Normal Does Not Always Mean Good
Without getting into any debate over the meaning of "normal" - I'll share that I'm having some measure of anxiety resuming a normal schedule, attending or hosting relatively safe normal gatherings, catching up on all the medical appointments that have been postponed. All that running around is feeling, well, NOT NORMAL and don't even get me started on how I'm frustrated to notice that traffic patterns are definitely back to their congested pre-COVID days level.
My regular job has been keeping me steadily busy throughout quarantine. With regard to my side hustle as yoga teacher however, there have been ups and downs. There were days when I taught five or six virtual classes a week, some paid, some for free to family and friends. Flash forward to today, I taught three yoga classes in the past week in addition to my (now dwindled down) two virtual a week. In fact, I had my first two-class day this past Monday - so I'm getting closer to replicating my schedule frequency pre-COVID. Yet, I'm acutely aware of how tiring it is and find myself wondering how I managed to teach every weekday, sometimes twice a day on the regular before COVID. Suffice it to say, I'm anxious to get back to teaching regularly, but there's no way I'm aiming to return to that level of intensity and frequency of teaching.
In the same way I had to get over how awkward it was to teach virtually in the beginning, I had to reacquaint myself with in-person teaching. See how repetition can be a fickle friend? The majority of the classes were held outside, so it was obviously different - in many ways. I felt awkward teaching in person for the first time in so long (at first) then energized no matter the size of the group.
For starters, I can't and don't want to demo the whole live class in person. When I tried, my microphone fell off and gave me feedback whenever I practiced utanasana (forward fold). In a live, in-person class I do the core segments and demo any tough strength moves with my class in solidarity - but walking the room, observing the other yogis, and picking up on the energy is an essential part of what makes an in-person class so special. Flip side of that, I tried teaching virtually from a single seated position when a technical glitch forced me to use my outdated laptop with no ability to position it correctly or connect to BlueTooth audio and I really hated it.
Attendance varied A LOT. My energy level did rise by a matter of degrees up the scale, if you will, corresponding to the number of bodies in the "room".
Those reasons and more, serve to convince me that the in-person yoga class experience can never be replaced. That is my opinion and as the saying goes, "change my mind" or at least try. I can't think of a reason or a way it possibly could be.
That is why people show up to an outdoor class - even though it is blazing hot outside. Even though it replicates a real-life game of "The Floor is Lava", only the floor is your yoga mat baking in the sun and the lava is the parking lot pavement. Pro-tip, bring a beach towel to line your mat. Make sure it is a light color to reflect sunlight. Avoid using a yellow towel because it might attract bees or stinging insects - but white, light blue or green are great choices.
The above are tips I never thought I would have to write. Because I thought I knew what was normal and therefore what to expect. Heck, I'd bought a portable voice amplifier in anticipation of having a regular outdoor yoga class to teach this summer. COVID took that off the table for me right quick.
What I'm getting at, is be careful about what starts feeling normal. Repetition can mimic normal very well. But just because you're used to doing something the same way all the time, does not impart normalcy meaning good onto that activity.
Remembering that everything is temporary helps us gain some distance from the repetitive nature of our new day-to-day experience. This is easier said than done, I know. It takes an approach of non-attachment. It requires us to be present in every moment that we experience. Both of those things can be challenging and might remain so for many years.
Of course, there's always yoga. Taking control of your breath and noticing how it can calm and soothe during a virtual or in-person outdoor class can help!
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