I Am Breathing

If you recall in my first blog I said I need to do Thai Chi, Yoga , Deep breathe or something.  Well guess what? I am breathing!  I practice this every day.
I remember many years ago scuba diving.  On one particular occasion, I was on a night dive.  At one point we turned off our flashlights and just lay suspended over the ocean floor.  We were enveloped by total darkness, The only sound was that of my own breath.   It was calming and invigorating at the same time.
As you know I like to swim; I have been swimming for many years.  After a swim, my body feels more relaxed, my stiffness goes away and I feel fresh.  Over the years I have taken lessons and have joined a Masters swim program in attempts to improve my technique..  Timing and Breathing are important aspects of my stroke, but guess what?  My breathing technique is now improving my experience!.  I am now feeling that same sense of calm  and invigoration that I experienced on that dive many years ago. Now with every breath I take I use my breath for energy.  On exhalation, my arm reaches even further (or so I think)  I feel more powerful, although my time has not changed. I leave the change room feeling like I have accomplished something great.  Just Breathe!

Different Styles different messages

As I continue my journey through wellness, I have found myself thinking about the people in my life that help have supported me. Teachers, family and friends and coaches all help guide in this process.  Attending the Mane event really got me thinking about my own style in the classroom.  I  have started paying much more attention to the way I move amongst my students, role model interactions with patients and so on.
My daughter is a dancer.  she does hip hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet.  She loves them all, but struggles with one of her ballet classes

She describes her situation as feeling picked on.  She has two different teachers.  After Tuesday class, she comes home engaged, happy and thoughtful.  On her Thursday class she gets in the car with a negative energy.  It wasn't until last week that she described why she was feeling so low.
Tuesdays, my teacher  S says I am doing great.  "Today she really liked my point."  She loves me.  Then on Thursdays "I feel  really humiliated.  Ms R is always picking on me. "  It all came flooding out.  One day she put duct tape along the inside of my legs so she could watch them turn.  She didn't do that to anyone else."  Last week she took a video of me and made the entire class watch what not to do."  She continued with stories of classroom humiliation.
Now my daughters confidence is eroding and we  are both confused.  Is the first teacher giving false  praise and allowing my daughter to think that she is doing well?  I am sure that the second teacher is well intended, however singling a child out amongst others is having negative consequences.