Teaching Tips from the Council

Getting ready to offer your first class - yikes?!?!

We've all been there - will they like me? What if I forget something?? I don't know what I'm doing!! 

I asked our Muse Time Council of support to share tips - what they wish they'd known before that First Class, ideas on self care, etc - here's what some of them said: 

Council of Muses

Rosie: Breathe! Deeply! This is a time the Inner Critic may arise - I wish I'd known that nervous and excited are very similar emotions...they evoke the same physiological response. 
You can choose to feel excited, and ask the inner critic to take the day off, as you have work to do. Then get centered and focused, and most of all, have fun, because you can! 

On getting students:  Rosie: I put out a "one time only offer," that covered material costs, and a small fee, and asked people to attend to help me compete my study and certification. I made a big deal of it being available for 4 places and got got rapid results.
Nadya: this first class generaily won't be that dream workshop at a destination!! For your first class, keep it simple and accessible for yourself and your students! Two for a lower price plus a materials fee is another option. 
Maria wrote that she had invited her best friends, at no charge, and later, they were excited to see her initiate book with pictures of their class and their Testimonials.

Janet: Prepare your materials to where you feel comfortable. Set your space up ahead of time, so you don't feel rushed or pressured. Let go of expectations, and trust that it will work out for the best. 
Don't feel you have to have it memorized, it's ok to have note cards and written notes to help you out. Breathe! Don't worry if you leave something out, or do a step in the "wrong" order - it's all good! 
Once you start teaching, your beloveds will be on their own path, and will get it done in their own way! Release and surrender - trust yourself (and your Muse!!) 

On Design - Rosie - For a 1 day class, I use a template. You can make up your own design, but I tend to use this one, and it's petty much lines by numbers for the face. Extend the lines to the bottom of the canvas. I started with a class designed to "Meet Your Inner Guide," and it's always around the theme of listening to your own heart. 

Rosie's Template

This is way less intimidating to those with no experience. Invite participants to choose the colors, marks and symbols they saw during the visionary journey, and the message received from their Muse. They all paint from the same design - and all come out different! 

Rosie's painting Part way through the demo

A 2 day class is a deeper exploration - the same template can be used for the face design only - I invite them to choose to orient the way they want. I found this structure very helpful when I began teaching.