Hard to believe-we met our Sally less than a year ago??? She had only just come to Vancouver from the Dublin area, eyes still bright from gazing at the majestic Irish cliffs (ok, so I don’t know if that’s really true, but who doesn’t romanticize Ireland??)
Since that day in a Vancouver cafe she has become one of the cornerstones of our organization. Not only has she taught multiple beautiful Yoga Buggy programs, she has also been doing an amazing job of managing our social media channels.
Our Sally is not only hardworking and up for a challenge, she is also just lovely: warm and gentle as a Van Morrison song and funny as a salty Irish Coddle. Talent, creativity + winning charm all in one!
Although she’s incredibly humble, I like to brag about her a bit: Sally has earned not one, but TWO Master’s degrees: one in Child Development and one in Mindfulness. So naturally I wanted to pick her brain to learn more about all that stuff!
TYB: Can you help us to understand the term "mindfulness?" Why should we want more of it?
Mindfulness is stepping away from our thoughts and hopping back into our reality. 90% of our problems are ones that our very own thoughts have created, and thoughts are not facts, they’re little ideas that pop into our head that for the most part, we have no control over.
If every thought I had was ‘true’ I think a lot of us would be in trouble! Instead we are aware of exactly what is going on in our present moment; starting with our thoughts, emotions and sensations in the body, then allowing this awareness to spread to our surroundings. Let’s say you’re having a bad day. You’re driving down the road and someone beeps at you. You know you’ve done nothing wrong but you start to get annoyed. “Why did they beep at me?” “What did I do?” Then these thoughts lead to an imaginary dialogue with this person, giving them a piece of your mind. The whole journey home you're rehearsing this beautiful imaginative (angry) made up script. Then you get home and every little thing is annoying you. You start snapping at people (which leads to guilt) because the frustration and irritation is building up until eventually you become too overwhelmed and explode. Now let's rewind. You're driving down the road and someone beeps at you. You notice you have become annoyed, maybe your shoulders feel tense, or there's a ball of fire building in your belly, your face might start to get warm. You take a deep breath (or maybe 10) until you can feel your body start to calm and your thoughts start to quieten. Maybe you notice a bird, or a cloud or the green grass blowing gently in the wind. You think "huh maybe they weren't even beeping at me and if they were it's not that big of a deal". You are in control rather than your thoughts. And when you have the power to be in control that's when all the magic moments happen!
TYB: What do you think about Vancouver?
Winters are so long, but the beach and the mountains on a sunny day is pure joy. There can't be a rainbow without a little rain and all that. For such a small city there is so much happening. So many amazing places to go to and restaurants to eat in. I do miss a good aul Irish pub! The main thing for me has definitely been all the lovely people I'm fortunate enough to have met here.
TYB: Are attitudes about yoga in Canada different than in Ireland?
Vancouver is way ahead of the game in the yoga world than Ireland. I couldn't believe when I thought my first class here how emotionally aware all the children were. It's so amazing to see how accepting a population can be. I was at least 19 when I started to become aware of my emotion. I'm excited to one day take what I've learned here and start spreading the word in Ireland.
TYB: What are your favourite things to teach? Top 3 maybe.
I like anything active when it comes to kids. I like being silly and hearing giggles but then I also love seeing them relax at the end of class when they're imaginations take them away on a little journey. My favourite thing in a yoga class so far was when the children helped and comforted each other when something happened. When you know you have created this safe space for them to support each other. That's what it's all about really
TYB: What advice would you like to share with new/aspiring kids' yoga teachers?
What's your intention? Write it down and always remember it. When you have a tough class or begin to doubt yourself, come back to your intention. Why am I doing this? When things don't go the way you planned, that's okay. Take a break, look around and see the little faces looking at you, smile and begin again. Be silly and have fun, only then can the learning begin.
So friends… want a great teacher, with great advice and super fun kids’ yoga classes? Look no further. Please feel free to follow Sally on Instagram @sallymcmahon.yoga.mindfulness for awesome tips and tricks for teaching yoga and mindfulness to kids and grownups.
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