Good teachers are life changing – at least in my life they are.
I feel it’s about the encouragement yes. But a truly life changing teacher somehow has the ability to kick your ass when you need it too.
I have been privileged to cross paths with some really awesome teachers.
The first one who comes to mind was a yoga teacher named Kathleen. Kathleen had an unruffled poise that I wanted for myself. After several years of yoga class with Kathleen I had tried out a wheel pose and a crow pose and lots of others I didn’t know I could tackle all without injury to my body.
Possibly the most influential teacher in my life so far is Dave – a swimming coach who in addition to his regular training squads ran an amazing sqad to teach adults how to swim properly. Dave taught me to do tumbleturns and butterfly, to make my freestyle functional, my backstroke without banana arms, He tried hard to teach me breaststroke. Dave wished for a grenade to throw in the pool and speed me up. He also told me I was smart. I don’t even know if he meant it but the idea that I might be smart changed my life. I swam, I started to paint again, I won a prize and sold my painting, I won another prize, I started standing up for myself a little. When I fled the relationship that had broken me lessons with Dave were lost but they had started the ball rolling. I still swim but with no threat of grenades it is very steady.
Living remotely I have been very grateful for online art classes with Kathy Ellem.The online format pretty much limits any chance for Kathy to kick my butt but I have found it inspiring and motivating to watch her share all the knowledge she has accumulated. Kathy also somehow maintains an enthusiasm and pursuit of further knowledge that I find pretty cool.
And most recently I think I have lucked into a community led by another teacher who has commitment and vision.
Hannah teaches dancing. It is changing my life. Salsa, Bachata – very cool – I want badly to be better at them. Transformational dance – eye opening – my world expanded as I realized how restricted my body had been.
All these legends seem to share an absolute dedication to their chosen field and a hellavu skill. A strong sense of community.
Perhaps they too have lived lives that took different paths.
I have learnt to value the times when I am lucky enough to cross paths with such powerful people.