Tonight, I’ll teach the second class in my Journaling for Deeper Awareness session. It’s a small class (5) because I scheduled the lesson rather late in the evening, midweek, and people around here don't stay out past sundown. Next time, (January) I’m offering a Friday 5:30 after work class, which more people have expressed an interest in attending. Meanwhile, I'm now working with several lovely writing students who dared sign up for this first attempt to add writing to my Yoga program. The people enrolled are reflective and open to self-discovery, and I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for their participation. Last week a few people couldn’t make the first class, so tonight I will play catch up as the group finally hits it’s stride (or so I hope).  It is an absolute joy to finally be involved in writing as a teacher, though I will admit I am somewhat conscientious due to this being a new subject matter for me. I am normally so confident as a teacher, but something about teaching and not moving makes this experience different. Movement centers me and makes me feel strong. When I am sitting still and depending on academic prowess, it feels like my every weakness is winding around my leg like a boa constrictor and I have to be careful or I will trip at every turn.   

 But I plow forward, learning as I go. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to hold the class at first, because the Yoga loft is such an inviting environment – thought provoking and quiet, and the tranquility in the air is inspirational for writing in my opinion, but I ended up setting up a round table in an open space in the lobby near the tea station where I put out fruit and nuts for everyone to enjoy. It just seemed a more traditional set up for a writing class, so I bought some comfortable chairs (rather than my metal folding chairs) and tried to create a more conference type of set –up. After one lesson, I’m still not sure this is the best way to go, so I might experiment and invite the students upstairs on longue on the yoga blankets for some discussion and sharing tonight. That is one thing about teaching a class for the first time that I hate– you have to experiment and feel your way through - the necessary trial and error is bound to make the class less ideal than future sessions when you’ve had time to fine tune your systems for communicating information. Ah well, we all must start somewhere.

 Last week, the group discussion centered on the value of journal keeping, issues regarding privacy and writing honestly despite fear. We then addressed an overview of the broad spectrum of techniques available to help a writer make sense of his or her life. I especially tried to emphasize how important keeping a journal is, because while it may be a collection of private meanderings, it still impacts the world. Keeping a journal changes the way you perceive the world. It changes YOU and that means it impacts how you react to others and make choices for yourself – thus it creates change. This is the power of writing – it creates internal shifts that eventually leek out into the external world. Yep, I totally believe in writing as a path to evolution.  

 Tonight we will begin with exercises to explore the seven basic techniques used in journals to help develop self-awareness.  (Ha - If you want to know what they are, you have to sign up for my class). Anyway, rather than get too preachy here, I’ll just say I am having fun and getting a grip on the subject matter.

 The best thing about teaching is how it forces you to learn. Organizing a class and teaching a subject that you feel passionate about brings greater focus to the skill, forcing you to really consider and define what makes an effective artist.  I became a much better dancer after I became a teacher. I then became a much better teacher once I became a school director. Each level requires a deeper look into the basic elements that unearth talent and unleash potential. Hopefully, the same kind of thing will be a result of my writing classes. Already I feel myself becoming a much more organized and effective journal writer. I’ve been aware of certain journaling techniques for some time, but I didn’t really have the discipline or desire to try them. Now, I feel compelled to explore the positive and negative fallout of writing lists, profiles, unsent letters, dialogues, map of consciousness, and altered points of view etc…. Then I can teach the methods with conviction.  Meanwhile, my personal journal is not only a tool for clarifying my thoughts and feelings; it's become a deep pool of creative inspiration and ideas. Can’t complain about that.

 So, after a long stint of feeling too repressed by my frustrating life to dare put words on paper, I am writing again, learning and growing in my zest to become a better teacher. I think this is a good thing all around – for me and for the students who trust me to lead them towards opportunities to grow. I guess, time will tell, but I must say, it feels good to let my fingers fly once again.