200 RYT Certification

This just happened. I am officially a certified yoga teacher! Can I say, Hallelujah?

It's interesting how time can change things. Two and a half months ago when I completed my 200 required hours of training, I did not necessarily feel ready to teach. However, after a couple of substitute classes under my belt, teaching my husband in the evenings at home, and getting more training in since then, I now feel qualified. Sure, I have tons more to learn, but my sweet teacher Suzette has been teaching for 30 years and she is still humble enough to learn from her students. THAT inspires me and motivates me to be my best self.

When I first began the program and looked at all the books and training manuals I needed to study, never mind the weekend intensives that I was required to attend, I was overwhelmed. For starters, the Sanskrit names for the many yoga poses was intimidating. So, for the first couple of months I didn't really worry about the books. I flipped through them casually, but mainly I focused on paying really good attention in class and made sure to soak in all the knowledge my teachers had to offer. I would volunteer to demonstrate teaching poses in class when we were asked, and I kept up my own practice at home. Eventually, my desire to learn and dig deeper into the books became natural and it wasn't overwhelming to study. When it came time for me to do my practicum--a 40 minute class in front of my peers and teacher--I was beyond ready. No nerves, just pure excitement and happiness. I was ready.

And then, when you receive warm compliments about how you're a good teacher, it's like all the hard work pays off. It's so rewarding.

This is how learning should be--we should want to learn because when we have an intrinsic desire, the things we learn will become more a part of who we are, not just what we memorize to pass a class.

9.5 months ago I began traveling to the Yoga School of Therapeutics in Overland Park, 2 to 5 days a week for an average of 3 hours per day. It was my goal to finish a little bit earlier, but having two miscarriages and the Christmas holidays thrown in the mix, I am very happy with what I've accomplished.

The best thing about this yoga training is that it plays very nicely with my exercise physiology bachelor's degree. I love that I can help a so many people with a variety of needs such as:

Parkinson's Disease

Stress

Depression

PTSD

Fertility

Pregnancy

Relaxation

Muscular strength

General wellness

Balance

Self-Confidence

Flexibility

Etc....the list is truly endless!

My cute friends...I couldn't have done it without you all!

I've written before here and here how yoga has helped me in my own life. Beyond just the fact that I can now do a freestanding headstand and an elbow balance is that it has helped to deepen my spiritual practice as well as my self compassion. Those are far more important than core strength. My favorite thing about being certified is that now I can pass on the blessings yoga can bring to others, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally.

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do."

-Benjamin Spock

Hoping for a Rainbow

I'm really not sure if I ever thought this day would come. The day that I made it past 13 weeks pregnant without losing the baby. #miracle. I know I am not out of the woods yet, and honestly, when are we really? I am just trying to live every day with gratitude for the life inside of me, living with hope for the future. Part of me wanted to wait until next week, when I was past 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've been getting a little thick in the middle, which is getting more difficult to hide, and I feel like I haven't been able to be completely honest with friends when they would ask, "how are you doing?" All I wanted to talk about was how nauseous I was or how nervous I felt. So now, the news is out, whether or not you already suspected something was up. Seriously though, the 1st trimester is not for the faint of heart! There were many instances when I thought I would lose the baby, but dee...

Grandpa is Always Right | Gender Reveal |

I was hanging out in our rental apartment in Salzburg, Austria with my sister when my dad walked out of his bedroom and announced that I was having a girl. I was only 11 weeks along at that point and while I was wishfully hoping for a girl, I was preparing myself for a boy. His strong conviction of the gender of our child without any hints from an ultrasound surprised me. My dad seems to always be right about things, so I secretly hoped he was right this time too. Today during my scan, my favorite sonographer announced that we were having a girl. Grandpa is always right. I never imagined our family starting with a baby boy. I don't know why, but a baby girl seems to fit just perfectly. Now I just have to keep calm and stay healthy for 19 more weeks.

Learning to Speak Like an Alaskan

Denali in the background No one wants to feel like a newbie, so a common practice before traveling to a new city or country is to learn the language of that particular place. Well, when my Aunt Joan picked me up from the airport last December when I first arrived in Alaska, one of the first things she told me was if I didn't want to sound like a tourist, I needed to refer to Mt. Mckinley (the tallest mountain in North America, located some 120 miles south of Fairbanks) as Denali . Denali is the native Athabaskan name for the mountain, and means "The High One." So, from day number one in Alaska, I refered to that majestic mountain as Denali instead of the name I had learned growing up. This is just about what it looked like yesterday morning! Another thing I learned recently is how to say the temperature. I was saying "Gosh it's cold outside because it's negative 30 degrees." But luckily, a kind skating mom...

Tender Mercies

Search This Blog