Week 3 of yoga teacher training

We continue on posture work (asanas) theory, technique and training in the third week and also have to teach external customers a whole class. I teach a group of Jen's regulars and it goes really well, except they call me a slave driver and one guy says he needed a stretcher at the end of the class (they were only kidding of course!). We also learn 8 classes (from relatively easy to really hard!) which we can teach in future (and change around according to the needs of our customers). We also start learning about Ayurveda, Pranayama (breath extension and control) and Yoga Nidra (a state of conscious deep sleep) and I get to teach Yoga Nidra to another group of regulars. We also watch a fabulous 5 hour long video about the history of yoga, current practice and benefits to health. The weather is lovely and hot with big storms every few days - which brings out the beautiful lotus flowers :)

Friday we have beach yoga again in Amanzimtoti (and learn about Mudrah's, Bandas, Tattvas and Gunas) and went for a lovely swim in the sea and sea pool afterwards. We have a gorgeous lunch with red cappuccinos (my new favourite drink) and Lee gets us real traditional KZN bunny chows for dinner one night. Over the weekend we have to work on our final assignment (15 page document on yoga and what it does for you) and we can't believe there's only a week to go! Fleur and I decide to take Jen and Lee out for dinner tonight just to say thank you for taking us into their home and teaching and spoiling us so much! They have been an amazing example of true generosity and living light-filled and fulfilled lives whilst still living in the real world and dealing with real problems (in a more balanced way). Below - sunrise at Jen and Lee's place :)

Week 2 of yoga teacher training

We start off the second week by giving our presentations about the energy body and the main chakras. We continue with 3 yoga sessions per day and can feel by the end of the week tthat we are much more flexible and can get into poses that we couldn't before. Amazing how quickly the body learns! We then dive into discussions about the nadis, aura, ida, pingala and shushumna. Next we tackle energy balancing  and pranic healing and on Thursday Jen kindly asks Patty to come over for some personal sessions on energy balancing and energy massage. I've never felt so relaxed afterwards and getting into the poses have never been easier!!

Friday we go for our beach session in Amanzimtoti and have a gorgeous swim in the seapool afterwards and get naughty with pizza and koeksisters for dinner!.

As if we aren't being spoilt enough, Jen and Lee take us to Tala game reserve on Saturday and we have a spiritual encounter walking amongst the giraffes and see kudu, rhino, hippo and plenty more!

 

The rest of the week is taken up with learning all the different asanas (postures) and also learning 8 different classes and teaching them to each other and with Jen watching and correcting. It is exhausting work, but we put in a lot and also gain a lot in terms of satisfaction and relaxation! Next week we have to teach Jen's classes i.e. to external people!! Eeeek! We end the week by being invited to one of Jen's regular yoga clients neighbouring farm for a delicious stuffed rock cod on the braai! Yummmmm!

 

 

Drakensberg, Lesotho and first week of yoga teacher training

The baz bus (a backpackers bus that travels all over SA) worked really well and soon I was dropped off at the Amphitheatre backpackers lodge which is just gorgeous! I settled in the afternoon and spent my time exploring the lodge (with swimming pool, pool table, bar, Jacuzzi, steam room, two upstairs libraries/chill rooms, great dorm rooms and huge outside lawn area). I also went on a long hike towards the lake (and saw lots of beautiful birds) whilst a spectacular thunderstorm was brewing. After my 3 course backpacker special dinner, I settled into the dorm room but was unfortunately woken at 2am when 3 new young guys arrived and again at 5am when they had to leave on their tour! Oh well, that is what you get when you sleep in a dorm room I guess ;o)

Next morning early we departed on our tour to Lesotho for the day which was wonderful and very informative. I've never gotten through a border post so quickly and the scenery on the way and in the country is just spectacular! The way of life is very primitive and we spent time talking to a teacher at the local school, a witch doctor, saw some san rock art and tasted the local grub and brew before driving the challenging roads back.

 

Sunday lunchtime I get the next baz bus the rest of the way to Pietermaritzburg where I'm collected by Jennifer and Lee Fitzsimmons (Fleur is already in the car as well) to make our way to their beautiful farm in the sugar cane fields. It is a spectacular location and we settle in after dinner as we start the next morning  with our first yoga lesson at 6am! We quickly settle into the week routine: 3 yoga sessions per day: typically 1 at 6am, the next at either the café in Eston where Jen teaches or the school at Richmond; then back home for some theory lessons, then Fleur and I usually go for a long walk with the dogs (Asia, Saber and Sadie) among the sugar cane fields and then at 5pm another yoga lesson (this time in our gorgeous yoga room where locals from the farms around come to join us).

 

 

I was also very excited to learn that there are a pair of fish eagles that hang out around the lake on the property and was lucky to get really close to them on one of our walks.

 

 

Jen and Lee absolutely spoil us with delicious and nutritious meals and on Friday we get to do our yoga session on the beach in Amanzimtoti and on Saturday we went to the Hillview farmers markets which was wonderful. The yoga so far is just amazing; I didn't really realise that (contrary to what I've done in Australia) the most crucial part and also the backbone of yoga is deep breathing and meditation. Some of the yoga sessions we do are practically only deep breathing, chanting and yoga nidra (meditation and visualisation). I can already feel the difference in my body and apart from being sore almost everywhere, I'm starting to feel really really relaxed :)

 

So far this week we have covered the philosophy and science of yoga, anatomy and physiology of the physical body and then of the non physical or energy body including the 7 major chakras or energy centres from root to crown which we also have to do our first assignment on this weekend.

 

Hariom - peace be with you :) 

Jo'burg days

I was lucky to have a lovely 3 weeks in Jo'burg and really got into the routine of things. My beautiful sister helped with getting access to the gym so I would go for wonderful 1.5 hour yoga classes or swimming at the gym almost every day. Then I was kept busy with looking after the 5 dogs (taking for walks/ the vet for vaccinations/illnesses), the 35 chickens (buying chicken food, laying mash and growing mash for the chicks) and making food every day from the wonderful selection of fresh veggies that is grown in my sister's veggie garden (together with Memory and Leiford).

 

In the evenings I would help out with picking up kids from swimming/water polo and then helping with homework before getting them in bed. I enjoyed all of this immensely and it really made me feel part of the family again :) I also had enough time to hang out with my best friend from school, Suzanne, and we spent time in funky Melville and earthy Bryanston organic markets - both awesome!! I also had quite a bit of time to read, practise piano (I can already play 3 new pieces and am planning more) and secretly watching "Vikings" at night on my computer (thanks Graeme!). All too soon I had to say goodbye again and Kevin kindly sat 2 hours in the traffic to take me to the baz bus on 30 January with which I depart on my next adventure: yoga teacher training in Pietermaritzburg (and a stop-over in the Drakensberg on the way!)