
You guys, I wrote something.
It’s an article for Teachasana in their Notes From a Newbie column about stepping in to the role of a teacher.
Of course I’ve done a lot of writing here, but I haven’t worked with an editor for someone else’s site before. Pamela was great and really helped me focus the article and turn my normal blog ramblings into a ‘Top 5 Tips’ kind of story.
If you’re interested in hearing my take-aways and tips subbing a class you normally attend as a student, go read it here!
I’m including some of my more behind-the-scenes emotions about it here too because, uhm, that’s what a blog is for, no?
When I am a student in a class, I usually don’t think about how my teacher is feeling at all. I’m just there to practice. Maybe she’s exhausted, maybe she feels amazing! Maybe she just got off a frustrating phone call. To be honest, normally, I just don’t care. I want her to guide a good class and that’s about it. Because as a student, it’s kind of all about me and my practice.
But as a teacher: I was nervous.
I knew I wasn’t going to teach the exact same class as our regular teacher. But I hoped I could hold the space. When the students showed up, I reminded them that what happens on their mat is their practice – not mine, not our regular teacher’s. Ultimately, each one of us is in charge of our own practice.
With all the nerves and excitement that come with teaching a new a class, I’d kind of forgotten a key part of yoga. It’s not my class. It’s about the practice. It’s not about who’s in front of the room, even when it’s me.
In a way, that idea really liberated me to be myself and let go of the expectations I was afraid the other students would have. It helped remind me that the class isn’t about me, me, me – even though I was nervous about my performance. It’s always about the practice, no matter whose voice is calling the postures.