Bali after teacher training.
I arrived a few days early to let the love and warmth of
Bali sink in. It always welcomes me as if I’m a child coming home after
spending months away. I call it my ‘home away from home’, and everyone that
knows me always asks, “Going to Bali for your next vacation?” And the answer is
usually, “Yes!”
Yet, this time I had not arrived for vacation. This time I
had not arrived with friends or family. This time I had not arrived with the
intent to relax and play on the beach for 3 weeks. No, this time I had arrived
to FINALLY add to my yoga journey. I had arrived to begin the path of earning
my certification as a yoga teacher. (And I learned that I earned oh so much
more than a piece of paper!). I had been craving to do this for a few years
now….and the time had finally come! Excitement prevailed above all other
emotions!
What took me so long to get here? Around 2009, I decided I wanted to get certified to teach yoga. And with each passing year, I
felt more disappointed in myself for having not found the time to attend a yoga
teacher training yet. There was always a reason…money, family, friends, boyfriends, and other
commitments. All that to say, I’d not committed to myself. I was giving away any
extra time I had to others and not turning inward to grow spiritually nor begin
my next steps in life. But alas, the timing, place, and money were all aligned! All of this along with my will power to just do it! I didn’t realize what I’d signed up
for…none of us did. Spiritual and intellectual growth, lots of sweat and
many tears….and above all, new sisters (and one brother) who speak my spiritual, yogi language.
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| The yoga hall, and my trainee friends. Learning assists for side plank pose. Yep, that's me in side plank! |
It’s hard to say what affected me the most, as it was a
combination of all facets of the training. The 30 min. of meditation each
morning, and trying to keep my monkey mind quiet and still. (I'm not sure I mastered
that…actually, I know I didn’t master that!) Maybe the 2 hour yoga classes EVERY morning for 21 days in a row, followed by the stiff, sore walk to a quick breakfast. Or the long
afternoons sitting on the hard floor of the outdoor yoga hall where we learned yoga theory, anatomy, philosophy, had
deep discussions, asana practice, yoga history…and more. You cannot spend three
weeks eating, sleeping, breathing the yogic life and not come out very changed
on the other side. Changes such as: Having new goals for being a better person,
learning to practice non-attachment, learning to keep the ego in check (so
hard!), learning about the life changing yamas (moral virtues) and niyamas
(self regulation). Or the close bonds and connections made with so many
beautiful yogis of all ages and from around the world. A day didn’t go by that
wasn’t filled with encouragement, love, laughs, tears, peace, anxiety….all of
it, for all of us. I am forever affected and changed….for all of these reasons
and more.
I love yoga even more than I did before. I want to practice
it more, and share it where and when I can. I hope to inspire others to not
only do yoga, but to set new goals to achieve and live more freely. To take
risks that can change their lives.
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| Just 1 day after finishing my 21 day training intensive. |
I have to share one of the mantras we began saying to each
other during the 12 hour days of our 21 day training, because at least one of us was in
tears each day. This mantra was always followed by a little chuckle, “Have a
break through ladies…not a break down!”
Peace, love, freedom and happiness to my new yoga sisters!
by Brooke Nisbet (at the time of writing this post, I was a brand new RYT 200)
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