Student teacher/new teacher experience

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi,

I am a student teacher who has taken over a friend’s class at a health club of which I am a member. My friend recomended me for the post and she is an experienced teacher and a hard act to follow. I practice my lesson at home by myself and with my husband, I also bring my own props in if I feel a particular student will need it as the club has no props. I get positive feedback from students and get asked to cover classes regulaly at other clubs.

So want is my problem you may ask? Well I expected a drop in numbers when I took over her class as it takes time for students to get used to a new teacher. Also the class always had a noise pollution problem whch I feel puts people off. They re-aranged the studios knocking 2 small studios into one and moved my studio upstairs. Unfortunaly the noise is no better. But it’s been 2 months now since I took it over and I still only have 4-5 students compared to 8-9 before I took it over. I don’t want my class to be cancelled. I feel I’d be letting my friend down as she believed in me.

What was your first teaching experiences like? Did you feel worried alot when you first started.

Ju

#2

Hello Julie,

Absolutely concerned my first 18 months of teaching. It is completely understandable how loyal you feel to the teacher who preceded you. It’s lovely.

We, as teachers of yoga, are faced with several conundrums. The one you point out is “authenticity vs. revenue”. We can only teach with integrity when we teach what we know, what is in our heart, and what we ourselves do. And that, to me, is the higher ground that IS the calling of yoga - teaching with integrity.

Then there is this powerful societal pull (which we must see since we DO live in society) that we measure our success by number of students, size of class, weight of paycheck, luster of automobile, and number of beds and baths in our home - LOL.

I personally do not… no, cannot sacrifice my teaching (that which I know of yoga) for class numbers. However it is critically important for me to look at how I teach and continually refine it, examine my ego in class and continually bring it to the heart for transformation, and evaluate the energetics and emotions that might be under the surface slightly blocking progress.

So if you are asking what to do I can offer the following.
-don’t worry (as that’s not productive) but do introspect and examine your offerings
-do the energetic work (meditation) that you learned in your teacher training
-focus on how you are moving the 5 students you DO have further toward their Self
-do not focus on students who have yet to appear; DO welcome them from deep inside
-release any attachment to the class being cancelled. You will be directed forward as you should be. And we often do not understand that until we can apply hindsight months (sometimes years) down the road.

#3

I second everything Inner Athlete said, a very very very wise response.

Don’t be too harsh on yourself, remember you are here in life to learn as much as teach. Focus on the students you have and practice gratitude every day for the opportunity you’ve received to help them on their path.

Best of luck :slight_smile:

#4

Hi,

Thank you for you wise words. I do tell myself that I should be grateful for the wonderful experience I am getting and I am, but some days I lack confidence in my self and thats when I worry the most about the future.

I actualy Like a small class as it is much more personal than a class of 15, I don’t know what the club thinks of that though. New people are joining all the time and my tutor says that sometimes it takes I while for your students to find you.

Julie

#5

I would say let the club worry about the marketing and the advertsing of the yoga and do what you do best and that is teach yoga and enjoy the experience. See it as part of the greater scheme or plan of your life and flow with it.

#6

Hi,

Thank you, Sometimes I need reminding what I know to be true.

Julie

#7

Inner Athlete is dead on. I particularly find “-focus on how you are moving the 5 students you DO have further toward their Self” as a crucial, as I move towards teaching (English literature, that is, but TEACHING, nonetheless). What one can influence and inspire in just one person can be enough to move mountains. And word of mouth is still the best means of ‘advertising’.

Keep us posted on your progress, advancements in your class, students and in yourself.

#8

Hi,

I have spoken to the manager of the club. They ARE thinking of cancelling my class, due to lack of numbers. I am pretty gutted. They have suggested that I make my class harder to encourage more bums on mats, but my regulars say they quite like a small class as they get more attention and don’t feel like just a bum on a mat. Also I have no wish to be a sheep and copy other peoples class.

Still I am off to the next training intensive on my course all next week so I will have plenty to keep me bussy.

Thank you for all your advice.

Julie

#9

hi again,

stop press. I have just spoken to the class co-ordinator and they will try to put in a class at another time. So I am not sacked yet.

Julie

#10

One door closing is another door opening.