Full-Time Sub?
After my first experience as a yoga sub, I couldn't wait for my next attempt. If there's one thing I love more than a perfectly aligned pose, it's a second opportunity to redeem myself after I've failed miserably. Luckily, this week the asanas AND the stars aligned for the class I was subbing. It was one of the most fun teaching experiences I'd ever had. Ever!
Unlike last week, I knew when class was scheduled to end, so I planned accordingly. Some of the students who were there to witness my not-so-great class the week before actually came back for more (so it must not have been THAT bad). As an added bonus, one of the students had brought his son with him (so a potential new client for my teen class!) Yay!
I didn't even freak out when one of the students approached me before class to tell me she was in early stages of a pregnancy. (Let me reiterate that one of the reasons I love teaching kids is that I don't really have to worry so much about such things, so it really is quite amazing that I kept my cool.) I just told her what I knew and made sure she knew to modify anything that didn't feel quite right. It ended up being completely fine and she could still do most of the class normally.
In fact, I left the class thinking about how nice it might be to be a full-time sub. Substitutes get all the great reward of teaching—the experience, the paycheck, the warm fuzzy feeling you get from knowing you're helping people. Plus, you get practice modifying for all kinds of injuries and medical conditions, and meet so many more amazing people because you're teaching in varied time slots.
I think the best reason to sub, however , may be that if you put all your energy into doing a great job teaching, you don't have to do all the constant marketing it takes to build your own student base from scratch—something that I loathe. Marketing is the regular teacher's job. As a sub, you just have to show up, do your thing, and bask in the glory! It's brilliant! Anybody need a sub?
Have any of you tested by "full-time sub" theory?




wholefoodsmarket.com
Comments
Hey Erica;
I agree about how much fun subbing is: oodles of students, end of class glow, no marketing needed. It's all good. I also really like a steady class though: regulars I look forward to seeing totally make my day.
Great blog!
Lindsey
http://joyyoga.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Lindsey | August 15, 2008 09:22 PM
I'm reading this sooo late, doubt you will see my comment Erica. Here is my flip side of sub'ing. I was working at a yoga studio, had a full roster of my own classes, when another teacher & studio owner asked me to sub while she went away to a yoga conference. I was very excited about this! Asked her any special instructions, etc..was told, no, just be yourself, teach like your own classes. BAD MISTAKE! I did, her students seemed to enjoy me.
This teacher returned and (honest, I do not mean to sound egotistical here) her students started talking about how much they liked me and the way I did things. Some dropped her class and switched to mine.
A few weeks later, I was fired via email no less. The email read: Dear Andrea, you are a great person, a great teacher, but I just don't think this is working out having you here. Love, (name).
I have never sub'd for anyone again.
Posted by: Andrea | January 29, 2009 07:24 PM