From Student To Teacher

My day of rest and meds helped. I feel much better today! I think that I’ll be able to avoid this turning into cold/sinus infection and I am so thankful for that. I mentioned this in my last post but I haven’t been sick in a very long time (knock on wood). I think that’s pretty noteworthy when you consider that I work in a gym and that I touch people every day when I’m training/teaching yoga. I actually used to get sick pretty frequently when I was in my late teens/early 20s (like my freshman year of college when I had step throat FOUR times) so I’m loving my grown up, stronger immune system! I definitely credit a lot of it to diet and exercise.

While yesterday was a rest day from exercise, it was a lonnnnng day at work. I came in and worked for about four hours in the morning before taking a midday break and then came back from 3 p.m. until close, which is 9 p.m. Mellow Mushroom is conveniently located directly underneath the gym (dangerous!) so I ordered a Lil’ Greek Salad with grilled chicken after I taught my evening yoga class.

I had a surprise waiting on my doorstep when I arrived home. My new hair dryer! Thanks for all of your suggestions. I decided to go with the FHI Pink Nano. It was a good middle ground for quality and cost. I used it for the first time today and it dried my hair quickly and my hair stayed relatively smooth. My only complaint would be that it’s a little heavy but overall I am pleased with it!

My overnight oats weren’t very pretty this morning but they tasted great. I even convinced my 25 year old front desk guy to try them and I think he liked it. This led to him asking me about quinoa and I enthusiastically offered to make some and bring it in for him to try. I love introducing people to new foods!

I trained a client and got some work done before heading out for a yoga class and lunch. One of my students who started her personal yoga journey when I first started teaching (she was one of my first “regulars” and a true “student) just finished teacher training. She’s been subbing a few classes and I was excited to take her class today. She did a great job although she told me after class that she wasn’t feeling it and she’s questioning whether or not she really wants to teach. I can totally relate. When I first started teaching yoga it felt like the most unnatural thing in the world. I didn’t feel like myself when I was teaching class and it was really freaking hard to get the lefts and rights down. It was a wake-up call because teaching group ex had always been so easy for me. Yoga requires you to give more of yourself, you have to dig deeper and your students feel it when you do.

I’m really amazed when I look back and remember how those first few months of teaching felt compared to today. I now feel completely comfortable walking into class and being totally honest with my class about what is going on with me. I am able to really speak from a true place and it feels so different than just walking in and teaching a good, challenging class. Don’t get me wrong, I still teach “up” to my students and push them but I feel like I am in it with them now instead of simply taking them through it. The experience is totally different and it is incredibly uplifting and inspiring for me. I feel honored each and every time I have the opportunity to lead someone through a practice.

I felt so happy and proud of her when I left the studio. I came home and made a quinoa bowl. I guess talking about it earlier made me crave it. I layered baby spinach, quinoa and leftover sauteed kale, mushrooms and chicken sausage. I topped it with avocado, goat cheese, hummus and greek yogurt.

I frequently eat afternoon snacks but rarely post them. Today I had a Pink Lady apple (the best!) with Costco almond butter, which I love because it’s so soupy.

Now I’m off to lift heavy things. On the agenda for today is push press, snatches, clean and jerks and front squats. I love strength training!