There is no greater feeling for a teacher than finding a genuine connection with your students. Finding this connection allows you to feel the joy and excitement of the students as if you are discovering it for yourself all over again. I had that experience of finding a connection for the first time tonight as a yoga teacher. I felt energy when they felt energy. I felt strength when they felt strength. My job was only to guide them to those places, my reward being the same as theirs: health, happiness, and wellbeing.
         It was only my fifth class as a teacher, and just 2 students showed up for class, which was a “Yoga for Beginners” class. Both students were still very new to yoga, so there was a hint of excitement in the air immediately. I introduced myself and briefly shared the story of my path to yoga with them before class. I started off gently, getting them to loosen up their bodies and smile right off the bat. Once we were at ease with each other, the class almost took on the feel of a private, as I got to answer all of their questions throughout the practice and allay any worries or fears.
         As the class progressed, the ease and confidence I felt as a teacher kept climbing, and the connection was not only found, it was profound. The highlight of the class came near the end as I took the students into tripod headstand preparation. Both students were nervous after seeing me demonstrate the pose. I could feel a strong fear of putting all of their weight onto their heads entering the pose. After a few timid attempts, I encouraged them to trust themselves, and they managed to overcome their fear and briefly come into the pose. I cannot describe the feeling that washed over me as I saw their eyes light up due to the sense of accomplishment they obviously felt, because I felt it too.
         I have known deep down, at the core of my being for some time now that yoga is my path. Teaching yoga is what I am meant to do on this Earth, sharing its transformational power with others. However, while I have felt this for months, I have been following this feeling blindly, without any validation, based on faith alone. Tonight’s class brought with it that validation I have been so patiently waiting for in the form of finding a connection, and words cannot express the sense of ananda, or bliss, that I feel right now.
         When deciding on a title for this piece, I briefly considered calling it “Making a Connection,” but realized that sounds as if I am the creator of this connection, forcing it into existence. However, no matter what you do as a teacher, if the students are not feeling it, there will be no connection, because connection is a two way street. So this connection evolves naturally out of the energy of the class, thus it cannot be made, but rather found. Of course, as a teacher, I can do my best to create a conducive atmosphere, but there are never any guarantees. All I can do is continue to pour my heart and soul into my teaching, and believe that my passion will help us find that connection together.