I look like a real teacher:
Monday, April 26, 2010
I did it!
I even led the invocation. This was huge for me. HUGE! I used to feel awkward chanting with a room full of people. I led the call and response. I really can't believe I didn't pass out or run away. I surprise myself when I'm under extreme pressure. :-)
I look like a real teacher:
I look like a real teacher:
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Graduation Weekend!
Today's the day.
I got this piece of paper yesterday:
So today I'm teaching a free public class with 4 of my teachers watching/participating. It's kind of a big deal. :)
I got this piece of paper yesterday:
So today I'm teaching a free public class with 4 of my teachers watching/participating. It's kind of a big deal. :)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
1 Week Until Teacher Training Graduation!
The big day is a week from today. April 25 at 11:30 I'll be working as a group with 3 of my friends to teach a free public vinyasa class. We're ready!
In my class at work I've been focusing on teaching with minimal demonstration. Last week went really well. I was able to observe them more closely and correct their alignment, which they appreciated. I'm really enjoying this stage I'm in as a yoga teacher. Every class I teach is my best class ever as I continue to get better.
My biggest challenge is talking louder. That's really hard for me. I hate to feel like I'm yelling, but projecting my voice so that a whole room can hear me is not yelling. The room we're doing our free public class in is HUGE. I'm going to have to make sure people can hear me.
Since 4 of us are teaching the class, we've divided it into 4 sections. During each section, someone will be teaching, someone will demonstrate the full pose, someone will demonstrate a modification, and someone will be walking around helping people. I feel like that's a great way to take advantage of such a large team of teachers.
I'll be teaching the first part of the class, explaining that it's a modified version of the Ashtanga Primary Series, teaching the bandhas, and explaining our theme of ahimsa with emphasis on David Williams, "If it hurts, you are doing it wrong." Then I'll teach Surya Namaskara A and B, and Padangustasana and Padahastana. After that my job is not over. :-) I'll walk around during the standing poses correcting people, and smoothly slip in to demonstrate Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (since I can bind it), then I'll demonstrate modifications for the seated poses. Beginning at Baddha Konasana, I'll demonstrate the full poses.
And now, I'm on my way to Yoga Shala for a workshop on Bhujapidasana-Kukkutasana.
In my class at work I've been focusing on teaching with minimal demonstration. Last week went really well. I was able to observe them more closely and correct their alignment, which they appreciated. I'm really enjoying this stage I'm in as a yoga teacher. Every class I teach is my best class ever as I continue to get better.
My biggest challenge is talking louder. That's really hard for me. I hate to feel like I'm yelling, but projecting my voice so that a whole room can hear me is not yelling. The room we're doing our free public class in is HUGE. I'm going to have to make sure people can hear me.
Since 4 of us are teaching the class, we've divided it into 4 sections. During each section, someone will be teaching, someone will demonstrate the full pose, someone will demonstrate a modification, and someone will be walking around helping people. I feel like that's a great way to take advantage of such a large team of teachers.
I'll be teaching the first part of the class, explaining that it's a modified version of the Ashtanga Primary Series, teaching the bandhas, and explaining our theme of ahimsa with emphasis on David Williams, "If it hurts, you are doing it wrong." Then I'll teach Surya Namaskara A and B, and Padangustasana and Padahastana. After that my job is not over. :-) I'll walk around during the standing poses correcting people, and smoothly slip in to demonstrate Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (since I can bind it), then I'll demonstrate modifications for the seated poses. Beginning at Baddha Konasana, I'll demonstrate the full poses.
And now, I'm on my way to Yoga Shala for a workshop on Bhujapidasana-Kukkutasana.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Gratitude
Today, I was reminded of how much I have to be grateful for.
Last night as I bit into an orange slice I quickly realized that something was very wrong with my tooth. Not an emergency to have the dentist paged for, but bad enough to call right when they opened in the morning. They took me right away and got me all fixed up. I know a lot of people would whine about this sudden pain and unexpected expense, but it made me feel very grateful.
Awesome Things to be Grateful For:
1. I was fixed up right away, and didn't have to wait around to see the doctor.
2. I can just get up and leave work after sending out a quick email saying, "Tooth hurts, going to dentist, be back soon."
3. I have the insurance to make the visit relatively inexpensive and the savings account to make throwing down a little cash no big deal.
4. I have my iPhone to keep me amused while waiting to get numb, and friends on Facebook and Scrabble to amuse me.
Last night as I bit into an orange slice I quickly realized that something was very wrong with my tooth. Not an emergency to have the dentist paged for, but bad enough to call right when they opened in the morning. They took me right away and got me all fixed up. I know a lot of people would whine about this sudden pain and unexpected expense, but it made me feel very grateful.
Awesome Things to be Grateful For:
1. I was fixed up right away, and didn't have to wait around to see the doctor.
2. I can just get up and leave work after sending out a quick email saying, "Tooth hurts, going to dentist, be back soon."
3. I have the insurance to make the visit relatively inexpensive and the savings account to make throwing down a little cash no big deal.
4. I have my iPhone to keep me amused while waiting to get numb, and friends on Facebook and Scrabble to amuse me.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
"It is possible to have goals AND have no goal at the same time."
"Asanas are tools, used to work on our bodies, to heal or to build strength, flexibility, and endurance, much more than asanas are goals....They are not just goals to be attained."
From Yoga Beyond Belief
I've been thinking about this line a lot. I took the concept too far and thought it was wrong to have goals, but again it's about balance between having a goal and not having a goal. I'm going to go do some reading now. This book is awesome.
From Yoga Beyond Belief
I've been thinking about this line a lot. I took the concept too far and thought it was wrong to have goals, but again it's about balance between having a goal and not having a goal. I'm going to go do some reading now. This book is awesome.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Getting Ready for the Final Yoga Class
For the end of yoga teacher training, we're teaching a 2 hour yoga class in groups. I'm in the vinyasa group, and they came over to my house to work on it today. It's going to be based on the Ashtanga Primary Series. After we got all our work done, we started goofing off. :-)
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