Last night was my first night NOT teaching yoga on a Monday night since 7/1. When I was fresh out of yoga teacher training, I was super jazzed and driven to teach. I talked to the owners of the studio where I did YTT, and they agreed to let me teach 2 regular classes – a 75-minute beginner’s level vinyasa class on Monday night and an all-levels 60 minute vinyasa class on Wednesday mornings.
Within a couple of weeks of teaching the class, I noticed that I truly loved my 5:30AM class. I had a good energy, a good connection with my students, and I could get teaching in and done for the day bright and early. It just felt right.
My Monday night class, however, was a different story. I was tired from being at work, and I missed being at home. It made for a really long day too. I would wake up at 4:30AM, do my normal morning routine, go to work, come home, scarf down supper, head to Moline, teach, and then get home around 8:15PM. I think I have an invisible power cord, and the only plug-in is my house. I just NEED to be home quite a bit to feel relaxed and calm.
I noticed this difference in the classes almost immediately, but I powered through for a few months, continuing to teach the class. But it seemed as if life just kept getting busier and a little bit more out of control. A whole week would go by, and I wouldn’t see Tim in the evenings until Thursday or Friday. I also stopped exercising outside (running/walking), and I stopped reading and writing as much. While I had picked up a new thing that I thought I would love, I lost other things that I loved as much if not more.
So I finally took an uncomfortable step and asked the studio if someone else could take over the class or if they could cancel it. I felt super bad doing that because they had gone out on a limb with me, a new teacher, and had set up a brand new class for me. Abby was very understanding, however, and they decided to just cancel the class since attendance was not great anyway and they need another night for workshops.
Last night was my first night at home. It was bittersweet, of course, because I cannot ever just be happy or sad about anything. I must feel multiple ways about the same thing! I was happy because I came home and took a 45-minute walk in the gathering darkness along the bike path. It is warm here in Iowa for November – about 72, but I could feel winter coming in random icy breezes that blew across my face. It was so calm and beautiful on the lonely bike path. Over the past few busy months, I forgot how important to your physical and mental health it is to GET OUTSIDE and MOVE.
After the walk I came home and ate supper with Tim. He made homemade chicken & rice soup with homemade chicken stock. It was super tasty. Then we watched one episode of Seinfeld, and then I did the dishes, and then I laid down in bed to listen to this body scan meditation. I really love it, but I almost always fall asleep to it, and last night was no exception.
That probably sounds like a pretty boring evening to a lot of people, but honestly that is my idea of a perfect night – exercise, good food, time to tidy up, and then someone to talk me to sleep.
Yet I was still a little melancholy about NOT teaching. I felt bad not living up to my commitment. Also one of my students in my biweekly Saturday morning class told me she was sad to see the Monday night class go because she really enjoys my classes, and that one fit with her schedule. I am sorry to disappoint my students too!
But I made the right call, I know. I have to take time to take care of myself. I very very easily get overwhelmed, even when it is with positive stuff that I love to do. We’ll see how this simplified schedule goes and then take it from there. I think what I really need to do is get my boss to let me work 32 hours/week so that I have more time for all my interests and hobbies and learning. 🙂