Top Tips For Teaching Yoga In Schools - Tip #46: How You Show Up Matters More Than You Think

Hi there,

Welcome back to the blog!

We are in the homestretch of this school year, and I’m finding myself counting down the days until summer break. With all that’s going on - end of year activities, finalizing grades, state testing- it’s easy to get bogged down in the little things, and I find it a lot harder to stay present. I’m more stressed, and therefore more tired, which sometimes means my patience wanes.

All this is to say that it can be really hard to show up the way we want to as educators at this time of year, but it’s as important now as it ever it.

So, without further ado, I present you with this week’s tip.

Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts!

Tip #46: How You Show Up Matters More Than You Think

When my to-do list gets long, as it does at this time of year, I often get frustrated, impatient, and tired more easily, so I’m trying really hard to make time to connect to myself, get enough sleep, and find joy where I can amidst this busy time. 

Which brings me to this week’s tip: how you show up matters more than you think. 

A moment from last year stands out to me. One day, my principal sent me a Slack message saying he had been talking to one of our 7th grade students about how hard it can be to give adults feedback, and balance the positive with the constructive. This student suggested he talk to me and another teacher because both of us have “positive mindsets and give valuable feedback.”

This really hit me. Optimism doesn’t come naturally to me - I have to work really hard at it. I don’t always have a positive mindset - I’m a worrier through and through. And yet, I try to be as positive and present for my students each day as I can be. How I show up for my kids matters. The way I offer them feedback, matters. 

I never would have thought this student would think of me when it came to these two skills, and yet she did. While I tend to only remember the days when I was frustrated or offered feedback in a harsh tone because of x, y, or z reason, I have to remember that this is not my norm. 

Most of the time, I am positive with my students. And that matters, because that’s what they take away from the experience: not necessarily the words I say, but how it makes them feel. 

So, as challenging as it can be at this time of year with all that’s happening at school and in the world, let this be a reminder that how you show up matters, more than you think. What kids take away from you and their experiences with you in the classroom and on the mat, are often drastically different than what you think. How a space or person makes us feel often has a longer lasting impact than the words they say. 

Tip Takeaway: How you show up matters. Reflect on how you want to show up in your class, virtually or in person, for your students. Reflect on how you want them to feel. How will you work to cultivate this feeling in your classes? What do you want your students to remember and share with their principal? What will it take to get there?