Yoga Teacher Training: Week One

Hi guys! As I previously mentioned, I’ll be doing a lot less blogging this month since I’m doing my Yoga Teacher Training. The timing also works out well because this blog will be undergoing a much needed makeover soon (!!!)

It’s really weird to not be so focused on blogging all the time and I’m happy to not have this added stress since the program has already been more time consuming and exhausting than I previously thought. In addition to being in the “classroom” 8AM-5:30PM on week days, I’m also observing yoga classes at the studio, practicing adjustments with my fellow trainees and doing homework. Yes, homework.

With all of that being said, I’m already loving what I’m learning and am so happy I was finally able to take the plunge and sign up for Yoga Teacher Training.

Over the course of the 4-week teacher training I’ll do my best to pop in here and talk about the things I’m learning and the highlights of training. Be sure to also see what I’m up to on instagram.

Every morning we begin with a yoga class that teaches the same sequence of poses. Even with the same set of poses, the classes have felt drastically different depending on the teacher and their style.

When I first signed up for yoga teacher training I thought “Oh, maybe I’ll run in the mornings.” Yeah, that was a nice thought– the program has been pretty physically demanding so far. The only other workout I did this week was a killer class at Uplift. It felt good to pick up some dumbbells and have a little “me time” but all this yoga has got me thinking about how I’m going to want to switch up my fitness routine after teacher training is over.

In recent months I’ve craved yoga more than any other form of exercise, I’ve woken up every morning this week excited about the sweaty vinyasa flow I’d soon be experiencing. As much as I love a tough class that’s filled with burpees and really challenges me, I just haven’t been “feeling it” lately which makes me wonder if what I really need these days is a more low-key approach to fitness.

The highlight of my week? Teaching my first Sun Salutation A! I think I’m the only person out of my training class that has previously taught group fitness classes.

Even though I’ve lead fitness classes before, I was all nerves when I had to go up and teach my first Sun Salutation A. Holy crap, there’s so much to remember- inhales, exhales, sanskrit, woah.

In the moment, though, it was magical and totally different from other other classes I’ve taught. The rhythm is totally different, instead of focusing on the music or a stop watch, I have to tune in with the group and how they were breathing which in turn affected how I was breathing. While I fumbled through my first attempt, the second time around I got hit with the feeling of Woah, I really enjoy this.

Hard to believe I’m already a quarter of the way through Teacher Training. It reminds me a lot of camp in the sense that the days are long, but the weeks feel short and I’m sure the next 3 weeks will fly by.

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Quote of the week: “Yoga is not about a tighter ass, it’s about getting your head out of it”