Wow! Only 2 weekends left! I'm finding myself starting to reflect on my time in this teacher training. When I started this journey I thought I had a fairly strong knowledge base in yoga, I also thought this was going to be my way back to my practice after a long absence due to my knee injury. It has turned out to be my way back for sure, but it has also taught me so much more about yoga and myself.
I can't believe the amount of knowledge our 3 amazing instructors have given us in this amount of time. I'm sure I will be seeking yoga knowledge for the rest of my lifetime!
I'm starting to look forward to my future. What style will I want to teach, and where? Who will be my next mentor? How can I incorporate this into my life? Things to ponder.
Hopefully coming soon to a studio near you!
Namaste
K.

What another amazing weekend.! Lots of yoga including an Elements class with the wonderful sounds of Trevor Grant. A kids yoga class that included a spirited version of head and shoulders, knees and toes, (seriously thought Samantha was losing it for a minute). And the most amazing Yoga Nidra (Yoga Sleep) class. I was skeptical with this class at first, but after about 15 minutes, I slipped into euphoria.
Also this weekend, we created our own Sankalpa or personal mantra. It was pretty powerful having to speak our truths out loud. Thankfully, this has become a very safe place with an amazing supportive family. It's hard to believe in one more month we will be finished. But as Samantha said today, we have created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Happy Easter everyone! See you in 2 weeks. And yes, Bunny Yoga is actually a thing!
K.

So today I got to teach the warm up to the public for the first time, like a real yoga teacher!. Although there was a moment when panic set in, I was able to breathe through it and continued to speak. It felt great and I can’t wait to share yoga with others.
What a great group of students I get to share this experience with. I think that we are forming life long friendships and really appreciate all their support, on and off my mat! Today we participated in 3 yoga classes, a Kundalini class, our Karma class and finished off the day with a Yin class.
My body is so tired I think I'll probably need tomorrow to recover. Or at least that's what I'll tell myself when I sleep in and catch up on some TV. Restorative yoga...in bed...watching the Walking dead. That's a thing right?
Namaste friends!
K

What a weekend! A full morning spent on Yoga philosophy followed by Samantha’s Shakti rising class was the perfect way to spend a Saturday. The addition of Trevor Grant and his wonderful instruments made the experience even more magical. At one point in the class, the sound coming from the crystal bowls permeated my brain so profoundly that for a moment I thought I was generating it from within my mind. It seemed to be louder in one ear, then in the other. It reminded me of a space movie where all you can hear is stillness. Amazing!

Its hard to believe that we are now over half way point with our training. Just a few short months ago after a full knee dislocation, I thought that this was not even going to be possible for me. Not only doing the training but also getting back to a regular practice. Hard work pays off! It definitely has not been easy, but I do find its getting easier as time goes on.

Someone once said to me that yoga never gets any easier you just get stronger with practice!.

Happy March break. I'll be spending my time off trying to perfect my class!
Namaste
K

Full training weekend over and nothing happened at home, There was no crying, everyone was still alive. Things are actually falling into place!

Part of the reason I could never commit to doing this training before was because I'm a single mom, always worrying about things falling apart at home.

This weekend was a great time to learn about Pranayama. I learned breathing techniques to help calm my mind. It's funny how things seem to come to you exactly when you need them!

This is also the first time I've really looked at the material outside of class. As I sit here quietly this morning doing meditation I can almost start to feel a bit of a shift. Maybe it's starting to sink in and all the worrying I've been doing about "could I even do it" is being replaced with "I can't wait to get back to it!"

So we are off for the next 2 weeks and I'm a little sad that I won't be in your company. Till then I'll be meditating...and reading!

Namaste
K.

Chaturanga Dandasana - Aka~Low plank or the Yoga Pushup.

Chaturanga currently is not my favourite pose! There was a time when my upper body strength could support this pose but as of late, it's more likely you'll see me come down a few inches then gracefully lower to my mat.

In my head I think that poses I don't enjoy or I'm not "good" at are the ones that will truly benefit me the most. So I keep trucking along and I figure at some point it will just come naturally or it'll get easier. But does it ever get easier or do we just get better at it with practice?

For now, I’m ok with modifying by dropping my knees and coming all the way down to my mat then rising into Cobra Pose. Although, there have been times I amaze myself and get into Up Dog from Chaturanga with ease. That happens mostly earlier in the day when I have lots of energy. But what a great feeling!

For now I'll take whatever comes. It's called a yoga practice for a reason.
K.

"The pose begins when you want to get out of it." ~Baron Baptiste

This weekend we focused on Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar. I’ve personally taken them for granted in my own practice. I've rushed through them trying to move onto better (or easier poses). But we need them in our practice to warm up our bodies, sync our breath and stretch all our major muscle groups. Having the time to actually break down the poses and breath gave me a new appreciation for Sun Salutations. .

Or so I thought.

Then Erica guided us through a series of flows and believe me, I again was wishing for it t be over! But isn’t that what yoga is all about, pushing you outside of your comfort zone? I got through it with some modifications for my knee.

Also this weekend we had our first lesson on Holistic Nutrition and Samantha brought us in some delicious treats to try. Eating healthy with simple foods and being mindful when we eat is really not that difficult if we put some time and effort into it.

I personally like to meal prep so that I have good choices always available to me. It keeps me from getting hangry and just putting junk in my body. Something everyone can work on!

Till next weekend!
K.

I think I’ve committed and talked myself out of this training a half a dozen times in the last 2 years, because I have a chronic knee injury. I haven’t even been to a class in 8 months. Teacher training has been a dream for as long as I can remember. This was going to be the time. I wasn’t backing out.

Until the night before when I slipped on ice and felt the all familiar looseness inside my knee. The same feeling I have before every dislocation. My anxiety and fear kicked in. Could I even do this? Was my surgeon right when he said there is no way? I even emailed Samantha the night before and said I needed to try one day of the program to see if I was even able to practice.

But I could do it.. I didn’t forget the poses, I knew how to breathe and I missed it. A lot.

I walked into an amazing environment an instant kula (yoga community). .A new beginning! It was a lot of information our first weekend and we already started practice teaching. I did however, sound like a 6th grader giving a book report in front of the class, complete with a cracking voice and totally forgetting how to talk for a moment.. But I got over it and it was easier on day 2.

I'm ready for next weekend. Well, almost, I need to do my homework. .But I'm here!

K.

I know sometimes the flow yoga style can be intimidating at first. It's a faster pace, typically moving one breath per movement. If one is unfamiliar with the sun salutation sequence or vinyassa we keep coming back to throughout the class, it can be discouraging. That's why I'm offering an introduction to flow yoga every Tuesday night in July. Here is what we will cover:

July 5th: Intro to flow - A discussion on what this style is about, what to expect in a flow class, the benefits as well as the importance of breath.
July 12th: Breakdown of the poses in Sun Salutation A (the main sequence in the flow class) with modifications - Part 1.
July 19th:  Breakdown of the poses in Sun Salutation A - Part 2.
July 26th: Breakdown of other common poses found in a flow class.

There is a flow class with me from 6:15 - 7:15pm after if you wish to stay. Just note, the flow class at Now 'n Zen is not free (unless you already have a membership). Visit their website for more info: www.nownzen.ca