Yoga Teacher Training
~ That Leap of Faith ~
In this story we learn about Ash’s first trip to India to follow her intuition and passion for learning Yoga in the motherland, India. We see insight into her experience on Yin Yoga Teacher Training where she took that all so common “leap of faith” that was driving her heart forward but her head in circles.. you know what I mean?
Written by Ash Dowell
If you have ever practised Yoga, remember the very first time that you stepped onto the mat and held a posture for what felt like 20 minutes, but was actually only 30 seconds. How did it make you feel?
If you have never practised Yoga then try to imagine what it is like, focusing on the union of your breath and movement, using mental strength as much as physical strength to hold you still. Not to just hold you still but to seek the stillness of the moment.
How do you think it would make you feel?
If you are a Yoga teacher then remember the first time you taught a class. Bring back those emotions that were flowing through your body the moment that you instructed 25+ people to follow your lead of creativity and inspiration, knowledge and safety. If you are not a Yoga teacher then imagine what it may feel like for 25+ people to be watching your every move, listening to your every word and counting on your knowledge, love and wisdom to benefit their health and well being. To make all of this my reality I went to the motherland of it all, noises, senses, emotions, people, cows, nature and Yoga; India.
Continuously widening my sights of life while practising Yoga and meditation in any nook and cranny of this beautiful planet we live on, in any space that will fit my yoga mat, my peaceful intention and my laugh is something that I may consider an understatement. In January I entered my 50th country and went to India to study Yin Yoga. Some of my friends may say that it is almost impossible to keep up with my whereabouts in the world, and others may say that I am crazy for doing something that seems absurdly opposite to what I ‘should’ be doing. However I like to say that I integrate the value of embracing life in every shape and form, living in the moment.
What Really Is Yoga?
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj – to join, to unite, to yoke. The word yoga means both union and separation; union of breath and spirit, and separation of reality and non-reality. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that was originally created to allow people to sit in meditation for long periods of time. Yoga is considered a path leading to freedom, self-realisation and liberation, known as Samadhi. According to Patanjali, ‘the Father of modern yoga’, the full definition of yoga is cittavrttinirodah, which translates into the stopping of behavioural patterns of the conscious mind in order to obtain complete control of the mind to reach Samadhi; enlightenment and eternal bliss. Patanjali’s structure of Yoga Philosophy is only one perspective on this teaching, however.
A day in the life of a Yoga training
My 24 yogi sisters and I studied yoga for 10 hours a day; 4 hours physical practice and 6 hours of theory. I studied Yin Yoga to dedicate myself to the stillness of my centre.
The daily schedule was from 7am to 7pm:
Yoga and Meditation
Breakfast
Theory
Lunch
The Art of Teaching
Asana Breakdown
Yoga and Meditation
Faith In Intuition or Playing the ‘Why Not’ Card?
I can’t say that when I flew to India I knew exactly what I was doing but I can certainly say that it felt 100% right. One thing I can be sure of, though, is that the month of my teacher training was not only one of the most intense months I have experienced in a very long time, but it was also overwhelmingly touching, sincere, inspiring, challenging, emotional and humble.
To say that my Yin Yoga teacher training course made my heart jump and allowed me to witness what inexplicable forces of energy between strangers can truly do, would be an understatement. Living, eating, learning, practising, sleeping and socialising with the same people, 24 hours a day, for one month, is insightful to say the least. There were tears, smiles, laughter and sweat. Sometimes we had to leave the room, sometimes all we needed was a hug or a human touch, and sometimes being surrounded with such love was a healer for all the challenges that arose.
Is It worth It?
People want to become yoga teachers for various reasons, sometimes to heal others and sometimes to heal themselves. You can train to become a yoga teacher all over the world but I wanted to go to the mother land of the ancient tradition itself to explore Indian philosophy and traditions at its best.
In the beginning I had no idea what I was doing. It all started from following my heart, having courage in my intuition and taking a chance.
Have faith in your thoughts, you never know what may come of it.
We have a variety of Yin Yoga training’s that keep topping up your heart, mind and soul:
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Online:
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 100 hour Functional Anatomy and Chinese Medicine
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 100 hour Pranayama, Meditation and Mindfulness
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 80 hour Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 50 hour Neuroplasticity and Mindfulness
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 50 hour Essential Oils and Emotional Intelligence
Residential Yin Yoga Teacher Training:
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 100 hour Functional Anatomy and Chinese Medicine
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 100 hour Pranayama, Meditation and Mindfulness
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 80 hour Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 50 hour Neuroplasticity and Mindfulness
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 50 hour Essential Oils and Emotional Intelligence
Yin Yoga Teacher Training: 200 hour 5 Bodies Approach
Locations:
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Bali
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Thailand
Yin Yoga Teacher Training India
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Spain
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Australia
Yin Yoga Teacher Training Guatemala
We also have a variety of Yin Yoga Retreats and Yoga Holidays:
Yin Yang Yoga Retreat Spain: Rest and Revive Retreat
Yin Yoga Retreat Bali: Sacred Space Yoga
