A Wrap on Yoga Teacher Training

As I stand just two weeks away from graduating from my yoga teacher training program, I’m in awe of how this time has flown. To anyone out there considering whether to take the leap into teacher training – do it. Second to having children, this journey has been the best thing I’ve done for myself. Whether your goal is to land a role in a studio or wellness space, or to deepen your personal practice and understanding of yoga, this training is a treasure trove of self-discovery. I leave with a full heart, by deep conversations and the kinds of friendships that take root in unexpected, beautiful ways.

This training has also been my first big leap since having my two kids just 14 months apart – a chapter that feels like a blur. My partner works tirelessly, and with little outside help, those early days of motherhood were solely about survival. This past year, I slowly emerged from that postpartum haze, catching glimpses of something I had forgotten: self-love and support.

I remember that first step back out into the world – a local gym membership that offered childcare. I signed up, and gradually built a workout routine. In time, it sparked a fiery passion and empowerment I hadn’t felt in years. Thinking back to those early days, it’s hard to believe how far I’ve come. I used to feel weighed down by discomfort, moving through my days in a cloud of isolation. My body, which had created space for two beautiful lives, felt burdened and unfamiliar.

But slowly, week by week, strength training and flowing through power yoga classes at the gym, my body healed and my spirit followed. Now, standing on the threshold of completing my training, I feel myself rising into my purpose – beyond, yet still embracing, motherhood – stronger more vibrant than ever.

The spiritual conversations we had during training were some of my favorite moments. I am a sober person and a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and it was amazing to learn the parallels between AA’s spiritual principles and the eight-limb path , yamas and niyamas in yoga. I used to feel a lot of shame about having a drinking problem, and I loathed it for years. Today, not only am I proud to be in recovery, but I feel fortunate to belong to a solution – a place that offers support, community, and a path to spirituality. Discovering these same principles in yoga, something I deeply love, makes me feel even luckier. In a world that rarely slows down, we don’t often get moments to breathe, connect, and share in exchanging conversations of the heart. This training has rounded out my spiritual experience, giving me practice, purpose, and community that help me find inspiration and peace in every corner of my life. My sponsor speaks of my emotional sobriety as being a “castle” – something I safeguard and keep clean. One of my biggest takeaways from this training is a sense of fulfillment and a welcoming of all the knowledge and tools I’ve learned throughout, into my castle. I hope to be someone who can guide others in building and maintaining their own.

From the chaos of early motherhood to discovering yoga as a tool for healing, and now to this teacher training experience, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t have a deadline – it’s a continuous (though non-linear) unfolding. If you’re considering yoga teacher training through the Yoga Alliance, whether you’re sober, seeking personal growth, or just looking to deepen your connection to yourself and others, I encourage you to take that leap. It’s not just about learning how to teach yoga – it’s about learning how to be more present, more compassionate, and more at home in your own life and body. So, if you’re feeling called, trust that call. And may we all find the courage to lean into fear and embrace opportunity for transformation – I truly believe that nothing worthwhile comes from staying in your comfort zone.