Six Life Lessons From a 200hr London Yoga Teacher Training

It’s coming up to four months since qualifying as a yoga teacher in London. The whirlwind of asana and the sometimes overwhelming, always fascinating, information dump has settled and there’s a little time to reflect. What did I learn on the way? And where am I now? Clue here, 200 hours is just the start.

1. All bodies are different.

Do what feels good for you, not your neighbour. It’s not until you see 17 other yoga teachers in training lined up in a forward fold that you realise just how different every body is. Even in our bendier-than average all female group we all showed dramatic differences in the way we express poses, with each of our bone structures and anatomical disposition wonderfully different. This is life and this is what yoga’s about.

Traditional asanas provide us with a framework and a shape to work towards. The subtlety of how each individual can best work into those shapes requires the keen observational eye of the teacher as well as the student truly listening to their own body. It’s easy to rock up to class with the picture perfect form of trikonasana in your head and then find yourself disappointed with the reflection in the mirror. Take it inwards. How does the posture feel best?

2. Listen to a teacher that speaks to you (and learn to ask why from those that don’t).

Yoga teachers are unique in their experiences that lead them to teach and form a voice through the influence of those they’ve studied with, the styles that ring true to them as well as their own uniquely felt bodies. This means you might find yourself practicing in a class with a teacher's voice that doesn’t speak truly to you, and that’s a-okay. I was so happy to learn from the seriously inspirational Jessica Stewart and Olivia Marley through our 200 hour teacher training. Their two complimentary voices have given me a truly balanced insight into an anatomically led teaching style that seamlessly incorporates energetic practices. The asana practices on our YTT set the benchmark for teaching a brilliantly sequenced thematic practice.

Practicing a wide range of styles has helped me learn what I like. Taking note of the things I liked and disliked about a particular way of practicing is helping me work towards an authentic voice. I’m still working on it and noticing my style subtly changing week on week, depending on where I’m feeling inspired and influenced. These early days are all about testing the waters, finding my style and learning what works and what really doesn’t.

3. Make time to look after yourself, in order to teach others.

This is a big lesson in life (not just teaching yoga!) picked up from our YTT. Prana is defined in yoga tradition as an essential life force or energy that flows through the body in circuits and channels. We can keep our body filled with this essential energy in many ways. Sunlight, nutritious foods and controlled breathing to name a few. Basically all the good things. 

Standing up to teach is an invitation to share this energy with others. And that’s a really powerful and affecting experience. As I started to teach I couldn’t avoid the good and bad days. Teaching can leave you high as a kite, or sap the energy right out of you. I’ve been learning to take each class as a unique collection of individuals. You can’t predict how it’s going to go, but you can ensure you’re heading to the front of the room with a big pot of prana under your belt. For me this means keeping up with my regular practice, taking classes that inspire me and living a healthy lifestyle off the mat. Taking 10 minutes before teaching to close my eyes, breathe deep and pause has been a game changer for giving it all in the class, as well as taking the time to rest up and reflect after practice.

4. Tap into traditions. Embrace contemporary adaptations.

Aren’t we lucky to be following a practice that’s existed in so many forms before us? An absolute highlight of the teacher training for me was digging into ancient texts and discussing our individual interpretations and reflections. Picking apart meaning from a text that’s been read by thousands before us is a really powerful way of connecting with a deeper reason behind our yoga practice and connecting to an eternal sense of ‘being-in’ the universe. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us to stand tall in the battleground of life. The Yoga Sutras to connect with our true self. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika as a practical guidebook (although you certainly won’t find me practicing all these cleansing practices!) detailing pranayama practices that continue to help us find balance today.

These traditional practices and philosophies provide an endless breadth of techniques and teachings to build into classes. I aim to make my classes informed, as well as informing, respecting the authenticity of the practices of generations of teachers before me. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t space to adapt, change and develop our practice for the better as scientific research invites knowledge of the body's anatomical and physiological systems that can affect the way we practice yoga. Being a yoga teacher today is a fine balance of respecting tradition and embracing the change of life.

5. The most advanced practice can be moderate, observational and careful.

Always listen to your body. When I began our YTT I was undoubtedly driven to the performative elements of a yoga practice, as well as questioning my potential abilities as a teacher when I couldn’t even balance in a headstand without a wall to support me. While I still believe there can be a true benefit to this way of thinking and the curious nature of self improvement that undoubtedly brings us back to the mat, I’ve learnt to appreciate a much more moderate practice and a technique of listening to your body uniquely each day.

Sometimes my self practice will be breathwork and meditation based. Other days a simple set of restorative poses. And others still, a more dynamic flow sequence (usually testing the waters for my weekly sequencing). I still can’t do a headstand. I haven’t stopped trying, but I’m definitely not going to beat myself up about it.

6. You are not alone.

Setting off after a 200 hour training can feel like an intimidating step. Starting a business, promoting yourself and your class styles all whilst learning sequences for your very first class, straight off the back of some pretty intense learning. It’s a lot, and I’ve definitely felt the much spoken of ‘imposter syndrome’ over the last few months. (Do I really have the skills and knowledge to teach others? The answer is , yes!)

It can be hard to keep that niggling self doubt at bay without a support network to share the experience with. Luckily there’s 17 other recent graduates right along side me, going through all the same thoughts, feelings and experiences. It’s been inspiring to be part of a community through our Teacher Training Apprenticeship at State. Following each other’s journey, giving and receiving encouragement when we need it and being an ear to listen to as we grapple with the first months as a new teacher.

200 hours in and it’s been a whistle stop tour of a few hundred years of yoga history, an anatomical whiz through the body and practice to build the confidence to stand in front of a studio of strangers to share a sequence. I’ve learnt to listen to my own body with compassion and to share a caring and fun style of yoga with the friends and family that have helped me practice along the way. My yoga toolbelt is equipped with the key items to lead a class but it’s just a scratch on the surface of everything there is to learn.

I’m excited to continue sharing this practice with you. Finding teachings to inspire and aiming to always work with authenticity and compassion. Currently saving up for the next 200 hours of inspirational content...