327: Working with Teaching Anxiety [Consultation Call] with Lindsay McMurray

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

327: Working with Teaching Anxiety [Consultation Call] with Lindsay McMurray

 

Description:

Anxiety about teaching yoga and not feeling confident about getting up in front of a class of students is normal. Lindsay McMurray was struggling with teaching anxiety and posted in the Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group asking for advice. This consultation call with Shannon Crow is a result of that.

 

Lindsay McMurray is a certified yoga teacher who is also trained in the Yoga for 12 Step Recovery program. She is currently gooing through her 300-hr YTT with plans to become a yoga therapist. Lindsay has been practicing yoga since she was 12 years old and has supported her through many personal challenges, including eating disorders, and drug and alcohol addictions.

 

In this consultation call, Shannon and Lindsay discuss her fear and anxiety about teaching yoga. Shannon shares from her own personal experience and offers suggestions about strategies Lindsay could try out to address those feelings. If you have ever felt nervous to teach or if you are feeling scared to put something new out into the world, this episode is for you! 

 

Key Takeaways:

[4:08] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode, Lindsay McMurray, who joins her for a consultation call.

[9:29] Lindsay posted a question in the Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group about getting confident in teaching yoga which prompted this call.

[11:54] How have things changed for Lindsay based on the comments on her post? What has she found useful?

[13:33] Shannon and Lindsay discuss her training programs and her experience in teaching during these programs.

[15:48] Lindsay shares how her past experiences, anxiety, and feelings of self-worth are tied into her ability to teach yoga.

[16:44] Shannon talks about the importance of how we support people with their mental health.

[18:25] Has there been a moment for Lindsay in her teaching career that she felt everything was working?

[20:26] Shannon invites Lindsay to reflect on what the benefits are for students walking out of her classes.

[25:03] Shannon asks Lindsay if it's possible for her to teach now and together they explore the options of what that could look like.

[28:01] There's nothing to be ashamed of with regards to feeling anxiety or feeling nervous to teach.

[28:54] Lindsay shares some insights about her anxiety around teaching yoga.

[31:19] Shannon pops in to share about an exciting free webinar by OfferingTree.

[34:11] Shannon shares something that has helped her with her teaching anxiety.

[34:46] Shannon shares about the anxiety she felt before starting the podcast and Lindsay talks about her fears about teaching at the treatment center.

[39:07] Lindsay shares her "big why" for doing this work.

[42:08] Shannon helps Lindsay put into action her plan to teach at a recovery center and reduce the amount of time she spends planning her classes.

[47:56] The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group community has been an amazing resource for Lindsay.

[53:07] Shannon shares some of her takeaways from this conversation with Lindsay.

 

Links:

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 326: Teach Yoga with Confidence with Shannon Crow

• Facebook Post about Teaching Anxiety

• Saugeen Chief Shares Optimism About Upcoming Tourism Season At Sauble Beach

• OfferingTree Webinars

• Common Mistakes on DIY Websites (and How to Avoid Them) - OfferingTree Webinar

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 284: Beyond Pronouns and Pride Month with Shannon Crow

• Previous Consultation Calls

• • 002: Reconnect With Your Yoga Practice with Nina Andic [Consultation Call]

  • 018: Get Creative with Your Yoga Cues [Consultation Call] with Brittany Alred

  • 029: Creating Your About Me Page with Trevor Parks [Consultation Call]

  • 040: Grow Your Audience with a 5-Day Challenge with Patricia Fasciotti [Consultation Call]

  • 059: Market Your Yoga Teacher Training with Ashley Hagen [Consultation Call]

  • 072: Email & Content Strategy [Consultation Call] with Kristen Boyle

  • 081: Set-Up to Teach Private Yoga [Consultation Call] with Stephanie Brunson

  • 097: Focusing In On Your Niche [Consultation Call] with Susan Hopkinson

  • 132: Marketing to Increase Private Bookings with Amanda Mays [Consultation Call]

  • 178: Tired of Social Media? [Consultation Call] with Devon Pelto

  • 198: Share Your Yoga Specialty with Megan Mulrine [Consultation Call]

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

• Pelvic Health Professionals

 

Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.

 

Quotes from this episode:

"The more I do it, the more comfortable I get." - Lindsay

 

"It sounds like you're putting a ton of pressure on yourself to deliver this perfect class." - Shannon

 

"You don't realize how much we don't tune into these sensations in our bodies in the way that we feel physically and yoga provides that." - Lindsay

 

"There's nothing to be ashamed of with regards to feeling that anxiety or feeling nervous to teach." - Shannon

 

"My best yoga class experiences are when I don't even notice the teacher, like I forget the teachers there." - Lindsay

 

"I think the power is going to be in sharing your story, in saying, here's how yoga helped me." - Shannon

 

"Keep doing just one tiny thing when things feel scary or things feel overwhelming." - Shannon

 

"It's a huge myth that you have to reinvent the wheel every time you teach a yoga class." - Shannon