The Last Class
November 28, 2007 by mrschili
Because my schedule at TCC is shifting next term from a Tuesday/Thursday grouping to a Monday/Wednesday scheme, I’m having to give up my Wednesday morning step class at the health club. Today is the last time I’ll teach it for the foreseeable future.
I’m going to miss the class. I really like the people who come to it regularly, and I really need the workout. I’m a little sad to have to give it up - I feel no small amount of loyalty to the club - but I know absolutely that it’s the right thing to do. My degree is in English, after all; while I enjoy teaching fitness classes, I really belong in a classroom more than I do in an aerobics studio.
I get to keep my other classes - I teach yoga on Friday mornings, a step class at 8:30 on Sunday mornings and a yoga class immediately after that - and I really ought to make an effort to go to other people’s classes, too. The fact of winter, combined with the fact of the holidays and the fact of a reduced workout schedule likely means that I will begin to expand in ways that won’t please me. Sigh.
I hope that the instructor who will be taking the class starting next week comes this morning. I want to make a big deal out of her publicly in front of the members; I think she’s going to be wonderful as leader of this class, but a lot of people are skeptical because she’s usually in front of our “Young at Heart” classes - those designed for the older set. I know for a fact, though, that this woman can cardio with the best of them - we’ve roomed together for several fitness conferences and I’ve learned from those experiences that not only is she nice all the time, she’s like the frickin’ Energizer Bunny. I want her to be well received as my replacement, and I’m going to do all I can to make sure that happens.
The other reason I want her to show up is because I have a thank you gift for her. Her taking the class so readily and with such enthusiasm made my leaving it a little easier (and it made things easier for my boss, which also makes things easier for me). I’m pleased by how not-stressful this transition seems to be, and that is due in no small part to her.
So, I’m off to work out for the last time on a Wednesday morning. From here on out, it’ll be my literature students doing the sweating…
HI, MrsChili,
I always love your posts. Teachers are teachers and they do what they love. ..we just can’t keep them from doing the right thing!
My own BEW ( Blue Eyed Wonder) is a professor at the local university (LU?), and she just loves the teaching thing. She is so good at so many things but the one thing that really floats her boat is sharing what she knows in a way that the students can understand what she is talking about. They can then question and form opinions and make decisions and defend their positions about their decisions. Critical thinking is a great gift!. Part of her job also involves working with UMass Extension and Outreach but that is also teaching in many ways. We get to meet a whole bunch of different folks, working on many levels of earth care and sensible chemical use.
Some of us go “ugh” at the prospect of chemicals but how many of us use way to many antibiotics in your homes and then wash them down the sink to the water system? Or give the kids some antibiotics for an ear infection? A lesson from my BEW. It’s always a choice.
I love that great teachers just love to teach, and make people think. It is a special gift. Many blessings on all of the teachers
I spent time tonight in my dojo with my teacher. LIfe rocks! and then we meditate ( but no chanting, just breathing).
Did she come? How did it go?