A year ago as we were getting ready for our UK vacation I was also making plans for my professional future. After 30 years of doing yoga, and 5 years teaching yoga in gyms I was itching for more yoga knowledge. Was it time to stop pretending at being a yoga teacher and put some time (and money) into actually doing my 200 hour yoga certification?
Yoga teacher training
Having looked at my options I settled on the 9 month program with Jeni Winterburn at Yoga Nook. Not only was it 5 minutes from my house, but I knew 2 of the teaching faculty already and Jeni, like me, is a British born yogi living and working in California. Plus because Jeni focuses her yoga on anatomy and physiology, like me she’s an anatomy junkie, her teaching is based on yoga for YOU. All that combined with an holistic approach to yoga, and the fact that Jeni and Jessica from our faculty both had similar stories to mine (group fitness/personal training wanting to be a yoga teacher). Seemed like it was meant to be right? After taking our vacation to think it over I came home and laid out my deposit to do my 200 hour training. Yikes! In a matter of weeks of signing up, after an 18 month hiatus of teaching yoga classes, I was offered 2 classes at Gold’s Gym. Karma baby!
For the last 10 months I’ve been engrossed in yoga. Reading, studying, learning sanskrit, practicing and living yoga. Sounds cliche to say, because everything I read about yoga training is “oh it changed my life”, but it really does. My training was a weekend every 5 weeks which made it accessible for those of us with jobs/families. As much as I’d love to go to India at a retreat to learn yoga I couldn’t just pack up and leave my life on hold for 5 weeks while I immersed myself in yoga, and honestly I don’t learn well that way. I need time to integrate things to learn well and having 4-5 weeks between modules gave me that time, and I needed it.
I’m happy to report that I passed my yoga teacher training and am now a certified yoga teacher and will be registering with Yoga Alliance as soon as I pick up my certificate (I’ve been on vacation). In the last 9 months I’ve learned so much about yoga, but a lot more about myself. Not only that but I’m still learning. I’ve met a bunch of people who I’ve learned, loved and laughed with about yoga, life and loss. During the last 9 months I’ve said goodbye to one of our dogs, attended a conference, confronted some emotions I thought were buried, and more recently the week before my yoga teacher exams my biological father passed away. Along with way I’ve been blessed to meet someone whom I consider to be a big sister I never had. Honestly it’s like gaining a whole new family. It’s been a hell of a year!
The 10 biggest things I discovered in yoga teacher training:
- There is a big difference between doing poses and doing yoga. I’ve been guilty of this for years. I’ve been doing poses for years, but I think the last two years is when I really started doing yoga.
- It’s easy to to do yoga, but harder to live yoga. Yeah it’s not all namaste and OM, especially when another driver cuts me off… I’m a work in progress.
- More is not better. Yoga is the balance of strength, stability, mobility and flexibility. Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
- I have some personality traits I don’t particularly like, and am working on changing. The philosophy was a real head trip!
- Emotions you thought were buried, can and do rear up again. For me it was being taken back to my early teens and not receiving recognition for a poem in the school ezine. Never said anything at the time, but apparently it’s bothered me for 30 years!
- I’ve turned into a bit of a ‘yoga hippy’. I now own more yoga pants than regular pants, and they have weird patterns on them. I also have a growing collection of yoga tanks… and I joined Fabletics
- Consistency is key. Getting on the yoga mat daily can cure just about anything. Seriously even a bad yoga day is a good yoga day.
- Yoga is always the answer, and it comes in many forms. Be open to the different types of yoga. I hated restorative when I first did it, but that is the very thing I needed, and now I love it!
- You can never have too many yoga books. Seriously I have a whole shelf full now… and I still want more. Currently I’m reading “Tree of Yoga” By BKS Iyengar, I wish it had been required reading for the 200 because I’m learning a ton. I guess this is the ‘self study’/Svadyaya in the niyamas of the 8-limb path!
- This is just the start of my training. Seriously back to #9 but I have a whole host of books, website, courses, and more lined up in the future. Plus at IDEA World Fitness Convention I did some yoga classes. I have a continuing education workshop in November and another in February!
What major things have you learned about YOURSELF from an educational course?
I’ll be working on more yoga type posts and workouts in the future so let me know what you’d like to see! What things do you wish you knew about yoga?
My first Fabletics outfit
Yona Williams
Congratulations on becoming certified, and pursuing something that you love and get so much out of. I hear so many good things about yoga, but personally, I’ve never made a good connection with it for myself.
Di Hickman
I think you have to find a form of yoga you like. There are so many different types. If I’d have done restorative as a teenager I’d have hated it! I need to MOVE!
AlmostSexyMommy
I wish I could be as into yoga as so many people I see are. How do you do it? How do you learn to love it and look forward to it? I NEED that!
Di Hickman
Just remove your ego from the mat, and breathe. For me it’s a way to relax, unwind, and check in with my body. 2 years ago I was all about the flow, faster, harder, more “crazy pose” yoga. Now I’m more about being present while doing yoga. Not thinking of my to-do list, or blog posts I want to write. We all need to shut our brains off.
SuzLyfe
I so hear you on #1: it is the difference between doing yoga and practicing yoga. Like talking at and talking with. I’m so glad that you got so much from your experience–I know that it has really transformed the lives of so many!
Di Hickman
Nailed it on the analogy! That’s when your life changes, and yoga becomes a practice rather than a class!
CourtneyLynne
Ahhhhh I so need to get back into yoga!!! It’s so relaxing!!!
Di Hickman
I definitely can be courtney! Though I’ve been to a few classes in my time that have been anything BUT relaxing lol!
Debra
This was absolutely fascinating for me to read! I love reading what you learned!
Di Hickman
Thanks Debra! It’s been a heck of a journey!
Roxanne
Yoga has done so much for me!! It is my sanity, it helps keep my pain levels in check…it’s just amazing how much better I feel with yoga!
Di Hickman
Absolutely!!! Keeps me sane too! Good thing is it can be done anywhere!
Scraps
Congratulations on getting your certification. For me, knowing that there’s more to yoga beyond the poses is what makes it less appealing. I’m an all or nothing kind of person and since I cannot fully commit to the philosophy of yoga, I feel a bit of guilt only doing part of it. If that makes and sense 🙂
Di Hickman
Jenn I was the same till about 2 years ago. The good thing is you don’t have to fully commit to the philosophy, but it’s amazing how much you are probably already doing! I’d estimate that 90% of people doing yoga are probably just “doing” yoga not practising Yoga so you wouldn’t be alone. Heck I was that was for almost 30 years!
OhlalaLexie
I really have been wanting to get into yoga for years, I just need to make the time!
Di Hickman
That’s the good thing about a home practice. Just set a mat up and do it for 15 minutes, roll up the mat and continue with daily life! Best way to start/finish the day.
Farrah (@fairyburger)
I think I’m definitely guilty of doing poses vs. yoga. 😡 I really need to work on incorporating this into my life on a more consistent basis!
Di Hickman
Farrah you aren’t alone! Heck I did that for almost 30 years! Definitely feels different now though!
Ana De Jesus
I have always wanted to try Yoga because I heard it is good for strengthening your spine as I have a damaged back.
Di Hickman
It can be great for injury rehabilitation. Just ensure you choose a teacher who is fully certified. If you get chance attend a somatics class, that will help re-educate your body, and enable more fluid movement.
Sarah Bailey
I did Yoga years ago – I used to really like it, perhaps I should give it another try. Congratulations on getting your certificate 🙂 x
Di Hickman
Thanks Sarah! Definitely get back into a regular yoga practice! Find that passion again!
Bonnie @ Living a Fit and Full Life
I love yoga! So so good for you!
Di Hickman
It is Bonnie! Good for the WHOLE you!
Shelly's Cabaret
I’ve always wanted to get heavy into yoga cause I know the mental and physical health benefits are like nothing else. I’ve never been able to commit to doing it regularly though, as I have consistency issues. I’m working on it though! 🙂
Congrats on becoming certified!
Di Hickman
Thanks Shelly! I prescribe to something is better than nothing mantra. Better to do 10 minutes a day than 90 minutes once a week!
Dogvills
Congratulations on getting certified. I’ve never tried yoga before. I’d like to try it because I heard it offers a lot of great benefits.
Di Hickman
Try it! It definitely has so many health benefits!!!!
JanetGoingCrazy
I tried yoga once when I was younger and it didn’t work out so well. I might have to try it again just in case.
Di Hickman
Awww that sucks. Hopefully if you try again you’ll have a better experience. Attend a few different instructors, and different types/styles of class. There are so many types to try now!
jvkom
I’m so glad you got through the process. So great!
Di Hickman
Thanks! It was a heck of a journey!
Mar
Yoga is a really complex thing! I’m glad you can continue to learn!
Di Hickman
Barely scratched the surface really! I have a continuing education workshop in 2 weeks!
logancan
It sounds like the entire process was very enlightening for you! I can honestly say that I have done yoga poses for years, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever “done yoga” like you said.
Di Hickman
It’s definitely different! Being one in mind and body. Read up on some of the philosophy, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite yoga books soon 🙂
Kiersten Millican
Being able to successfully do Yoga is definitely a goal of mine. I’m hoping to get into it full time.
Di Hickman
Kiersten you can already successfully do yoga! That’s the beauty of yoga, there is no finish line. You simple approach every practice fresh and new. That’s one of the differences between doing yoga and practicing yoga 😉 It’s progressive.
winifredjac
I was Pilates certified before I had my daughter. I miss it and want to go get it again, but it’s a weekend away and I just dont think I can do that. I have done Yoga in the past so I am really happy for you. It really is a nice thing to practice beyond a physical.
Di Hickman
I too am pilates certified and yes the time commitment is a struggle. That’s the reason I did the one weekend a month for yoga. Couldn’t imagine doing intensive training, 8 hours a day for 5 continuous weeks!!!
winifredjac
Mine was only a weekend.
Michelle
Yoga was never my thing but I’m all for everyone finding something that they love!
Di Hickman
Definitely find something you enjoy doing, that’s KEY to life!