my feelers were hurt...
Thursday, July 29, 2010 and then I got over it.
I started teaching yoga at gyms and I still teach at gyms. Since it is "gym" yoga it is met with a certain amount of skepticism. I've had curious people come in, give it a shot, and decide it is not for them. I've had people give me very strange looks. And, I've had people who are totally squirmy, uncomfortable with savasana because they have no idea what is going on (even after I've explained it, savasana is hard).
I like teaching in a gym because I think a lot of people get exposed to yoga who would never, ever step foot in a yoga studio. I get all types at the gym. Body builders. Teenagers. Pregnant women. Football players. It certainly presents a teaching challenge to balance a class for all of those different people.
But, you know that when someone walks into your studio class that they are committed to it. They have sought you out, made the trek down. It might be their first studio class, but they are invested in it.
You don't really get that at a gym.
Last night at the gym I had two students walk out. They walked out before we even made it to down dog. Ouch. Of all the weird stuff I've seen at the gym this is a first for me. It really stung.
My feelers were hurt and I was actually embarrassed for myself.
I wavered among different thoughts. Yoga isn't for everyone. They weren't ready for it. It isn't a big deal. How freaking rude. If they think yoga is sissy, I could kick their ass in a class. Shit, I'm forgetting the students who are still here. Let it go, let it go, let it go...
"Well, they didn't last long! Good thing they left before savasana when shit started to get real weird!"
I got a laugh out of that. And, I had two very grateful students to have me to themselves for an hour. I got a lot of questions and gave a lot of personal attention (something else that is rare in a packed gym class).
Reader Comments (3)
I have been teaching at a gym for three months. My feelings are all over the place about it. Ultimately, it is not my preferred way to teach, but there are a lot of benefits. I still haven't had people walk out, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. It would be hard not to take it personally, but I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong. : )
Honestly it's happened to all of us. It's horrible, but it's life. And you handled it brilliantly. Really brilliantly - I'm going to remember that joke for the next time it happens to me xx
Yeah, it's sucky when people walk out or don't come back. It started to happen more for me when I began to really find 'my' style.
But you know what?
It's GREAT. Because otherwise? Those people are clogging up your space, blocking YOUR PEOPLE from coming in.
Oh yes. Engery transaction all the way, baby.