Substitute Teachers

This is a shout-out to all the substitute teachers and leaders who are never given the benefit of the doubt!

Substitute teachers have always been a target for students test their leadership capabilities by slacking off and misbehaving.  I thought it only happened in grades K to 12. Unfortunately, skepticism continues no matter the age of the audience. Mature students might not misbehave like an adolescent but they are usually apprehensive before trusting in the substitute's ability to lead.  The Yoga world is an excellent example of the struggle to find comfort when the official teacher is absent.

Last Friday I went to my routine Therapeutic Yoga class. The class meets three times a week and caters toward those who are working through personal injuries.  Participants tend to be retired and in the early stages of their Yoga practice.  I am somewhat of an exception because I am not retired; however, I find the class highly beneficial as I continue to work through my low back injuries.  Needless to say each participant has worked hard to trust in their instructor and in their own abilities.

As the therapeutic members arrived, many were discomforted to discover a substitute instructor. The instructor teaches at the studio but she was not familiar to the therapeutic group.  Several students left before class started because they did not want to risk injury but the other sixteen or so stayed for the experience.

The class was extra gentle and catered to the students need to progress with care. The substitute instructor had big feet to fill and she did an amazing job! She took the lead and when she noticed the unexpected increase in class size she quickly guided the students into the larger room.  The students were not happy to be moving but followed her lead.  It was re-assuring to see the instructors preparation notes and to find out that she had previewed the class earlier that week. Students would have been comforted to know that they were having a substitute instructor. At the same time it is in good practice to go with the flow and just accept change.

Subbing for a Yoga class can be super nerve racking. It is a great opportunity to meet and practice teaching a different group but jumping into an unfamiliar setting as the leader can be quite daunting.  It is best to make each student feel comfortable and confident in your guidance.  We're human and we make mistakes!

Please share your substitution experiences. I know we all have stories.

Bon soir!

Whitney :)