Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Nov 25, 2008
I’m thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, where do I start?
The individual Yogic path is as diverse and varied as the practitioners themselves. For this reason, it’s impossible to give you a one-size fits all answer on “how to become a certified yoga teacher”. That said, I hope to answer some common questions about how to choose a yoga teacher training school to become certified with, and how to dive in and begin teaching. All of the following information has grown out of my individual path. I attended Trinity Yoga Teacher Training, not with the hopes of becoming a yoga teacher, but simply because I wanted to learn more than my local studio offered at the time. After several years of teaching full time in Calgary, facilitating teacher training programs across Western Canada with Trinity, and now as a facilitator for Gaiatri Yoga, I can share my informed perspective of evaluating the path and choosing a program that suits your desire to deepen and grow your practice.
How do I know when my practice is developed enough to take a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program?
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Nov 16, 2008
This leg of the journey is drawing to a close as I prepare today to embark on my 36 hour journey to another spiritual center: Peru and the Amazon. Out of the caress of Mother India, in to the loving arms of ‘Pacha Mama’. I’ve really enjoyed my time here in Goa, with all the smooth and rough patches, the highs and lows that come with such a transformational experience that comes with the study of self through yoga. I’ve witnessed growth and maturity, not only in the students but definitely within myself and my fellow teachers as well. I feel as though I’ve been through some sort of ritual or initiation…a coming of age of sorts….
Today’s class, my final class with the Yoga Teacher Training students, was all about savouring the moment. The sweetness of life and about enjoying time.
AKA - chocolate meditations!
I have been deeply touched by this experience. Though I’m not sure of the scope of it yet, I feel I’ve been changed. The students organized a bit of a dinner last night, where the energy was fantastic and light. What a shift has happened! And this morning, I was gifted with their chanting of the traditional ‘Triumbakum’ mantra, for wellbeing and safety especially in journeys/travelling. The glow on their faces and love in their eyes blew me away.
It reminded me of my thankfulness and my awe at the small ‘coincidences’ that occured to enable this training to take place…. How last November Eveanna and her mum bumped to a guy ramdomly who knew two brothers ‘Pappi and Guru’ who owned a small guest house in rarely visited Mandrem Beach. How they found them after seaching almost all of Mandrem town (not realizing Mandrem Beach is separate). Behind their guesthouse was Lalit’s yoga studio, where Maeve went for a class. After meeting Lalit, Eveanna, who had intended to be in Goa only 3 days, stayed…and stayed…and they got married! And how they ended up in McLeod Ganj the following spring where I found their little studio at the bottom of many many stairs thanks to 2 Canadians I had bumped in to who . Then I decided to stay longer in the Ganj and ended up teaching for Lalit on an emergency and…..then the teacher he had arranged to work with him originally didn’t work out so…here I am.
I guess there are no coincidences.
Its about opening to the experiences as they unfold.
The general consensus with the students, as they complete their practicums/exams, is a feeling of surprise that they know as much as they do. I can agree with that feeling, though for me on this trip its become more of a sense that I trust that I know that I don’t know…!
I’ll miss India but I will be back. Sometime.
Off to Peru.
More journeys.
Peeling back the layers of the onion.
More adventures to come.
Blessings,
Tiffany Brulotte
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Nov 12, 2008
Its Sunday and very ‘chill-laxed’ here in Goa, especially in Mandrem where I am. Many stores are closed, the Yoga Teacher Training students are ‘off’ and the beach is lovely. The beautiful sari-clad Indian ladies who walk the beach selling their wares have had a hayday as there were a dozen of us out there today, many buying sarongs for the beach and anklets.
This week has been more of a settled time. The local Hindu “Diwali” festival of lights was this week. There are lamp making competitions and lots of candles and lights lit, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness within. As with most holidays, celebrations, food, family and firecrackers are the name of the game.
We had a big celebration with the students here with a lovely Indian outdoor buffet and bonfire on the beach. The boys at ‘Osaiba’ one of the favourite restaurants are so cute and very kind to us foreigners, putting up will all our foreign behaviours and questions. I know it is their job to look after us but, really, considering how little they are paid (less than 2000Rs a month…which is roughly 50.00), they definitely go above and beyond in the respect and service they give. Ever since then, there’s been a deeper sense of connection between the students. And between myself.
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Posted by Rik Logtenberg on Nov 01, 2008
At long last, an intrepid Huffington Post blogger has merged Yoga with Social Networking…In her posting, Tara Stiles applies the ethical precepts from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the “yamas” & “niyamas”, to Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.
Are you ready to take a deeper look at your Social Network habits? Read on: Zen And The Art Of Social Networking
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Oct 29, 2008
I sit here on a lovely Saturday afternoon to reflect on the week I’ve had. Its hot and sunny and lovely though its funny how at times I’ve complained about needing to use a fan all the time, the way I miss rain and snow and how the lovely hotness can make people ‘too laid back’...if that’s even possible. What I’m trying to say is that its all in perception.
There have been many shifts and different perceptions amongst my fellow teachers as well as the students here at the training. But I guess that reflects the ‘vacillating’ nature of the mind. They’re like the waves in the pond (or the ocean) that make it hard to see the bottom clearly.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Oct 28, 2008
There is a reason why Yoga teachers use so many metaphors and associations with nature when guiding a class in asana or meditation. Whether it be inspired by the beauty of trees, the steadfast nature of mountains, or the gentle power of a river, essentially all we really need to know about the teachings of Yoga, nature already is. So not surprisingly, over the years, I, along with many others, have found that my outdoor pursuits and sporting activities have truly shaped and guided my Yoga practice, and vice versa.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on Oct 23, 2008
The word Pranayama can be broken down into two parts. Prana refers to the infinite in everything, the universal life force, respiration and power. Ayama means to increase, prolong, stretch or extend. Therefore, Pranayama is the practice of consciously expanding one’s energy through the regulation of their breath.
The importance of Pranayama can be illustrated through its direct relation to the maintenance of life. The beginning of life is signified by a baby’s first breath in the external world; similarly the last breath marks the end of one’s life. With this in mind it is easy to consider the importance of breath and the significant role it plays in all that we do.
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Posted by Sonja Logtenberg on Oct 13, 2008
Many postures require us to weight our hands which can cause discomfort and damage to our wrists (ie. downward dog, upper plank, hand balances). Hasta bandha allows us to both ground to the earth and to channel energy upward, through our arms.
Some imagery that I find very helpful is imagining that my palms are suction cups. As you know, suction cups have amazing grabbing power - this keeps your hands grounded. At the same time, the suctioning pull draws energy up through our wrists, arms and shoulders.
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