Day Two

Two students showed up for Yoga Basics last night!

It was not my best work because I was sincerely prepared to have no students.  I prepared the class well in advance. For some reason, I did not mentally register the idea of teaching it. I took the two students through the class but my nerves were ever so present.  Speech nightmares from grade 7 and 8 always linger when I teach in a new space.

When my first student arrived I was overwhelmed with joy! I helped her pay for the class, after successfully swiping her card! Afterwards, I made sure she had all of the props and was ready to start.  My mind was racing to remember how I wanted to start the class and all of a sudden my husband knocked on the door. He was barely on-time but I managed to find a starting point for my two students.  While in the opening moment of silence, I realized that I had positioned the class different from my class plan.  Quick thinking was needed because the class was supposed to start on the wall. Hopefully, my facial expressions did not indicate my panicked thought! Somehow my chi found balance and class begin to flow. I improvised by bringing the ballet bar to them.

Both students had very tight hamstrings. They made a great pair for teaching.  The time flew by surprisingly and I did not get to all of the planned poses.

I will let you know if my student returns because I will be surprised.

First week down- I look forward to the weeks to come!

peace & joy

Day One

Like trees, new yoga classes take time to grow : )

My class had no participants Monday night.  Satya studio anticipated a very small turnout. The holidays know how to fill someone's schedule and Monday night's New to Yoga is a new class. In a small city like Lakeland, FL, yogis must be gathered and informed. Lakeland is not NYC where 'everyone' is seeking Yoga. It is easier to get a yoga job than it is to get a yoga student. My night turned around quickly once I joined another yoga class at the studio, Core Yoga!

Tuesday night is my second scheduled class- I have one guaranteed participant, my husband ; )

Time to start recruiting because I am looking forward to teaching more classes and people!


namaste

My First New To Yoga Class

Focus: Downward facing dog

Props/ Person: 1 Strap, 2 blocks, 2 blankets, 1 chair, 2 mats 

Room Format: Mats lined-up on walls

Warm-up (10-15 mins)

• Mountain Pose w/ 1 min of silence 
• Posture awareness, weight placement, elongation of legs to crown of head
• Upward facing hands w/ gentle side stretch
• Swinging chair pose w/ arms (flowing from bent to straight knees, breath & arms flow together)
• Standing forward fold w/ bent knees (or using support of chairs)

Stretch (12-18 mins)

• Chair/wall down dog, depending on students in class
• Using wall calf stretch w/ straight & bent knees
• Lunges w/ blankets & blocks (focus on hip alignment & stretch)
• Childs Pose
• Hero Pose: Rolled-up mat between calves & hamstrings to release quad & hamstring tightness (knee injury: might refrain from pose or have everyone use a blanket and blocks for those who need them).
• Small down dog with bent knees (use props if class is trying down dog for first time

Strength/balance (4 mins)

• Tree using wall

Core (8-10 mins)

• Cat/cow & finding neutral spine.
• Boat Pose (Feet/toes on ground and working on feeling the core work through lift)

Cool-down (7-10 mins)

• Reclined on back using straps to open hamstrings (a one-legged twist)
• On back w/ bent knees: 2 part in-hale with 2 part ex-hale

Final Relaxation (5-10 mins)