We are so excited to take the chance to introduce you to one of our Yoga Teacher Training Assistants for the July 2024 Yoga Teacher Training in Bali...Deb!
Deb came to Bali for her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with the Mindful Life Practice in May of 2023. We are so excited to have her back in 2024 for this journey as an assistant. She was a brilliant student and will be an even more brilliant student and support for the next group joining us in May of 2024! Read on to hear more about Deb's story and journey!
Hey there everyone, just thought I would introduce myself a little.
I was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
I have three beautiful grown-up children and two little grandkids.
I live on a small property in a quiet, outer suburb.
I have a sheep, a duck, a cat, and many transient animals that I foster. I work full-time as a veterinary nurse in a 24-hour Animal Emergency Hospital. I live with my youngest son 20 years old, and my daughter and her partner. It’s a busy household, full of life, cooking, washing and different working and sleeping hours, and I love it.
WHAT LED YOU TO START YOGA?
Turning 40 feeling stressed and out of control, my GP and my Mum told me to take up Yoga. I was a runner and loved the Gym. I had so many injuries, panic attacks, and meltdowns. I was running on adrenaline and stress and raising three kids and working! I was a bit of a mess, to be honest.
That was 17 years ago. I walked into my first-ever yoga class, with no idea about the journey I was about to embark on. It was the only one I knew in the area, and it just happened to be an Ashtanga Class.
I couldn't do the basic poses.
I had no idea how to focus.
Definitely couldn't sit still.
I had never meditated or tried mindfulness.
Despite this, it just felt right.
There began a love affair that has lasted 17 years so far, and I would love to have the privilege of doing yoga into old age.
Yoga was challenging but rewarding. Some nights I would come home pumped and others deflated. . But I kept showing up. I kept trying. I kept learning. I found other classes and other teachers, learning and growing along the way. Every teacher and class taught me more.
More about life, stretching, focus, breath, holding space for calm and stillness, challenging my mind and body, often testing my resilience.
I couldn't get enough, and wanting more, I signed up for workshops and retreats and had a generally strong home practice. Sometimes attending multiple yoga classes a day.
Later I found another style that resonated with me, Slow Flow, holding poses a bit longer and deeper. Although my heart will always love Ashtanga; the discipline, breath, and strength. Sometimes my body and mind need Slow Flow and Yin. I have developed an appreciation for the stillness, meditation, nature and the connection it brings between mind, body and soul.
WHAT BROUGHT ME TO BALI FOR YTT
Over COVID I did an Online YTT, I loved learning and it helped strengthen my practice. But I never felt the confidence to teach. I wanted to connect and live yoga: on and off the matt. I felt my Journey was still beginning and had so much more to learn.
I had read lots on Yoga Philosophy but didn't know how to put it into my day-to-day life.
In my Vet Nursing job , which I love, meant that my time was limited, and shift work also made it unpredictable.
Doing YTT every weekend for 200 hours on weekday evenings did not work for my life.
In comes THE MINDFUL LIFE/ SOBER GIRL YOGA on Facebook. Three weeks in BALI YES PLEASE. !!!!
As someone who had never been overseas, let alone any solo travel, I was nervous to say the least. However, going overseas with Mindful Yoga gave me the opportunity to solo travel, although meet up with a community of like-minded people. I was able to connect with others who were on the same journey.
HOW HAS PRACTICING YOGA ENHANCED YOUR SOBER YOGA JOURNEY?
My Yoga Mat has always been a sacred space.
A place to go, to come into the now, to come into my breath, to feel my feelings in a place of peace.
Grounding my being and slowing the mind.
Brings me out of the angst that is in my belly that makes me want to numb with alcohol.
I have learned so much about myself and how, and why, I do what I do. Breathing through anxiety instead of drinking through it.
Moving through stretches before bed to help with sleep problems.
Meditating to find clarity on challenges instead of running away
WHAT HAS YOGA/TEACHING LOOKED LIKE AFTER FINISHING YOUR YTT IN BALI?
I feel like Yoga and my teaching blossomed on my return from Bali, it kickstarted my yoga career.
I was feeling confident and asked if I could do some fill-in classes at my local studio, where I had been practicing. My first class was about 3 days later June 27th 2023. And I nailed it
and haven't looked back. I now have 4 permanent teaching slots at three different studios and am knocking back more. I receive lovely feedback and have attracted a following of students that resonate with my teaching style.
The Curriculum of the Yoga Teacher Training course was amazing, i made some lovely supportive friends, found a beautiful spiritual connection to Bali.i, I also found the confidence and such a love of yoga that I wanted to share it with as many people as I could.
HOW DID WORKING WITH ALEX MAKE YOU A BETTER TEACHER?
I loved the style of Yoga that Alex taught. I loved her relaxed voice and manner. I loved her love of philosophy and her energy. I loved her commitment to sobriety and the journey that brought her to this place.
She taught me how to bring yoga off the mat and that is what I needed. She taught me how to hold space, for others. She taught me the importance of connecting with the students in your classes.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO RETURN AS AN ASSISTANT?
I can't think of any greater privilege than helping to build the confidence of other women as they progress through their yoga journey, just as mine was built up through the YTT program.
I am so grateful to be part of their learning as I also learn and grow with them; building even further upon my teaching skills.
To hear their stories about how life has led us to this point.
There is often a tremendous growth spurt that happens in this environment, women who want to lead, learn, grow, connect, fulfill, and evolve and I can’t wait to be a part of this.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR BEING ON THE YTT TEACHING TEAM?
There are so many things that I am excited about now that I have joined the YTT teaching team. I look forward to sharing all the knowledge that I have learnt through yoga and to help build up others confidence in their yoga practice; just as mine was built up through my own YTT.
I love the way the Mindful life Practice YTT program fosters your mind, body, and soul such an inclusive and supportive program. It allows you to focus on your yoga practice without the distractions that occur in your day-to-day life: the daily classes, eating beautiful and nutritious meals together, early morning classes, or evening activities, and growing and learning together.
One of the main things that I am excited to bring to the YTT teaching team is my philosophy that gratitude is the key to living a full, happy, and balanced life. I truly believe that if we all spend even just 5 minutes every day really appreciating the wonderful things around us, that even more wonderful things will follow.
Want to train with us in Bali this July? Join us here: https://www.themindfullifepractice.com/bali-200-hour
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