The knowledgeable professional

As you know I packed up my life, of the previous 4 and half years and moved half way across the country. The transition I won't lie has not been easy, life has had many twists and turns, and I've had no regular schedule. I've had good days, and I've had bad. I have really noticed this time how my relationship gets challenged every time we move, as our life is no longer as secure as it once was for a short time. The busy and hectic life I once had in Toronto, I loved. It seems like forever ago that we went through the same emotions when we first landed in Canada. What moving does is challenge yourself to look deeply at what you want and who you are. 

  Everything about my life in Calgary is different. I have moved from a an established program, to coming to nothing. I left a strong team of colleagues, to nothing. I left good relationships professionally, to nothing. Yet in this short time I have learnt so much more than I did in Toronto. There I learnt off of those I worked with, although now I am challenged to explain what I do, why I am different, and because I am not in the conductive education classroom or yoga studio, maintaining that passion that I can one day make a difference, is hard. Really hard. Do I really believe all that in myself. I will continue to tell you about all the other teachers I work with, but never myself. I have learnt that words are never enough, actions speak more to keep people engaged and on your side. 

  Right now I'm a name yet I have no actions to support what I do, and I am working hard to grab my audience, but sometimes days are hard. It takes just one comment from a colleague or passerby, and my faith in my abilities is gone. I am working hard to learn a system, and each day has no routine, that sleeping at night is hard, as I continue to evaluate where I am and what I am doing. I work on a computer and occasionally get out to meetings. I get excited and high with every person I meet who works in my field; occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech pathologist, social worker, yoga teacher. Basically anyone who is just there to help make the lives of other people a more enjoyable place. Basically anyone who is passionate about what they do. To help people feel at ease with who they are and show them their own overall potential. I have met some great people along the way, this city is thriving with people offering programs galore that I can't help but worry there will be no space for me.

I'm coming to evaluate myself as a professional. I have spoken with many people and we talk of different approaches to rehabilitation or teaching. I have always been someone who is keen to learn, by being in new environments which challenge me, or by signing up and paying for a course. I learn from each and every moment, and I take time to listen to others and respect what they say. Over my career I do not resonate with all therapies or class styles, but I am conscious who I share this information with. I never want to add to a worried parents confusion, or stress out a care-giver in letting them believe they are doing something wrong. I have taken time to work with families and notice that everything they do is for the best interest of that very person that is connecting us. If they ask for my advice I give it honestly, I share why I like something, and what benefits it can bring, and share my reservations based on my beliefs or an experience I am aware of. What I am finding very challenging is that not everyone works like me or thinks like that. They are keen to watch people fail, to give reasons why not to do something or why they are different. I often hear of the differences in conductor teachers who are trained in certain places, and hear how I will never be as good as some because of where I was born, raised and chose to do my schooling. I just want them to see me and watch what I do. See that each night I plan and think extensively what the next day will bring. I have continued to learn, and develop my skills and knowledge, and it seems that although it should help, it can work against you as you break away from the system people believe they should be having. I do Ashtanga yoga, because I love it, but I'm not hooked on the idea that it is for everyone, although some Ashtanga teachers will say it. I continue to attend different classes and take extra course as I never want to be able to turn people away and say I can't help them or adapt my class enough for them. I know people who will refuse to try an Ashtanga class because the intensity of some practitioners who scare and intimidate them. It is the same with my classroom. It pains me to turn a child away because the way they learn slightly different from the rest. Whatever happened to 'I must teach the way you learn'. I work extremely hard to ensure each and every one of my students, when in yoga, tutoring or conductive education, gets the best they can. I must be versatile, I must observe what people need and I must give them my all. I owe them that. What does is matter if I use a word which doesn't fit into your system, such as the 'fundamentals' or 'principles of'. Describing my class in a way that I use set principles is a way to help you understand, what builds up the structure of my class. I'm scared to ever define my class as one set way, as people are quick to criticize what you did compared to what they already know, if they learnt the 'correct' way the first time or not. Do they even know what the correct way is? Does anyone? I have heard of practitioners who are trained in two alternate therapies and combined the two. People love it, clients excel, and there is something for a broader audience, so why to other practitioners trained in only one of those disciplines criticize so much. Is tradition getting lost, or just evolving to meet the modern world?

Watch me and you'll see that all I am trying to do, is help. I'll be honest with you, where I learnt my skills, what my teachers continue to teach me and where my opinions and thoughts stand amongst all that, and give you opportunity to express your thoughts too. I apologize in advance if my knowledge is too broad, too much, or in fact not enough in what you exactly want, but know I will continue to learn to what I believe betters myself.