Today I gave what I hope to be the first of many yoga class(es) in the village studio.
It's been closed (=occupied being a storage room to a local crap store, #malinvestment #fiatlogic #inefficientuseofresources) for a while, but now it's back with a vengeance! Absolutely wonderful.
I've given a few classes before—in private, at home, in friends' living room, substituting for friends' studio classes, at my teacher's studio, or my local one at home. And I've practiced cueing and sequencing a lot during my training and preparations.
Still, this was more akin to actually giving a class, in public and for money. I had told a few people about it and felt extremely excited to be back in the studio, back on the mat—until the very last moment.
I had arrived on time, got inside OK, set up candles and light, music and mats. And when I sat down to wait, terror struck me:
What if nobody shows up?
That was a new sensation. No matter how hard you work or try to excel at your craft, there's no guarantee you get rewarded by the universe.
A few minutes before set time, one person showed up. I was relieved: This wasn't a complete disaster just yet.
Then I realized...
It's gonna be so freakin awkward if we're in this big studio and it's just the two of us!
Luckily, someone else arrived a few minutes after that and I could exhale(!) in peace. Not a complete disaster, I am.
Last week I shared attending my first judo class ever (#851054). That was nice. That was wonderful—and I will certainly be back on the mat (dojo?).
And I'll definitely offer classes at my village studio again.
I ran the two students a little harder than I had intended (they seemed up for it), and when rewarding them with an extra-long savasana, I sat there looking out over the room, gently observing them, gently admiring the moment and the raging snowstorm outside. Always has been my (second) favorite thing: just look out over your students, observe what you carried them through and recognize/introspect what they are now feeling. Knowing full well that what happens in their mind and body right now is magical—just let it play out.
It's pretty wonderful, and truly an honor to be able to/privileged to do it.
Afterwards I stuck around for a while, did some arm balances and one-third of my daily pushups—a challenge, which thanks to bitcoin doing its thing, gets progressively harder and harder (#855544).
Peace out (or, I guess, namaste!)