One week removed from my final day and graduation from Jason Crandell’s 300 hour Yoga Teacher training, I find myself buzzing and still working through the excitement of this career milestone (though admittedly, some of that buzzy feeling is probably due the the last of the caffeine jitters working through my tired body and equally exhausted mind). At first glance, 300 hours may not sound like much, but for me those 300 hours took the form of three cross-country trips, weeks of in-depth anatomy lectures and philosophy discussion, daily physical asana practice (2-3 hours each, performed in a hot, humid and windowless furnace, albeit a nice furnace filled with lovely people) and dozens of additional hours of reading and preparation between modules. As time rolls on and people are pushed and challenged, things can get INTENSE. And it is in that very intense space that the value of preparation becomes so very obvious. Jason, well-known as a master of teaching and, in particular, teaching teachers, had, I could see, laid out the modules in a way that not only made sense to my body – working from the feet up – but was also crafted and unfolded in a way that anticipated, met and challenged my own thoughts, preferences and bias as an instructor. Whether discussing yoga philosophy and spirituality, the intricacies and common misconceptions of human anatomy, or the techniques and challenges of teaching, each module provided me with fresh insights into my practice of yoga, both as a student and an instructor. And while I could spend another 300 hours just discussing what I took away from this training, what I would most like to share today are just a few of my key takeaways and how they might benefit your practice and, for those who teach now or may do so in the future, your students. And with that long introduction out of the way, let me just start with this…
It’s okay not to know everything
For me, one of the most thrilling and frustrating aspects of yoga is the constant awareness that the more I learn, the more questions I am left with. It’s the age-old observation of “the more you know, the more you don’t know.” Throughout my training, Jason never hesitated to reply ‘I don’t know’ to a student. Although he does know a TON, Jason, who has been teaching for over 20 years, reassured us that it is ok not to have all of the answers. There are simply going to be moments when you don’t know something and, if you can set your ego aside and admit that, more often than not, students will not think any less of you for it. However far you advance as an instructor, there is always plenty of room to continue our svadhyaya, a part of Patanjali’s Niyamas in the Yoga Sutras which describes the study of both sacred scriptures and of one’s self.
You are stronger than you think
Eight days into the third module, sunk deeply into the backseat of an Uber navigating the already busy streets of San Francisco, I found myself utterly cooked and losing the mental battle to face my morning. “I can’t push through one more practice. My shoulders hurt, I’m exhausted, I just want to go to a café and eat pastries all morning.” These were the thoughts circulating in my head. I wrestled with my self-doubts for several minutes, finally building up the the nerve to tell the driver I had changed my mind, only to find we had already arrived at the studio. But despite all of my misgivings, it just so happened that this day’s practice was to be my strongest of the entire module. Later that evening, relaxing and reflecting on the day, I felt empowered by this achievement, though a bit concerned I had doubted myself so wholeheartedly, after journeying so deeply into my training. Trying to reconcile this moment of weakness, I pondered the readings Jason had assigned us for our training. Our reading list was rich with interesting and insightful texts, from the yoga staples (Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Upanishads), to more contemporary works, one of which, entitled Buddha’s Brain, explored scientifically how our thoughts actively sculpt the brain. I considered how easy it can be, when under stress, to actively multiply that stress through the way we choose to perceive it. And more importantly, how those choices become patterns. But Buddha’s Brain teaches us that this is a two-way street and that it is just as easy to shape our minds into a more resilient form. I carried this thought with me for my final week, confident in the belief that I was completely capable of finishing my training every bit as strong as I had started it.
Practice evolves
To ensure that your yoga practice and, more specifically, your home practice is consistent, it’s essential to understand the need to adjust their intensity and duration to best complement what’s going on in the rest of your life. Your practice should nurture you when you need nurturing, inspire and lift you up when you are most in need of inspiration, not deplete and frustrate you because you aren’t able to rock out 50 chatarangas in 90 minutes. But while we strive to build the practice we need, it is equally important to avoid becoming attached to moment-to-moment expectations. Our practice is, after all, part of our lifelong journey and a healthful rule-of-thumb for all of the important components of our lives is to maintain a sense of balance and consistency.
For more home practice inspo, check out my blog “Bringing it home.”
Connect with people
It’s not uncommon for yoga teachers, particularly for those who teach as a full-time profession, to feel a sense of isolation from time to time. On busier days (and there seems to be more and more of them lately), I rush directly from one studio or one client to another from sunrise to sunset and beyond. And in all that time, with the exception of the teacher-student interaction itself and a smattering of work correspondence (e-mails, texts and the odd bit of telephone tag), I have little to no truly leisurely contact with another person. It was an enormous treat to enjoy the company of 50 other yoga teachers during my training both inside and outside of the studio and, although I would love to have regular gatherings with many of them, it’s simply not practical or, in many cases, possible at all. But what I have found, on the occasions that I have made a moment for myself to just interact freely with a student or fellow instructor, is that the interactions are always valuable and, often times, yield some unexpected surprises.
Yes, yoga is a business too
Although we may practice yoga as a spiritual endeavor, to grow successfully as an instructor it is critical to embrace the business of yoga. I am sure that many, and certainly I, find it sometimes intimidating to learn and engage in this practical side of yoga, but it is unavoidable, especially as we have success in connecting with more and more students. That success can come in all sizes. We are not all (and perhaps are not seeking to be) the next Jason, Kathryn or Rodney of the yoga world. But for me, and I think for most of us, being a successful yoga teacher does include teaching yoga with fair compensation, with respect for the time and effort I put into my work, and affording myself the opportunity to develop my skillset and and gain the experience necessary to teach in bigger mediums such as retreats, trainings and workshops. Whatever your comfort level with self-promotion, social media or business plans, by learning more about these tools and by using them effectively, professionally, and in accordance with your values, you can continue to support and grow what you have to offer to the yoga community.
Know what you stand for
Speaking of values and connecting with people, not all students who come to your class will resonate with your message, content or teaching style, but hey, that’s okay! While we should care about the our students’ experience and their connection to what we’re sharing, the desire to please everyone will just end up plaguing you, as it did at the beginning of my own teaching career. Though I still have moments of concern, wondering if I’ve provided a student with whatever they needed that day, I’ve accepted the simple fact that you absolutely cannot please everybody. What’s more important, I’ve learned, is being authentic, providing a consistent experience, and maintaining respect for yourself, your students and the yoga community and practice of yoga itself. By maintaining to those values, I’ve advanced happily in my teaching and have developed a more enduring base of students. Whether I’ve practiced with Jason via YogaGlo, or in-person at a workshop, training or public class, his content delivery and teaching style is ALWAYS consistent – a truly tangible demonstration that the accessory and external factors—classroom dimensions, temperature, student demographic – does not require you to change the things that make you who you are as an instructor. Being flexible as an instructor is about finding a way to deliver your content as you face challenges, not about changing your values to suit the breeze.
And last but not least...
Be grateful
Without the support of my partner, there’s a good chance I couldn’t or wouldn’t have completed all three modules consecutively. Thank you for your love, unwavering encouragement and pushing me to grow every single day.
A big thank you to Love Story Yoga’s manager Laurel and her English Bulldog side-kick Bru Ngo for housing me throughout module 3 – she is one of the funniest and kindest beings I have ever met! My gratitude also extends to Jason’s assistant, the beautiful Mira Valeria, for sharing her teacher toolbox so generously – her hands-on assistance class was, without a doubt, one of the most valuable lessons of my training.
Thank you to my classmate and friend Vicki, who kept me sane, who shared adventures with me outside of class and who quickly became one of my closest buddies. Our training time together was a great reminder that we are never alone in our ventures, whether seeking education or something more personal – on that same note, I am grateful for all 50+ peers who shared their views, teachings and smiles for the 6 weeks of training together.
My sincere thanks to the stellar team of Jason and Andrea, for all that you share with the thousands of students and instructors whose practice has been touched by engaging with your content and has allowed this community to grow more skillful and mindful with you. And thank you too, Miss Sophia, for gracing us with your cuteness and giving 50 grateful yogis one more reason to smile at our graduation!
And lastly, thanks to my Hannah Hooper Yoga friends who have allowed me to share a few scattered thoughts with you here.
For more on Jason and his programs, check out jasonyoga.com, a great and highly accessible resource with plenty of free content (sequences, pose breakdowns and lifestyle blogs) to add to your own toolbox. If you happen to pass through the San Francisco area, Jason teaches regular public classes when he’s not on the road. And if you’ve found yourself thinking about taking your teaching to the next level, and are looking for an experience you will absolutely not regret, you can dive deep into his 300-hour advanced teacher training with modules currently offered in both California and, for international teachers (or those seeking a change of scenery), London, England.
Graduating class of July 2017