How to Succeed In Yoga Teaching Without Really Trying

This always happens to me.

Back in '03, I had been a receptionist for almost two years (these were good times--building confidence, paying off credit card debt) and I was ready for a change. Not ready to do the heavy lifting like Revising The Resume, I did sign up for one of my alma mater's periodical "networking" evenings whereby alums who want jobs elbow each other out of the way trying to impress the few people in the room who may have a line on some open positions without spilling their drinks. Now, this is a good thing that the college puts this on, don't get me wrong, but I hate talking about myself and my career objectives with people I've just met. So it will come as no surprise that when the evening rolled around, I found a reason to be elsewhere. But since my name was on the registration list, an alum who ALSO didn't end up coming to the networking night, who is married to a guy who runs a start-up, got my name, my employer and my then job-title ("Operations Assistant"--they were looking for an Operations Manager) via the Alumni Office. She then looked up my employer's phone number, called me at work, and asked me if I wanted a job. Long story short, a few meetings later I'd landed a really good job, a step up, a job with absolutely zero bureaucracy, good money, a chance to do what I thought I really wanted to do when I grew up at the time (editing,) working with people who after three years STILL do not annoy me--not one--they are awesome. And notice...all I did to get the job...was sign up for an event I never attended. So basically, I just "put out the vibe." When people asked me how I got the job, I wanted to tell them to save time and just start banging their heads into the wall now, because I know it doesn't seem fair. Karma, people.

So, cut to present day, I've been revising my yoga resume repeatedly, enjoying my two lovely classes a week at HYL and my new 30hr a week schedule, wishing really hard for more yoga teaching jobs and not accomplishing MUCH concrete toward getting them, when on Thursday a teacher from HYL (among other studios) calls. She asks if I'd be interested in teaching at a hot yoga studio in Redmond. WOULD I?! She refers me to the woman who hires yoga teachers for that studio and another studio in Seattle. So Monday I am meeting with this yoga manager. (I have a hunch they only recently bought the Seattle one, further updates as I learn more.) Then she's taking my 8:15 at HYL. I am for sure subbing for the two studios a total of three classes in the coming week (hooray!) and if she smells what I'm cookin' on Monday night then I may have regular gigs at these studios!!! (quadruple hooray!!)

Now, once I put the phone down quit doing my happy dance, I ask myself how I got this job. The teacher from HYL, as far as I can recall, hasn't taken a class from me, just knows me and knows I'm a new teacher and I need work. So really I put forth very little effort to do this job, just right place right time or something. I am so excited, but also feel a little sheepish, like once again I got an A on the test without studying. Well, I guess that metaphor won't fit until I ace the "audition" tomorrow night. So wish me luck!

And by the way, as I have a paranoid thought process about potential yoga employers reading my blog and knowing who I am--the TITLE OF THIS POST is ironical. I try very, very hard. And I know I have a lot to learn, a mountain to climb before I am in the same weight class as the yoga teachers who inspire me. But I am competent, and I'm getting better every day. (Cue "Eye of the Tiger.")