Confessions of a Yoga Teacher
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I moved from Nashville to a lonely basement apartment outside of Baltimore to embark on a career as a newspaper reporter. Throughout college, I thought reporting was the perfect career for me: creative and challenging with the opportunity to change the world, one reader at a time.
It was a month or so before my college graduation that I started to question my career choice. When my friends asked me where I wanted to work post-journalism school, I was only half-joking when I’d reply, “I just want to teach yoga.” One friend in particular scoffed at me. “You spent four years in college and you’re going to waste your time being a fitness instructor?!”
Umm . . . sort of.
Well, I’m finally a yoga teacher (on paper at least), and I still think I have the opportunity to change the world. This weekend I took my final exam (I passed!) and graduated from my 200-hour teacher training program. It’s scary to think about how much I’ve grown in the last year—the last six months in particular. I’m still not sure if yoga changed me, or if it just helped me to realize I’m not who I thought I was. Either way I’m grateful.
But I digress—you probably want to know about the last weekend of festivities. The test wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be. There was a little controversy over the grading system, but everyone who attempted it passed with flying colors. The graduation was also really moving. Everyone wore white, which is customary in Indian graduations, and we bowed to our classmates as they walked past us to get their certificates. We chanted; we hugged; we ate cake. It was a delightful affair.
The downside is now I’m faced with a problem much like the one I was dealing with a year ago. What’s next? While I feel like my first teacher training was a success, I recognize I’m still not really ready to teach a regular class right away. I’ve got so much more to learn. Do I jump into teaching and try to learn as I go (which would mean learning from my inevitable mistakes), or take a more conservative route and put teaching to the back of my mind for a while as I assist more seasoned teachers? Maybe I can do both.
I still haven’t really found the teacher with whom I want to apprentice yet. I work with great teachers every day, but, for some reason, the stars haven’t aligned to present the perfect opportunity yet. I’m taking that as a sign that I’m not ready.
While being patient, however, I do have the opportunity to share my knowledge. In a couple of weeks, I’ll teach a workshop to a group of Oakland high school students for an organization that helps low-income students get into college. I can’t think of a cause that I’m more excited about, and the organization just happens to be headquartered less than half a mile away from my apartment. So it couldn’t have worked out more beautifully. In short, I’ve decided not to go sniffing around for opportunities. I trust that when the time’s right, the teaching opportunities will find me.
No matter what path I choose, I have a feeling I’ll be a teacher trainee for life!
Comments
I'm glad to hear that everything went so well during your last week. I had the duty of guarding the tests here at the Castro location for awhile - even my boss couldn't see it because she was in the training too.
I think assisting a teacher is a perfect way to keep your skills growing and to get experience in a real, teaching environment.
Posted by: Victoria E | September 15, 2006 12:32 AM
Erica,
Your mother is so very proud of you! You have grown to be a lovely young lady who will always find ways to help people! Continue to grow and be very enthusiastic about learning!
Posted by: Jama | September 20, 2006 02:44 AM
Start by making yourself available as a substitute instructor within a group of instructors you know well, or a class you feel comfortable with. That way you can control how much you teach, and when, and start to get a feel of your own technique and preferences. I don't teach yoga, but I've been teaching group fitness classes for 14 years, and that is my "best" advice to new instructors. Take your time sounding out your desires and your own style. Congratulations on graduating! I've loved following your journey!
Posted by: Jennifer | September 26, 2006 11:47 PM
Being a teacher trainee for life is the key! There is no end to the knowledge and experience of teaching and being of service!
Best of luck!
Posted by: Rina | October 1, 2006 05:06 AM
Erica, I am about to embark upon yoga teacher training this week, Iyengar style. I am really nervous, but, like you, this is something that I always wanted to do. After I graduated from college, music school, with a music education degree, coincidentally, when people asked what I was going to do with my life, I said be a yoga teacher. They looked at me and gave me the exact same response you got! It is amazing how parallel our lives are in that regard. But, now I find I am going to do both. I just got a wonderful teaching job, after two years of struggling to find a good job, and a little extra money to spend on YTT.
I am going to read over your blog thoroughly again, it has really been an eye opener. Most of my books have come in already, that I had to order for the class. My eyes are bulging at the text sitting next to my music education text books. Anatomy, sanskrit, every book by B.K.S. Iyengar (none of which are easy reads to even get past page one). But, you give me hope that following your bliss is the way.
Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you for sharing your journey! Best of luck for your future! Namaste!
Posted by: Kasey | October 4, 2006 12:11 AM
Hi Erica--congratulations!!! I have followed your entries this year with interest. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I did an intensive 200-hr teacher training program in June & July. Now I'm back home and having that same "now what?" feeling. I have two classes a week at my favorite studio, where I also practice regularly, but I'm looking for more work. I look forward to continue reading your observations as you continue your yoga journey. Have you found anything on the internet, reading material for new teachers on how to make connections/build a career, how gyms/fitness centers hire, etc? Seattle has TONS of yoga studios but those that I know of so far have a very narrow focus and I'm the first yoga teacher in Seattle out of this particular training program (it's more prevalent on the East Coast.) So basically I don't think many owners are interested in my "flavor" as far as a studio setting goes.
BTW your mom's comment on here is awesome. It almost made me cry. You're very lucky to have a supportive mom!! Thanks for writing...and reading rambling comments such as mine! best, colette
Posted by: colette | October 5, 2006 12:46 AM
Erica,
As a new teacher myself, I've really enjoyed your sharing. As far as teaching or assisting others teach goes, I think that teaching is like swimming. You learn to do it by doing it, not by watching others do it. If you know the major poses in your head and in your body, you are ready to teach. You need to find the teacher in yourself, not copy another. I hope this encourages you to GO FOR IT!
Jim
Posted by: Jim | November 7, 2006 08:37 PM