Preeti: A new beginning
So, finally my YTT is coming to an end. It has been an ultimate life-altering experience. I feel so glad that I took the decision to do my YTT from the Yoga Mandala. Jessica, our lead trainer is one of the most fabulous instructors who has always been ready to resolve all questions and clear any doubts regarding the subject. Her knowledge is deep and rich. Alexis, the studio manager is extremely clam and has her own unique way to express compassion. After all those intensive sessions, I feel confident with the knowledge I have gained during my lessons and with the continuous teaching practices we have done throughout YTT. Apart from this, I have gained some fantastic friends who have been in my class and have supported and helped each other along the way. Thank You! Preeti RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Nia: Teaching
The day has finally come! When I am stressed or am nervous about something I usually get really bad stomach aches and nausea. Today though, even though it was a (pretty) important assessment, I felt more excited than anything! Wasn’t this the reason why I joined the YTT in the first place? I had invited friends from work to join my class. Most of them did yoga semi regularly, except for a couple of them who go to the gym regularly. I made a sequence that I felt could be modified for beginners and progressed for those who wanted a bit more of a challenge. I am happy to say that the class went pretty smoothly! There are some things which I will work on before my second community class but in general I felt pretty pleased about the class. I am also very very thankful for the people who volunteered to join my class. I really think that the way the YTT has been planned out made me be prepared to actually teach. Getting to practice teaching from early on in the YTT made me feel much more prepared, which I think really helped lessen the anxiety of teaching. You get used to giving instructions early on in the YTT, that was a slight confidence boost for me because I’ve already learned what to do and it was just a matter of remembering my sequence and managing the class. We’ve got 2 more weekends to go before we graduate. How time flies! I’m incredibly glad I made the decision to do YTT at TYM and have met all the wonderful people here 🙂 I’m very thankful for the experience. It’s still uncertain whether I’ll get to continue teaching after YTT, but I would love to. Just as my first yoga teachers had inspired me to continue with the practice, I hope to share this practice and maybe inspire others as well. Nia RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Rachelle: Teaching (6/6)
I taught my first community beginner class. 80% of my class are guys. I alter my sequence as I go from observing them of their capabilities. It was a great practice as an instructor. I need to be quick in coming up with new poses as I go. Testing my skill of altering/switching up sequence to cater to the class. It also taught me how to give better instructions for first timer yogis. Giving alternatives, usage of props or simply just restore at child’s pose because the body simply does not allow them to get into the pose. Rachelle RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Rachelle: Breathing techniques (5/6)
I thought all we had to do during meditation was just to sit still with eyes closed and try not to think about anything. But it is so much more than that! There are many different breathing techniques that benefit you in so many ways. I cannot get through my day without pranayama in the morning now. It brings me balance, strength, peace. It reduces my stress and anxiety level. It gives me metal clarity and help me focus throughout the day. Not to mention, with Ujjaiyi breathing, I find myself able to get into poses with ease (or easier). Just like the translation of Asana, each pose should be easy and comfortable! Rachelle RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Rachelle: Preparation for teaching (4/6)
Coming few weeks will be our teaching assessment. We have been prepping for it since day 1. Learning sanskirt, postures, body alignment, sequencing, adjustments, skeletal and muscular systems. But nothing prepares you for the real deal. Teaching a real-life class will be so different from teaching your course mates. The nerves, the butterflies in your stomach, the stress… ARGH!!! I believe Jessica has taught us well. She will never throw us out there in the world unprepared and unqualified. I am apprehensive yet excited at the same time. I cannot wait to start my own journey as an instructor! Rachelle RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
CP: Yoga Journey – YTT Seedling
I never thought that 3 months of YTT will end soon in a blink of an eye! Here start for our teaching assessment. Other than the anxiety for the teaching assessment, I observed a lots of change among all of my beloved batch mates. We started from awkward, smiling and talking with polite tone, and now, we chat non stop, cheers each other, encourage each other, laugh together without taking care of lady image. It’s not only the change of our relationship, all my friends are improving on their favourite peak pose. It will not be the graduation of our yoga learning, our yoga journey just start after we graduate from The Yoga Mandala. It will not the end of our friendship, I feel appreciated for knowing such a helpful, lovely friends and learn yoga together. I feel I am the lucky one to have a great teacher, Jessica and Alexis. Last but not least, big thanks for my Teachers and mates, and Qin Qin who recommended me The Yoga Mandala! Nia, Preeti, Fel, Xiao Hui, Simran, Carmen, Sylvia, Rachelle & Tina ~ Keep in touch CP RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
CP: Yoga Journey – YTT Growing
Before joining YTT, I often think yoga is simply means getting stretch for my body, bending here and there on a mat for an hour. Throughout the YTT, I know yoga is more than stretching and bending. I’ve learned Pranayama, 4 Paths of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga , Dosha, Chakra Muscles, Skeletal System, Spine, Joint, Rules of Creating Sequence, Yoga Nidra and Adjustment Throughout the YTT, I know yoga is not more than the above. I’ve learned how to let go my stress via the pranayama and stretching. I’ve learned step by step, be patient, listen to your body, love yourself, love your body. Last but not least, learn to love the people surrounding you. I know after my YTT, I can tell my friends, yoga is a great practice to connect your body and your mind, which resulted mindfulness and peaceful to helps an individual to release their daily stress. “Dear friend, yoga not just stretching to make your body sore for the next day ya!” Quote from internet, “We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peach within our own minds.” — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso CP RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
CP: Yoga Journey – YTT Obstacle
Extremely excited for TGIF since August, not only I can rest after the 5 days tiring working, but it is because I can attend the training during weekend. Unfortunately, I sprain my neck one day when I woke up, but I never care on it because it used to always happen on myself, I guess it is due to my pillow. However, after a week, I noticed my left shoulder, left arm and left elbow pain and numb. I have a severe electrical shock pain and tingling on my left shoulder for every single left foot step on the floor. Company doctor gave me muscle relaxant and pain killer to eat, specialist advise me to go for surgery. I bring my X-ray film to show Jessica, and she gave me advise on how to corrected my head posture by lifting my head back and up, tuck in my chin slightly, don’t hunch back. She also ask me on my eye level during my office hour and suggested me to lift up my monitor. Amazing, I feel better after correcting the posture. Trillion thanks to Jessica, Preeti for getting her friend to review my X-ray film and advise me what I should do, Carmen for recommend me for chiropractic. Throughout this period, all of my batch mates give me a lots of encouragement which make me feel very warm. I love you all (Nia, Preeti, Xiao Hui, Simran, Rachelle, Fel, Carmen, Sylvia & Tina) CP RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
CP: Yoga Journey – YTT Begin
I never thought that it is so much different from learning yoga as a student and as a teacher. As a student, I’m enjoying the yoga and discuss with friends or sister which pose I like the most, which pose I wish to challenge the most. I remember the first day of YTT, all of us spend 3 hours early in the morning 8am start from breathing meditation to asana sequence. Honestly, as a student, I normally attend 1 hour class. But I kinda enjoy the 3hrs asana with lots of sweat. During the YTT, I started to learn the correct posture that I am actually did wrong for all the time as what Jessica told us, we only shaped the posture out. And most of the time, I’m arching back for the standing pose. YTT, makes me know more from the most fundamental, know more on myself, know more on YOGA Quote from internet — “ The study of asana is not about mastering posture, it’s about using posture to understand and transform yourself” CP RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
CP: Yoga Journey – YTT
2018, I met a colleague who had been certified as a yoga trainer. We have the same topic— YOGA! Under her influence, I decided to signup for YTT. She recommended me few yoga studio which is providing teacher training course and remind me to choose a yoga studio which is registered under Yoga Alliance. My colleague sent me the contact of lead trainer, Jessica from Yoga Mandala upon my request after I saw a early bird discount from TYM IG story. Jessica invited me to go over her studio to know more detail on the course. After talked to me about 20min, in my heart had made a decision, 90% to signup YTT in TYM. 90% consists of lead trainer characteristic and the way she explained about yoga to me (my woman 6 senses told me she will be a great teacher, nice voice and will not make me fall asleep when listen to the theory), studio’s window nice to take photo and upload to Instagram! What about the 10%? Why 10% exist in my mind for not signing up? Well, very simple. I need to sacrifice my weekend sleeping time! I have to wake up as early as weekday! However, my inner body’s angel told me, dear…it is just 3 months. Ok, fine, deal. YTT begin in 1 st Aug 2020 (memorable date) “No Pain No Gain” CP RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
