5 down, hopefully many to go.

I taught my final, on the schedule, subbing class on Saturday. That makes 3 Intro classes and 2 Mixed level. They all went great. I lost my place a time or two, realized I needed to slow down the intro class and take out some poses, realized I needed to speed up the mixed and add some poses. It was a great feeling of accomplishment to be able to do that in my head without freaking out. The students are really wonderful (and patient). I am lucky to live in a small town with a growing yoga population. It's a great place to get experience as a teacher before I move on into a more specialized yoga field and hopefully a bigger city. Yes, I love Grinnell but I'm a city girl at heart and need to be somewhere else.

Next Level

Moving on to the the next level. Tomorrow I teach a Level I/II class. I'm focusing on hip openers and have hopefully worked enough poses in to keep it interesting and fast paces, but not so fast paced that we end up with 15 minutes at the end of class for Savasana. I have no idea why time is my most challenging part. I am sure that eventually I'll get comfortable enough to wing it with a a basic plan in mind but adding poses as we go along. Right now I have to take a pretty detailed outline to follow.

Wish me luck and my students! They may need it!

Survival of the Fittest

I made it through my class. It's very interesting. There were 4 people there. A good mix of people. I put together the most basic of yoga classes I could think of. A meditation, sun salutation warm up, standing warrior posses, cool down. Hopefully they had fun. We'll see if they show up on Thursday.

But wow, I felt great and totally comfortable teaching. Totally comfortable. I saw that I was running a little fast so I spontaneously added in a few moves. I was able to talk and instruct through the whole thing. Absolutely no nervousness. It was such a great feeling. Like I finally found something I was meant to do. My therapist has told me that I am a leader but have been suppressed into believing I'm shy and should not stand out in a crowd. With my new found freedom of teaching yoga I think that belief system is going to fly out the window. Thankfully! Who wants to meekly stand in the corner while everyone else has all the fun! ;)

Thanks for the support guys!

Almost there....

T-minus 1 hour to my first class. The nerves haven't really set in yet. Maybe when I walk into the studio and everyone will be sitting on their mats waiting for me to tell them what to do. I have cliff notes! I'll be fine, right? Just nod and smile. Thanks!

1st Teaching Gig

Tomorrow I teach my first ever yoga class. As a girl who is shy and terrified of public speaking I am about ready for a nervous break down. I have gone through many processes in my head about this, and all of which lead me back to it's something I have to do. Fear or no. I truly feel like I was meant to teach yoga.

I have been practicing regularly for over 5 years. 3 of those years were with instructors. 2 of those years I have been developing my own practice. I have learned to feel my body and do what it needs each day. I put no time limits on my own practice but generally I go for about 20 to 40 minutes. It's easy to read my own body and let it do what comes naturally. Some days I spend all of my time upside down. Some days I'm twisting.

Suddenly I will be responsible for other people. Developing a fully range of motion for a group of people. Developing 45 to 60 minute classes. My first class will be an intro to yoga. I can do this but in my gut I feel like I'll probably need some kind of Anaphylaxis shot due to throat closing up. I wonder if I take an EpiPen if they can bring me back to life after I pass out.

Stress/fear is such a wonderful thing. Did you know that it is the exact same chemical that produces fear that creates exhilaration? I'm wondering how you switch that chemical reaction to turn to thrill instead of fear. Seems possible. Is it self-confidence?

I have to stop here and go to my day job. I hope to be busy enough to not over think it and will make it though the day with no added stress.

P.S. Big love to all of my friends willing to let me practice my classes on them over the next few days. Yes, pictures will be taken!