Why I teach

A friend asked me why I teach.  As I teach A LOT of things, this was an interesting question and made me think through something I just take for granted.  I've been teaching people things for the last 28 years (and I'm only 40)!  It is a normal thing for me to learn something new and then turn around and start teaching that new skill to whoever wants to learn.  This results in my not having many things I "just do", but that's ok with me most of the time.


Back to the "why"...I teach because I love how it feels to learn.  Let's take Pilates as an example, as it's the newest learner-to-teacher experience I have.  I had given Pilates a half-hearted try (2 classes) about 4 years ago.  It didn't work for me at that time - I'm a difficult student!  Recovering from 2 back surgeries left me very weak in my core and incredibly cautious about doing anything that might cause a flare up in my back.  I'm not sure what exactly pushed me into trying it again (I blame my students), but I followed the call and signed up for a 12-class pack at Sixpax in the south loop.  That was in October.  By December I was all registered for the teacher training.  I had to!  The way Fayth taught the classes allowed me to connect with my core muscles in a way I had never experienced.  Even just going once per week I started seeing changes in how my muscles looked and, more importantly, how I used those muscles when dancing and doing other workout-type activities.  Those experiences needed to be shared with my Hip Circle Studio ladies!  It honestly didn't occur to me to find someone else to teach the classes in my space - I wanted to help women feel the changes I was feeling.


That's my "why".  I teach so I can be a part of helping others grow in the ways I've grown.  That is true for bellydance, parenting, fitness - all of it.  Coming to this realization only makes me want to teach that much more.


What do you do?  What is your "why"?