My enthused, sometimes overly enthusiastic, approach to all aspects of life has led me to a fairly regular practice of meditation and yoga. When I meditate or do yoga, I am able to deepen my connection to myself, find a deeper sense of 'other' can be a source of great confusion and pain. As I encounter another, even a stranger on the street, I see myself shut down in order to function. It is a form of protection that serves me to a point so I am able to 'keep it together'; but where does this leave me in relation to my students?