Teaching a class? Kick those nerves!

I remember teaching my first few classes for doTERRA.  I was nervous.  For those of you who know me, you might be thinking, why you teach people for a living?  Yes, and when I first started doing that I was nervous too.  By my professional training I am a pilot...like the airline type.  Through family choices and airlines being a crazy world, I have chosen the path to teach the pilots to fly their business jets.  Adult learning is a little different than a childhood education.  In many ways, it can be intimidating for the instructor.  You can have very experienced individuals in a class to more of the "entry level" types.  Sometimes you are older and sometimes you are not.

After 20 plus months with doTERRA and teaching classes, I am finding quite the same thing.  Sometimes, I am teaching very experienced essential oil users and sometimes I am introducing someone for the first time.  Taking some technique from Vince Lombardi, I keep it basic for all.  He had a famous line he used on his professional football players, "Gentlemen, this is a football."  I try to keep it basic until the more complex issues come up.

I would love to say my first few classes were smooth and lit up the world but in all honesty, they were just okay and maybe even bad.  The good news is, I was teaching something I loved...the oils...to people I cared about....my friends.  They were kind and looked past my stammering.  Your friends and family will too!  They love you and will be thrilled you took the time to introduce them.  

To help any of you out there who intend on teaching classes, I thought I would give a few great tips that I have been taught by professionals and lessons I have learned.

  

First, do NOT expect perfection.  Not even after hundreds of classes.  Something is bound to happen.  You are human and humans are imperfectly perfect.  That is truly a hard statement for my little Type A, super perfectionists, always have a good landing with smiling passengers kind of personality to write.  But it is true.  Learn to laugh it off and move on, especially if the "something" is you.  Being human and showing people how they two can use and share doTERRA's oils is best done by imperfect people in my opinion.

If you must boost your sense of security, while teaching diffuse a few blends.  Citrus Bliss is always a hit but for a bigger emotional support.  I suggest two from Dr. Susan Lawton and Rebecca Hintze  In my diffuser, I have been experimenting with a few of these. I typically do 1/2/3 as my ratio of drops in the Lotus diffuser.

"I am Enough"

Vetiver, Geranium, Peppermint

"I know I am loved, important and respected."

Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Tangerine

Speaking of the Lotus diffuser, it makes a great timer.  You don't want to talk more than 1 hour.  45 minutes is best but 1 hour tops.  Guess what, that Lotus Diffuser runs for 1 hour and shuts off.  Start it when you start talking, and wrap up it up when it turns off!.  People stop learning after 50 minutes mostly due to focus issues. By stopping at 45 minutes, it gives you time i to answer questions and have some one on one time leaving the class about 2 hours total.

Here is another thing that is okay...even in the pilot world.  Someone asks you a question that you have no idea the answer.....it is okay to say, "I don't know but I will look see if I can find an answer and get back with you.  What is the best way I can get an answer back to you?"  The key here is to get an answer and follow up with that person.  It again shows you don't have to know everything thing because lets face it, you can't know everything.  And it shows that you do what you say you are going to do.  Find the answer and now you get to talk to that person again and maybe really help them in more ways than you even know.  I call that a huge win.  Your friend will appreciate that you took time to help them.  

Nerves can take over especially if you don't like public speaking.  Put your talking points on note cards.  Add in note cards that tell you to "Breathe" or "Take a sip of water".  It will slow you down and no one else knows what is on those cards but you.  

Practice Practice Practice.  Talk to yourself in the mirror.  Talk yourself through the class as you are cooking dinner.  Just practice.  It will help you to conquer nerves or at least appear that you have confidence when speaking.  

The power of positive thinking is huge as well!  Go into your class knowing that good will always come out of it.  You will introduce someone to a whole new way to look at health and wellness.  You will get to know a friend a little better.  Something good will always happen.  Everything works out for you!

And always remember.....to quote the great Lombardi again....

Got milk?

  

Breastfeeding is such a natural thing for a mother to do for her child.  No one ever tells you that being natural may not be easy.  Somehow they forget to add that caveat.  Well, I will tell you that breastfeeding can be a huge struggle.  I know, I have three wonderful kids and I struggled with my first two.  Finally, on my third I have found success.   

A little background on my struggles with breastfeeding.

I welcomed daughter #1 just about 4 years ago.  She was tiny and perfect.  I had read all the advice to use the lactation consultants in the hospital.  I requested they come to visit my room numerous times.  The nurses, although wonderful, kept telling me it would just happen and to not worry.  Well, finally the lactation consultant arrived and realized 3 days after giving birth, I was struggling.  Breastfeeding lasted 1 month.  The day I gave up, I pumped every 2 hours for 25 minutes and produced 1 whole ounce the entire day.  I was reduced to tears.

Despite the trouble, I gave it a shot with daughter #2.  This time, I requested the lactation hours after she was born and explained the trouble I had experienced with my previous attempt.  Luckily, the nurses listened.  The lactation consultant remembered me and was extremely helpful.  Even with  help and encouragement, I had to take numerous lactation supplements, eat lactation cookies, and drink mother's milk teas.  I truly loved the cookies...I won't lie!  My production was a struggle to really get going.  I had to talk myself into the "your milk is in"  and I never felt the tingle of let down.  After 3 months, we moved to formula.  No matter what I did,  I just dried up.  Frustration.

Fast forward to the week prior to delivery of my son.  I was having some contractions but they were not regular.  I thought I would give my breast pump a try to see if helped regulate them.  

I will admit, I used Clary Sage occasionally prior to my contractions.  You have to be very careful with Clary Sage during pregnancy since it can stimulate uterine contractions.  Great for labor though!  Anyway, I was 38 weeks and knew I only had one week left so I gave it a try.  1 drop on each breast rubbed with a bit of Fractionated Coconut oil.  I tried this every third day. 

To my surprise, I pumped a little over a teaspoon of colostrum on the day I had contractions.

So what is so different this time?  My doTERRA essential oils.  Specifically, Clary Sage, Fennel, Basil and Roman Chamomile. 

 

After I delivered my son, I told my husband to hand me the Clary Sage and Fennel.  1 drop of each oil on each breast once a day and it was amazing how much colostrum I made in the hospital.  A few days later, my milk really came in and I did not have to guess or talk myself into believing it.  

Today, we have been home a little over 2 weeks.  My son is over birth weight by 2 oz!  I feel the major tingle of "let down" and have even had leaking!  A few nights ago, I was curious about my production levels.  My baby boy was happily sleeping so I pumped.  I pumped over 2 oz!!!  This amount never happened with either of my girls at this point.  

To help with my sore nipples, Roman Chamomile has been a savior.  One drop on each nipple and my soreness is gone by the next feeding.  

I have made a few batches of the lactation cookies.  I am telling you...they are good even if you aren't breastfeeding.  As we have started a bit of a growth spurt, I have used Fennel to help my supply keep up.  No supplements or teas...which have lots of Fennel taste and made my baby girl very gassy.  I have also used Basil to break up the use of Fennel.  There are some cautions using Fennel too many days in a row.

I feel wonderful and confident that by using my doTERRA oils, I will be able to keep my supply going strong.  I am also not worried about taking something that could be harmful to my baby boy.  It is a great feeling as a mother to know you are doing great things for your children.