35 Things about Teaching my First 100 Classes
- Posted by Tiffany in Teaching |
- March 12th, 2012 |
- 12 Comments
I publicized my decision to go to Bikram Teacher Training a year ago in March. A year later, I taught my 100th class on March 10th, 2012. Dreams do come true. I’m truly grateful for what I’ve accomplished so far. Here are 35 fun facts about teaching my first 100 classes.
1. I taught my first class on November 28, 2011 (9 days after my Teacher Training graduation).
2. I was so nervous in my first week, I even miscounted out loud: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 6, 8…” (I made a joke and told my students that math was never my forte, that’s why I’m teaching yoga.)
3. The first person I knew who came to my class to support me was my fiancé. He came to my 10th class.
4. I taught 14 classes then I stopped teaching for 2 weeks when I went home for the holidays. That was the biggest mistake. Teaching my 15th class was equally as hard as teaching my 1st. Note to future teachers: Start as soon as possible and don’t stop!
5. Learning to teach is very similar to learning to drive a car. At first, you’re so fixated on the steering wheel and gas pedal (dialogue) but eventually it becomes intuitive and you can really focus on the road (students).
6. The youngest student I’ve ever taught was a 6-year old.
7. The oldest student I’ve ever taught was a 73-year old.
8. I get really thirsty when I teach but I try to limit myself drinking only twice during the Standing Series (then I discreetly chug water when my students are in Savasana).
9. My favorite posture to teach is Triangle. I really like to get that perfect-upside-down-L out of you.
10. I haven’t had the chance to teach Lady Gaga yet, but teaching the wide receiver, Kito Poblah, from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is pretty rad.
11. I like teaching steamy hot classes. Hate me now, thank me later.
12. Teaching Pet Peeve #1: Students lifting their heads in the last part of Locust.
13. The most classes I’ve ever taught in one day was two.
14. I had tons of fun teaching on Valentine’s Day. You bet I snuck some cheesy love jokes in class.
15. I never intentionally hold my students extra long in any of the postures but I always make sure my first set of Standing Bow Pulling is exactly 60 seconds long for each side.
16. I always feel energized after teaching.
17. I am quite the Savasana Nazi. I always make sure your heels are together, feet fall apart, arms close to your body, palms facing up, and eyes open.
18. I still get stumped once in awhile teaching Spine Twisting— there are just too many darn lefts and rights in this posture.
19. Time flies by so quickly when I’m teaching. I consider myself lucky to have a job that doesn’t feel like work.
20. I really put in the effort to know the names of my students.
21. Teaching a big class is definitely way easier than teaching a small class.
22. Here are some weird things that had slipped out of my mouth while teaching: “toes locked,” “form before death,” “grab the floor with your fingertips, don’t grab yourself,”…..
23. I literally tuck my chin to my chest whenever I say “tuck your chin to your chest.”
24. My favorite Bikram-ism: Bengal Tiger strength, English Bulldog determination. I usually say it once in Standing Head to Knee.
25. Teaching is like practicing. The more classes you teach, the easier it gets but there’s always room for improvement and growth.
26. An inspirational line that you’ll hear from me is: “invest in a little of discomfort today to kill the pain tomorrow.”
27. Teaching Pet Peeve #2 (this is probably every Bikram teacher’s pet peeve.): Students kicking their legs out in Standing Head to Knee without a locked out foundation leg.
28. I was really flattered when one of my students called me her Yoga Mom.
29. Getting up to teach a 6am class is a challenge but once I’m in the hot room it feels no different than teaching an evening class.
30. What I hate about teaching the most is having to keep up with my laundry, with practice, I easily go through 3 yoga outfits a day.
31. Thanks to caffeine, I once taught a class halfway through with heart palpations that wouldn’t go away. I was fighting to get every word out while grasping for air. One of the scariest and most challenging classes I’ve ever taught.
32. It was approximately at my 70ish class mark when I started to really enjoy and have fun with teaching.
33. I am so grateful to have such an incredible studio owner, Cathy Huntrods, who has been mentoring me all along.
34. I am grateful for the constructive feedback that my fabulous teacher-colleagues give me.
35. I am very grateful for the wonderful, inspirational, and friendly students at Bikram Yoga Winnipeg who make my job very enjoyable.
Namaste,
