My First Week of Yoga Training

For the past week, I've lived at an ashram in the mountains of Colorado learning how to teach yoga. But, that's not all I've been doing. Here's my schedule from yesterday:

6:00-7:30 AM : Personal Yoga Practice / Practice Teaching / Meditation

7:30-8:30 AM : Breakfast

8:30-8:45 AM : Learn Pranayama (Breath Work)

8:45-10:15 AM : Learn Backbend Asanas (Postures)

10:30 AM-12 PM : Philosophy

12-1:00 PM : Lunch

1-1:15 PM : Mantra

1:15-1:35 PM : Yoga Warmup

1:35-2:15 PM : Anatomy

2:20-3:45 PM : Learn Balance Asanas

4:00-5:00 PM : Attend Yoga Class

5:00-6:00 PM : Dinner

6:30-7:30 PM : Meditation in Main Temple

Needless to say I'm exhausted ... emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, but the good kind. The kind that helps you grow in all directions, and I'm so grateful to be here. Growth doesn't happen without effort. Here are three takeaways from week one. Only two more weeks to go!

1. You can hurt yourself doing yoga. It might not be the first time your knee is out of alignment in Warrior 2 or maybe even the 100th time, but years of wrong placements (even small) will affect your body.
   

2. Deeper is not always better. Just because your body can do something doesn't mean it always should. Checkin with yourself each time you enter a pose to see what your body needs in that moment.
   

3. Yoga is so much more. More than the postures. More than the breath. It's a way of connecting to your Inner Self. It's a way of being in the world.

*Photo credits to my classmate Rebecca.