Sounds exotic right? Of course, the picturesque beach surroundings and the sound of ocean waves crashing onto rocks made my one month training in Thailand surreal. But becoming a yoga teacher takes dedication and devotion on both a physical and mental level.
I had heard about Vikasa Yoga (teacher training) at a yoga convention last year. I decided to attend the training for a few reasons. The word Vikasa means “evolution,” so rather than learning one specific style of yoga, I would be exposed to different types. Also, I have always wanted to learn more about the philosophy of yoga, and I was hoping to cleanse my mental state after a rough year. The remote location of Vikasa Yoga, overlooking the island of Koh Samui seemed like the peaceful setting I needed to launch this new part of my life.
The course covered breathing and meditation practices, yoga poses (asanas), the philosophy of yoga, and the anatomy of yoga. A typical day would consist of:
- Two hours of mediation and asanas in the morning
- Brunch
- Two hours of theory (philosophy or anatomy)
- Two hours of more intense asanas
- Dinner
The days were long and emotional, filled with feelings of happiness, self-doubt, fear, and excitement. On top of the daily schedule, I also had to complete quizzes and homework throughout the course that were based on the concepts learned in class and self-reflection.
After all of this was complete, I taught a one hour yoga class in front of a small group of classmates. After getting the much needed feedback from the teachers, the proud moment of graduation came. This was a moment so fulfilling, I could feel the joy radiating through my entire body.
The course truly changed me in all aspects of life. I am thankful to have met so many like-minded people, each with a different story to tell and goals to achieve. Besides the people, I cannot speak highly enough of the skilled teachers running the Vikasa teacher training. Kosta, the founder of Vikasa yoga, pushes your body beyond limits you didn’t know existed. And George, a talented ‘yogi’ (someone who practices yoga), who incorporated aspects of mental healing in every practice without even knowing! I couldn’t ask for more, except maybe two days off a week instead of one.
There were times I didn’t think I could pass the course or I didn’t think I was flexible enough to become a yoga teacher. But this course challenged both my physical and mental capacities. I also realised that becoming a yogi takes dedication and an open mind. Yoga is about the way you choose to live your life and overcome obstacles — both on and off the yoga mat. Yoga isn’t about being able to turn yourself into a pretzel.
As mentioned above, the word Vikasa means evolution. Everyday we are evolving and learning new things; exactly what yoga is about. If you are interested in taking a yoga teacher training, check out the Vikasa Yoga. You won’t be the same person when you started the course, but you will leave Thailand feeling inspired, transformed, and able to look at the world in a different way.
Namaste.
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