If you’ve ever had to read aloud in class, give an Oral presentation at college, presented an idea or given results to the head honchos at work, you may well have experienced the dry mouth, trembling hands and wobbly voice that I get every time. I’m in the position of speaking in public, whether it be to 2 or 200 people, the feelings and sensations of fear that come over me are the same…terrifying!
So the thought of taking my first yoga class had me on edge! I was excited at the opportunity to let people know of the amazing thing in my life, the thing that helped me through injury, low times and has damn near saved my life! But having to stand there in front of all those eyes and actually explain myself, then give orders, for want of a better word, gave me the collywobbles.
My first class was a small one, room enough for six. The space was offered to me for free, so I couldn’t turn it down, great opportunity, meant to be..yadayada. I had to grow a nice tall spine and get on with it!
But how do you prepare?
I looked up advice online and spoke to other teachers, wrote out three classes, each approximately an hour long, and practiced on my nearest and dearest.
I was very nervous on the day of my first class! I spent the day telling myself, ‘Remember to breath’, ‘you know what you’re talking about’, ‘Just tell them what you know’, ‘it’ll all be fine’, etc…
I got to the class early, giving myself time to get the room ready and warm up. I sat quietly for 5 minutes and centred myself. I had a copy on one of the classes I had written out handy and I waited for my first victims…No…Yogis… Students, they’re students.
How to put a class sequence together. (What I did anyway)
- Pre chat – Injuries and illnesses – 2 Minutes
- Breathing and meditation – 5 Minutes
- Sun salutations – 5 to 10 Minutes
- Standing and balancing postures – 25 Minutes
- Floor Work – 10 Minutes
- Inversion 3 to 5 Minutes
- Savasana 5 to 10 Minutes (Depending on how long the above actually took).
60 to 70 Minutes…done J
The first student arrived 10 minutes early, so we chatted, about yoga of course, and some other stuff. The next students all arrived promptly, we greeted each other, chatted amongst ourselves and they with each other and at exactly 6:15pm (I think the 15 minutes is to tidy up from another class, just in case you were wondering), I asked my students to take off their socks and shoes (Groan) and sit crossed legged on the floor, (Groan). They did as I asked, and they looked at me, I looked at them, I looked at my notes, I wanted a pint of water, now!
Suddenly words fell from my mouth, rock your pelvis, find your sit bones, only breath through the nose, stretch your arms up, can I have a sip of your water please, thanks, look up to your fingers, come to standing, bend from the hips, deep breath in, fold, bend your knees, what’s the time, I need more time, savasana, Thanks for coming.
Did my preparation work? YES.
Did I stick to my written class? Mostly.
Has my fear of speaking to groups gone? No, but I worry about it less and less.
The best advice I can give to first time teachers is ‘Be Prepared’, just like the scouts!
- Be prepared with a written class, notes at the very least
- Be prepared for the unexpected
- Be prepared to be flexible with your written class
- Be prepared for people to behave like people do
- Be prepared to enjoy what you do
- Be prepared to receive thanks from those who come (rather than looked surprised as I did) and thank them too!
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