300
Long time no write. I’m not going to go through the litany of apologies and “I’m sorry, I was so busy!” Needless to say, there’s been a lot of change in my life, I’m happy to report that all the changes have been positive. I must be one of the few people who can look back on 2008 with all of its economic and political turbulence, and still feel that I was blessed, tremendously. It makes me want to do a yogic offering, right – now, in my living room, barefoot and all!
I have missed my blog tremendously, and the outlet it provides me to just let go and share. So, in the spirit of sharing, I’ve decided to enroll in a 300 hour teacher training program, which will make me, a 500 hour certified teacher, upon completion. It will also make me a lot poorer, which is a heavy consideration. I wasn’t immune to the economic down-turn, that coupled with some very large expenses coming up, such as my wedding, and my soon-to-be husband’s law school, it does give me a very very long pause. The 300 hour certification is even more expensive than the 200 hour, and it’s no doubt even more taxing on time, time that one could argue is better spent on work and the wedding. Am I sure I want to do it? Honestly, about 30% of me doesn’t, and it’s a very strong 30%. It’s also the reasonable 30%, the side of me that I’m use to listening to, because it’s the side that usually right.
I suppose though, that my practice has never been about right, or practical. At some point, I’d rather be doing this for a living than what I do now, so isn’t this actually an investment on my future? Possibly.
I will forwarding my application to the Ishta 300 hour training program, starting up in March. Hopefully, I’ll be accepted. Below, is my essay on why I want to do this, and what kind of teacher I hope to be. At the very least, I hope to be honest.
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Write a brief essay answering:
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What led you to apply to a 300 hour yoga teacher training program? What makes it an important program for an aspiring yoga teacher?
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What are your personal goals and expectations for this program?
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What makes a good yoga teacher?
What qualities about you / your practice will make a positive contribution to your teaching?
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I’ve been wanting to deepen my practice for some time. The 300 hour program seems like a natural lead after completing my 200 hour certification. The 200 hour program just began my exploration into yoga, and although the 200 hours has enriched my practice tremendously I feel that it’s only the beginning of my education.
From this program, I hope to gain a better understanding of yoga, its’ history, philosophy, and application. I hope to have the opportunity to refine my teaching style, and become well versed in the ISHTA tradition.
I believe my strength as a teacher is my empathy. I feel that, yoga for me was something that didn’t always come naturally, everything from making it to a class, to making it into a pose. By believing in a student, and having an empathetic connection to their efforts, I hope to be able to connect and guide students to discover their own practice.
I believe all experiences and qualities about a person, enliven their practice and their teaching. Certainly everyone has individual and unique experiences but the uniqueness of our lives can be a basis of relating to each other, rather than isolating ourselves from one another. Every time I come to my mat, the challenges are different, the teachers are different, my body is incredibly different even at the molecular level, and yet so far (fingers crossed) I’ve found the threads that ties todays’ practice with yesterdays. Maybe, it’s the determination that *today*, I’ll miraculously find myself in pincha mayurasana and manage my frustration; a valuable lesson that I can apply tomorrow, when I find myself feeling a similar frustration with a project deliverable. Alternatively, and most likely I will not not find myself in pincha mayrurasana, but rather than helplessly watching the ease in which all the other students rise to the pose, I can find peace in myself, and where my abilities are today. Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring that peace with me, off the mat, and to my home, where it really counts.
