HAVE YOU HIT A PLATEAU IN YOUR YOGA PRACTICE? WHY A 200 HOUR YTT MAY BE THE MISSING KEY TO LEVELLING UP
Written by: Rebecca Manankil, Movement Educator & Multidisciplinary Healing Guide at The Aura House
As a Yoga instructor, the question I get asked most often is “What made you decide to get your teacher certification?” Most are surprised to hear that when I initially decided to pursue my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, (aka 200-HR YTT or 200 HR RYT) I had no intention of ever teaching a class.
Zero. Zilch. Nada.
My intention was funnily enough rooted in the idea of saving money and not making it, through yoga. At that point, I lived a crazy lifestyle and yoga was the constant in my life. I was a part time flight attendant and full time wedding planner with my own company. In the moments I had to myself, I would find a studio in the cities I was laying over in or would head to my local studio when I was home. The number crunching and budget strict part of my brain spilled over from my work as an event planner and started to think:
“Hmmmmm. With all the money I’m spending on classes, I should just get my 200 HR YTT Certification. I’ll invest in it and then I’ll just be able to teach myself! Money saved & knowledge banked. It’s a win-win!”
Little did I know that I would end up loving teaching through my practicum and lead me to being an educator to others. Yet, what I took most from my training was actually how to be a better student – not just on the mat, but also off it as well. Here are some reasons why pursuing your 200 Hour Yoga Teacher training may help you in the same way!
Use the knowledge of anatomy to personalize your practice and correct your form to avoid or adjust injury
The study of anatomy is one of the pillars of 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training. When you’re in a group class, it can be very difficult for a teacher to explain all of the micro & subtle movements in the body. In my own experience, in my first week of YTT my teacher pointed out that my way of doing chatturanga was completely wrong; to the point I could injure myself one day. At that point, I had been a student of yoga for over 5 years and thought that I had a “perfect” practice (we’ll talk about the humbling experience of ego death another time =P ). By learning about the mechanics of the body in anatomy perspective such as expansion, contraction, abduction and the role the breath plays I was given a greater awareness of my body to avoid future injury and correct my form which ultimately lead to me being a better student in class.
The knowledge of anatomy was also a key in adjusting my practice after I experienced injuries unrelated to yoga. By knowing the mechanics of my body in addition to using variations or props to assist me, I was able to maintain my practice through as I healed instead of straying away from the medicine that comes with the movement. This helped my body heal faster and gave me great tips to share in classes through my own personal experience.
Build your confidence to safely challenge yourself on the mat
Further to that, having a deeper understanding of anatomy allows you to build the confidence you need to explore more challenging poses. For years, I was convinced I would never do a headstand. Again, in a class of 25 students, it’s so difficult for a teacher to zero in on each student and give you the adjustments you may need to get into more challenging poses. I’d often shy away from attempting headstand in class because I would be intimidated by other students getting into this inversion with ease and just stay within my comfort zone of a child’s pose. By the second week of my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, I was able to get up into a headstand with ease because I understood how my body worked in order for me to achieve this challenging pose. I knew how to safely play my edge until I had found the correct form for my body by knowing what to look for in the foundation of my posture in relation to the pose. Without my deeper knowledge of anatomy, I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to continue to play my edge and deepen my practice.
Bring further meaning to your practice beyond the physical by learning philosophy
When most think of yoga, they are actually thinking of asana or Hatha yoga, which are the poses performed on the mat. What I noticed about western yoga is that the focus is very much on the physical aspect of the practice, which is only one very small part of what yoga encompasses. There are actually 4 major paths in which yoga manifests, some of which nothing to do with movement!
is the path of action. It deals with the law of cause and effect. Each action has a corresponding reaction, on one’s body, mind and consciousness. The outcome of an action is dependent upon its ethical value and the intention with which it was carried out.
is the path of devotion and love for God and for the whole of creation - animals, as well as humans, and all of nature.
is also known as the “Royal Path of Yoga” or the “Eight Step Path”. It is the path of self-discipline and contains, amongst other things, those Yoga techniques that are familiar to us such as Asanas (poses), Pranayama (breathwork), Meditation and Kriyas.
is the philosophical path. The focus of this path is to gain the ability to distinguish between reality and unreality. To attain Self-Knowledge through study, practice and experience.
source: www.yogaindailylife.org
By learning more about these paths, you can connect to the different aspects and ways to practice yoga beyond the mat. You will learn new practices to increase clarity of the mind, body and spirit that you can apply both on and off the mat to improve your life on a day-to-day basis. When I reflect on the philosophy knowledge I acquired, I found myself more patient through frustrating situations, more understanding of others and able to cope in healthier ways when i faced stress.
It is also important to learn the history of Yoga as to understand its roots and pay homage to the foundations and great teachers. In today’s society which often finds itself appropriating cultural practices for the means of capitalism, acknowledging and keeping traditions from the source is the best way to preserve these practices with respect and authenticity.
Become part of a community and create life long friendships
After two years of spending at least 2 feet away from one another, human connection is something we need more than ever. I know for myself, the friendships I made in my YTT are ones that grew to life long connections. There’s something magical that happens when folks gather in the same space to engage in shared experiences. We are able to connect deeper to ourselves through the energy of others, to learn and be learned from, to listen and be listened to. By experiencing such a profound life learning journey together, you become a community – rooted in support and love, which I think the world needs a lot more of.
TAKE THE LEAP & REGISTER FOR THE DIVINE AURA YOGA SCHOOL 200 HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING!
If you’re interested in creating a deeper connection to your experience as a student, then join our 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training in Brampton through The Divine Aura Yoga School here at The Aura House. Our summer intake begins on July 3rd and includes a membership to the classes in studio for you to explore your self practice. Learn more through our website: www.DivineAuraYogaSchool.com or register through the link here
We hope to see you soon here at The Aura House!
