It’s starting to feel real.
My flights are booked, my visa application was approved earlier this week and I’m deep (deep) into a self-guided study plan to prepare for my upcoming 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in Rishikesh, India.
Plus, because I’m me, I have a packing list started already.
I’m so excited, and also a little nervous. It’s been about six years since I finished my 200-hour YTT program back in Chicago, and even though I’ve been teaching yoga consistently for more than two years now here in Flagstaff (and I’m so lucky to work for a great studio that pays me for training hours) I still feel so, so underprepared for my upcoming program.
Rishikesh Yogpeeth only has three requirements to enroll in its 300-hour YTT program:
- Completion of a Yoga Alliance-recognized 200-hour YTT program
- English proficiency
- Aged 18 or older and both physically/ mentally fit
Given that I meet all three requirements, I’m technically qualified. But even though I’m qualified, I don’t feel prepared — at all!
Cue my perpetual fear of being the token American — loudest and least-prepared person in the room.
I’ve been trying to do a good amount to prepare myself in advance of my arrival.
RELATED POST:
300-HOUR YOGA TEACHING TRAINING PLANS… IN RISHIKESH, INDIA!
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Travel logistics: While I’m really excited to arrive at my ashram and dedicate myself to a pre-determined schedule, there’s a lot of stuff that needs to happen beforehand… like booking flights (which is a process in and of itself these days), applying for a visa, creating a packing list and planning for lodging before/ after my teacher training program. I booked my flights about a month ago! I’ll be flying American Airlines/ British Airways for a majority of the flight, and I booked a short flight through a regional carrier to get me from Delhi to Dehradun. I’ll be arriving in Rishikesh two days in advance of my YTT program, so I also booked accommodations for those days. Additionally, Ryan plans to fly out to India and meet me at the conclusion of my program, and the two of us will then spend two weeks exploring India outside of Rishikesh! So that’s a whole lot more planning and booking I have to do on my end. I’m using Notion to keep myself organized, and I’m so glad it exists.
Home-specific logistics: While I am so excited to completely tune out of my everyday Flagstaff life so I can fully immerse myself in my training, there’s a lot I’ve been doing to make sure I can X. Because my day job is employment with the U.S. government, I can’t bring my work devices overseas, so I’ll truly be able to fully unplug from my job for the duration of my trip! I was able to get my annual leave approved, pre-submit my time sheets and work with my boss to get my workload covered. I also (ironically) had to find substitute teachers for my yoga classes at the studio! (Thank you Mo and Dawson for picking up for me!) In addition to squaring away things for work, I also had to figure out so many minuscule things, like care for Ochi, arrangements for someone to drop by our apartment to check on things and water our plants, early election voting processes, etc.
Ashram research: I did a lot of initial research when I picked the ashram I decided to study at, but now that I’ve paid my YTT program deposit, my ashram has started sending over more details, including suggested packing lists (white clothing, sandals, a water bottle), item restrictions (no rolling luggage — my ashram is in the Himalayas and everything needs to be portered in!), the ashram’s dress code and contact information for other students that will be in my cohort.
Self-study: While I’ve grown so much as a yoga teacher throughout the past several years of consistent teaching, I’ve definitely fallen out of touch with some aspects of yoga. While I always try my best to live a life according to the yogic principles — especially the Yamas and Niyamas — I’m a little rusty with the Sanskrit names of all those principles. I’m also a little rusty with things like anatomy and Sanskrit pose names, since I refrain from using Sanskrit in my teaching, and I try to use accessible language when cueing postural yoga… which means I’m saying “thighs” instead of referring to specific muscles. I’ve been using several things to self-study and refresh, including materials from my 200-hour YTT program, flash cards (I love the Quizlet app ever since TinyCards went defunct), books (I’ll share a complete list soon!) and podcasts.
Asana practice, practice, practice: While yoga originally started as a means of spiritual enlightenment, yoga has evolved to the modern postural practice it is today — which means I’ll be doing a lot of asana practice. (If you’re not familiar with yoga, “asana” means the physical practice of yoga.) This has probably been the easiest part of my preparation since it’s the part that’s so ingrained in my everyday life and required zero lifestyle changes or additional time commitments. 🙂
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I’m starting to feel a bit frantic. Yoga is just such an amazing, deep and nuanced practice with a storied history and there’s so, so much to learn and know about it! I feel like I could study this practice forever and still crave more.
Although — I guess that’s why it’s called a practice.
Anyway, just a few thoughts I’ve been tossing around lately! I’m excited to look back on this post once I get back from my program and reflect.
My views are mine alone and don’t represent those of YogaSix, YogaSix Flagstaff or any prior yoga studio I have worked for. You can read more on my disclosure and privacy policy page.
