout. However, it was also a source of tension and stress. The aerobic workout was filled with competitive energy, and my girlfriends added their resentments, envy, petty issues and dysfunctional behavior. That experience marred the decade of my 30s, but perhaps served a purpose. I’m very happy to be done with that phase of my life.

Through all those years, I never forgot about yoga. In 1994, I discovered a Hindu Temple in town that had yoga classes every Sunday morning. I went there with a girlfriend for about a year. That was where I learned to do a headstand. The teacher was a slim, caramel-colored man with thinning black hair and a heavy Indian accent. He appeared to be in his 40s. He was a computer specialist, who had done yoga since he was 15. He was a bit reserved, but he knew his yoga. The class was full every Sunday. My girlfriend and I were the only non-Indians there – she was blond, and I am African American.  After a while I lost interest in the classes at the temple because of the cultural barrier, and feeling like an imposter and an outsider. My girlfriend said she felt the same way, so we both quit. I learned good yoga there, though.

From 1994 to 1995, I attended a variety of yoga classes. One was too slow-paced, with a canned format. I tried Yoga studios from the midtown area to the suburbs. I tried private lessons. I attended a Bikram class once that seemed to be a social club for middle aged ladies. I never went back there. I went to another place called the Westport Allen Center. There were several teachers who taught there each week. One teacher was so so. I took her class a couple of times. There was the guy who taught, who was a Vietnam vet, who was not doing yoga. Then there was the teacher who was short of patience and irritable – ironic, for a yoga teacher! I took a few of her classes, but just did not feel comfortable with her. She used props for her class. I remember folding chairs in particular, upon which we sat and slowly twisted our torsos until I felt my contact lenses were on the verge of popping out of my eyes. Then one day I tried Patricia’s class. That was it. I was hooked. She was it for me. Patricia’s classes at the Westport Allen Center were always filled to capacity. Her personality, warmth, passion for teaching, people skills and superb yoga talent, impressed me like no other.

Patricia eventually opened her own studio in an artsy midtown area. It was beautifully decorated, with a soothing yoga atmosphere. I remember one day doing a pose in Patricia’s class under her instructions, and she looked at me and said “So, you like that pose, Joyce.” It was more of a statement than a question. She stunned me. How did she know? I don’t think I was smiling. How perceptive of her.

One night there was a fire in Patricia’s studio. It was ruined. How devastating that must have been for her. She eventually opened a new studio, her current one, in Mission, Kansas. This studio is also superbly decorated, with a beautifully polished wooden floor and that special yoga ambience that Patricia has a knack for creating.

Patricia began practicing meditation and yoga asanas (postures/poses) as a youth in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 15. She had had an endocrine imbalance with premature maturation of the body since early childhood, an irregular menstrual cycle and abnormal hair growth. Patricia’s endocrine disorders diminished dramatically at age 32 after she began doing Hot Yoga. I too, have the challenge of abnormal hair growth. Also, infertility is an issue for me. I’ve been tested for every disorder known to woman, from the thyroid to the ovaries. The tests say I’m normal. I find it fascinating that the regular practice of yoga can remedy or dramatically diminish these types of problems.

There are eight limbs of yoga, which fall under the title of RAJA. RAJA means “King.” Raja Yoga is called the Royal Path. It encompasses eight separate areas of practice which are Yamas (Restraints), Niyamas (Observances), Hatha Yoga (for physical health), Pranayama (control of breath), Pratyahara (control of the senses), Dharana (control of the mind), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (Illumination).

In 1974, Patricia began practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM). It was during that time while practicing TM where Patricia first learned of the eight limbs of Yoga. She began a diligent practice of three of the limbs, Dharana, Dhyana and Pranayama. Other than practicing a handful of yoga asanas, or postures, there was little emphasis of doing yoga poses within this tradition. The purpose of those few asanas was to help the students sit for meditation. Eventually Patricia increased her asana practice.

From the moment I met Patricia, I was in awe, and still am of her skill at doing the advanced yogic postures. In plain English, Patricia can put her feet behind her neck and balance on her hands at angles that make my jaw drop. Patricia does postures such as the tortoise pose (Kurmasan), tortoise pose, in balancing, with arms under the thighs; leg-head pose (Eka Pada Sirasan); crow pose (Kakasana), side crow pose (Parswa Kakasana); full pigeon pose (Kapotha Asan), peacock pose (Mayoorasan), curved pose (Vakrasana), cock position (Kukutasan) and many others. These particular poses require the ability to balance the entire body on the arms, at a variety of angles. You must have strength in the arms and be very in tune with your body to do these poses. Patricia does them all. I am inspired by Patricia’s skill with postures as well as by the physical effects yoga has on her: Firm body, flat tummy and ageless beauty.

So, why did Patricia become a yoga teacher? Patricia said it was some form of calling from within. She places both hands to the solar plexus while saying this. She began to realize that she could share what she knew with others. It wasn’t planned. She left Hallmark Cards in 1989 after 10 years of employment there in marketing, training and advertising. During Patricia’s years at Hallmark, she had a constant nagging, an achy soul, and felt empty. She wondered what her purpose in life was, and kept hearing that little voice in her head saying, “You’re supposed to be doing something with your life other than this...” She quit Hallmark based on her gut feelings. She began another chapter, which included a dramatically lower income, but allowed more time for reflection and consideration of her life’s direction. She may not readily recommend such a sharp change like this to others, but it was a choice which provided fertile soil for discovering what yoga is about at a deeper level. In fact, yoga became the life-saving thread to herself.

From 1990 to 1991, Patricia crashed. She had a psychological and emotional meltdown. The melt down happened after she did a metaphysical seminar. The seminar involved ongoing metaphysical type activities, where she had life-changing, internal psychic experiences. She met wonderful people in the seminar, many of whom she is still friends with today. It was a psychological trap on one hand, but also helpful. She compares her experiences to those of Carlos Castaneda. Then eventually those experiences subsided, she said, and she was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, back in boring Kansas.  She realized how vulnerable she was during this transitional time in her life. But she got through it, and made it to the other side.

She was completely changed, completely altered, changed forever. Patricia says, “You go through something because changes were imminent and ready to happen in your life. You hit rock bottom, and come out with a layer of freedom because you’re not afraid of touching that base. It’s like the ‘Hero's Journey.’ We all have to do it. A metaphorical journey that we all take. When you come back, you’re the medicine person who tells the tribe.” Patricia came out of it, imparted into her being a sense of wisdom that she hopes spills into her yoga classes today.

Patricia has a teacher of her own.  Patricia met Lynn 15 years ago at Westport Ballet where Lynn taught yoga. Back then, Lynn shared with Patricia that she was still in the learning process about yoga, herself. However, Lynn often dispensed a teacher’s pearls of wisdom to Patricia, and still does. Their relationship evolved and eventually shifted into a friendship. Lynn has prosperity consciousness. Through osmosis from Lynn, Patricia has come to understand that prosperity, like pranic energy and flowing Chi, can exist as part of you, going in and out. She now understands that poverty consciousness and prosperity consciousness simply are. Neither good nor bad, but simply are. Patricia’s friendship with Lynn has inspired her to ponder ways to lessen the blockages and stay open to prosperity and the good in life. “Lynn takes prosperity and lives life to its fullest,” Patricia said. “She wears it well and demonstrates that even a yogi doesn’t have to live a life of poverty.” Patricia observes how yoga impacts Lynn’s life. She observes how it works for Lynn. Even as a friend, Lynn represents a teacher to Patricia. Lynn demonstrates through her life how one must continually go with the flow and make changes no matter what stage you are in.

What would Patricia tell a new yoga teacher? Maintain innocence, a fresh approach, a clear and fresh practice. To stay innocent, experiment openly. Be fresh as an artist. Let your training continue to grow and blossom. Experience reciprocal learning with your students. Don’t assume you know everything, assuming a position of authority. You need to enjoy people. There is no room for arrogance and territorialism in yoga. Also, Patricia said, don’t ever be concerned about, “I taught her yoga, now she’s a teacher with more students than I have.” She said there is no room for that in yoga. She said we must learn how to celebrate this news. Patricia emphasized being your authentic self as a teacher, being who you are, your true self and not imitating another teacher.

Patricia talks of the 62-year-old yoga teacher, Beryl Bender Birch, whose workshop she attended in St. Louis last year. She says Beryl began her workshop by acknowledging and complimenting all of the different styles of yoga from Bikram to Iyengar. Beryl emphasized the importance of us having an appreciation for all the variations of yoga styles. Patricia said that endeared her to Beryl immediately. .

Patricia said the best personal thing that has come out of being a yoga teacher is the sense of fulfillment that quelled the old nagging voice within: “You’re here to do something different. When are you going to do it? What real purpose is my life? Get out of victim mentality and make your life happen.” She feels release from the weight of such repeated messages. Clearing the mental space within is something that yoga continues to teach her.

Another great thing Patricia said has come out of being a teacher is the amazing people she has met on this path. Patricia’s search for her path had big ups and downs, such as financial challenges; divorce; falling in love; some riveting and life-changing psychic-type experiences; emotional and spiritual growth; marrying again and eventually opening her own yoga studio. Patricia got on her life path in 1992. She stayed on that path even when it got rocky. She is now enjoying a career that fits her soul.

One thing Patricia said that was very helpful to me is that she thoroughly enjoys teaching Hot Yoga once a week. The key here is that it’s only once a week. Hot Yoga has a very structured format. So, the fact that she teaches just once a week, makes it fresh and new to her each class, where she can genuinely enjoy it. She has learned from experience, the benefit of not overdoing it with teaching, so as to continue enjoying the classes you do teach, thereby having a fresh attitude and approach with each class.

Patricia has attracted some very gifted teachers to her studio. When I first attended one of Patricia’s classes, what impressed me about her was that she was so warm and approachable, patient and sensitive. It appeared she genuinely enjoyed teaching and sharing her knowledge and skills. I always felt comfortable and welcome in Patricia’s classes. That, plus her yoga skills were beyond superb. Patricia makes it a point to remember her students’ names in class. She and her teachers do body adjustments throughout class. During savasana they do foot and head massages, shoulder pressure and body limb adjustments which is so wonderful after a tough workout. The music, the atmosphere, the skill of the teachers are all such that you keep going back for more and more and more. As a teacher, the energy you project, your choice of words with students, your tone of voice, your facial expressions, the ambience you create, and most importantly of all, your genuine enjoyment of teaching are things that keep students coming back. I have discovered as Patricia’s student that the adjustments, and especially the massages during savasana, keep students coming back for more. Because of my experience as her student, I do foot massages at the end of my classes, no matter how large the class. I think word gets around about those massages. The students love them and often tell me so.

Patricia said the emphasis of her teaching practice is the hope of resetting alchemy, to inspire students to be on their own path for a life-changing experience. Students say things to her that make her kind of quiver inside, letting her know she’s on the right path. For example, one day after class, she talked with a student about the different yoga practices available, and he said to her, “I’ve shopped around and this is the best studio in town.” Those experiences warm her heart and reinforce that she is on the right path for her life.

Patricia and I discussed how our backgrounds, hers in Hallmark marketing, training and advertising, and mine as a social worker and family counselor with the Family Court, have been excellent preparation for teaching yoga, because of the skills and sensitivity we’ve acquired working with the public. Perhaps all of your life’s experiences serve a purpose and point toward a specific path.

We talk about teachers being on pedestals. She prefers to be a normal approachable person, rather than one who sees herself as above her students.  As a yoga teacher you are privileged to meet many interesting people, and many of whom are of like mind. I understand the importance of just being who I am, chatting and laughing with the students after class, and getting to know them. Part of teaching is learning, and Patricia has visited India and done countless training programs and workshops.

As our lunch ended, I hugged Patricia and thanked her for her time and such a fun visit. As we parted ways, she said, “You seem lighter. Lighter hair, lighter body. Lighter.” I do indeed feel lighter these days. How perceptive of her. But I am not surprised she noticed.

You can contact Patricia and/or get information about her studio at:

YOGA GALLERY
5615 Johnson Drive
Mission, KS 66202
(913) 432-5568

www.yogallery.com