breathe deeply... and then teach someone else how to
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!
