Surprise!

MY FIRST YOGA CLASS
Well, today was the day! Not the scheduled day, mind you, but the day nonetheless. I taught my first yoga class… at lululemon athletica. Found out the news yesterday and almost barfed. It was only 2 days earlier than when I thought my first yoga class would be, but it was not according to schedule, not as I envisioned, not as I planned. And neither was the class. But neither is life, and I am assuming that until I learn this lesson I will keep having reminders!

The short of it was that I was scheduled to teach the lululemon class on the 22nd- the day that I leave for Peru. Dawn informed me that she could not switch with me, leaving only Kyle to switch, and he, of course, was the first scheduled teacher for today- June 1st.

I called Jen immediately when I heard the news- 3 minutes to 4pm, Saturday May 31st- 3 minutes before the DJ Yoga Party was to begin at the Town Center. I was close to hyperventilation and near passing out. The anxiety struck like a freight train on the fast track to breakdown. I pulled it together when she promised to be there (thank goodness!) and I jumped into assisting, letting the inevitable go by the wayside for a few short hours before... ALL ABOARD! Back to jitter junction. Met with Marisa and Summer last night, and basically anyone I spoke to about the surprise yoga class told me that it was for the best, that it happened for a reason, that I would do great and that it would be no sweat.

No sweat? But we are supposed to be working out!

Lucky for me, there was sweat. Maybe even a little too much for a leisurely yoga class offered for free by lululemon. The general consensus, I believe, was that it was hard. There were 26 people there, and many beginners. A handful never having stepped onto a yoga mat before. My familiarity with giving modifications was less than honed, and I fumbled a few times. Lisa, from lululemon, even got off her mat once to help a woman who was struggling. Should have seen it, but missed it.

I said things I didn’t want to, that didn’t quite make sense even as they were spewing from my mouth. I missed opportunities to say things that I had planned oh, so eloquently. But I taught and I spoke, and I smiled. I enjoyed myself, and be they lies or not, a couple of other folks admitted to enjoying it as well. At the end, I addressed the fact that it was my first class teaching, and afterward, I had a woman come up to me and say that she never would have known it was my first class. I had a couple of people say that they had fun. I felt good.

At the end of the day, there will always be things that I will look back to and wished that I had done differently. I will wish that I resonated more with people, or that I was more present. I will wish that I was calmer and clearer. But I did it. And it was my first. And I am proud of myself, having left definite room for improvement! There’s no fun in perfection, right?

Other than Jen, there were a couple of other familiar faces- Sarah and Eddie were there, Frank came, but had to leave early. Lisa from lululemon was, obviously there, and then a couple from the studio. As for my other peeps, I knew they were there in spirit. As they always will be. I am so blessed to have this support, and I am eternally greatful. Marisa even came by early on her way to baking class to pep me up and shine her smile on my morning!

I spoke of community. I spoke of making history (being my first class). I spoke of the world being full of strangers, until you meet someone once, and then they are a friend. I played Brett Dennen’s “By and By” talking about friendship. I quipped in with some fun and tried to keep it real.

I can truly say that success is not measured by how good something is done, but the fact that you did something. In that light, today, I succeeded.

I am a yoga teacher, hear me roar.