I just want to say thanks to my friend Joey for introducing me to Olympic wrestler, Clarissa Chun. It was such an amazing gift to be able to work with her.
Teaching is such a rewarding challenge, everyone learns differently. It's fun learning to "communicate" with a 3 year old who is like an information sponge; a 13 year old gamer who has already built some posture habits from 8 years of school desks; a young athlete looking for a few "tweaks" to boost performance; and a retiree with a pronounced spinal issue. What makes sense to one person is like speaking alien tongues to someone else.
In a group class, it can be even more of a mental workout: a few days ago I was teaching 2 people with chonic pain -- one was uncomfortable standing, the other was in pain sitting. So -- tada -- we did a lot of things lying down, and I also did a few exercises with one sitting and one standing, just slightly different variations on a theme.
Working one on one is where the true "therapy" exists. I can really look at what muscles are twitching, straining, or turning off. Then I can bring the client's AWARENSS as to what's going on, and explain how to "correct" that themselves. It's giving someone tools for life, to prevent pain and injuries, maintain an active and independent lifestyle as they gracefully grow older, and so forth. And it's a great adjunct to massage therapy, working with your Osteopath, Podiatrist, Chiropractor, and so forth.
Another reason why the one on one session is so effective: often we can't tell what our own bodies are doing because it's a habit, and that goes for myself as well. I benefit so much from having other teachers work me out. Working one on one also allows the client to engage in dialogue -- ask questions if they need to know, "what am I supposed to feel?" or, "what do you mean by glutes, where are my glutes?" It's not so easy or comfortable asking such questions in a group; and it's also not always comfortable getting "corrected" in a group. (So I teach the group lesson with a more general cue -- "everybody, make sure you relax the shoulders." Something like that)
Well, bringing this back full circle, I'll just conclude by saying that it's so gratifying to help people get control over their pain, helping them to gain flexibility, balance, coordination, whatever their goals are.
Aloha, from Lahela!
www.lahelafit.com
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