“I feel inspired, contemplative, intrigued, focused, and very much like I am headed on the right path in my life and my future.  Who knew all that could be learned in a weekend?!?!?!”  - quote from participant in our last teacher training group.

Our 200-hour certification program is broken down into 20-hour segments, each covering a specific topic.  Five of these weekends cover specific age groups.  The rest cover the general concepts that underlie the practice.  My personal favorite is Know Your Yoga.  I’ve always been fascinated by Eastern thought.  My Yoga practice began in earnest in India so I was introduced to the practical/psychological aspect of the practice more so than the physical aspect.  With a background in Child Psychology, that suited me just fine.  While hundreds of Americans were flocking to Mysore for a physically demanding practice with deep and sometimes injurious adjustments, I was across town lying on the floor with my legs up the wall repeating, “I am not this body, I am not this mind.”

While there were 30-40 people at Sri K. Pattabhi Jois’ shala (school) back in 1998, I was the only Westerner at Dr. Seetha Ram’s.  A few other local women joined me.   When I returned home to The States, I shared my love of the philosophy and psychology of Yoga with anyone who was interested.  I was delightfully surprised to discover it was a bigger group than my experience in Mysore would lead me to believe.

Now, I get to spend a full 20-hours revealing the mysteries of Yoga like rare and precious gems to a willing and engaged group of devoted students.  We lean in, filled with awe and wonder.  The stories from the Bhagavad Gita, the practical advice from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the bind-boggling depth of history all hold endless fascination and can be dipped into over and  over again like an ever-flowing river.

To give a feel for what the weekend was like, I’ll share comments from the participants:

“Need a whole weekend on each of the subjects studied this weekend.”

“More workshops on Know Your Yoga and Live Your Yoga.  Love the subject.”

“I am inspired! Yeah.”

“Wonderful format to teaching a complex concept.”

“I was rather nervous for this weekend.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to be overwhelmed.  But instead I feel inspired and refreshed.”

“Mira is very knowledgeable.  She has a wonderful way of presenting the info.  Takes a lot of intense content and makes it accessible and fun.”

“I feel very inspired to continue to learn more about all these topics.”

“This was my favorite training session so far.”

I feel inspired too, and deeply blessed to have the opportunity to share this.  I love it so much and love how the word “inspired” is used so often.  It relates to the breath and that’s all it is.  To be inspired, to take in all that life has to offer and let it go, and take it back in, and let it go… breath by breath.