people in front of me

I remember right after I finished my Yoga teacher training program back in 2007, I asked just a couple of my friends to be my “students” so I can practice teaching. I’m at my house and these are my friends and I was still so nervous that I had to have a few sips of wine to relax…

I NEVER liked speaking in public. I don’t like people looking at me. I don’t like people listening to me. I don’t like people paying attention to me. If someone looks like they’re bored or even worse they look upset while I’m talking, my nervous level goes up a few notches and it becomes an outer body experience.

I didn’t let this fear stop me from teaching, even though I considered it MANY times, because I knew “finding comfort in the discomfort” of being in front of people and speaking/teaching was an important Yoga practice of mine. Noticing the critical thoughts in my head, my self-consciousness, unnecessary perfectionism, and practicing paying less and less attention to them so I can focus on what I need to focus, which are the people in front of me.

Last week I had the opportunity to teach an actual Yoga class to actual people in person at a beautiful studio in Nipomo, CA called Yoga Shine. It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining down and the perfect amount of breeze and such welcoming attendees made the experience extra extra wonderful.

It’s been about 250 days since I taught a class in person and I didn’t notice how much I missed teaching with people in front of me, looking at me, listening to me, paying attention to me, and me paying attention to them…

I did have more than a few sips of wine, but the night before class, I promise.

Thank you Stacie and Yoga Shine for the opportunity to teach❤︎