,About six months ago, I made a decision that had a huge unexpected impact on my life. At first I didn't think it was a big deal. I had some extra time at school and found out Corepower Yoga was offering a teacher training program. Without a second thought, I was on the phone putting down my official deposit. At the time, I believed this eight week program would consist of learning a set sequence of vinyasa style poses and suddenly I'd be a yoga teacher. I was very wrong. We had three hour training sessions, three times a week. Walking into class on the first day of training, I looked in the dark room and knew absolutely no one, yet something felt right. I know this sounds super corny but it is actually true. There was a group of about 20 people seated in a circle, ranging from age 18 to 50. Everyone had unique backgrounds with different stories. One thing was evident though; everyone had a passion. This is exactly what I loved! This eight week program brought together 20 people from totally different walks life all with one common denominator, passion. Some were passionate about the practice of yoga, others the philosophy or simply for learning. Teacher training did not mean you had to graduate and go on to a life of instructing yoga. Many participated simply to expand their knowledge On this day, the leaders explained that this program would become an emotional roller coaster and that these people may become our best friends or even our bridesmaids. Surprising as it may seem, they were right. As the weeks flew by, I felt a shift from naive confidence to doubt and fear. I was overwhelmed by the sheer thought of speaking in front of a group let alone remembering all of the variations of poses and cues. I seconded guessed my decision of signing up for the program in the first place and worried about my future as an instructor. But just when I started to become frustrated, I began to gain perspective of my situation. I began to form bonds with the people around me. We even started meeting outside of training, which added a whole new dimension to our friendship. As I began to feel more comfortable in the group, teaching also started to flow more easily. Suddenly, teaching felt really fun and I looked forward to practicing in front of group. I began to gain a new sense of confidence that I noticed in my everyday life. I finally understood that yoga is a practice both on and off the mat. I felt happier and more in tune with myself. I began listening to my body more and taking better care of myself. The studio felt more like a home and the group like a family. I spent as much time as possible with them between trying out new studios and restaurants. I know this is full of cliches but once you experience it, you come to realize it is actually true. Two hundred hour yoga teacher training not only teaches you the series of poses, it teaches you about yourself. It truly is a personal journey. You learn how to express feelings and communicate in public. It helps you speak succinctly and precisely. It gives you real life skills and a new family. It teaches you to reflect on yourself and appreciate the quality relationships in your life. In summary, I would recommend this program to anyone that is even considering it. Seriously, it it has ever crossed your mind, then do it! It is worth every penny and has been one of the most life changing experiences for me. My only advice is to go in with an an open mind. Do not give up when you get frustrated because it does get better, way better, and you will not regret it. The wonderful group of individuals in my teacher training.
1 Comment
In today's society, we tend to spend many hours in front of a computer, causing our head to come forward and our shoulders to round . In fact, you are all probably hunched over a laptop or iPhone right now reading this. And I can't lie, I'm completely guilty of the same exact thing. But it is this lifestyle that makes heart or chest openers so vital in a yoga practice.
Now these are the poses we all know and love: Ustrasana (Camel Pose), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), and Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose) to name a few. These are the most vulnerable poses throughout a typical yoga class. With your shoulder's completely rolled back and head up, your heart is completely exposed. We rarely find ourselves in the position during the day so this posture may feel foreign or uncomfortable. Oftentimes, you may experience nausea or dizziness as you come out of the pose. For relief, sit back on your heals with your hands palms down on top of your knees and eyes closed. This helps to ground your body and allow your blood flow and return to normal. This series also has a great deal of benefits for the body. Heart openers increase breathing capacity in the lungs and tones the spine. They also relieve the tension or tightness in the back, neck, and shoulders. The curvature of the spine allows for increased blood circulation and stimulation to the pituitary, thyroid, and pineal glands. These poses are really fun and challenging! Play around with them and enjoy all they have to offer! |
|