Haridev and Mats

Do you want to know what Mats experienced in his first ever yoga class?

Check out Haridev's and Mats' conversation where Mats shared his experiences and what is important for him to share with his students in a yoga class.

Transcription:

Haridev: Hi everyone, this is Haridev.

Mats: This is Haridev.

Haridev: This is Mats!

Mats: This is Mats.

Haridev: So Mats, tell me about your first yoga class. How did you get into yoga? What was it like?

Mats: My first yoga class ever?

Haridev: Yes.

Mats: So...there was a friend of mine, she's been traveling the world and I haven't seen her for a few years, and suddenly I met her again - this is a long story, very, very short - there were a lot of synchronicities, a lot of crazy things going on, and she invited me to her yoga class. She told me that she had become a yoga teacher while traveling and she invited me in. I said, "Okay, let's try it and see what it is". And then I ended up in a Bikram yoga class. It was my first yoga class ever. I've been sitting on my ass*, eating food, drinking coffee, all that stuff for a while, and then I got into that class and almost passed out halfway through it. At the end of it I couldn't even lift my arms and the ceiling was like wavy, it was crazy, kind of stumbling. So that was my first yoga class. And they ended up giving me this juice with a lot of nutrients so that I could get up and walk again. I thought, okay, maybe I shouldn't start hot yoga, and maybe change my diet - so I did. And then I ended up at Eight Treasures Yoga, which became my yoga home and where I did my first teacher training and everything.

Haridev: As a yoga teacher, what do you feel is important to share with your students? In class, or in general?

Mats: It's important to have some fun. I mean, you can make it serious, like pointing towards that depth, learning to observe yourself and your perceptions and all that, but also, it's important to laugh and not make it too serious all the time. So if you see like pictures of Buddha, he's usually smiling. Either he's meditating with a gentle smile or he's laughing you know? When I meet a kind person who lacks a sense of humor, it's a big red flag, like, never go to this guy.

Haridev: Agreed!

Mats: So, I would say, to be able to share these wisdoms and these movements and these tools for life, with a little pinch of seriousness and a little pinch of humor and ridiculousness.

Haridev: Thank you Mats!

Mats: Thanks too!