I've almost received my 200 hr Registered Yoga Teacher certification. I just have a couple more things to do to finish up. From July 25th-August 13th, all I did was yoga. I was there from 7:30 am to 8 pm and I loved it. The funny thing is that yoga is all about finding balance in your practice/life and I guess for those 3 weeks, I wasn't balanced at all. I thought only about yoga, read only yoga, and only did yoga for my exercise, though, I loved it. And it's fun to I now feel like I'm part of this club of people who love yoga. I've decided I only think about 2 or 3 things in my life anyways -- What's my next meal? What am I doing for my workout today?
I had to do a final reflection for my training. I'm including some of it here...
I have learned that yoga is an individual practice. In contrast to a dance class, there is no back and forth movement across the floor and taking turns for your chance to do the combination. It requires concentration to focus on what your body is doing and you cannot look at other’s bodies. The movement is difficult and for this reason, nobody is perfect. Everybody has something to work on. This even playing ground is important because I do not feel it is healthy to compare yourself to others. I have always been a perfectionist, and my determination has helped me in many aspects of my life, but I am realizing how it impedes progress too. I need to have confidence in my own abilities and be content with what I am presently capable of. I know how to push myself and my body will tell me when I am ready to move on.
Yoga practice is a time to focus on your body’s needs and abilities. The meditation aspect of yoga is important to me too. I feel more grounded when practicing yoga and can think more clearly. It is also a stress reliever. Spiritually, yoga connects me to those around me and reminds me we are all God’s children.
While practicing yoga, I feel a connection between body and spirit that no other high physical activity provides. After these 3 weeks, I feel stronger. A continued yoga practice will help me keep this strength and gain more abilities. Before my teacher training, I knew I loved yoga, but it was hard for me to fit taking a class into my schedule. I fit it in whenever I could and sometimes just practiced for thirty minutes at home. I now cannot imagine taking any less than one class a week. Practice at home is fine, but it does not provide the setting that a heated yoga studio can. I will have the opportunity to teach children’s yoga, and I feel slightly ready for this. I went to a couple hours of teacher training for children and I have lots of experiencing teaching children, but I know I will have to prepare a lot and do a good amount of studying in order to feel ready. Yoga teaches calming and concentration techniques that can be so beneficial for children. I do not know when I will start teaching adult classes. I would like time to digest what I have learned and I probably need some time to settle into my new job.
I am so grateful for the experience of having completed my teacher training. It has been an amazing experience to work with the instructors and trainees to learn more about myself and yoga practice.
Doing the training was totally worth the time and money. I love yoga. Everyone should try it/do it. It provides a time to tune into what your body needs -- to connect with yourself.
