It's been a great few weeks in my Bikram world. I'm so in love with teaching. At last I feel like me, not some person impersonating a Bikram teacher. I am far, far, far from what I'd call a proper teacher, if there is such a thing. I'm still very much a rookie and will be for I don't know how long. There is so much to learn, I doubt one will ever stop learning in this job. Just like practice it's a life long learning curve.
I feel a lot more comfortable now and think I have carved myself a style, for now, anyway. No doubt it will evolve and change over time. I'm relaxing my voice slightly. (posh teaching voice aye H!) I'm still aware I need to speak clearly and rein back my regional accent so the students can understand me. Can't go dropping my 'h's' & using northern slang terms willy nilly ;-)
I've picked up extra classes this past month, gratitude to my colleagues that let me cover without an exchange. May is busy for me. I'm regularly teaching four classes a week, upping to five by the end of the month. Very exciting. Will mean I'll be squeezing in my practice when I can & pulling some crazy hours to get myself on my mat. Good job I'm off to Bali next week for some R & R time first. (shouldn't worry really yoga gives you energy!)
I've had some great feedback classes with my mentors and peers. They've commented it's me up there teaching now, my personality is eking through. Occasionally a joke slips out or some light airy conversation around party time. I need new jokes. "Third set of Camel!" is wearing thin. I will never stop asking "are we all having fun?!" Yoga is FUN!! One class the other week I swear I said "we love this yoga don't we," a few times too many.
Time to step things up. Like with my last post, I received new home work last week. I dived in head first and thanks to a very useful resource (gratitude to Ocean!) I'm stepping up my game plan. I won't say what I have been set, sorry, think it falls into that secret squirrel teachers only category. You'll just have to come take a class with me & find out....
Showing posts with label bikram yoga teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bikram yoga teaching. Show all posts
Friday, May 4, 2012
Kick ass, take names
Over the past few weeks/months my yoga teaching homework has been to connect with the room, i.e. the students or 'bodies' as we so fondly refer to them in teacher speak. In order to actually 'teach' a class, apposed to standing up there spewing out verbatim dialogue, you need to connect. The easiest way to do this is to say a students name. And what better way to get a name out there is to give a correction.
The next big step for a rookie teacher - step off the order of the dialogue - give a correction (still using dialogue speak) & get back on it again. It's very scary at first. Especially as I learned the dialogue by word association, linking the last word in a sentence to the next. It takes practice. (never stop learning!!) The first time I tried it I got my correction in fine & a name but then totally lost what came next in the dialogue. Totally fluffed it and said something completely weird to finish. "Get 'em out" I heard Michon's voice ring in my ears. Any which way I could!!
I've started with the postures I'm very comfortable with & those that once the students are set up correctly & in there, there is room to jiggle the words. For me it's usually the inversions. Haha, if I start to fluff the students can't see my panic stricken face! Also when they are upside down I can sneak a look at my name cheat sheet. At check in the students I don't know I try to learn their names. By writing them down no less, with a quick note of how to identify them. Like white headband, blue Lulu top, red mat etc. you get the idea. I always write down first timers, say their name once at the start to check where they are, then leave them be. Not good to be barking out newbies name first class. Then I congratulate each by name at the end for surviving. Padahasana is a good one for me to check in who's who in the first set, glancing at my sheet putting names to bodies. Unless someone needs help setting up after things kick off then that comes first.
I'm getting there slowly. My BYJ 5:45am's rock for names. Students filter in slowly so I have time to 'stalk' them and get a good look at who is who. I know most of them anyway from practicing with them for the past two years. Scarborough is a little more challenging as once they check in they're gone. The waiting areas are either upstairs or round the corner, out of sight. I teach the busy classes there so often people fly through & I don't even see them properly if I've got half an eye on the computer or writing a sale down. Answer to that, get my butt down there to practice more often. Get familiar with people by standing by them & mingling before/after class.
The next big step for a rookie teacher - step off the order of the dialogue - give a correction (still using dialogue speak) & get back on it again. It's very scary at first. Especially as I learned the dialogue by word association, linking the last word in a sentence to the next. It takes practice. (never stop learning!!) The first time I tried it I got my correction in fine & a name but then totally lost what came next in the dialogue. Totally fluffed it and said something completely weird to finish. "Get 'em out" I heard Michon's voice ring in my ears. Any which way I could!!
I've started with the postures I'm very comfortable with & those that once the students are set up correctly & in there, there is room to jiggle the words. For me it's usually the inversions. Haha, if I start to fluff the students can't see my panic stricken face! Also when they are upside down I can sneak a look at my name cheat sheet. At check in the students I don't know I try to learn their names. By writing them down no less, with a quick note of how to identify them. Like white headband, blue Lulu top, red mat etc. you get the idea. I always write down first timers, say their name once at the start to check where they are, then leave them be. Not good to be barking out newbies name first class. Then I congratulate each by name at the end for surviving. Padahasana is a good one for me to check in who's who in the first set, glancing at my sheet putting names to bodies. Unless someone needs help setting up after things kick off then that comes first.
I'm getting there slowly. My BYJ 5:45am's rock for names. Students filter in slowly so I have time to 'stalk' them and get a good look at who is who. I know most of them anyway from practicing with them for the past two years. Scarborough is a little more challenging as once they check in they're gone. The waiting areas are either upstairs or round the corner, out of sight. I teach the busy classes there so often people fly through & I don't even see them properly if I've got half an eye on the computer or writing a sale down. Answer to that, get my butt down there to practice more often. Get familiar with people by standing by them & mingling before/after class.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
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!!
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!!
Hot Yoga Girl hits 100
Fellow BYTT Fall 11 graduate the Hot Yoga Girl posted this awesome piece on 35 things about teaching 100 classes. All the way through I was nodding and saying "me too!" Everyone teaches a different class, as we are all unique personalities. The core (the dialogue) is the same every time but we all inject something a little different. It was a pleasure to read this, I feel so proud of my TT buddies, we've all come so far from that first delivery of Half Moon last September, now we are teachers!
Friday, March 23, 2012
For Future Teachers
It's just three weeks away now Spring 2012 Teacher Training. That has come around quick. Perth is being represented by four students this time. Three from North/South Perth and one from our very own Scarborough Beach.
I would say from my observations a lot of people go to TT to change their lives. Most are stuck in a job they hate, usually a corporate one. By becoming a yoga teacher gives them an International ticket to teach the Bikram series any where in the world. It is the best job in the world. Assisting in healing broken bodies and screw loose minds. It's very rewarding.
It is also very scary the thought of giving up a solid, weekly salary with benefits & go into the unknown realm of teaching. Will I be good enough, will studios hire me, how will I make ends meet? Endless questions. Like with all jobs of passion some sacrifices have to be made. At the end of the day what you make of it is what you'll get.
Me personally didn't want to give up my corporate job, I like what I do as a day job very much. Plus I like having my finances secure. If I hated my job then I would get out, even if it meant taking a huge pay cut. I've done it before, I can live like a povo if needs be. My teaching learning curve is probably a lot slower than most but I had a good solid dialogue foundation to start with & great mentors to show me the way. I get three regular, consistent classes to teach & have kept up my personal practice. (not as much as I'd like!) I do feel a little behind my peers who are all reaching their 100 class mark, I'm still around 50 ish, lost count! Quality not quantity hey, hahahaha!
For those who want to become full time teachers take a read of the two posts from The Dancing J. J has made teaching full time work for her and has never been happier. It goes to show you can make it work both ways.
I would say from my observations a lot of people go to TT to change their lives. Most are stuck in a job they hate, usually a corporate one. By becoming a yoga teacher gives them an International ticket to teach the Bikram series any where in the world. It is the best job in the world. Assisting in healing broken bodies and screw loose minds. It's very rewarding.
It is also very scary the thought of giving up a solid, weekly salary with benefits & go into the unknown realm of teaching. Will I be good enough, will studios hire me, how will I make ends meet? Endless questions. Like with all jobs of passion some sacrifices have to be made. At the end of the day what you make of it is what you'll get.
Me personally didn't want to give up my corporate job, I like what I do as a day job very much. Plus I like having my finances secure. If I hated my job then I would get out, even if it meant taking a huge pay cut. I've done it before, I can live like a povo if needs be. My teaching learning curve is probably a lot slower than most but I had a good solid dialogue foundation to start with & great mentors to show me the way. I get three regular, consistent classes to teach & have kept up my personal practice. (not as much as I'd like!) I do feel a little behind my peers who are all reaching their 100 class mark, I'm still around 50 ish, lost count! Quality not quantity hey, hahahaha!
For those who want to become full time teachers take a read of the two posts from The Dancing J. J has made teaching full time work for her and has never been happier. It goes to show you can make it work both ways.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Training Buddies Reunited
I keep banging on about how wonderful TT is for bringing me together with a HUGE international family of teachers. This week that theory was cemented for sure. My training buddy Lucy B flew over from the UK to visit Perth for a family wedding. It was touch & go whether we'd make our schedules co ordinate but we did it!!
Lucy was offered a last minute class at BYSB at a perfect time for me to go along and practice. It was only polite I take the afternoon off work so we could have a lovely lunch and gossipy catch up at the new Wild Fig in Scarborough. Over chicken salad and very delicious desserts we chewed the fat about the past four months and what has been going on in our teaching careers.
It was awesome. We are at the same point in our teaching, taught more than 50, less than 100 classes. We both teaching 3/4 a week so may not be as far ahead as our full time colleagues. Lucy's been on the road a lot getting as much experience teaching at different studios around the South of England.
Her class was awesome! I've never smiled so much in the hot room. It was so Lucy. Her bubbly, bold personality shined through like a bright light. She didn't give us a inch (but lots of fresh air!) in a calm, funny and professional manner. It's such a privilege to share an experience like TT and come full circle & take a fellow graduates class.
Such a great way to spend an afternoon. It was a perfect Perth day, by the beach, with lots of yoga related fun & a spin round Lululemon. I can't believe it had been four months since we last saw each other, felt like just yesterday. It's so true what they say, Bikram teachers are bonded for life :-)
Lucy was offered a last minute class at BYSB at a perfect time for me to go along and practice. It was only polite I take the afternoon off work so we could have a lovely lunch and gossipy catch up at the new Wild Fig in Scarborough. Over chicken salad and very delicious desserts we chewed the fat about the past four months and what has been going on in our teaching careers.
It was awesome. We are at the same point in our teaching, taught more than 50, less than 100 classes. We both teaching 3/4 a week so may not be as far ahead as our full time colleagues. Lucy's been on the road a lot getting as much experience teaching at different studios around the South of England.
Her class was awesome! I've never smiled so much in the hot room. It was so Lucy. Her bubbly, bold personality shined through like a bright light. She didn't give us a inch (but lots of fresh air!) in a calm, funny and professional manner. It's such a privilege to share an experience like TT and come full circle & take a fellow graduates class.
Such a great way to spend an afternoon. It was a perfect Perth day, by the beach, with lots of yoga related fun & a spin round Lululemon. I can't believe it had been four months since we last saw each other, felt like just yesterday. It's so true what they say, Bikram teachers are bonded for life :-)
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| Lucy outside BYSB before class |
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| Ready for action at reception! |
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Madness Goodness
This week started with a nice long public holiday weekend & a migraine. Super! Left me with a migraine hangover that lasted nearly all week. Lots of water & less sugar. In an ideal world I would have spent a day in a dark room sleeping it off but that wasn't a option. I soldiered on.
The title of this blog is spot on, after a slow, sickly start to the week it turned mad but in a good way. I taught Sunday, Monday & Tuesday which was great I don't usually get consecutive days. Wednesday off but I practiced. Then taught my usual Thursday night class.
I'd heard one of my dear friends and colleagues was sick, sore throat, fever, cough = not good for teaching. I casually offered to cover her 5:45am on Friday morning. This broke my rule of not teaching an early after a late. (Only because I still have to do 8 hours in the office day job) I got the text as I was getting home at 10pm. Quick re order, grabbed some clothes for the next day (in the dark as The Man was sleeping), threw together my bag, lunch food & was all ready to go.
Five hours sleep & some Energy Tea off I went. Class was great. Everyone arrived under ten minutes before kick off, total of about 14 students. I was worried no one would turn up! Finished on time, everyone was showered & out the door so I could do the same with an extra five minutes to spare. Usually when I teach I can't get parking at the station & have to park at my friends house & walk down. Not today! I got parked. Bonus. Day job was nice and stress free. Not much going on & some down time to get some in house work finally finished.
About lunch time I got a text from another instructor who needed cover for the 6pm at Scarbs. Usually I can't teach 6pm, especially at the beach, as I wouldn't get there on time but as it was Friday and work was quiet & managed to get off a little early and cover the class. Unfortunately I had to wear my teaching clothes from the morning that had been festering in my hot car all day. Gross!!! Stinky, wet tops are not nice.
Pulled it off, taught a good class, I wasn't flagging as I thought I might. I had left my teaching notes at Joondy that morning so was without anything interesting to read out in savasana so let them be in silence which was probably fitting.
The night didn't end there. I hot wheeled it down to Cottesloe Beach for a drinks party with the other instructors. One is leaving full time teaching to get a city job in order to stay in Australia a while longer. Really fun, great to get to know the girls on a personal level. Instructors come and go at top speed, the way of the gypsy traveling teacher. The teachers we have now are sticking around a while which gives us chance to get to know each other. You never know we might end up on the same coast again, building global friendships.
Finally making it home at 1am. Grand total of 20 waking hours. I have no idea how I did it. I even woke up on Saturday morning feeling quite chipper. Must be the Full Moon working in my favour this month!
The title of this blog is spot on, after a slow, sickly start to the week it turned mad but in a good way. I taught Sunday, Monday & Tuesday which was great I don't usually get consecutive days. Wednesday off but I practiced. Then taught my usual Thursday night class.
I'd heard one of my dear friends and colleagues was sick, sore throat, fever, cough = not good for teaching. I casually offered to cover her 5:45am on Friday morning. This broke my rule of not teaching an early after a late. (Only because I still have to do 8 hours in the office day job) I got the text as I was getting home at 10pm. Quick re order, grabbed some clothes for the next day (in the dark as The Man was sleeping), threw together my bag, lunch food & was all ready to go.
Five hours sleep & some Energy Tea off I went. Class was great. Everyone arrived under ten minutes before kick off, total of about 14 students. I was worried no one would turn up! Finished on time, everyone was showered & out the door so I could do the same with an extra five minutes to spare. Usually when I teach I can't get parking at the station & have to park at my friends house & walk down. Not today! I got parked. Bonus. Day job was nice and stress free. Not much going on & some down time to get some in house work finally finished.
About lunch time I got a text from another instructor who needed cover for the 6pm at Scarbs. Usually I can't teach 6pm, especially at the beach, as I wouldn't get there on time but as it was Friday and work was quiet & managed to get off a little early and cover the class. Unfortunately I had to wear my teaching clothes from the morning that had been festering in my hot car all day. Gross!!! Stinky, wet tops are not nice.
Pulled it off, taught a good class, I wasn't flagging as I thought I might. I had left my teaching notes at Joondy that morning so was without anything interesting to read out in savasana so let them be in silence which was probably fitting.
The night didn't end there. I hot wheeled it down to Cottesloe Beach for a drinks party with the other instructors. One is leaving full time teaching to get a city job in order to stay in Australia a while longer. Really fun, great to get to know the girls on a personal level. Instructors come and go at top speed, the way of the gypsy traveling teacher. The teachers we have now are sticking around a while which gives us chance to get to know each other. You never know we might end up on the same coast again, building global friendships.
Finally making it home at 1am. Grand total of 20 waking hours. I have no idea how I did it. I even woke up on Saturday morning feeling quite chipper. Must be the Full Moon working in my favour this month!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Happy Sunday!
A day off. Luxury. I'm planning on practicing this arvo but for now I'm taking it easy. Paper work has been done, a banana bread baked, time for some writing.
Day job wasn't so frantic last week but it was still busy with no down time to get small bits & pieces done. The past two Thursday's I've pulled 17 hour days to get everything in. I originally said I wouldn't practice the 5:45am if I was teaching in the evening but I have been left with no choice but to do this in order to get my own mat time in. It wasn't so bad, the adrenalin kicks in the moment I step up onto the podium & last Thursday was probably one of the best classes I've taught. I do wake up Friday morning feeling wrecked with a yoga hangover but hey it's Friday I can drag myself through 8 hours of day job before it's wine & the weekend.
Yesterday was a great day, again long, I was out the house 14 straight hours with my day starting at 5:30am. I opted to cover the 7:30am class which was awesome. I practiced the 9:30am in which I was a little tired, tight, scattered but I needed it. This was followed by a teachers workshop. Very exciting getting everyone together to talk yoga. We went through Pranayama breathing & Triangle in the two hours. So much to talk about. We shared our experiences, read the dialogue, pin pointed the common mistakes & how to correct them. Very, very useful. We are going to do this once a months now which is great.
After the workshop I hot footed it down to Scarborough to meet with a future Spring Trainee to run some dialogue. I was blessed enough to be given a lot of support before my training experience so now it is my turn to give back. It went well, I was very impressed. It reminded me of how we were when we first started doing dialogue and how far we've come since last May.
To round off the day I taught the 4pm class. I received some lovely feedback from a student who said it was the most enjoyable class he'd taken in ages. Cool. I also got some very valuable feedback from a fellow teacher. I need to start teaching now. Sounds weird I know. I had my assessment with my mentor last week who said I'm ready to start making corrections. The teacher yesterday pretty much told me the same, to use the dialogue to actually teach & correct.
Spewing out a verbatim class every time won't progress myself or the students. Now I need to start focusing on the students more, teaching the words & not just 'saying' them. It will mean having to cut out some words to focus on the words that are important to the common mistakes. Homework!! I am aware of the mistakes student's make but have been too scared to say anything. In the workshop yesterday we touched on this. Simply by repeating a line in the dialogue until they get it, ie. "sit down more, sit down more, sit down more." I also need to slow down & give students a chance to actually digest the words that are being said. Incorporating a pause I was told will help, even though it might feel like an age to me, to the student a pause in air time will give them chance to think about what they are hearing.
Very exciting times, this job just keeps getting better & better!!
Day job wasn't so frantic last week but it was still busy with no down time to get small bits & pieces done. The past two Thursday's I've pulled 17 hour days to get everything in. I originally said I wouldn't practice the 5:45am if I was teaching in the evening but I have been left with no choice but to do this in order to get my own mat time in. It wasn't so bad, the adrenalin kicks in the moment I step up onto the podium & last Thursday was probably one of the best classes I've taught. I do wake up Friday morning feeling wrecked with a yoga hangover but hey it's Friday I can drag myself through 8 hours of day job before it's wine & the weekend.
Yesterday was a great day, again long, I was out the house 14 straight hours with my day starting at 5:30am. I opted to cover the 7:30am class which was awesome. I practiced the 9:30am in which I was a little tired, tight, scattered but I needed it. This was followed by a teachers workshop. Very exciting getting everyone together to talk yoga. We went through Pranayama breathing & Triangle in the two hours. So much to talk about. We shared our experiences, read the dialogue, pin pointed the common mistakes & how to correct them. Very, very useful. We are going to do this once a months now which is great.
After the workshop I hot footed it down to Scarborough to meet with a future Spring Trainee to run some dialogue. I was blessed enough to be given a lot of support before my training experience so now it is my turn to give back. It went well, I was very impressed. It reminded me of how we were when we first started doing dialogue and how far we've come since last May.
To round off the day I taught the 4pm class. I received some lovely feedback from a student who said it was the most enjoyable class he'd taken in ages. Cool. I also got some very valuable feedback from a fellow teacher. I need to start teaching now. Sounds weird I know. I had my assessment with my mentor last week who said I'm ready to start making corrections. The teacher yesterday pretty much told me the same, to use the dialogue to actually teach & correct.
Spewing out a verbatim class every time won't progress myself or the students. Now I need to start focusing on the students more, teaching the words & not just 'saying' them. It will mean having to cut out some words to focus on the words that are important to the common mistakes. Homework!! I am aware of the mistakes student's make but have been too scared to say anything. In the workshop yesterday we touched on this. Simply by repeating a line in the dialogue until they get it, ie. "sit down more, sit down more, sit down more." I also need to slow down & give students a chance to actually digest the words that are being said. Incorporating a pause I was told will help, even though it might feel like an age to me, to the student a pause in air time will give them chance to think about what they are hearing.
Very exciting times, this job just keeps getting better & better!!
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| Fresh sunflowers from our garden |
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| Buddha with his Sunday offerings |
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Wunder Unders!
A rather nice perk of being a yoga industry professional (still sounds weird, I am in the yoga profession!) is being part of the Lululemon research and development team. That doesn't sound very perky but the 15% discount is. All I have to do is submit three reviews a year on products I buy at Lulu.
I decided to get the ball rolling and give myself a Christmas treat of a lovely pair of Astro Wunder Unders to teach in. I can hear my yoga friends screaming "you don't need any more yoga clothes!" I know, I know but this stuff is all tax deductible now right & discounted. I also need to be comfortable when I teach, look tidy and well presented. Big emphasis at training on this. I hear Michon saying "would you teach in that?" whilst staring at a scabby t-shirt or ratty singlet. Some of my capris I took to training are a little tatty now, they've been round the block a bit as they weren't new before training. Excuses, excuses, I always have to justify things. Sod it, have money will spend it on new work clothes!!!
I took them for a test drive this morning, teamed with one of the new bandeau LaLa land tops I bought in LA. (I bought the all black pair so they will team with any top) Owww they were awesome, great fit, I wasn't pulling them up or adjusting them. I could get on with teaching without worrying I was flashing my students. The dipped waist band is really flattering too and doesn't sit too high. The material is light and very breathable. Wunderfull!!
I decided to get the ball rolling and give myself a Christmas treat of a lovely pair of Astro Wunder Unders to teach in. I can hear my yoga friends screaming "you don't need any more yoga clothes!" I know, I know but this stuff is all tax deductible now right & discounted. I also need to be comfortable when I teach, look tidy and well presented. Big emphasis at training on this. I hear Michon saying "would you teach in that?" whilst staring at a scabby t-shirt or ratty singlet. Some of my capris I took to training are a little tatty now, they've been round the block a bit as they weren't new before training. Excuses, excuses, I always have to justify things. Sod it, have money will spend it on new work clothes!!!
I took them for a test drive this morning, teamed with one of the new bandeau LaLa land tops I bought in LA. (I bought the all black pair so they will team with any top) Owww they were awesome, great fit, I wasn't pulling them up or adjusting them. I could get on with teaching without worrying I was flashing my students. The dipped waist band is really flattering too and doesn't sit too high. The material is light and very breathable. Wunderfull!!
How long are you here for?
This is the question I was asked over the weekend after one of my classes. In reply; "I'm here permanently, I live in Perth." Okay have I confused some of you, hands up? Here in the Perth Bikram community we have a steady stream of traveling teachers passing through. It's probably one of the main draw cards in doing this job. Travel, teach, see the world. I'm not ready to pack up & hit the road just yet, I feel like I've only just laid down a foundation here in Australia after leaving my mother land England seven years ago to, well, hit the road.
That is why I have been asked a few times how long I'm staying in Perth because I have a British accent. Kinda throws people. They hear a foreign accent and assume you're a traveler. I am an Australian citizen so I can stay forever but I'm holding onto my accent thanks!
Anyways, I was well received when I delivered my answer of I'm here to stay. Slowly, slowly there we have it I'm building a student teacher bond. Already I have had first timers in my class who have returned for a second, third class with me. Sometimes it's scary when people ask when I'm next teaching, are they planning on avoiding me?! But when they do return to my class with a smile & stop for a chat it's a nice part of the job. I don't just want to be the voice who pushes them to work hard to lock the knee, I'm a real person, who's nice & approachable, ready to answer any questions the best I can. Just ask the student who got me on my favourite subject electrolytes...good job he wasn't in a rush to leave!
That is why I have been asked a few times how long I'm staying in Perth because I have a British accent. Kinda throws people. They hear a foreign accent and assume you're a traveler. I am an Australian citizen so I can stay forever but I'm holding onto my accent thanks!
Anyways, I was well received when I delivered my answer of I'm here to stay. Slowly, slowly there we have it I'm building a student teacher bond. Already I have had first timers in my class who have returned for a second, third class with me. Sometimes it's scary when people ask when I'm next teaching, are they planning on avoiding me?! But when they do return to my class with a smile & stop for a chat it's a nice part of the job. I don't just want to be the voice who pushes them to work hard to lock the knee, I'm a real person, who's nice & approachable, ready to answer any questions the best I can. Just ask the student who got me on my favourite subject electrolytes...good job he wasn't in a rush to leave!
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