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!!

UK here I come

Tomorrow morning in the wee hours I fly back to the UK for a super quick two week family visit. I've not been back for 18 months and not seen some people for over two years or more now. 

I am planning on getting some Bikram in whilst I'm there. It's HUGE in London, studios have popped up everywhere. However I no longer live there and will be staying about 350km north in Derbyshire. Fret not, there in Bikram in Manchester and Leicester both a leisurely 1 hour train journey away. I know this will probably take at least four whole hours out of my day but it'll be worth it. Plus those two hours on the train will be my designated dialogue study time.

I waved good bye to BYJ last night. I decided to mix up my practice and go after work for a change rather than the 5:45am. I needed the heat and humidity the extra bodies bring. The weekend classes always get the crowds and the temp so it's not like I've been cruising in the cool. Wow was it hot. The yoga bus ran me down about Fixed Firm. I did just lay there like a floppy rag doll. 


I could make excuses like I usually do but I was hydrated, well fed but that was over four hours so could have been a little low blood sugar. Standing series went well, I felt good, even got my head nearly on my knee last left side of SH2K. Then the floor killed me. I caught a glimpse of the thermometer at Spinal twist it read 43 degrees with 40% humidity. This was okay, the problem was the stale air. At no point was the fresh, clean air blasted in. It just got hotter and thicker. I felt like a bag was over my head. I didn't even want cold air con just some air movement so I wasn't breathing in a cloud. 

It wasn't just me, everyone was flagging. The group energy was so low, it wasn't a good vibe. I could barely drag myself up in the sit up. Camel was not happening. For the first time in my practice I was thought I might actually throw up, I was dry retching, I nearly bolted for the door. I have never left the room once, apart from to look after a sick student as no other staff were there. I took my own advice I'm always dolling out here, laid down, breathed and sucked it up (along with a lung full of hot cloud!) I made it and was a crumpled mess in the showers guzzling ice cold nuuns water after.

I'm figuring this is what TT will be like so I need to be ready. I need more of these challenging classes. I was knocked for six. I didn't even feel well enough to drive home so sat out in the cold air with a Powerade till it passed. I still didn't feel well this morning. I'm hoping training might have some air circulation even if it is mat melting hotness the dead, stale air was not pretty. 

Just to finish, I've not been able to reply to any comments as my comments reply box seems to be down. I'm not ignoring you all, I have things to say back but ol' blogger isn't letting me right now!!