PREPARATION
I've been up since 3:40 this morning -- my best preparation time. Quiet time before husband and dogs join me; a good time for me to read, study, meditate, plan.
Saturday mornings are a new class for me, and a bit of a challenge. My first real 'stepping out' or into the limelight (if you can call Saturday mornings 'the limelight'). They should, however, be one of the larger classes of the week. Hence, the challenge -- can I grow the class? will my presence and my teaching skills pull students in AND keep them? Scary to find out the answers.
So, preparation - as with all classes - is needed to meet the challenge.
I have a 3-ring notebook (affectionately called my lifeline), in which I store notes from past workshops and trainings. My method for notes: try to write as much as effectively possible during the training or workshop, then transcribe asap, read copiously, place in notebook, re-read. The information will percolate in; if not immediately, then after one or a few readings.
I also include in this notebook copies of evaluations (Certified Instructor feedback from class observations), my own pertinent notes picked up along the way, and notes shared with me by students who also attended the same trainings/workshops as I.
I've skimmed through the book, now for some journalling -- what will be my theme, my heart quality, my apex pose, my alignment principle(s) to emphasize, my sequence, related anecdotes. Journalling is a valuable tool -- when I do it well, classes develop and are taught with much less effort.
Noticed the trend here -- TOOLS.
Have a great weekend.
Saturday mornings are a new class for me, and a bit of a challenge. My first real 'stepping out' or into the limelight (if you can call Saturday mornings 'the limelight'). They should, however, be one of the larger classes of the week. Hence, the challenge -- can I grow the class? will my presence and my teaching skills pull students in AND keep them? Scary to find out the answers.
So, preparation - as with all classes - is needed to meet the challenge.
I have a 3-ring notebook (affectionately called my lifeline), in which I store notes from past workshops and trainings. My method for notes: try to write as much as effectively possible during the training or workshop, then transcribe asap, read copiously, place in notebook, re-read. The information will percolate in; if not immediately, then after one or a few readings.
I also include in this notebook copies of evaluations (Certified Instructor feedback from class observations), my own pertinent notes picked up along the way, and notes shared with me by students who also attended the same trainings/workshops as I.
I've skimmed through the book, now for some journalling -- what will be my theme, my heart quality, my apex pose, my alignment principle(s) to emphasize, my sequence, related anecdotes. Journalling is a valuable tool -- when I do it well, classes develop and are taught with much less effort.
Noticed the trend here -- TOOLS.
Have a great weekend.