The Power of Variety
A Journal share from Humble Haven’s Director of Operations & Teacher, Rachel Berry.
“Life is all about the journey and what you experience along the way.
Teaching various offerings at Humble Haven, as well as what I’ve taught in the past, allows me to have a different experience every time I show up for ‘work.’ The versatility that exists within my teaching nourishes my desire for fitness. For the last decade, I’ve navigated through various trainings and programs, all of which, collectively, are responsible for making me the teacher I am today. I find so much joy in being able to put together playlists for classes like yoga build and bootcamp. They are a work of art and in my world, getting compliments on a playlist is a love language. Those classes also require a level of energy that I don’t necessarily need for teaching classes like Power, Power Down, or Hamstrings + Hips + Spine. It’s a nice balance to be able to teach a variety of energetics. Most days, whatever I’m teaching typically drives what kind of energy I’ve got going on for the day but I won’t lie, some days I really have to dig deep to find that pizazz that’s expected in a Bootcamp setting. But, much like the days we have to drag ourselves to the studio to practice, those classes are usually some of my best work. I’ve taught classes where students leave cursing my name as they walk out the door, and I’ve taught classes where students are so zenned out they’ve left their keys (sometimes even their shoes) behind. Truthfully, it is a treat to witness both of those energies. Teaching different offerings strengthens my chances of connecting with more students. More students means more stories, and more stories mean more experiences!
When I was younger, I used to believe that you had to look a certain way to be considered an athlete or that you had to perform at a certain caliber in order to even take those classes. My experience in being a student of various modalities of movement is what ultimately gave me the confidence to become a teacher. Showing up in more spaces helped me realize that bodies of all shapes and sizes were showing up too. I learned that being exactly who I am and have always been was a recipe for a fabulous fitness instructor. Most of the time, I consider myself a student who just happened to get lucky enough to be trusted to lead a room of individuals. As teachers, we’re no different than anyone else.
Whether I am a student or a teacher of various styles and practices, I know both allow me to connect with a vast spectrum of human beings. Combining my worlds of both a student and a teacher, I recently went to El Salvador on a Somatic Wellness + Adventure Retreat where I landed with 15 other strangers. That confidence that I spoke of earlier is what afforded me the stamina to travel to a foreign country, alone, seeking community amongst strangers who shared a common interest in movement and adventure. The movement that week consisted of styles I was familiar with and some that were brand new to me. The environment was both breathtakingly beautiful and difficult to adjust to. We would spend our mornings doing extreme activities where we were pushed to our limits and our evenings were quieted with Yin yoga, sound baths, and reiki. It took a few days into the retreat for me to grasp what was happening. The contrast of the itinerary, every single day, was what made the entire experience so incredible. Had we only focused on the adrenaline seeking adventures, my nervous system would have been a wreck. Had we only focused on the soft gentle yoga, I would have left craving more. Together though, they gifted my body with everything it desired. I also left with the first group chat I’ve been a part of that hasn’t made me want to throw my phone at a wall. I even got to see live footage of the Northern Lights last week from Jackson, Wyoming. It was an experience that I may not have otherwise considered had I not been in the practice of trying different things.
All that to say, I truly believe that the contrast of the experience, whether it be movement, travel, or relationships, is typically what builds our character, teaches us the important lessons - some we didn’t even know we needed - and ultimately, allows us to grow. Seek the challenge!
Adrenaline junkies, when’s the last time you slowed down and took a Yin class? And to my Hot Power homies, slide up in one of those bootcamp classes next week. Shake things up! “
-Rachel B.
