Team Teaching

Today, I taught a beginner yoga class at the University of South Alabama's Student Recreation Center.  I am working on becoming employed at the rec center and as part of the hiring process the coordinator has potential employees team teach an actual class.  I put much thought into preparing for the class.  I created an initial class plan, asked for feedback from current instructors, and then practiced teaching the class without an audience.

This summer, I've been enrolled in a public speaking course, which is a requirement for graduation.  I've learned a great deal in this course, and I believe it has helped me with the public speaking portion of teaching a yoga class.  One tip I've learned in public speaking is that careful preparation can promote overall success.  Preparation may lessen the intimidation often felt when speaking in public.

It was helpful, as well, that the students in the class I taught today were kind and gentle and understanding of my newness.  Furthermore, their poses were strong and beautiful!  It was rewarding to witness a yoga class in the seat of the teacher - to see an entire class in their various individual expressions of the yoga postures taught today.  I feel very confident about my teaching experience today and I'm excited to team teach again this Thursday!

Strong, Confident, and Ready

Today in teacher training, we practiced teaching sun salutations.

I've known since the beginning of teacher training that becoming comfortable standing in front of a class would be a challenge.  Even more challenging is teaching my teacher!  Until today, I even asked Melanie not to look my way when I would practice teaching to my fellow teachers in training.  However, today I was a bit more comfortable and did not ask her to look away.  I simply took a deep centering breath, looked out at the four people in front of me, and began - strong, confident, and ready.  Sure, I wasn't perfect.  Maybe I never will be.  Maybe I'd rather not be.  I did "mess up" a couple of times - but, I was able to chuckle a little and keep it going.  That's "perfect" enough for me.  I'm not sure what made the difference today, but I'm grateful for whatever it was!

"We only grow when we're uncomfortable where we are."

Near the end of each teacher training weekend, I'm vulnerable and I'm not sure why.  The tiniest thing will bring me to tears.  I love teacher training.  I'm learning so much and I'm surrounded by wonderful people.

I was confident in the beginning that I'm ready for this experience but I've doubted that lately...

I have wonderful individuals in my life who think I'm more than ready and that this vulnerability is, in a sense, just growing pains.  I'm still uncertain, but their words are comforting.

The quote in the title comes from my lovely friend, Augusta.

Class and conversation with my friend Amanda, along with Blake, were uplifting.

An unexpected hug from Melanie was helpful as well - she must have sensed my discomfort.

Hopefully these growing pains will soon be relieved and this journey will continue to be enlightening and enjoyable.

Why I'm Going through Yoga Teacher Training

As a journal assignment, Melanie has asked us to answer the question: "What is your intention for embarking on the journey of deepening your understanding of yoga through this training?"  I've decided to post my response as a blog entry:

Each time we practice asana in teacher training, Melanie asks us recall our intentions for being in the training.  At first, I had no idea how to summarize my intentions so I would envision all of all the things I want to do with the knowledge and skills I'm acquiring in the teacher training.  As the training has progressed, I have summarized my intentions which are "to be a light in the lives of others and to continue to work toward a more enlightened Jenn."

This goal may sound a little vague:  I have many aspirations for when I have completed my RYT 200 training.  Here are a few: I have been talking to the group fitness coordinator at my university's student recreation center, and I'm really hoping to obtain employment there as a yoga instructor.  Furthermore, I've discussed with my advisor the possibility of completing yoga-based research for my Psychology senior honors thesis.  Possibly in the future, I may combine yoga and psychotherapy; after all, treatment is where I found yoga and it has been a huge part of my own recovery.

Other than preparing me to reach these goals, the training is also helping me with my own self-evaluation, self-discovery, and self-improvement.  My own yoga practice is transforming, and with that so is my outlook on many aspects of life.  With Melanie's fine example of sometimes taking much-needed rests, I am now doing that myself - rather than forcing things both physically and mentally, I'm finding a kind of confidence and satisfaction in myself which I never had before.  I can be confident in my own practice, whether or not my poses are "perfect."  I can push myself to my full potential without pushing myself past my body's limits.  I can meditate, as that is yoga too, rather than only focusing on asana.

I've begun practice teaching as well, which has been a slightly frightening experience, but enjoyable as well.  Over time, throughout this training, I assume and hope I will become more comfortable in front of a group and more confident teaching yoga.

So there you have it; this is why I am in the training & these are my plans. :)

Namaste!

Jenn

Kirtan with Prema Hara

The art, practice, and lifestyle of yoga is not exclusively composed of the yoga postures.  Actually, Asana (the physical postures) is but one of the many facets of yoga.  Kirtan is a form of Bhakti yoga which involves call-and-response chanting of mantras or hymns often accompanied by traditional instruments.  This past Friday I had the opportunity to attend a kirtan at Yoga Birds led by a group called Prema Hara.  Before this, I had never been to a kirtan so I had no idea what to expect, but I knew there would be music and yogis and that was good enough for me!  Words can't even describe what it really involved though; yes, there was music and there were yogis, but there was so much more than just that!  There was an overall feeling of unity with opportunity for internalization as well.  I was there for hours yet it seemed like minutes.  The energy was calm and uplifting and the chanting was beautiful.  I'm so grateful to Prema Hara for coming to Fairhope and to Melanie for inviting them.

Post-Yoga Yoga

Today was the last day my first weekend of teacher training.  This weekend was packed with interesting information and all types of physical and emotional affects from the yoga sessions and the information itself.  After a weekend of yoga, what did I do?  More yoga!  I needed a bit of relaxation and Amanda B.'s Align and Flow class was just right for that.  She led a nice slow-paced, calming practice today, which prepared me for the drive home and for getting back to my regular schedule.

A Goal to Strive For

Today's teacher training session was just as educational and fun as yesterday, and I'm still having a lovely time at Milton and Margaret's.  The convenience of this weekend is amplified by it being during Spring Break.  I'll have some time to allow this first weekend of training to really sink in.

The weather in Fairhope has been beautiful this weekend and I'm having such a wonderful time.  I wish I could stay in this little yoga bubble forever rather than returning to my routine once the weekend is over.

Today my perception and execution of a couple of poses were completely transformed - funny how proper alignment can change one's perspective (in yoga as in life).  Today, Melanie emphasized the point that a yoga teacher is truly successful when his or her students leave class in a better state than before.  That's a goal to strive for.

The First Steps of my Journey

Today was my first day of yoga teacher training.  I'm studying under Melanie Buffett at her studio - Yoga Birds - in Fairhope, Alabama.  I can already tell this is going to be a wonderful and memorable experience.  Melanie is seemingly a fabulous teacher: funny, genuine, inspiring...  My peers seem kind as well.  Hopefully, we will form unique and powerful bonds throughout this training.

In class today we went over the course syllabus, were led by Melanie through a short practice, and were dismissed.  This was actually the first time Melanie has ever taught me.  Her yoga is different - she teaches a very strong and sturdy class, which is challenging and empowering.  She focuses heavily on alignment and is in tune with her students' individual and collective needs.  I was humored by her story-telling as we held the postures! 

The Coffee Loft is literally across the street from Yoga Birds, so of course I stopped by after class - mmm green tea chai.

I am staying with my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Milton this weekend at their bayhouse in Fairhope.  Aunt Margaret is so super adorable.  She thought of everything imaginable to provide the most possible comfort for me as her guest this weekend; she even moved some of the dishes down to my level because she thought I might be too short to reach them!  I'm staying in their guest house, which offers privacy with the option still of visiting as often as we'd like.

I'm looking forward to my second day of teacher training tomorrow!