Square One
I never understood the concept of “Square One”, the saying seems to imply that somehow you’ve ended up in the same place despite your best efforts. But during all of my visits to the proverbial “square one”, I found that I was immensely more knowledgeable the second time around, even if I was faced with a decision that I thought I had already made.
Yet, in spite of all my best efforts and wisdom, I am in fact back at square one, “the 300 hour teacher training” decision. I was sure I was on track to a wonderful new learning experience, from which I would be a newly minted 500 hour RYT, a verifiable Baby Buddha. But then the mixed reviews started to seep in, some from teachers who I deeply respect. “It’s not worth it” they sighed, in clear disappointment, “if you’re expecting to learn as much as you during the 200 hour program, it might be a let down“. I was crushed. On one side, Ishta 300hr program is as close to Kristin’s 300 hr program that I’m going to get to in the near future, and as one yogette pointed out, “you should just find a teacher you dig, and learn under them”. Which would be perfect, except that the teachers I’m finding myself digging either don’t offer 300 hours, see Laughing Lotus , or ask that you runaway to the mountains for a month or two (Jivamukti) and presumably quit your job. Moreover, besides Kristin, I haven’t had a teacher at Ishta who deeply moved me — well there was another, but I technically discovered him at Pure Yoga.
In fact, one of my first visits there, the teacher (who I later discovered was one of their senior teachers), didn’t want to teach our class. We got the distinct feeling she had been teaching all day, not surprising since the studio just opened, but was less than thrilled at the prospect of another class. That said, she was perfectly professional and insightful once class started. But it wasn’t ideal.
So now, I’m thinking twice about 300 hours at Ishta, and I’ve missed the start date for Yogaworks. It’s non-trivial impact to the wallet, in a year that has all of us tightening our belts, and re-considering the food we ate in college, was it really THAT bad? For now, I’m leaning towards continuing my training, but perhaps not quite in a program per se. There were a few workshops and immersions that give certification credits, and will no doubt deepen my practice:
* Anusara Immersion Level I, II, III – $700 each immersion, at Virayoga Virayoga enthusiasts are sold on Elena and her style, she seems to have something akin to Apple-like cult following. Which, oddly enough attracts me.
* Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Children or Basic Level 1 (Hatha) at Integral Yoga
* Thai Yoga Massage various courses available at Lotus Palm
Decisions.
