This past weekend was our second full weekend of yoga teacher training 200 hour at my studio, Peace of Mind Yoga. When introduced to teacher training one month ago, my teachers, Kristen and Lynn, explained that over the next 6 months of training we would experience plenty of changes. Being that we’re still in the start of training, I wasn’t expecting to notice any emotion or change within myself just yet, but I have.
This training weekend was extra special, as Annie Quagliaroli, owner of The Yoga Shop in Connecticut and founder of a Creative Sequences workshop in the yoga world came to NEPA. Prior to the weekend with Annie, it was difficult to let loose, be ourselves in front of the class, and relax – as anyone practicing yoga should be able to do. Naturally, each teacher in training was stressing over which pose goes where in the power vinyasa sequence and how long to hold and yada yada. Annie helped us to realize yoga doesn’t have to be that way. It should be FUN, FREE, and SELFLESS. This was practiced through many exercises over the weekend, and I truly feel that each of us came away from the workshop more confident and a little bit different than we were before.
The greatest lesson Annie helped me to discover inside myself is that “weirdness is good“. If you personally know me, you know I say this ALL. THE. TIME. Which is why I found it strange that I couldn’t bring it to my teaching – until she drilled it in my head 
.
I noticed I had been holding back on my personality in certain relationships outside of yoga. But why? We get into the thought processes during our daily lives and begin to monitor how we act and how we are perceived, but why should we care? The only opinion we need to worry about is our own.
Am I happy?
Am I completely myself right now?
Do I have faith in myself?
There’s no reason anyone needs to look, sound, or act a certain way – whether it’s in front of a class or in everyday life. There’s no greater way to show appreciation for life than by giving everything we have to be true to ourselves.
ALMOST FORGOT! My surprise – I’m going to Tulum, Mexico during June with Annie and her best friend Kim (who also came to NEPA ) for a yoga retreat! Details to come on that, but I can’t wait!
When you’re in practice it is definitely true that you will use those “yogic” skills off the mat.
Would you ever consider becoming a yoga teacher? What’s your best experience from yoga?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a wonderful weekend!
I hope you had that great weekend!