Mega-Yoga Day!

What a day, yoga-wise!

I started the day at 7:30 with a private dialogue coaching session with Saiko, my mentor. We met at my home studio in Fremont and did about 1.5 hours of dialogue, with heat. She picked out postures, I did them, and then she critiqued me and provided little tips for each one we did. It was very helpful!

At 9:30, I took class - had a nice practice, though mornings are not my favorite time, Jill had walked down and it was fun to take class with her.

Then, at 1:15 I had my 2nd class - another 'mock' class at a studio in Woodinville, a ways away for me (about a half hour, but in a very different area from where I typically hang out). The studio is lovely! I got there, and the owner was there, she said she couldn't take my class :( but would hope to soon. That was ok though, I was ready and excited to teach!

A few minutes later, she said, "So I've heard through the grapevine that you're 'ready'." I thought she meant for the 1:15 class (minutes away at this point) so I said, "Yep, I'm all set to go here in a few." And she then told me her 3:30 teacher called off, and asked if I'd teach it! Sight unseen, just based on feedback from two teachers who'd been to my first class. I was flattered, shocked and excited all at once! So I went on to teach 2 classes, right in a row, the first to folks in the know - a free class for a new teacher - and the second, a group of people who only saw me as "new to the studio." It was super cool!

There was a 16-year old girl in my first one who has Chron's disease, she and her mom come together and she said it helps with the symptoms a lot. The second class I had a girl who brought her 60-something Japanese mom, who is in town visiting - and who (1) did not speak any English and (2) had never done Bikram before! I had to help her with hands in Eagle and the grip in standing bow (just like people who do speak English :)...but she did great. There was also a young guy who was taking his 2nd class - he was great and a wonderful opportunity for corrections - a lot of newbie things like grips, chin position, eye position - easy things to see and fix.

It's getting there - I'm getting more confident and feeling more relaxed when I'm up there teaching! A Bikram teacher whom I had never met was also in the 2nd class I taught - she sent me some good feedback. And it's funny, things I thought I did well she suggested I work on, and the area I thought I was weak, she said was fantastic! So there you have it - we don't perceive ourselves as our students do, and it's important to listen and adjust based on your audience, not your own sense of things, ego or pride. It's all about them - and I just keep reminding myself of that, and with that, know it will all turn out well!

More soon, promise!