A journey to one's self - My 200hr YTT

A year ago, I was in the middle of my Ashtanga Vinyasa 200hr Yoga Teacher Training with All Yoga.

This was probably the most exciting, challenging and happy times in my life. IWe are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing? Sri S. Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

A year ago, I was in the middle of my Ashtanga Vinyasa 200hr Yoga Teacher Training with All Yoga.

This was probably the most exciting, challenging and happy time in my life. I waited 6/7 years to be able to isolate myself and do the 200hr YTT. And finally, I could make everything fit.... and I travel all the way to Nusa Lembongan to spend 21 days in the Shala located in Jungutbatu. With an amazing group of yogis, we learnt about the 8 Limbs of Yoga, its Philosophy, Meditation and Pranayama techniques, anatomy and of course, practicing Asanas.

I went out from my comfort zone, living everyday with the minimum, sharing a room with other 20 people and doing intermittent fasting (me, who is always eating every 3 hours!!). And I loved it: being in an Island, where there were no proper car roads, almost no supermarkets and ATMs.

It didn't take me long to realize that this was indeed what I needed. No need to rush to get the tram, the business of daily life, the noise of cars and the pressure to get things done. That month it felt like time frozen... and all my stress level went to minus.

A normal day in the YTT would be to wake up around 6:30 am, start the day with Nauli Kriya, followed by Pranayama and Meditation. Afterwards, there wouldn't be a pause: we continued the morning with Asana practice (Ashtanga Primary Series, Rocket Yoga, Vinyasa).

Lunch was always on the beach, by hostel's swimming pool or in the jungle. We would do our homeworks and get ready for the afternoon session: philosophy, anatomy, adjustment techniques (verbal, hands on) and Mysore practice. Some days, we would recover ourselves with Yin Yoga and on Fridays... that was our #FridayFunDay - Acro yoga, Handstands :-) Letting ourselves explore movements, gravity and have a fun time.

All Yoga would also challenge us obliging to make a 24h Vipasana practice: a day where you go inwards. No mobile phones, no books, no talking with others - just you and yourself. Anything coming from the "external world" was forbidden. And you know what? It felt like having the whole time in the world for YOU. I loved it! I could stay staring at the candle and the sky for ours, being more aware of the shapes, the smells and people's behaviors.

Key take aways:

• We live more in the past or worry about the future, than living the present.

• We listen to answer - not to listen, understand and then answer.

• We only use a 20% capacity of our lungs in the daily life. We think we breath... but we don't.

• We are almost never in the present, in the current action itself - e.g. when you brush your teeth, are you present on brushing or thinking already on your breakfast or talking with someone else?

• If you don't let it go the past, you will never be free and happy. You will stay in a cage. We can't change the past, so work on accepting it and creating a better present and future.

• We need to let it go also people. Toxic relationship. Anything that creates anxiety. Anything that makes our light shut down. Get rid of it!

• The best yogi isn't the one who can do the craziest asanas (physical postures) - otherwise all gymnasts/dancers would be best. But the one who applies the 8 limbs and finally gets control over his/her mind.

• Assist and not adjust: mental and physical health of the student is on us. Be accountable for their overall well-being.

A Yoga Teacher Training, depending where and how is it organized, can be a real journey into yourself. It will question your life as it is, it will make you dig into the past and think on the future. Although the present it will be at the end what counts. You will want to stop time, stay forever in the island (at least in our case) and enjoy each second.

You will get to know the real you (hopefully) and decide how you want to live the rest of your days. You may want to teach or you may want not. Not everyone who does the YTT eventually teach - still, it is a rewarding journey for one's growth.

Thanks again to All Yoga Training and all the amazing souls that accompanied me during these days in Nusa Lembongan. You made my YTT to be unique!!!

xx

Zohar

PS: I keep this post short since there will be more posts deep diving into Yoga :-)