Teaching and Nerves

Tomorrow night I teach my first yoga class at the community college.  I am almost ready.  My blankets, blocks, straps, and extra mats are packed.  I've got a playlist set up on my iPod, and my speaker dock is charging, just in case I can't find a convenient place to plug it in.  I've found a nice grounding meditation to start with, and a clever quote from Thoreau about heaven being under your feet.  I've got a sign for the door to remind the students to leave their shoes outside and to turn their cell phones off.  The college called to confirm, and to let me know I have eleven students, which is more than I expected.  All I have to do is finish packing up and put it all in the car.

Oh, and at some point I have to figure out what I'm going to teach. 

I have some idea of the poses I want to work on during the first class.  I want to focus on grounding, and setting up a strong foundation for the nine weeks to come.  And I can wing it if I need to.  We learned in yoga teacher training to have a theme, so the class has some structure, but to let the poses flow based on the energy in the room.  "Trust the guru to speak through you," our teacher told us when we were nervous about teaching without a plan.  I've had plenty of practice, both during teacher training and being asked to substitute teach at the last minute.  Not knowing what I want to teach shouldn't worry me, but my stomach is in a knot.

I guess I have to admit that I'm nervous.  I usually don't get nervous before teaching a class, but this time is different.  It is outside the studio where I did my teacher training, and away from the students I know.  The regulars at the studio are a very supportive bunch, and always had kind words after I taught a class.  They knew I was learning, and were right there with the positive feedback.  I appreciate the loving energy they brought to class.

Tomorrow I meet eleven people, and have to bring them the same energy the studio regulars brought me.  I have to get them to trust me.  I don't know what music they like, or what their limitations are, or how much yoga they know.  I have to find out, and I won't have my teacher standing in the wings to help me if I falter.  I have to trust myself, and the guru, to give them a good class. 

I'm sure once I'm through the first class, everything will be fine.  All I have to do is breathe in, and breathe out, and open my heart to these people who believe I can teach them yoga.  Piece of cake, right?