teach yoga

yoga makes you feel good. what a great job… making people feel good by teaching them something that is good for their mind, body, and spirit. the two teachers I’ve had have had a small, but profound impact on my life because of their thoughtful way of teaching. makes me want to do that for other people.

..at least for now.

I was in a totally different situation when I added this goal. I don’t really have any interest in teaching. I wouldn’t mind in the future, i suppose. but it isn’t something that I really want now.

My most faithful student showed up, but could only stay for 40 minutes, so we did an abbreviated class. I based this one on Shiva Rea’s mandala sequences, which are much easier to teach when doing rather than watching. but i was very good about demonstrating one round and then adjusting on the second. still no sign of those flyers, and I’m beginning to get worried!

one of my regulars is out of town for the week, so only one student tonight. I was feeling terrible, a cold coming on, and really wanted to cancel. but i learned that the flyers had just been distributed to the building (supposebly) so I forged ahead. I’m glad I did ‘cause I think I presented a good class, but I don’t have much faith the flyers actually went out. my student saw none, not in her mailbox, under her door, posted in the gym, nowhere.

two students, both repeaters. I borrowed much of this class from Sarah Powers Insight Yoga DVD, incorporating some of both her sun salutations and standing series. I like that, instead of doing a long list of separate poses, she integrates all manner of movements (forward, backbending, etc.) into one long slow flow. The sequences I had prepared weren’t enough, however, for the hour. I threw a couple extra postures in and lengthened a few others to make it to the end.

only my most faithful student this time around. he received a personal class focused on backbending and heart opening. I acquired speakers (finally!) from Wal-mart (spit) last week so my classes can now have more than the sound of the air system to listen to. i forgot to turn it on until half-way through, however:) I feel like I was right on with my preparation for this class. what I had planned fit perfectly into the hour, not rushed, not drawn out.

two return customers tonight. I am completely blown away by the fact that by class 4, I barely need to look at my notes. Of course, I put time into preparing a lesson plan, and generally I’m there so early that I can physically run through it once, but regardless, my confidence is up and I’m beginning to teach from my heart and from what I see, not from what is written down. I almost felt like an om tonight, something I have yet to do in this setting. I plan to get a flyer together this weekend and begin recruiting more participants and I feel like I will be more than ready for them!

Three students! The two that I had taught separately last week, as well as someone new (to me). I chose to focus on hamstrings and forward folds anatomically and to encourage focusing inward and on the breath rather than on me or the image in the mirror. A really cool thing happened in that I didn’t realize that my warm-up set-up placed them facing the back of the room, away from the mirrors. it was like I had planned it that way and I didn’t let on otherwise:) I either had too much planned or moved too slowly, depending on how you look at it, ‘cause I had to cut 4 rather important poses. but I still made it through fine. and used my notes less than the past two times. i’m really enjoying this!

One student again, but a different one this time. This woman is a Wednesday night regular who has been practicing for awhile. I felt much more on top of my game this time around. The lesson plan I put together was nearly perfectly 1 hr long and I rarely needed to consult my notes. that’s not to say that I didn’t overconsult, though. it still makes me more secure to have something typed out to follow, but I’m hoping as I progress I can do away with that.

As often happens in the changing of the guard, there was a bit of a communication breakdown between my predecessor’s final classes last week and my classes beginning tonight. Namely, no one knew about the latter. (If that’s not the explanation, I’ve got bigger problems!) thankfully, a super friendly new resident who just moved in Saturday (and doesn’t know any better) happened to stroll by on her way to the gym and decided to join me instead. I did almost the entire class with her, which I heartily dislike, but each time I stopped, she stopped too. Rather than make her uncomfortable, I just practiced along with her. Wednesday will tell whether my hypothesis for no students is correct or not because I was at last wednesday’s class to announce that I would be teaching. I must find me some speakers between now and next week (if not by Wednesday) as my attempt to use the Idog I received as a gift didn’t go so well. apparently, he…gets pissed! I got there really early and listened to my ipod, through him, for about 20 minutes when, with no change from me, he began to bark. I couldn’t get him to stop nor turn him off. not exactly the most soothing yoga companion. overall, I felt a little rusty tonight, as if the yoga lingo wasn’t coming to me as quickly as it should. throughout the course of the class it improved, so I’m confident that I’ll be back in the swing of things in no time. And I’m so glad to be!!