I am a quiet person and I did not have natural public speaking skills when I began my teaching career. To become a better teacher, I integrated my yoga practice into my public speaking practice. I designed these six simple steps to help anyone become a better public speaker. If the idea of giving a presentation in front of a group of people makes your nerves start to rise, you are not alone. But know that if you practice yoga, you are capable of moving beyond your fears.
1.) Stand Proud: Stand or sit up straight, and pull your shoulders back, just as you would do in a meditation practice. This can help you look and feel more confident.
2.) Breathe and Speak from your Abdomen: When you are nervous you might be breathing shallow and sending your body into fight or flight mode. You can change this by breathing deeply and speaking from your belly. This will also make you feel centered and grounded.
3.) Hold the Acupressure point Heart 7 behind your Back: No one will know you are doing self care acupressure while you are giving your speech! H7 helps calm anxiety when you are public speaking. H7 is located on the inside of the wrist below the pisiform bone. The cover photo shows me holding this point.
4.) Believe that You are Good Enough: If you are leading a class or presenting to a group of people, most likely, someone asked you to do this presentation, so see what they see and believe you are good enough. Set aside self-doubts so that you can be a leader and come from your higher Self.
5.) Did you make a Mistake? Good, Perfect is Boring! Did you mispronounce something, just accidentally step on a box of tissues, lose your train of thought? Laugh it off and regain your focus just as you would do if you fell out of a balancing pose in yoga. When you are public speaking and you make a mistake, it makes you more relatable. If you are trying to be perfect, people will lose interest and get bored.
6.) Believe in Something Larger than Yourself: Let go of your insecurities and tap into the higher powers of the universe. When I lead a group of people in yoga or acupressure it isn't about me anymore, it is about letting life move through me so that other people can heal themselves. Just as yoga is more than a physical practice, teaching and public speaking can be more than just the words you say. Speak from your heart so that you can reach other peoples' hearts.
