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My experience with attending a yoga teacher education school in Bali

Now, four years later, I can’t believe this, but I am writing my second blog post.

The reason is that I spent the last four weeks in Bali, in which three of them I attended a yoga teacher education school, the Shades of Yoga school. The experience was beyond, and I believe one of a kind. The first attendance at a yoga teacher education is an experience, as you perhaps for the first time in years go into depths of your own spirituality, at least that was the case for me. For instance, the first or second day at the school, we were asked to explain how we were brought up in terms of religiousness, and also to figure out what the term “God” or “the Divine” means for us, as the yogic texts mentions a lot of these terms.

Most days we started around 7:30 am, and finished around 6 pm. To get a level 1 registered yoga teacher (RYT) certification, a total of 200 hours is required. Since the school lasted three weeks, the long days were required for us to learn everything necessary to become a certified yoga teacher. However, the days also included a one hour breakfast break, and a two hours lunch breaks, which were highly appreciated and to be honest for me at least, mostly spent resting :)

Every morning started with ~50 minute meditation, in which around 20-30 minutes was contemplative meditation. We would withdraw our senses by closing our eyes (pratyahara), then focus on one “object”, our breath (dharna). This first part of the mediation was guided, but then we would sit in silence. The voice of our teacher would return after a while, in order to guide us into gratitude practice. The meditation ended with setting our intentions. My favorite part of the mediation session was the part where we would move our thumbs while hands in prayer position from forehead, to lips, to heart center, in order to remember to align our thoughts, our words and our actions, and to make sure we gave some thought how our intention of the day would present itself in each way.

After meditation, we would most days go straight into asana practice, or “posture clinic” (i.e. spending time going into depth into one or more postures). This would last for about 1.5-2 hours, before going to breakfast. After breakfast, a 2 hour session that was either a class lecture or another asana practice (in which we would either teach or be taught by a fellow student) would follow. Then a 2 hour lunch break. The day would end with ~3 hours session that would combine class lecture, assignment work and/or asana practice.

We also had to complete assignments outside school hours. The first week around 30+ asanas (yoga poses) needed to be translated from their English names to their Sanskrit names. During the three weeks, two reports that included a self-constructed yoga practice of 1 hour and a self-report on how we felt that day and during the practice, needed to be handed in. We also had to write one paragraph about how each of the yogic yamas and niyamas relate to our own life, in addition to a ~4 pages long essay in which we went into personal self-enquiry about one yama or niyama.

The three weeks ends with exams. One practical exam in which you teach the ~1-1.5 hour long yoga sequence you have been taught to a fellow student. A second practical exam in which you teach the whole group one or two poses. The third and last exam is a 1 hour written exam. However, the school really makes sure to prepare you for all of this, so all of us passed. It is amazing how capable they are able to make you in only three weeks. It was beyond any of my expectations, the level of knowledge they were able to instill in us.

Thus, there is a lot of work (if you thought you were going there to also enjoy some kind of vacation), but oh, so worth it! I loved going into self-enquiry both in class lectures and in assignments. However, since it was a lot on the agenda, I myself had to also spend a lot of time during my breaks just trying to rest and take some time “off”. It is after you have completed all this work (and maybe come home) that you are able to see the bigger difference in you it has made. How it has changed you, and how you are finally able to reap the benefits of all this work. This was at least my experience.

And then, of course, my fellow students🥺 We were 13 women in the class, and I was so grateful for the small class size. The small class size made it possible to be corrected when needed by your teacher, and for you to feel seen. Also by your fellow students, the small class size made it possible for us to really get to know each other. This helped with feeling psychological safe within the group, which of course was a necessity for the really honest and personal conversations we had (both in and outside class). I remember thinking “this is the most beautiful thing I will hear during my weeks here”, but then some beautiful soul would say something even more beautiful to you some days later♥️ Just as important as the yoga itself, I think the people you share the experience with, is just as important for the transformation. I will hopefully forever remember these women, and keep them with me in my heart. Now we have a whatsapp group which I hope stays active♥️

I have to write one paragraph in which I just list more things that I am so grateful for experiencing, just because I want to remember them (without this text growing longer than it already is!)♥️ We learned a lot of Sanskrit, firstly through the Sanskrit translation assignment. When the school ended, we were able at the end to teach the whole 1-1.5 hour class using the sanskrit names of each yoga pose. The yamas and niyamas were beautiful to learn about. We used the book from B.K.S Iyengar, “Light on Yoga” to deepen our understanding of these. We were taught that yoga is not a religion, but "the science of religions, the study og which whill enable a sādhaka [seeker] to better appreciate his own faith" (B.K.S Iyengar, Light on yoga, revised edition 1979, p. 39). The 5 yamas and 5 niyamas really helped me make sense of both how I relate to others and myself. I really want to use them as a framework to help enhance my life. “Yoga is to steady the mind”, and “all dis(-)ease starts in the mind”, and that “FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real, are other teachings I hope stays in my mind” ♥️.

Last but not least, the Balinese people🥺 I mean, just the fact that all the beautiful offerings (all over Ubud at least), are offerings for the smile. This is due to the smile being the most evident proof that you are at ease, blissful, happy (if I understood it correctly). We visited a water temple (and did prayers there, I don’t want to forget that either), and a guide there taught us about the religion of Bali/Ubud. I have never seen so many smiles, and I have never smiled so much myself. I hope I will be able to keep my smile/smile more like I did in Bali, even though I perhaps will be surrounded by less smiles. Bali is the island of devotion, and the people there are so helpful and kind. I will never forget them♥️

I just recently watched a talk about the power of language when designing, in which the quote “To write is to think” came up. It really resonated with me, and I guess one reason for me writing this, is that it is a way to process the whole experience. At the same time, I want to not forget this experience, and to always have the most important teachings and learnings from this time of my life with me. Perpetuating my experience in a blog post is maybe not the right way to do this (e.g. keeping the meditation, gratitude practice and intention practice every morning would most probably be the right one 😆), but at least it is a start<3.

My first post

Although I like the idea of it, I will never have a blog, because I never put the time and effort down to maintain one. Therefore, this will probably be my one and only post. I just really wanted to design one 😇. Ok. Bye!