You are your own best teacher

“You are your own best teacher.” How many times have my teachers told me this? I get what they mean — but I’ve been taking a bit more literally lately. I just did my first ever video recordings for my students, to help those who can’t make my regular class times. And of course the only way to really test that they ‘work’ is to follow them myself as a student. Yes, me teaching myself!

I’m sure that now I’ve been teaching for more than 5 years I should have done this sooner. Just as I regularly video aspects of my practice to review some technical aspects, I would no doubt have found it beneficial to review my teaching technique similarly. Though I’m not sure I would have dared, to be honest! Now after more than a year of teaching by zoom I guess I’m much more comfortable in front of a camera, as well as being a year on in my teaching journey. Making some short videos didn’t really feel like a big deal. I almost enjoyed it actually… 🙂

And you know what? I had a really lovely surprise with these videos. Sure, there was the odd thing that I cringed at in retrospect, and a couple of left/right or elbow/knee slips of the tongue, but overall being taught by myself was a really lovely experience. It made sense to me of what my students always say: that they love the sound of my voice, that my teaching makes them feel safe and supported and encouraged to make their best efforts, that they enjoy my combination of seriousness with some lightness.

Huh, it turns out that maybe — after years of imposter syndrome — just maybe I’m a pretty decent yoga teacher after all. Who could have guessed it?!

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