Yoga Teacher Training Journeys

A Service to the Soul

Written by: Sarah Berry

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What meditation can do for you

Written by: Yoga Teacher Admin

Meditation is the practice of mastering our minds – taming their tendency to wander wildly and learning to reengage, bringing our awareness back to the present moment. When we meditate, we stop projecting into the future or playing the past over in our minds like a broken record. Instead, we settle into our skin, finding our centre within and through this, a sense of equanimity enabling us to better deal with the fluctuations and impermanence of life. Instead of being about the destination, meditation is very much about the journey and our sensory experience of it. When we are released from the shackles of the mind and simply allow ourselves to ‘be’ we can find clarity, lightness and a deeper sense of connection to life and to those around us. We feel more alive, more focused and more complete.

The asanas or postures in yoga were originally designed to prepare the physical body for meditation, so the combination is a naturally synergistic one. For this reason, we at Byron Yoga Centre have decided to hold a yoga and meditation retreat, starting February 19. Run by our resident philosopher and dedicated meditator with over twenty years experience, Stephan Kalhert, the retreat is designed to help those new to meditation as well as those who are experienced practitioners, but would like to deepen their practice and enhance their understanding of its philosophy and history. Held at our stunning Tallows Beach location, this is the perfect opportunity to get back in touch with yourself and learn the tools to gain clarity, calm and concentration in body, mind and spirit. Its going to be a beautiful and profound experience and we look forward to share it with you.

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Yoga in times of crisis

Written by: Yoga Teacher Admin

~ Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. ~ B.K.S. Iyengar

It is not a surprise that more people turn to yoga in times of crisis. When we are depleted, emotionally, physically and mentally the need to take care of our well being becomes more important than ever.

The recent floods across NSW and QLD have resulted in multiple deaths and thousands of people losing their homes and livelihoods. The devastation caused is unquantifiable and the impact on people’s emotional health and capacity to function is huge.

This is an undeniable fact and practicing yoga at a time like this may seem trivial. However, it is precisely during times of great distress that we need all the support we can get.

Yoga can provide a refuge of calm from whatever chaos is occurring in our lives. It provides the space for us to check back in and, when we are suffering and stressed, gives the body and soul the chance to relax and rejuvenate.

It also teaches us to live moment by moment and breath by breath. This attentiveness to the present moment is vital if we are to make lucid decisions, cope with difficult situations and is particularly important when the thought of the future is overwhelming and only adds to our already heightened sense of anxiety.

By surrendering to what is and accepting that we cannot change what has happened, we can only deal with what is in front of us right now, we are no longer paralyzed by our attempts to control the uncontrollable.

Through yoga, we can learn to be present, finding our centre and stillness amongst the changeability of life. In this way we can alleviate our suffering. This is the practice of yoga.

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Recharge, realign and reconnect

Written by: Yoga Teacher Admin

If you have an intrepid spirit, a desire to reconnect with nature and tune back in to body, mind and spirit, then the combination of yoga and surfing may be your perfect match.

These complimentary traditions are both forms of meditation in motion. They encourage us to connect back to the present moment, to our surroundings and to ourselves. All the while developing our energy, endurance, flexibility and body awareness.

When we integrate yoga and surfing, a synergy takes place. At once, the surfer becomes more agile, has a deeper understanding of his body and breath and is less prone to injury, while the yogi gains strength, endurance and enhances his connection to his surroundings.

The beauty of both yoga and surfing is that they are far more than just forms of exercise. When we become completely present and completely peaceful, an alchemy of self, spirit and surrounding takes place. There is the opportunity to see that we are part of something greater than ourselves. In yoga, there is the union of our individual selves with our greater selves, or Atma. In surfing there is the harmony and synchronicity of our body with nature. When combining the two, we are taking a holistic approach towards yoking body, mind and spirit.

This is why, in conjunction with the highly experienced boys from Mojo Surf, we’ve designed a seven day retreat for beginners through to advanced yogis and surfers alike to explore these parallel traditions in a safe and fun environment.

Our surf/yoga retreat, starting January 15, is located at the unspoiled Tallows beach. There will be daily yoga and surf lessons, pranyama, beautiful, fresh food and plenty of time to relax and explore the surrounding areas. If you’re up for a bit of adventure, some time to chill out in paradise and tap back into yourself, then jump on board – it’s going to be sensational.

Check out the website for more details: www.byronyoga.com

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Managing life and acceptance

Written by: Pete

Have you ever known anyone faced with a life threatening illness? Have you or someone you know been confronted with an unexpected and potentially life threatening situation where everything normal went ‘into a spin’? How did you, or they react? Perhaps questions of the real meaning of life arose. It won’t come as too great a surprise to know yoga and retreat play important roles helping us adjust to major life challenges such as those posed by changes such as these. Read the rest of this entry »

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Where to from here?

Written by: Nicole Yarn

Well, isn’t that just the question of the day! Does anybody really know? I certainly don’t, but I suppose I have an idea of what direction I might choose to move in. First thing’s first, practice practice practice. I want to get out there in the big wide world after my yoga teacher training and teach classes. I would like to come to a place in my teaching where I feel comfortable in front of a class for 90 minutes. I want to feel confident in my teachings, in my sessions and in my knowledge. I’m getting there day by day, but it is something that requires time and a whole lot of awareness. Also, I think it requires time to let all the information from the course sink in. Read the rest of this entry »

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Volcanoes and Yoga

Written by: Pete

If you’re a keen observer of daily events, it would be hard not to rate the recent turmoil affecting air travelers in northern Europe right up there with the major stories of the year. Who would have thought an active volcano in remote Iceland could bring the world’s aviation industry to it’s knees (or should that read ‘ground’) while nature took it’s course, throwing the travel plans of thousands of people into chaos? Is there a link between erupting volcanoes and yoga?
Read the rest of this entry »

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Following my heart with yoga

Written by: Lina Tael

There is no deep reasoning behind my decision to enrol in the level 2 course really, not this time. It just seems a logical next step. Previous events, circumstances have me led to this, I’m just following my heart really.

I have been involved in the Byron Yoga Centre for a couple of months now and I really enjoy contributing. I feel excited and a bit bored ‘operating’ in the scope of my level 1 knowledge. So maybe I’m looking for more diversity as a yoga teacher and as a practitioner. Read the rest of this entry »

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Striving for Excellence in Teaching

Written by: Kristin

I enrolled in Level 2 yoga teacher training because my Level 1 training with the Byron Yoga Centre was such an AMAZING experience for me.

It deepened my level of understanding of yoga, my self……life! So I am very keen to delve even deeper into this incredible practice that sustains me and nourishes me so much.

Also, because I want to be an EXCELLENT yoga teacher, teaching people good, inspiring, safe yoga…so, I’m hungry to learn more! I have been teaching beginner yoga classes for the past 6 months since my Level 1 training and have loved teaching with a passion, so I am looking forward to coming back and consolidating what I learnt, what I have been teaching and getting onto some more advanced teachings as well…going deeper! Read the rest of this entry »

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The inspiration of teacher training

Written by: Penne Prabat

At the moment I feel saturated with information, and feel I need to take some time to process it all and start putting it into practice. I feel inspired, and also a little bit nervous about ‘getting out there’ and getting stuck into teaching. Mostly however, I feel excited about being able to start applying all that I have learnt.

When I go back to Melbourne my plan is to work 2 days a week contracting in a corporate role and to start teaching yoga classes as soon as possible. I hope to get a class or two in my local yoga studio, an am also going to look at teaching at gyms and corporate classes, or wherever I can. Initially I want to keep my 2 days contracting so that I can have a reliable cash-flow, and can put my energy into teaching, and have to worry about how many students turn up to my class. Read the rest of this entry »

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