breaking in a new teacher

@savypat (20216)
United States
August 13, 2010 12:45pm CST
We have a new Yoga teacher this week and I swear she has the softest voice for a teacher I've ever not heard. Our Yoga is taught to music and that plus her soft voice placed me in the first row of the class. I have been in this class for over 3 years and am one of the oldest ones in there. So I always bury myself in the middle of the class, now here I am in the first row. My first thought was everyone is looking at me, second thought they will all see how badly I do this stuff. Then I grabbed hold of that old ego stuff and told myself FORGET IT, JUST MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN, WHAT A SILLY THING YOU ARE TO THINK ANYONE CARES HOW WELL YOU DO. That did it I managed to focus and just do my thing. No one said anything after class, after all what could they say. Do you do stupid things like this to yourself? Limiting opportunities?
3 people like this
8 responses
@jands1 (835)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I certainly do. Then my rational side takes over. Mix that in with what my Grandfather taught me when I was still a child and those things go out the window. He taught me Bravado (false courage). Later on in life I learned he taught me tricks stage performers use. But those negative thoughts, while they may help us stay safe from real harm, they do hold us back in life. Luckily we are evolved rational creatures and able to say, "No. I will do this."
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
You are right the first thing you want to do is stay in the same old place where you are safe and comfortable. There have been many studies done about how important our comfort zones are to all of us.
@jands1 (835)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I agree. But I have to ask myself, "Is staying in my comfort zone the best thing, in the long run, for me?" Many times the answer is no. Sometimes we just need to push ourselves a little bit.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
14 Aug 10
You are going to be a good Yogi. In India Yoga means the methods of concentrating mind. Yogis are the saints who have the control over hole body. No doubt your soft voice mistress is a good teacher.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Here it is popular for these to just be exercise classes. But I have taken yoga that involved much more mind. That is not available to me at this time, but I miss that in this class.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
14 Aug 10
Our Yoga class sessions, in Alamo Palms RV Park in Alamo Texas have recently been broadcast to the park residents via in-house webcam. I've talked with residents who prefer to do their yoga at home while watching the class on their TV. The funny thing are those yoga members who choose to do their Yoga in an area of the hall that is out of the camera view. It appears that they are feeling inadequate at their yoga exercises and poses.(as if anyone watching from home really cares how or what they do)
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Oh I am so glad we are not being broadcast. I would hate to think that anyone would look to me for how to do yoga. I am the least skilled one in the class.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
14 Aug 10
All the time! I could kick myself when I look back at things I missed out on due to my silly self-consciousness! Having said it doesn’t feel silly at the time! It is one thing I have learned as I got older is to take a deep breath, tell myself the same things you did and get on with it. Although a little self-consciousness is normal it does get easier the more one pushes one’s self! Good on you for going ahead and doing your thing anyway, after all what anybody else thinks of you is none of your business!
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
At my age it is a bit silly to still be concerned about what people think.
1 person likes this
• Canada
13 Aug 10
Good for you for being able to be at the front of the class. Im one with a very soft and low voice. Most people ask me to speak up but I just cant, its the way I am. One of my friends is deaf lol......she has hearing aids but she says she cant hear me at all. Lucky me she can read my lips. She says I could talk against her when she's not looking at me and she wouldnt know lol. If you dont feel comfy being at the front of the class, maybe you can ask her to get a mike. Enjoy your Yoga!!
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I think I can adapt enough to not have to ask for anything special. There are many other people in the class and Yoga needs to be calm and somewhat quite.
• India
13 Aug 10
no need to think about that anyone could mind.be yourself.think one second and proceed dont look back is anyone seeing.do the best and give the best from you.no need of thinking what they feel.nothing will stop for us
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
It really was silly of me to worry but then that's human nature.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I used to be very bad about that, my self-consciousness limited me a lot. The only thing I can't do right now is public speaking--I've gotten beyond being concerned that people are looking at me and judging me with most activities. I think it's just a matter of time as your attitude adjusts itself. You should speak to your teacher but maybe she will need a mic and speaker. My mom is the same way, I have to turn up the phone to hear her and in person I'm constantly straining to hear her. She's always been that way, always will. Some people just cannot speak up!
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
As a teacher I learned a long time ago to give myself a pep talk just before I start a lecture. I tell myself that I know more then the class about what I am teaching so the best thing I can do is go and share what I know. That way I stop worrying about what they think of me and think only of my students.
@priyayogi (222)
• India
13 Aug 10
why breaking the new teacher means the don't know about me for anything so they have take some actions for seriously so avoid that thing only break the new teacher. they want know our actions are take some period. so only they are avoid that one.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Yes a new teacher does take some time to learn about the class. And since not everyone is there each time it makes it even harder for them.