Comments for Erika ShannonErika Shannon | Erika Shannon http://erikashannon.com New York-based dancer, choreographer, coach, and fitness professional Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:56:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Erika http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-76 Erika Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:56:53 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-76 Thanks for your comment, Tracy, and your insights! And technical difficulties are upsetting to us too, believe me! See you in class soon, I hope! Thanks for your comment, Tracy, and your insights! And technical difficulties are upsetting to us too, believe me! See you in class soon, I hope!

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Erika http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-75 Erika Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:54:22 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-75 Molly! How are you? I am with you on the texting and emailing during class. It's the one thing where I have been known lose my temper. I have blurted out: "I feel so sorry for you that you can't take 45 minutes to take care of your body and your mind without clutching your cell phone." I have also just walked up to the person, asked if they're a doctor on call, and if not, I hold out my hand for their phone and they get it back at the end of class. It helps at Equinox that there IS signage that clearly states cell phones are not permitted in class, so I know the club has my back. It's all a work in progress, and no one is perfect, but we can try to rise above! Molly! How are you? I am with you on the texting and emailing during class. It’s the one thing where I have been known lose my temper. I have blurted out: “I feel so sorry for you that you can’t take 45 minutes to take care of your body and your mind without clutching your cell phone.” I have also just walked up to the person, asked if they’re a doctor on call, and if not, I hold out my hand for their phone and they get it back at the end of class. It helps at Equinox that there IS signage that clearly states cell phones are not permitted in class, so I know the club has my back. It’s all a work in progress, and no one is perfect, but we can try to rise above!

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by natalia http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-74 natalia Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:37:28 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-74 59th st is HIGH for the bitch zone! my signal experience of this dynamic was teaching an intenSati class as a sub for a very popular kickboxing workout at 54th st, and when I asked (rhetorically) for them to focus on what they wanted for the hour, one woman yells out "how about a real workout?" she then proceeded to turn around, face the wall, and do her own workout for an hour. totally weird. decided to focus on the fact that at least my playlist must have inspired her LOL! 59th st is HIGH for the bitch zone! my signal experience of this dynamic was teaching an intenSati class as a sub for a very popular kickboxing workout at 54th st, and when I asked (rhetorically) for them to focus on what they wanted for the hour, one woman yells out “how about a real workout?” she then proceeded to turn around, face the wall, and do her own workout for an hour. totally weird. decided to focus on the fact that at least my playlist must have inspired her LOL!

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Molly http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-73 Molly Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:34:12 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-73 oh, and the never ending battle of air conditioning vs. not and music volume. Add that to the balancing act. oh, and the never ending battle of air conditioning vs. not and music volume. Add that to the balancing act.

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Molly Perch http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-72 Molly Perch Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:29:58 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-72 Ha ha. Great post Erika. I have MANY stories and am always learning from them. Sometimes, 9 plus classes a week, I forget to be patient, so thanks for the reminder. I've been known to single out texters (in the middle of class) and tell them point blank that it's RUDE, whoops. I DO think it is but reality, some people just don't see it that way in this technological age. They are so used to being attached to a phone that texting during a class is normal to them. (Just an aside, could you imagine showing up to a dance class (at let's say Alvin Ailey) late and texting during class?! WOAH, shit would go down). But not everyone has that background. The girl who I snapped at (in front of everyone last week) is a very sweet girl who really just wasn't thinking and I felt like a crazy bitch. Sigh. Sure enough, she didn't return to my class today. One day, someone received a text and yelped out with joy. I stopped the class, turned off the music and asked her if she just got engaged. Whoops, again. Sometimes, I just can't help myself and things just fly out of my mouth. I know my defensiveness stems from feeling taken for granted but it IS my job to be professional despite and handle these situations in a delicate manner and you are correct, it's not about ME. Your post really hit the nail on the head. To be a good instructor is to balance many things in that short 45 mintues/hour. People skills (especially UES), safety, cuing, positive energy, dealing with problem students (complainers, texters, drop outs, those who know your job better than you but have absolutely no idea what they are doing etc.), music, new environments, cheer leading, remembering names etc. etc. Thank you for the great pointers and reminders! Ha ha. Great post Erika. I have MANY stories and am always learning from them. Sometimes, 9 plus classes a week, I forget to be patient, so thanks for the reminder. I’ve been known to single out texters (in the middle of class) and tell them point blank that it’s RUDE, whoops. I DO think it is but reality, some people just don’t see it that way in this technological age. They are so used to being attached to a phone that texting during a class is normal to them. (Just an aside, could you imagine showing up to a dance class (at let’s say Alvin Ailey) late and texting during class?! WOAH, shit would go down). But not everyone has that background. The girl who I snapped at (in front of everyone last week) is a very sweet girl who really just wasn’t thinking and I felt like a crazy bitch. Sigh. Sure enough, she didn’t return to my class today.

One day, someone received a text and yelped out with joy. I stopped the class, turned off the music and asked her if she just got engaged. Whoops, again. Sometimes, I just can’t help myself and things just fly out of my mouth. I know my defensiveness stems from feeling taken for granted but it IS my job to be professional despite and handle these situations in a delicate manner and you are correct, it’s not about ME.

Your post really hit the nail on the head. To be a good instructor is to balance many things in that short 45 mintues/hour. People skills (especially UES), safety, cuing, positive energy, dealing with problem students (complainers, texters, drop outs, those who know your job better than you but have absolutely no idea what they are doing etc.), music, new environments, cheer leading, remembering names etc. etc.

Thank you for the great pointers and reminders!

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Tracy http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-71 Tracy Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:19:21 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-71 Thanks to your article, I feel empowered to fully embrace my 'bitch' status as an avid fitness class attendee. As a student, yes, technical difficulties are completely understandable, but they so disrupt the flow, both mentally and cardiovascularly. This includes fidgeting with volume/tempo/music changes/etc. Loud & fast for 50 minutes, then quiet & slow for a 5 minute cool down is what I wish for my class to entail. And yes, remembering names and creating a welcoming environment means so much to someone a bit shyer like myself. It's very appreciated. Darbi Worley is amazing at this. She has created what feels like a family in her class. There are days when I may not 'know' anyone else in the room, but I feel we ALL 'know' that Darbi is there to cheer us on, and that is tremendously motivating. Your words may be intended primarily for fitness instructors, but I think everyone could heed from them. Excellent article, Erika! Thanks to your article, I feel empowered to fully embrace my ‘bitch’ status as an avid fitness class attendee. As a student, yes, technical difficulties are completely understandable, but they so disrupt the flow, both mentally and cardiovascularly. This includes fidgeting with volume/tempo/music changes/etc. Loud & fast for 50 minutes, then quiet & slow for a 5 minute cool down is what I wish for my class to entail.

And yes, remembering names and creating a welcoming environment means so much to someone a bit shyer like myself. It’s very appreciated. Darbi Worley is amazing at this. She has created what feels like a family in her class. There are days when I may not ‘know’ anyone else in the room, but I feel we ALL ‘know’ that Darbi is there to cheer us on, and that is tremendously motivating.

Your words may be intended primarily for fitness instructors, but I think everyone could heed from them. Excellent article, Erika!

]]> Comment on The Art of Diplomatic Instruction, or How to Teach Bitches by Jewel http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/22/the-art-of-diplomatic-instruction-or-how-to-teach-bitches/#comment-70 Jewel Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:08:48 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1017#comment-70 100 per cent correct on this one! 100 per cent correct on this one!

]]> Comment on Full disclosure: Sometimes I’m just not feelin’ it. by Erika http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/08/full-disclosure-sometimes-im-just-not-feelin-it/#comment-64 Erika Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:40:52 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1004#comment-64 Hi Peggy! Thank you so much for this beautiful comment. Yes, the releasing part in Deep Extreme is indeed the most difficult piece for many people. It's hard to let go and exhale, especially for us New Yorkers!! Thank you for being a courageous front row warrior! You rock. Thank you for being in my class every week and giving your all. See you Wednesday! xo E Hi Peggy! Thank you so much for this beautiful comment.
Yes, the releasing part in Deep Extreme is indeed the most difficult piece for many people. It’s hard to let go and exhale, especially for us New Yorkers!! Thank you for being a courageous front row warrior! You rock.
Thank you for being in my class every week and giving your all. See you Wednesday!
xo
E

]]> Comment on Full disclosure: Sometimes I’m just not feelin’ it. by Erika http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/08/full-disclosure-sometimes-im-just-not-feelin-it/#comment-63 Erika Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:38:07 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1004#comment-63 Thank YOU Whytelyte for reading and commenting. Love you. Thank YOU Whytelyte for reading and commenting. Love you.

]]> Comment on Full disclosure: Sometimes I’m just not feelin’ it. by Erika http://erikashannon.com/2012/02/08/full-disclosure-sometimes-im-just-not-feelin-it/#comment-62 Erika Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:37:45 +0000 http://erikashannon.com/?p=1004#comment-62 Thanks Jazz! I didn't intend for tears, but if it helped spark something, then hooray for that. Love you! Thanks Jazz! I didn’t intend for tears, but if it helped spark something, then hooray for that. Love you!

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