How did you find your way to the Yoga Loft’s 300hr Teacher Training?
The Yoga Loft has been my place for personal practice for a long time. I have felt right at home with the culture of the studio and the friendliness of the other practioners. There are so many teachers at The Yoga Loft that I have known for years, that I respect and learn so much from. I work full-time, so when I started looking for a 300-hour training, it was important to me that a program would be flexible and accessible. The Yoga Loft’s “module format” makes the most sense for those of us working or teaching full-time. I also needed to know that the teachers I would learn from would provide high quality content. All of these things made it easy to decide that The Yoga Loft was the right place for my 300-Hour training.
2. Why are you interested in obtaining your 300hr certification?
Its been a long road of self-inquiry and growth since my first teacher training in 2001. I’ve explored everything from anatomy to meditation in all kinds of venues with all kinds of teachers. It took a while, but I finally felt confident that I had explored all of my options on this yogic path. I was ready to become more focused and specialized in the areas I felt specifically drawn to teach. As I’ve gotten older and approach my 20th anniversary of teaching, it’s become clear that this is something that I will do well into my senior years. Continuing to learn and grow and hone in on what’s most meaningful for me adds value to what I can offer others.
3. Can you tell us about your overall training experience with the Yoga Loft up to this point? Any special moments you wish to share?
I am just about halfway through the training and so far it has exceeded my expectations. Each module is packed full of information. There are many opportunities to experience what is being taught. And the practice-teaching segments help to allow for feed-back from other experienced teachers in the training program. There has been such a great mix of physical, philosophical, and practical information through-out the modules. Each teacher is an expert in what they are offering and my favorite part to date has been the introduction to Yin Yoga, which I’ve completely fallen in love with. Every module helps fuels my love of the overall practice of yoga.
4. How are you applying what you’ve learned in your community? What are you passionate about sharing?
I’ve learned so much just by watching the facilitators of each module. Observing others who are specialized and experts in what they are most connected to has clarified for me what type of teacher I want to be. Through their example, I’ve been able to fully embrace what I most love about yoga. My passion is in teaching Patanjali’s Kriya yoga, the yoga of action. I’ve had a huge transformation over the last year and only recently realized that it’s because I’m living (off the mat) the very things I love about yoga. This training has helped guide me and enrich my knowledge of these deeper aspects of yoga, which are truly transformational.
5. What do you find to be the most beneficial aspect of yoga? What inspires you to maintain your practice?
I’ve always connected with the more spiritual side of yoga and so it’s the aspects in kriya yoga that have made the biggest impact on my life. But, from the very beginning of my path, I noticed that the aspect of self-study – Svadhyaya – was what made yoga different than everything else. I learned to pause – whether on the mat, in my meditation, or out in the world faced with challenges. I’ve seen how taking that pause allows me the time to be less reactive, change self-defeating thoughts, improve my health, gain patience, and find a deeper connection to myself and others. I’ve seen benefits like better sleep, calmer demeanor, more mental clarity, and better health through my daily practice and this is what inspires me to keep doing it every day. Without this self-study, all the other parts of the practice feel shallow to me.
6. Can you describe a rewarding moment you’ve had through teaching yoga?
Rewarding moments through teaching always come from seeing relaxation, stress release, and calm fill someone’s face or body by the end of a practice. Getting feedback that someone was able to connect with a part of themselves they had lost touch with, through the practice of self-study, touches my heart. Creating a space that feels sacred and safe where someone can let go is the most rewarding part of teaching for me.
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