“What is yoga to you?” a question that was asked of us at the start of our teacher training which has a much different meaning to me now.
My original answer was strength; the program for me was an opportunity to learn about yoga as a whole, but mostly to deepen my practice. I didn’t really know what to expect going into it, I was just more nervous about the lack of time that I was going to experience for those nine weeks. Concluding my experience, I am changing my answer to love, the only word that comes to mind that encompasses all of what yoga is and gives. I found love in all of my fellow teachers in training. Amazing friends, people that would give the world for you, providing support and compassion to people that were complete strangers only a few short weeks ago. The love that you give your body: allowing rest or getting exercise, taking care of what we ingest,and how we perceive our bodies. Love of your mind: finding the difference of what your mind thinks and can do, learning to love yourself and the control that gives you over your surroundings. Love of your soul: the beauty of loving yourself and the world around you that you experience; learning to appreciate what we have instead of longing for what we don’t. In that love, we have found trust and family. I couldn’t have asked to be surrounded by more amazing people; graduation was a time of happiness and sadness. We accomplished so much together and I will forever cherish the time.
