Seeds Fam, what up! Ran 5 miles with Tacoma Run Club this morning - finally back since injuring my knee.
It was a powerful reminder that most things I love in life are free.
Check out this insane view while doing something hard on a Sunday morning ⬇️
Ruston Way - Tacoma, Washington. Pacific Northwest shows out no matter the time of year
Waiting (to get healthy) is not a strong suit of mine, but I committed to longterm thinking and delayed-gratification.
Relentless physical therapy, rest, recovery, and patience.
And here we are, two months later - back running.
Whatever you’re battling, keep fighting.
One Day at a Time (ODAT).
Now - Newsletter #4 of the relaunch, let’s get it ⬇️
🌱 7 Lessons from Teaching 100 Yoga Classes 🌱
I taught my 100th yoga class this past week.
Wild.
One year ago I had no intention on doing a yoga teacher training, let alone be teaching yoga.
Life can be wildly unexpected - if you let it.
So without further ado, here are 7 lessons from teaching 100 yoga classes.
Directly applicable to your life.
🌱 7 Lessons from Teaching 100 Yoga Classes 🌱
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲… 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.
I’ve learned I’ll never be fully ready.
I can train, plan, and prepare.
Then at some point, I just have to send it.
I’ve realized that if I wait to feel ready, I might wait forever.
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐: 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
I share my truth with the room.
The more vulnerable I am, the deeper we connect.
Not easy, very scary actually.
But extremely rewarding.
Yoga Teacher Training in Bali: First time teaching - heart racing, but went for it.
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟑: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.
There are days I don’t feel like teaching.
But one simple mindset shift changes everything:
“𝑀𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛’𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟.”
Because as a yoga teacher, I believe I have the power to do that.
One class later, I leave with purpose, connection, and a lifted spirit.
Service will do that.
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟒: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.
Preparation. Public speaking. Presence.
Creativity. Focus. Flow.
Decision-making. Space-holding.
Teaching requires us to embrace discomfort and embody an expansive version of ourselves.
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟓: 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.
Not groundbreaking, I understand.
But absolutely necessary to expedite the path to success by providing feedback, support, and honest perspective.
I’ve found value in two types of mentors:
1. Someone 2-3 years ahead (relatable)
2. Someone 10+ years in (wisdom)
My yoga mentor, Paul Teodo, and I in Bali after graduating from Yoga Teacher Training
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟔: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.
“Can you sub?” Yes.
"Teach Vinyasa?" Yes.
“Hot 26?” No, but yes.
“Sculpt?” Probably, so yes.
“Can you teach four classes on Wednesdays, two on Thursdays, two on Fridays, and sub in-between?” Absolutely.
Then make it happen.
*Caveat: I strongly believe in the power of saying “No” - protecting your time and energy, but when starting something new, I think it’s important to say yes and get reps
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟕: 𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐬.
After saying yes, it was time to get back to work.
I studied. Practiced. Hand-wrote scripts.
Practiced in airports. On patio decks. Morning and night.
Rehearsed while brushing my teeth.
Invested in additional workshops.
And then… went for it.
Ready enough.
Atlanta airport, 7am layover - practicing Hot 26 (Bikram) with Mom!
What a journey the last 4+ months have been.
Don’t think I’ll retire teaching yoga (😂),
But I’m developing as a human - quickly.
Building community that feels special.
Feeling like I’m living in a calling.
And loving it.
No timetables. No pressure about what’s next.
But it’s right for right now.
Quick Backstory
Never had intentions on teaching (was supposed to fly straight to Nepal and trek Everest Base Camp + India after Yoga Teacher Training),
But my intuition said, "Come home."
So after signs from the universe and an intuitive feeling,
I cancelled my flight to Nepal (18 hours before takeoff), flew home, and was teaching within the week.
For You: this week, if something intuitively feels right (usually not justified by logic), I encourage you to go for it.
Trust it.
Follow the flow.
Who knows where it leads.
Teaching my first public class! Never thought it would lead to 106 classes later.
Yoga (Life) Tip of the Week 🧘♂️
Longer exhales regulate your nervous system. A longer, deeper, controlled exhale will tell your body, “This is okay. I’m safe.”
Action: 3 second inhale, 6 second exhale
Use: stress, anxiety, tense, tight, need grounding, embracing discomfort
🧠 Podcast I loved this week
Topics: time management • the impact of technology on relationships • having hard conversations • importance of mentorship • habit formation • balancing ambition with family presence and quality time
💡Quote & Question I’m Thinking About
Quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -Mary Oliver (no shocker here)
Question: for this next season of life and mission to positively impact , do I want to keep building and creating as a solopreneur?
Or join a team that I’m excited to be a part of, pursuing a mission I believe in with people I want to be around, learn from, and grow with?
What does a world look like where both coexist?
Anyway - just some Colin thoughts.
📚 Books I’ve Recommended Recently
🔥 Content Corner
Got this far? Reply and let me know your biggest takeaway - I always respond.
See you next week ✌🏼
Big topic coming up…
P.S. - while writing this newsletter at the local coffeeshop, I ran into an old friend who asked me, “What’s one thing that warmed your heart this week?”
That question alone warmed my heart.
And thinking about seeing my baby nephew this weekend.
Food for thought. Enjoy!
