We just emerged from a 10 day yoga teacher training program on the Big Island! 10 days of training. 6:45am – 7 pm was the daily routine!

There were 8 trainees, amazing beings to say the least that came from the Big Island and California. Karunamayi and I co-taught the 100 hours which made up Part 1 of our two part training.

Working besides Karunamayi in this offering has been nothing shy of amazing! Her dedication and devotion to serving Divine radiates from her practices and her day to day routine. Every morning she opened our day by leading us in kirtan and meditation. Every day we would close with chanting too. Beginning and ending our days exploring and honoring the space of supreme consciousness = awesome sauce! (“Awesome sauce” was a phrase Karunamayi said at times. I love it!)

Following our morning meditation we would have an asana practice, followed by asana breakdown. In the breakdown clinics we not only taught alignment principles with clarity, but we worked with hands on tools that can be offered in yoga classes to help assist clarity for students as well. Between yoga asana breakdown, anatomy and yoga therapy introductions, our trainees have left our first session with an amazing tool box of tools that they can now explore, instill and offer. Additionally, daily yoga philosophy and sanskrit was also taught.

I was in awe of the studentship/adikara of each person there. Everyone so bright, focused and thirsty to know more. What a blessing to be with this group of immense potential!

We will gather again in May for our final 100 hours of training. We placed the 2 sessions so far apart so that each student could truly assimilate all of the work that has taken place to date. This allows us to come back in May ready to build from an even stronger foundation so that we can continue forth in our endless journey of learning. In March we will be handing out our mid-term exam, which will allow us to see exactly what has been absorbed and understood in a way that can be spoken clearly back to others. Each student is required to begin teaching to friends and family and Karunamayi and I are here to continue encouraging and assisting as needed.

What we are offering are tools, experiences and practices that help others align with their highest in this training. Our trainees will be able to take this clarity into the world, and from there where it goes and whom it touches is multiplied. How awesome is that?!

Honored to share this message from one of our Yoga Teacher Trainees. Quoting Ms. Molly Chlebana sharing her heart:

“When for the first time something starts happening which is beyond words, life has happened to you.”

I’ve completed the first of two parts of yoga teacher training and have never felt more alive. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Karunamayi and Samantha Fox Olson for the most expansive, mind-blowing, heart-melting 10 days of my life. And a humongous thank you to my mom, Eileen Boyle Chlebana!

Om Saha Navavatu,
Saha Nau Bhunaktu…

More sharing to come from inspirations centered in this training. Namaste’!