Can't please everyone

One of the hardest things about teaching is not taking feedback too personally. We all hate being criticized or put down. Everyone has different takes on classes, likes different things, opinions. Which is great. If we all were in the same mind set life would be very boring wouldn't it. The trick is to extract what you need, take note and use the feedback positively.

I'm writing about this as I had some feedback last week that made me mentally say "really?" Usually students have something to say about the heat. It's the biggest hang up as a student. "Was it hotter today? What was the humidity? Oh it was really hot today!" Like a well behaved robot I usually answer with the bog standard, "It's not hot, you're hot!" or "no, no, same as usual," which it usually is, I don't like lying. 

If I think the heat is off the scale I try my best to get it back to normal, we teachers have our ways. There are some clear signs when it might be getting a little tough. I'm getting pretty clued up on the body language as to when people 'think' they need some air circulation or 'actually' do. If a student yells out "we need air" all the more reason not to give into demands - kinda like a hostage situation!!! Don't get me wrong I'm not mean or anything, I don't want people to pass out but it's not up to the student to dictate, it's part of the challenge. Mind over the matter. 

Anyway the feedback from last week. A student complained there was TOO MUCH fresh air coming in. A few weeks ago my mentor made a point in one of my classes I was killing them, no enough air & pointed out the signs to spot. This has made me very conscious of reading the signs. The energy was great, my six newbies were rocking so I wanted to keep it up therefore I may have been generous with the air. The point of the air we have here is to get the circulation going so students can breath, it does not cool the room down. If you're directly under the vent it may feel a touch chilly. No one else complained it was too cold, the students actually looked quite jolly leaving, instead of dragging their sorry selves to the car park. 

I tried not to take it too personally, you can't please everyone. It was however refreshing (excuse the pun) to not hear a feedback about the heat!!

Up on stage again

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to get on the podium again this week. I had the heads up this time so I could prepare and learn the left hand side. For those who don't know, for training we only present one side and one set of each posture. Most postures are the same for both sides but there are a few that have separate dialogue for the left.

This week I presented the whole of the Half Moon series to the 6pm Monday class. It was great that there were a few students who were in my Awkward class in again that night. 

The strangest thing that I feel I did was change my practice outfit. For the evenings that are usually hot and steamy, just the way they should be, I always wear shorts. For some reason as I knew I'd be up on the podium I wore my lightest pair of capris. I just felt I would feel more professional in capris & I'm still paranoid about my legs. I know, I know the student's should not be looking at me but boy they do. I can't believe how many people made eye contact with me. Even after the instruction to them said "concentrate one point in the mirror."

It went well, I'm comfortable with these three postures. I was still nervous. I could feel my thighs shaking! I totally mixed up my lefts and rights on the left side but kept going. My other issue was I was all but yelling at the end. I bet they were locking their knees down in Perth City the way I was screaming that bit out. The more I got into it, the louder I got. I need to learn to tone it down and pay more attention to my breath. I'm speaking a lot from the throat and not from my stomach. I'll end up with a ripper sore throat if I don't learn to do this. It'll also make the projection easier without the need to yell. 

Most of my 'out loud' practice is done in the car where I'm sitting down. I need to get more standing up out loud practice in. I've looked into some speech therapy classes and courses. Another expense I could do without right now but essential again. Just like the first aid course I've booked. We are supposed to get this in with training but the spring TT's said it didn't happen so I'm just doing it myself.

Yesterday's posture clinic went well. We had to present out in reception whilst a class was on. This helped me bring my volume down but this is where Jo picked up I wasn't breathing correctly. My throat was tight and sore as I tried to speak in hushed tones. Got to think pranayama. We're constantly telling the students to breath, us instructors need to remember to breath too and learn how to do it correctly.