Diary of a yoga student + teacher

Hello Readers!

Recently I have felt compelled to share some more insight into my personal yoga experience and actually I could write a book (maybe that's an idea to manifest ha!..)

So if you are interested in getting to know me a little better

then welcome to my little yoga memoirs

My First Yoga Experience:

When I started yoga like most, I went to simply stretch & strengthen my body. Growing up I'd done a lot of dancing & gymnastics and so I knew the value of moving and stretching my body.

I remember as clear as day, my first thought in the class was, "Errr, this is harder than it looks.." and "do I inhale now or exhale?" I was completely out of my comfort zone. All I kept hearing was lots of different animal names elegantly shared by the teacher, "down dog, cobra, cat, cow"...the list goes on. I was slightly puzzled yet full of intrigue. Then the lying down bit happened, which is referred to as savasana pose. OK, so we lie down and just stay here? You mean I don't need to do anything? Let's be honest, my mind was dancing off, I wasn't relaxed or calm or peaceful, if anything I was feeling bored and frustrated. Why lie down and just breathe? Like a diligent student and in a bid to understand what all the fuss was about, I went with it. It was probably the shortest moment in recorded history, but I felt which can only be described as a shift. A moment where I transitioned to a different state of being, I felt good in way I'd never experienced before.

From that point on, I had tasted something I enjoyed. A brief moment of clarity amongst the busy noise of my thoughts. I felt more harmonious and generally lighter leaving the class. It then struck me, yoga makes me feel good. Simple.

Yoga Student:

I then wanted to go to a yoga class every week. I looked forward to my regular yoga class every Thursday night (thanks Mum for always taking me). I would cancel or swap any plans I had, so I could attend the class. Week after week being challenged and moved in ways I didn't know possible, I started to notice my body was changing, physically I felt stronger and more supple. What I didn't anticipate was how I would feel mentally. Yoga has changed me, but not in the sense its given me magic powers (how cool would that be...) so I never feel anxious, angry, frustrated or upset. I will always experience these feelings, let's be honest. But what it does, is gives me the tools and means to deal with the ebbs and flow of life in a different way. Its taught me to re-think situations, tap into a calm space and reveal my true nature which had never left me, but has simply been forgotten. I then understood what yoga would be for me. It was a place to unveil layers of myself, moving away from the boggy negative thoughts patterns, and feeling content and happier.

Yoga Student + Yoga Teacher:

If I'm really honest, I think I knew almost within months of practicing yoga I wanted to teach. It's hard to explain but I just almost knew this would be my path. However, it took me another eight years to actually start my teacher training course. Life has a funny way of dealing you things in an order which you don't always have planned. Then the perfect course came up at the perfect time. I found a 200 hour yoga teacher training course in Storrington at the Yoga Garden. It was nothing short of powerful, amazing and inspiring. I experienced the practice of yoga in a different way and left the course with a thirst for sharing yoga with others.

I haven't looked back:

I now sit here on my bed writing this blog post with a notebook beside me full of ideas + musings for yoga classes, a to do list of admin work, photos I need to edit for the blog and instagram and emails to get through from my students. And I LOVE it....teaching yoga has brought me to this perfect place. I have a day of class planning later and reflecting on my working week before I head out to teach my students this evening. I feel gratitude is spilling out of me daily as I pinch myself and have this reminder that dreams do come true. Call me cheesy, but they really really do. It's not all rainbows, unicorns and amazing-ness, but it's pretty damn close. To my dear students, thank you as you teach me every day - namaste x

Thanks for reading,

Layna xx