Meet Latesha ~ A Teacher from Charleston!!

About the writer: Latesha is a native and current resident of Charleston, SC who teaches yoga for Embassy Suites Hotel. She also instructs at several community centers, while her yoga studio is under construction. Her focus is on ashtanga yoga and she plans to go to India next year, to meet the great Sharath Jois. She and I (Satyam) have been communicating about yoga & life and she has graciously accepted an invitation to share a little about her practice, how it has transformed her, and how she approaches teaching others.

Here then is Latesha’s guest blog post…


EMBRACING WHO I AM

Growing up as the darkest person around wasn’t the easiest body to live in. However, I finally discovered my true self through the gifts of yoga, which allowed me to embrace myself and live without any feelings of insecurity about my skin color. Many struggle with their physical appearance, and desire to reconstruct the body they have. Yoga will help you tap into your inner-self, giving you the confidence your heart desires.

Note: Be sure to see more photos of Latesha below.

PROGRESS ON THE PATH

When I started practicing yoga I was not naturally strong: Neither physically, nor mentally, nor spiritually. However, I was deeply inspired by meditation, scorpion pose & its variations, and handstands. I was truly amazed how the mind could manipulate the body with such articulation. I soon discovered there’s a lot to learn about the human body and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

MY ROLE AS TEACHER

As a yoga teacher, it’s helpful to remember that the biggest reason to discuss anatomy is to facilitate a healthy practice and help students understand what’s going on in their bodies. Keeping the integrity of the pose, with precise form and alignment, allows you to get all the benefits out of the asana [posture]. Following a path of personal development isn’t easy. Oh, it’s rewarding and can be life-changing, but it can also be confusing, challenging, and scary.

BECOME GREAT BY MAKING OTHERS GREAT

I don’t want to be just a good yoga teacher as I was a student. I want to be a great teacher who will shine light and love into the hearts of others. And we all know that the only way to become great on the path of yoga is by making others great. That is the secret to greatness. As a teacher, I place importance on form and alignment, along with breath with movement. By this method all can progress and become great. Remember, don’t ever be just good in life, be great!

IMPORTANT TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO

With respect to what I do, I can say with confidence that I’m one of those who really does what they love, and loves what they do. This does not mean, however, that there’s no work involved – not by a long shot. Organization, planning, budgeting, marketing, travel, logistics, maintain a self-practice, training – and that’s just the prelude to actually teaching.

As I hone in on my specialization, I recognize that there remains much to learn, yet I can’t be afraid to proceed ahead and stand out. Only by this way – only by coming out, embracing challenges, and rising to the occasion – can I be in position to serve, flourish, and help make others become great.

Namaskar,
Latesha Grant

Twitter: @ChokolateChick

Here are a few photos of Latesha in her practice…

And here is a second photo – thanks for sharing Latesha!