BLOG 336: MY TRICKS TO NOT FEEL NERVOUS WHEN TEACHING BIG GROUPS

I’ve been a Face Yoga Teacher for 20 years now, so I’m definitely used to speaking in public. In the first half of my career, I was teaching lots of in-person classes and appearing on TV shows, which meant speaking in front of live audiences was a daily occurrence. In the second half of my career, I’ve been more focused on teaching online, often filming on my own but reaching many more people once the videos are published.

That said, I still do some in-person teaching, and last weekend I spoke at the Verve Festival in Wiltshire. I had 100 people in my class (none of whom I knew) and an hour to present and share Face Yoga with them. Afterwards, my friend who had come along said to me, “Gosh, don’t you get nervous teaching to this many people?”

And here’s the honest truth: I don’t. But because I have worked out how not to. 

That’s not to say I don’t feel a flutter of nerves sometimes, I’m human! But I have a few tried-and-tested ways of working with those feelings so that they never overwhelm me. And there’s one major mindset shift that has carried me through over the years, which I want to share with you first.

My Biggest Tip: Be in a Place of Service

This is the most powerful thing I do to keep nerves at bay. Whenever I feel those nervous feelings creeping in, I remind myself that when I’m in a place of service, I can’t feel nervous.

Let me explain what I mean by that.

When I make the class about me, how I look, how I sound, what people might think of me, whether they like me, my ego gets involved. And that’s where nervousness thrives. The ego wants to be approved of, complimented, liked, even praised.

But when I shift my focus to what really matters, helping people, adding value, being of service, the nervousness just dissolves. Suddenly, it isn’t about me anymore. It’s about what I can offer. The ego steps aside, and my heart and soul take over.

When I teach from this place, I’m teaching with love, with purpose, with a genuine desire to give people a wonderful experience. I’m sharing my expertise and experience to help others feel good. And when I do that, there’s no space left for nerves.

Be Fully Present

Another key thing I do is make sure I’m fully present before I start teaching. If my mind is wandering elsewhere,  thinking about my to-do list or what I’m going to have for dinner, then I can’t tune into the energy of the room or teach what people really need in that moment.

So before a class, I take a few minutes for meditation or some simple breathing exercises. This brings me into the present moment, calms my body, and allows me to connect deeply with my audience right from the start.

Connect on a Human Level

When I stand in front of a group, I remind myself that I’m just a human being connecting with other human beings. We all have emotions, experiences, challenges, and joys.

When I view it this way, it creates a beautiful sense of connection, as though we’re all in this experience together. I’m not “the teacher” and they’re “the students.” We’re all sharing an hour of time, all doing something nurturing and beneficial together.

Plan – But Stay Flexible

On a practical level, I always plan my class but not too meticulously. I know which techniques I want to teach and the general flow, but I give myself the flexibility to adapt in the moment.

If we move through everything more quickly than I expected, I have some extra techniques I can add in. If time runs short, I simply leave out a few techniques.

This combination of structure and flexibility means I stay calm and confident, knowing I can respond to whatever happens in the class without panicking.

Start with Breathing

I always start my classes with a very short introduction about myself and then go straight into leading some deep breathing.

This does two things:

• It helps the audience arrive fully in the moment and relax.
• It allows me to take a few deep breaths myself so that I start teaching from a calm, grounded place.

This simple step sets the tone for the whole class.

Let the Energy Guide You

Energetically and spiritually, I allow myself to be guided. I often feel as though the words and guidance come through me rather than from me. Whether you call this God, the Universe, Spirit, Guides, Collective Consciousness or your Higher Self, it’s a beautiful flow that always feels right for the group in front of me.

This is particularly true when I guide the breathwork or intention-setting at the beginning of the class and the meditation at the end. Although I have taught these many times and have a structure in mind, I often find the words just flow in the moment, and even surprise me sometimes!

Release the Pressure to Be Perfect

One of the most freeing things I’ve learned is that I don’t need to know everything and I don’t need to be perfect.

If someone asks me a question and I don’t know the answer, it’s absolutely fine to say, “I’ll look into that and get back to you.” People don’t expect a perfect class or a perfect teacher, they just want a teacher who is passionate about what they do.

And when you love what you’re sharing, that energy becomes magnetic. People feel it, and it makes the whole class a more enjoyable and meaningful experience.

Create an Experience

Finally, I always set an intention for how I want the class to feel.

Do I want it to be relaxing? Uplifting? Energising? Inspiring? Educational?

Setting this intention helps me stay grounded and consistent throughout the class. It also ensures that participants leave feeling exactly how I hoped they would when I first planned the session.

Final Thoughts

If you ever feel nervous about teaching,  whether it’s a Face Yoga class, a presentation at work, or speaking in front of a group, I hope these tips help you.

The most important thing I can say is this: when you teach from a place of service and connection, the fear melts away. When you make it about the people you’re helping rather than about yourself, you create something so much more powerful.

So next time you feel those nerves rising, take a breath, connect to your heart, and remember: this is not about perfection. This is about sharing what you love and being of service. And that is the most beautiful thing you can do.

If you feel called to become a certified Face Yoga teacher, you can find out more here 

Quick Tips to Stay Calm When Teaching

• Focus on being of service rather than on yourself
• Take a few minutes to meditate or breathe before you start
• Connect with your audience as fellow human beings
• Plan your class but stay flexible
• Begin with deep breathing to ground everyone
• Let words and guidance flow naturally
• Release the need to be perfect, passion is what people remember
• Set an intention for the type of experience you want to create