Every spring, I get the itch. I need adventure – my body craves a departure from my day-to-day. One year, it was Madagascar. The next, Malaysia. This year, the travel bug bit me just as my inner yogi whispered teacher training, and soon I was bidding farewell to my team in Halifax (the Hali-lulus) and boarding a flight to Sydney, Australia.

Thinking about embarking on a yoga quest? Here’s my advice!

A little goddess pose in front of the Opera House – I have landed.

tip #1

Travel with a low-maintenance friend, like my fellow Hali-lulu Jannine. She was crazy enough to join me on this journey (literally and spiritually), and we found the perfect blend of “let’s get out there and do EVERYTHING!” (Jannine) and “let’s read on the rooftop for a few hours in the sunshine” (me). The beautiful balancing act of a great friendship!

The dream team!

tip #2

Talk to strangers! Jannine and I make each other laugh constantly, and by opening that energy to people around us (in the hostel, at the aquarium, at lululemon in Bondi Junction!), we were able to connect with some really incredible people. Open your heart and your mind – everyone’s got an incredible story to share, whether it’s an epic love story or a restaurant recommendation. (And both are worth listening to.)

Jannine finding balance with our new best friend and fellow yogini, Kate.

We made our way up the coast to the easternmost point in Australia – the idyllic surf town of Byron Bay, where we’d make our home for the next two months.

Live near the ocean and inhale the pure salt air that flows over the water. Byron Bay will do nicely.

tip #3

In all things, practice ahimsa with yourself. Ahimsa means “non-violence” – it means nurturing your body, your mind, and loving the way you are right now. Practicing yoga for hours each day is heavenly, but when that hamstring starts to tweak (and I’m speaking from experience, here!), back off and give it some space. Who needs to get their nose to knee, anyway? It’s your journey, it’s your practice. Don’t force your way to a destination – love yourself for being on the path.

Practicing every day taught me how to balance dynamic practice with restorative.

tip #4

Play! Doing a yoga teacher training will change your body, your mind, and your understanding of life. But where’s the fun in taking yourself too seriously? Fall out of crow pose. Laugh when you toot during an intense twist. Get upside-down! Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself. Find the joy in every moment, and you’ll start smiling at yourself in the mirror every morning.

Play – it’s okay to fall, as long as you can laugh it off.

tip #5

Do it now. If your inner yogi has been yearning to teach, or even to deepen your practice with a teacher training, why wait?

Stop what you’re doing and LOVE.

If your heart has put the idea into your head, then your path has already been laid out. Take it! Remember the first teacher with whom you really connected? The one who inspired you to take another class, try meditation, or let go of whatever’s holding you back? You could be that person for someone else. How can you resist?

Namaste!

you asked

How does one know if they are ready to take on yoga teacher training? Is there a specific level of expertise that one should have? Does one need to have a dedicated daily yoga practice? - Kelly

three yogis answer

Kinndli's answer:

The thing is, you will NEVER feel ready! But you have to be up to something big in your life, and you will know when you get that feeling like you want to be at cause in your life and at cause in the world and really want make change. Logistically it doesn’t matter how long you have been practicing yoga, but a year is a good marker. What is more important is that you are beginning to understand your body and have an inquisitive nature. My biggest passion is facilitating teacher trainings and one of the biggest breakthroughs I see in my students is that awakening into what we call “The Inner Yes”! It comes from learning to trust your intuition and by doubting your doubts. Find a teacher that inspires you, doubt your doubts and just DO IT!! The time is now!

- Kinndli, lululemon Oakville ambassador

Grace's answer:

Dear Kelly,
If you feel you are being called to pursue a teacher training, you should certainly explore that opportunity. If you are feeling any resistance, you may just be experiencing a ‘fear’ related to a perception you may have about not being ‘able’ to do it.
Committing to a teacher-training program is certainly a significant investment of both time and money, and there many things one should consider before embarking on such a journey.

• Do you have the time? If not, your Yoga might become a source of stress and your training won't be enjoyable
• Do you actually plan to teach? If so, training is a must. If you just want to deepen your practice, workshops or retreats might be a better option
• Are you ready to take your own practice to a new level? Most trainings are physically intensive. If you're sick or injured, it's probably not the best time to embark on this journey.
• Are you ready to deal with some of your own personal demons? Yoga trainings have a way of bringing you face-to-face with your own fears and insecurities, which is wonderful and illuminating if you're ready and have the time to process everything that comes up.

In the end there is no easy formula for choosing the right training, and the best advice is to spend lots of time reflecting on what you need and asking questions of your own teachers. And if you can, take classes with many teachers to see what really moves you.
Ultimately, the decision to become a Yoga teacher is a highly personal one and different for everyone.
It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher will come. It is also said that the ideal teacher will come for each student, depending on the aspirations the seeker holds in his/her heart.

- Grace, lululemon Queen St. ambassador

Ted's answer:

One knows if they are ready to take on a teacher training if they are first ready to deepen their practice. I found that the journey of practicing and teaching yoga is an organic evolution. Your first teaching training is only the beginning of your education. Yoga is a lifelong journey and while a daily asana practice is incredibly beneficial it's not always possible. Yoga begins to permeate other areas in your life. You will find that you're doing yoga while you're running, biking or hanging around with your least favorite people!

- Ted, lululemon Malibu ambassador

what is ask a yogi?

Ask a Yogi is a yoga advice column that is published on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. If you have a yoga question for future yoga panels, please email askanexpert@lululemon.com.

Be the change. - Gandhi

When I decided to take my yoga teacher training I tried to put my expectations on a leash. I tried not to imagine all the wonderful changes that would occur; I tried not to focus on what a present, calm, ideal yogi I would become. I tried.

Expectations are the fastest way to set yourself up for disappointment. The path of yoga is not about what you were or what you will become; it's about being present in each moment. There's no easy path to become the person you aspire to be, but with a conscious mind and open heart you can learn to accept yourself as you are and let that love and acceptance help you grow.

I recently went for some spiritual counseling from a yogini. What struck me the most was learning that I don't need to "figure it all out". My dharma or duty was to simply bring gratitude and contentment into my daily life. It doesn't matter if I hit the mat every day (especially if I stress myself to get there). What matters most is taking the lessons I learn from yoga and applying them to my every day life off of the mat - to respect the earth, to remember that we are all one, to believe in my divinity and that of those around me, to be truthful, and to follow the Yamas (guidelines on how to treat others and interact with society) and Niyamas (guidelines on how to treat yourself).

Since that visit I have told myself daily what I am grateful for, even if all I can think of in that moment is remembering to be grateful in the first place. This small change has caused a ripple affect in my life. The veil of expectation has been lifted and I accept that I am exactly where I need to be in life in this very moment. I also accept that though I may forget from time to time - I am divine. We all are. It is simply our duty to remember.

Read about the great gratitude for yoga teachers like Jessika in our blog post My Love Affair with the Yoga Teachers of the World.