This might come as a surprise to you, but it’s hard for me to accept a compliment.  This is especially true when it comes to my work.  It’s not that I don’t think I am good at what I do.  I’m personally quite proud of the career that I have made for myself.  I was only eight years old when I picked up my first deck of Tarot cards, out of curiosity.  I didn’t know that 26 years later I would be teaching people from all over the world.  I love encouraging people to realize their dreams, but sometimes it can be hard to receive the encouragement.

I was in Seattle a couple of weeks ago to do several events.  I was a bit nervous about one event in particular.  As you may recall, a few months back we gave away a free Cosmic Coaching Package on my radio show.  I was delighted to receive so many entries from all over the country, with people sharing their stories and expressing why they should receive 5 weeks of my coaching for free.  One particular entry kept lingering in my mind, and when the contest came to a close, I knew which one was the frontrunner.

Our winner, Casey from Seattle, sent in an email that just popped off the screen.  She expressed her ambivalence about her job as an administrative assistant, and mentioned her dream to become a fitness trainer.  She seemed ready to make a change and I knew that I could help.  Casey and I conducted our coaching sessions over the phone for five weeks and instantly formed a bond.  We zeroed in on some of the thought forms holding Casey back from acquiring her dream.  Casey’s progress during our journey was remarkable.  In just over five weeks she resigned from corporate America, and manifested a job managing a fitness studio.  She now teaches spin and exercise classes at Fly Fitness in Kirkland, Seattle.

Several months later Casey sent me an email, and asked if I could come to Fly Fitness to do a ‘No Sweat’ event; I happily agreed.  As the trip got closer and closer I started to get a little nervous.  Casey’s enthusiasm was so dear.  Sometimes she would post her excitement about the event on Facebook, and her comments about me and my work were so kind that they were hard for me to accept.  As a spiritual teacher, I occasionally suffer from the oh-so-irritating impostor syndrome.

“Dougall, I just got a sweet email from Casey and she would really love if you took one of her spin classes in Seattle while we are there.”
“Really?  I’m starting to get nervous about this trip.”
“Why? They are all so excited.”
“Well, what if they have created this perfect image of who they think I am?  I’m afraid I am going to disappoint them.  Part of coaching is just being present for people, but sometimes they conjure up an illusion.”
“You’re freaking out.  Just relax, it’ll be fun!”  David says.

He’s right.  The truth is that I feel the most vulnerable with anything related to physical fitness.  It seems beyond ironic, like a grand cosmic joke that the Universe would have me coach someone on becoming an expert in the fitness industry.

The morning of my event at Fly Fitness I was more nervous than usual.  I’ve been doing this for years.  But on this particular night I would be speaking to about a dozen people in a gym.  Smaller groups tend to be harder for me.  In my experience, people hesitate to laugh in smaller groups.  When I speak to a hundred or more people, the energy seems to move around more easily.

As we walked over to the gym, Casey raced out the door to come greet us.  Casey is an adorable woman, just like she is on the phone.  She has naturally flushed rosy checks and a sunny, cheerful demeanor about her.

“Hi Dougall, I am so excited for tonight!”
Casey gives me a big hug and we make our way into the studio.  There is a circle of women waiting for me.
“Are we late?”  I ask Casey.
“You’re fashionably late.” she politely replies.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I was late to anything.  Seriously, I am always early.  The last time we flew, I literally got us to the airport three hours early.  In my mind if you aren’t 15 minutes early, you’re late.  The fact that I got the time wrong reminds me of how nervous I am to be in a gym right now.  What would they think if they saw the burger and fries that I ate last night?  I knew I should have had the salad.  I’ve got burger written all over my aura.

“What kind of a psychic doesn’t know he is going to be late?” I joke to the group.

As the group laughs, I try to take my seat and find my center.  We are in a fitness studio, and all I can think of is being the overweight kid in seventh grade gym class.  I had failed gym several years in a row.  I know what you’re thinking; who fails gym?  Rather than face my fear I actually convinced a doctor to write me a note so that I could get out of gym class entirely. Now here I am, seated next to my coaching student, as well as the owner of Fly Fitness who had a reading from me in 2003!  Coincidence?  I think not.

Casey begins by telling the group about her experience with me.  Casey wells up with tears and gives the most heartfelt explanation of our work together.  By the time she is done I too am crying.  I am taking deep breaths and really trying to listen to what she is saying.  The conversation shifts to how funny it is that Casey ends up working at a gym that is owned by someone I have worked with before, Traci.

“I had a reading with Dougall in 2003, and I still have the notes!” Traci tells the group.

With that,Traci pulls out her notes from our reading and it has my really old business card stapled to the top.  She starts reading off some of the predictions I accurately made.  I can hardly hear her because I am so focused on those ugly business cards I used to have.  Who picks plain white and black bubble lettering?  When did I buy those cards?  I can’t believe she still has one.  She might be the most organized person I have ever met.

To hear this follow up from two wonderful people was so dear, so kind.  And yet I was having a hard time absorbing it.  Finally it was my turn to talk and I did what I do best,  focus on other people’s problems.  I gave a short talk and then spent the rest of the night giving mini-readings to everyone who came to the event.  When we finished I promised Casey I would come to her spin class on Saturday.

“David!  We must be on time this morning!” I snap.
“Don’t worry its right across the street.”
“Are you kidding?  We were late last time.  I can’t bear that again.  I want to be on time for her class.”

Typically when I go to the gym I like to blend into the background.  I put on my headphones and I begin my process.  Even if I am taking a class I just want the teacher to ignore me.  Don’t adjust my posture.  Don’t ask me my name.  Just let me go through the torture and get the hell out of there.  Fly Fitness is completely different.  They want to make sure that each student is taken care of and attended to.

“Just so you know, everyone knows you are here and they know how excited I am.”  Casey says with beaming eyes.

I choose my location of being right in the middle.  Normally I would pick the back row, but today the tables have turned.  My client, or student if you will, is my teacher for the next hour.  Casey’s students slowly enter the room and hop on bikes surrounding us.  You can see how much they love her by the way they talk about her.

“This is my favorite place, I’ve lost over 30 pounds.”  I hear someone tell David.

“I love this class, it’s so fun.”  The woman to my right says.

Casey skillfully adjusts my seat and hands me a bottle of water.  She then walks to the front of the class and takes her seat on a bike that is perched up on a small makeshift stage so we can see her.

Looking up at Casey I can’t tell if I am nervous or if she is nervous.  Maybe it’s both.  One thing I know for sure is how proud of her I feel.  It’s kind of magical when you think about it.  Our contest winner had a total career change, and now I was in a room taking a class lead by her.  My heart started to swell.

The music started, and the next hour was seriously the best exercise class I have ever taken in my entire life.  I’m not sure I can even limit my explanation to just an “excercise” or spin class.  Our teacher guided us through an hour with wisdom and empowerment.  Casey was so engaged with every person in that room.

“During this next minute you are going to push yourself.  Feel the power in your body.  Feel your potential.  Everyone in this room is a rock star.”

When we reached the 40 minute mark, my entire bike is covered in sweat.  My hair is floppy and there is a puddle of sweat around the bike as well.  Casey ends the class with a meditation.  My body feels exhausted, electric, alive, pure, clean and present all at the same time.  I take deep breaths and forget that I used to teach her.  I hear my teacher’s words of wisdom envelop the room.

“Give thanks to your body.  Appreciate what it does for you.”

With every affirmation she says I can’t help but wish that there was a Fly Fitness in Los Angeles.

“I know we’re sweaty, but can we take a photo?”  Casey asks.

Normally I am kind of particular about taking photos with people.  With Facebook and Twitter I know this photo will be around forever and the front of my shirt is totally soaked.  But I am so happy that I say yes.  I am so proud of her.  And it was hands down the best class I have ever taken in my life.

As a teacher, it is rare that I get to have a full circle moment with a student/client.  I teach people to work out their soul bodies and now Casey teaches people to work out their physical body while still maintaining a connection to their spiritual bodies as well.  This experience reminds me to accept encouragement and support when it presents itself.  Casey allowed me to encourage her dreams, which is easy for me.  In return, Casey encouraged my work and my physical fitness.