Teaching makes me a better student

On Saturday morning I taught a class of four friends. There were mixed level students in the class and it was challenging to keep up with everyone's progress. There were some corrections I saw that I could have made but I had to let some of them go. I remember how in the beginning it is hard enough as a student to just concentrate on the teacher's directions and stay with the class. I ended up teaching fewer poses than I'd planned, because I spent more time on each pose, teaching alignment. I learned that I would prefer to teach fewer poses in order to have better alignment and the students' better understanding of the shape and benefit of the poses.

Teaching was great. I wasn't as scared as I've been previously. It wasn't as painful. Previously I felt like giving up while teaching. I would have thoughts like "the students don't really feel like working in these poses and I don't really feel like trying to encourage them to do it". When I noticed their physical struggle, my own energy would drop and I would be discouraged which I feared might in turn discourage them. I thought about it a lot, and I realized that it is my job to be the encourager, the cheerleader (almost), the one who supports throughout their discomfort. Their discomfort isn't the result of what I am doing to them, but how they feel in their bodies and so it isn't something for me to take personally.

Everytime I teach, it gives me more things to think about and observe when I am the student in a yoga class. After teaching Saturday morning, I went to YTT class with some fresh understanding and a few questions. Again at Sunday's lectures I was able to pay attention to what was taught with a clearer idea of, for example, the importance of knowing how to modify Uttanasana for those with tight hamstrings. I could see more directly how I may apply that knowledge in the near future.

Karl Erb has encouraged us all along to study closely with one teacher for a long time. That has always made sense to me. He's also said something about how when a student is ready to learn, the teacher will find her/him. On Monday night I went to a class taught by Dina, and as soon as she saw me she asked me when this YTT course is over and if I'd like to begin my intense study with her in October. I am so engulfed in studying for the final and preparing for my Practice Teaching class (which will be observed and evaluated by Dina), that it was hard for me to think about what I will want or be ready for in October. My initial thought was like "I'm not ready yet! Do I want another intense time & money commitment after this one?". But after visualizing graduation from this course, and my goals for the next two years, it fits in perfectly to start working with Dina this Fall. I am grateful for the opportunity. I've been taking her classes since 2003 and now or soon is a fine time to go deeper.