It has been a little over a year since I graduated teacher training and what a beautiful journey it has been! Of course like anything in life there has been moments of ups and downs, but mostly lessons learned along the way. I am still learning and consider myself a forever student, I think I will always be hungry for growth and knowledge, but now I would like to share some of my most valued lessons in hopes that it will help those that have recently graduated teacher training or future students wanting to become a teacher...this is for you!

1) Finding your voice takes time

Right after I graduated teacher training I was very nervous about teaching anyone other than my mom and close friends. I kept struggling with the fears of forgetting my sequence, mixing up right and left, or simply just freezing when all eyes were on me. All completely rational things that could happen to anyone yet, I was terrified and did not want it to happen to me. I remember going to my first audition with a whole class prepared and practiced to perfection. When I arrived I thought I would be teaching real people or at least to the interviewer but no my students were imaginary which thankfully left me more at ease. The problem arose when they did not want me to teach my whole sequence...I jumped from opening meditation to warriors, to savasana all under 5 minutes. Luckily I did fine and got the job but none of that prepared me for when I was thrown into the classroom. A week after being hired I was called to sub a class. My first class ever, a Sunday 11am, wow I was stoked but 1000% nervous. I few days before I wrote out my sequence practiced it so many times, even just saying it in the shower and then when Sunday arrived I had it ready to go. When I arrived at the gym and found the room, I walked into the room to realized the speaker did not and would not connect to my phone...meaning I was teaching solely using my voice and no music to help me out...I felt panicked and a little uneasy but once people started walking into the room I knew it was showtime, It was no longer about how I felt. I started introducing myself, dimmed the lights, and set myself up in the front of room. It was class time; I took a deep breath and began. It worked and class was good...I was relieved that my first class ever was OVER. Looking back a year later that was the hardest class I have ever had to teach, not because of anything or anyone but because of my mind. Once I kept teaching and kept practicing teaching, I started to feel comfortable. Once I was comfortable I started experimenting, then I found my likes and dislikes, what worked for me, and that is when I truly found my voice. It took 3 maybe 4 months until I felt confident about what I brought to the yoga scene. I was finally able to step into a class and teach from my heart. Now I feel comfort not only with myself but also being vulnerable with my students. My best advice to you is to trust what you learned in teaching training. Do not let your self-doubt stop you from teaching but instead keep pushing and breaking your own barriers. Once you move past the fears, doubt, you truly open yourself up to use your voice and allow the magic to happen.

2) You can't please everyone

As someone who has been a lifelong people pleaser the idea of someone not liking my class used to terrify me! I wanted everyone that walked into my class to feel wonderful, enjoy their time, and connect with me. However that was very idealistic thinking. Like life, not everyone is going to like you and click with you. If everyone likes you are you truly being yourself? This concept was really hard for me to grasp because I wanted everyone to at least like my class, and it hurt when a someone walked out or never returned. Sometimes I would think "what did I do wrong?" Eventually those feelings exhausted me and I realized that the people that are meant to connect with me, meant to be my students, will enjoy my class and keep coming back. Also it started to click with me that as a student there were teachers I did not connect with and that is okay. I then made an even bigger realization that yoga is a personal practice and everyone deserves to find a teacher they like and connect with, even if it was not me. I slowly started releasing the feelings of having to please everyone that is in the room and just taught as my authentic self. When I released that, I enjoyed teaching so much more. Now my focus has completely shifted I am beyond grateful for those students that keep coming back and stopped wondering about those that didn't.

3) Setting your class rules/expectations right away

This was something I did not do and ohhhh it was such a BIG mistake! When I started teaching a wanted to be liked, as I previously mentioned, so I wanted to go with the flow and I did not set up any class rules or boundaries, which quickly became a problem. Phones would go off and be answered during class, people would come in 20, sometimes 30 minutes late, I had people decide to stand up and change the lighting, even had a student get up and unplug my phone because she didn't like the song that was playing. I was embarrassed, outraged, and slightly hurt and for a bit could not understand what I was doing wrong that some people felt so strongly to actually take over my class. It wasn't until I sat down to journal my frustrations and cry it out that I realized I never set up clear boundaries of what I wanted and expected to be appropriate behavior in my class. Now the very challenging part came, how do I transition from being care free and everything is fine type of teacher to one that required a little bit of structure. I sought out the advice of one of my bosses who I expressed the issues of I was having...she gave me the best advice when implementing rules. She urged me to remember that I was the teacher and if anyone had a problem to say "My class, my rules". Once I heard that I felt comfortable and confident to start adding rules. Soon after, I had a little discussion at the beginning of each of my classes to express how I have been feeling and the expectations going forward. I was nervous having this conversation and setting up these fine lines to my surprise, everything was received very well and my classes have been able to move forward without an issue. I wish I would of been clear with my expectations from the beginning because it would have saved me from spending time flustered and confused. I urge you take time to think about what you'd like to happen in the classroom and express it to your students from the start!

4) Your time is valuable

As a new teacher, I wanted to share and teach yoga where ever and to who ever would let me. At the beginning I taught a lot of free classes and at places that where barely paying me. For a while this seemed okay because I felt like I was paying my dues as a new teacher but soon I realized by traveling all over town and barely making money was exhausting. I was also losing money, which was NOT okay. My urgency to teach over powered my ability to see that my time was valuable. I spent money and a lot of time earning my teaching certification and to be fair to myself I had to take a step back and know that I am worthy of being fairly compensated. I am not saying that I never teach free classes, or expect to be paid at the highest rate but something that is fair for everyone. Even if you're a brand new teacher you have knowledge and something special that only you can bring to a class so remember that and know you're VALUABLE!

5) It is okay to be open and vulnerable

After you have settled into your teaching voice it is nature for you to be very open and vulnerable when teaching. I have found this to be a beautiful part of teaching because by allowing myself to be open I have created a non-judgment space makes my students comfortable to do the same. I've shared my thoughts, realizations, readings, and even tears with my students. When given the time and space some students will open up and allow themselves to express their feelings and lives too! It has been so beautiful to share the courage of vulnerability with my some students. It has taught me the beauty of the human soul, the power of connection and makes my heart so full!

6) Do not limit yourself

This has been the hardest one and something I am still struggling with. I have felt that since I'm a fairly new yoga teacher that there are things I cannot do.... The best way to describe this feeling is imposter syndrome. I have a lot of ideas but always limit myself saying: "who am I to think I could lead this or offer that?" I have felt this way for a while and have stopped myself from doing and sharing knowledge and ideas because I felt like maybe I am not qualified enough or haven't had enough experience yet.... again the thought of Who Do I Think I Am? I very recently started to shift perspective to think that I am still fresh with a lot of ideas and hope and if i do not go for them now I never will...So I am trying! Putting myself out there in hopes that the universe will catch me, trusting myself and the value I bring to this vast yoga world.

This year of teaching has been more magical than I could have ever imagined and I have so much gratitude for all the things I have learned along the way! I hope my sharing has brought you some insight and if you have any questions I am always here for you! TRUST YOURSELF!!!!!!!

With sooo much love,

Bliss Yogi