Swish Oil, Not Mouthwash

I’m pretty excited about a new habit I picked up: oil pulling. Have you heard of it? Oil pulling is an ayurvedic hygenic practice that dates back a few millennia ago at least. I heard about it years ago but never felt compelled to make it a part of my routine. But after reading a great article on the science behind oil pulling by Dr. John Douilliard, I finally felt inspired to add this to my morning ritual. I’d love to share what I learned with you!

Think about the environment of your mouth. It’s constantly warm, dark, and wet; a welcoming place for bacteria to proliferate, both healthy, life-promoting bacteria, and destructive bacteria and fungi.

Ayurveda has a practice named Gandusha, or oil pulling, which for thousands of years has been practiced and recommended for its teeth-whitening and bad breath-banishing benefits.

People nowadays often use mouthwash to deal with bad breath and freshen their mouths. The intense, purifying feeling it leaves in your mouth seems powerful, like it’s doing it’s really doing its job. The problem is, mouthwash usually contains alcohol, which is used to kill bacteria. Your mouth contains good bacteria as well as bad, but modern mouthwash kills everything indiscriminately. Reducing the levels of healthy bacteria can reduce your immunity and your ability to fight off pathogens.

Oil pulling, on the other hand, nourishes the environment of your mouth, while chelating, or pulling, toxins out of mouth tissues due to the lipophilic nature of the oil.

Oleation, the use of oil to nourish and detoxify the body, is used broadly in ayurveda. Other forms of oleation are ingesting oils, both in your food and as a detoxification method, as well as abhyanga, a full body oil massage done before bathing to both nourish the skin and to pull toxins out of the fatty layer of skin.

Benefits of oil pulling:

Removes toxins including bad bacteria that contribute to heart disease, gingivitis, and other ailments

Freshens the breath by reducing bad breath causing bacteria

Nourishes and strengthens gum tissue, which contributes to healthy teeth and positive microbiome in the mouth

Reduces inflammation of gum tissue

Benefits of absorbing any herbs that have been infused into your oil

May help prevent cavities

Whitens teeth by removing plaque and pulling stains off surface of teeth

What kind of oil?

Banyan Botanicals makes a great mix called Daily Swish, which in addition to sesame and coconut oil is also infused with the herbs guduchi, fennel, amalaki, haritaki, and bibhitaki, plus the choice of mint or cinnamon oil. Those herbs have the powers of detoxification as well as a natural breath freshener.

You can also just use plain uncooked sesame oil, plain coconut oil, or a mixture. I like to add a few drops of peppermint oil. Turmeric or turmeric oil would also be a good addition if reducing gum inflammation is one of your aims.

How to Oil Pull:

After brushing teeth, take about 1 tablespoon oil in your mouth.

Swish in mouth for 10 minutes, or longer if you can tolerate it. The longer the better, as the oil takes time to pull out toxins.

Spit in the garbage.

Rinse with water.

Smile!

Wild Wisdom of Weeds with Katrina Blair + Dandelion Pesto Recipe

Becoming a podcaster has been a fun new project for me to exercise my speaking voice, move into some fear edges, and explore a new avenue of teaching. It’s become even more exciting recently as I’ve started inviting guests! This week I interviewed one of my big inspirations in life: author, teacher, musician, and wild plant wisdom holder Katrina Blair. Katrina founded Turtle Lake Refuge in Durango in 1998, a profit whose mission is to celebrate the connection between personal health and wild lands. Katrina has been a big influence on me since I worked for her as a chef at the Turtle Lake Cafe some 9 years ago. She’s inspired me to reshape the way I look at the land around me, and to come into a deeper relationship with the plants I cohabitate with. She’s taught me the incredible support that wild plants give to the land they grow on and to us when we eat them.

Listen to our conversation on Your Inner Radiance to hear about:

• How Katrina was called by the plants to live her life with them when she was just 11 years old

• How daily raw juicing led her mother to overcome severe rheumatoid arthritis

• How her father, an avid mountaineer, inspired her love for the wild

• Why wild local weeds are the best SUPERfood

• Why eating alkaline foods is essential to our health

• How weeds are intelligently restoring damaged lands

• Why mushrooms are so important to remediating toxic soil and water

• How aligning ourselves with mother nature brings us into greater alignment

• and more!

And here’s a recipe from the Turtle Lake Cafe for Dandelion Pesto:

Pasta with Dandelion Pesto

Spiralize vegetables into pasta. You can use veggies such as: pumpkin, sweet potato, burdock,
zucchini or beets into spaghetti with a Spiralizer

Pesto:
1 cup dandelions
1 cup basil, wild tarragon, mint or cat nip
3 cloves garlic
2 T olive oil and 2 tsp salt
1 cup water
2 lemons
½ cup cashews
Blend all ingredients until creamy. Serve over fresh pasta and garnish with fresh tomatoes.

How to use the weeds in your backyard as FREE SUPERFOODS!

It’s summer and that means 2 things, everything’s growing like crazy, and the weeds want to take over your garden.

If you live in a place you know is NOT sprayed with any herbicides, pesticides, or harmful fertilizers, this means you have front row, or backyard, access to some really incredible free superfoods all summer long.

I learned about this 8 years ago when I worked for Katrina Blair at the Turtle Lake Refuge kitchen in Durango.

Katrina is the weed whisperer, a wealth of information and inspiration about the wild world of wild plants. While working there I learned that many of the weeds most people think are a nuisance are actually mother earth’s sincere and bountiful gifts of abundance and health. Her book, the Wild Wisdom of Weeds, teaches about 13 of the most common and most nutritious plants growing in nearly every country. Did you know Dandelion tones the liver and stomach, reduces anxiety, is anti-inflammatory, and is a great source of magnesium, phosphorus, copper, sodium, choline, lecithin, biotin, and inositol, as well as vitamins C, D, E, zinc and manganese? (Blair 2014). And that 1 cup of Lambsquarter (aka wild spinach) contains 73 percent of Recommeded Dietary Allowance of Vitamin A, and 96 percent of your daily Vitamin C recommendation? (Blair, 2014).

So while you’re out there pulling weeds from where they’re not “supposed” to be, pull them into your kitchen and get a dose of nature’s most generous superfoods.

Here are some of the easiest ways to use them:

Green Juice:

Grab a big handful of any of the following: Country Mallow, Dandelion, Thistle (use gloves but don’t worry, the spines will strain right out and thistle is surprisingly mild flavored), Purlsane, Comfrey, Amaranth, Lamb’s Quarters aka Wild Spinach, and even young grass. If it looks dirty give it a little rinse, otherwise get a dose of natural probiotics by placing straight into your blender. Fill it up with water and blend on high for at least a minute. Pour it over a big strainer into a container, then toss the solids that strained out into your compost. Place the green liquid back in your blender. Add a squeese of lemon, a squirt of honey or agave, and blend it up again. Do a taste check and see if it needs more lemon or sweetener. That’s it! Now it’s ready to serve. Another way to sweeten is to add some apple or other fruit to the first blending and strain out the fruit fibers.

Smoothies:

With the exception of thistle, you can add a few of any of the previous weeds listed into your fruit smoothies for an extra boost of nutrition!

Salads:

Young leaves of Dandelion, Lambs Quarter, Purslane, Mallow and Amaranth can all be added to your salads! I usually mix them with other greens from my garden or the market like lettuce, spinach, or arugula.

As Katrina sings: “Don’t be afraid of the prickle of the thistle. Drink down the juice it will make you want to whistle. Like a wild seed winging through the air, waving its arms like it just don’t care. Put ‘em up!”

Sweet and Cooling Summer Chia Breakfast Bowl

Ayurveda teaches that it’s important to have 3 meals a day: breakfast should be light, lunch the heartiest, and a dinner that’s easy to digest. Sometimes I get stuck trying to come up with a “light” breakfast that also feels satisfying and fills me up until lunch. Traditionally, ayurveda recommends things like warm rice porridge, oatmeal, or stewed apples. Sometimes I enjoy those but they often leave me feeling hungry again soon after. And in the summer, I don’t really want to eat a hot breakfast.

I’ve been making chia pudding as a light and tasty dessert for some years, but only recently did I figure out how great it is as a summer breakfast. Don’t get stuck on the amounts or optional ingredients, the fun thing is you can add almost anything that sounds good, as long as you have enough liquid to soak the chia! To make this filling enough to satiate my pretty strong metabolism, I add creamy coconut milk and LOTS of nuts and seeds.

Note: Due to its raw ingredients, this is really meant for warm climates and healthy digestive tracts, according to Ayurveda.

Here’s how I usually do it:

Sweet and Cooling Summer Chia Breakfast Bowl

The night before place the following ingredients into a container:

About 1/3 cup chia seeds

About 1/2 cup rolled oats (optional, substitute 1/3 cup more chia if you don’t want the soaked raw oats)

Handful of each of your favorite nuts and seeds: I like pecans, pumpkin seeds, cashews and walnuts

About 1/5 to 2 cups liquid (your favorite milk and/or water), until there is about 1/2 inch of liquid covering the solids. I like to use a can of coconut milk plus a little water (I don’t add the 1/2 inch of coconut oil that is on the top of the can, I save that for cooking)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (for flavor, improved digestion, and to balance sugar levels and reduce sugar cravings)

Dash of sea salt

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Optional squirt of agave syrup, spoonful of honey, or dash of stevia

Stir it all up and leave it on the counter overnight.

To make it extra fancy, drizzle on your favorite cream, a little honey, and top it with your favorite berries or other fresh summer fruit.

This will serve 2-4 people and is 5 year old approved!

5 Signs You Are NOT Fully Loving Yourself

I have been hearing about the importance of self-love, and even teaching about it, for years. And yet, somehow, a lightbulb has only recently turned on that has showed me the ways in which I still don’t truly love myself. I have found it helpful to recognize when I’m not truly loving myself, because it helps me break the habit and shift it to a new one. This practice of cultivating the opposite is actually written in the Yoga Sutras. In Sanskrit it is called pratipaksha bhavanam. Recognizing when I’m being hard on myself, not forgiving myself, and not accepting my humanness, has made a big difference in my life and is leading me to an understanding of what self-love really is. I hope that the following signs help you to make a shift in the way you treat yourself. Because, what the world needs now, is love, sweet love, and it truly starts with each of us.

Note: I recognize my privileges (white, able-bodied, cis-gender, resourced) make some of these much easier for me to access than for people less privileged than me. I still believe there is something here for everyone, and I stand in solidarity with marginalized people to make this world more equitable for all. I am doing my best to learn about my privileges, and always looking for the ways I can be an ally to those with less.

5 Signs You Are NOT Fully Loving Yourself

and what Truly Loving Yourself really means

1. When you make a mistake, you dwell on it for days afterward, wishing you had done things “better” or differently.

Truly loving yourself means you accept that you are human and that making mistakes comes with the territory. You allow yourself to feel disappointed for a short time, and then, move on. You accept responsibility for what you did, consider why you did what you did (were you tired, irritable, feeling hurt, or pressured?), and think about how can do better next time, without beating yourself up.

2. You take others’ criticism or perceived dislike personally, and easily feel offended and defensive.

Truly loving yourself means you value yourself too much to spend much time worrying about what others say or think of you. You take feedback with a grain of salt, consider whether there is some truth there for you to look at and grow from, and then remind yourself that everyone has their own story and not to take it personally.

3. You feel stuck in a relationship or situation that feels toxic and unpleasant.

Truly loving yourself means extracting yourself as quickly as possible from situations that feel really bad to you, whether it’s a relationship, job, or even a conversation. This might take some time, especially if it’s a relationship with someone you live with, or a job that pays the bills, but you have a goal and are working towards it.

4. You constantly prioritize others’ needs and requests above your own.

Truly loving yourself means actively balancing others’ needs with your own, even your family’s. Your children (and maybe even your partner) need a lot of attention, and yet there are still ways to create time for your own self-care by cultivating strong boundaries. If you need time to yourself, you ask for what you need and negotiate to make it happen, while being sensitive to others’ needs. If you are a parent, this feels really hard, as you want to put your children first and show them that they are your priority. Remember, children learn self-care habits from you. What are you modeling to them?

5. When you look in the mirror, you see more to criticize than to appreciate.

Your body is the only one you get. It may not fit the narrow mold of what popular culture considers beautiful, and it may even need some attention to support you living in the best health you can. But if you don’t work on actively appreciating your body, you won’t have any true motivation to take care of it. Focus on the parts that you do like, and tenderly accept and love the parts you don’t. You may not feel like talking out loud to yourself in front of a mirror. Here are two other body image self-love practices I like: 1. Use the power of your loving touch to caress all the parts of you with the same care you would show a beloved pet or child. 2. Get naked and massage organic body oil from head to toe.

Self-love is a big part of what we’ll be doing in the 100 Hour Sacred Feminine Yoga and Ayurveda Immersion, starting June 10th! I am still welcoming a few more women. I still have a work/trade discount and BIPOC scholarship available. Reach out to schedule a call to determine if this immersion is a good fit for you.

The Four Agreements

Do you know the Four Agreements?

There are a lot of books that have changed my life, but one that I personally refer to time and time again is called the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the four agreements seem so simple, and yet they continue to teach me to act as my highest Self, rather than my easily hurt and confused egoic self. These agreements come up for me nearly every day. The Four Agreements are:

Be impeccable with your word. This one seems as obvious as always being truthful and never telling lies. It mirrors the second yama of the Yoga Sutras: Satya- Truthfulness. But honesty has many subtleties. The way we communicate goes beyond the words we say, to how we actually uphold the things we believe, and how we speak without words. It also extends to what we silently say and believe about ourselves and our world. Being impeccably clear and truthful takes great awareness and care. Learning to fully express ourselves honestly, while caring for the well being of the whole, takes a lot of practice! I have found that many problems are avoided when I am clear, timely, present, direct, and compassionate in my communication. Studying Non-Violent Communication has really helped!

Don't take anything personally. This agreement is much easier said than done! This one is probably the most powerful for me, not only from the book, but among all the lessons I have learned in my life. Our ego is so easily offended and hurt by what we think others are doing to us or thinking about us. We all have a unique slant on the way we see reality, that stems from the way we were raised, our natural inclinations, and by all the experiences that we have had throughout our life. Everyone has their own story, and they way someone else sees US is really a reflection of how they see themselves. Pay attention next time a comment or action from someone else causes you to tense and feel offended. Remember that the way they SEE you is not who you ARE. Imagine their words like paint they are flinging at you. Rather than provide a canvas for the paint to land and make a big mess, imagine yourself like a great white open space where nothing can land, leaving yourself free to be whoever you want to be, and not affected by whatever someone else throws at you.

Don't make assumptions. You know what they say: “When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” In day to day interactions with family, friends and acquaintances, I’ve often learned tough lessons on how many miscommunications and disappointments can be avoided by following this piece of advice, coupled with being impeccable with your word. I try to be very clear about any hopes or expectations I have, whether it’s what time I need my mom to drop my son off, or setting up a business agreement. When we’re clear about what we want and express ourselves with confidence, we’re far more likely to avoid mistakes and disappointments which benefits us and the people we’re interacting with.

Always do your best. Doing your best doesn’t mean getting things right, or putting in 100% of your effort every time. For me the point here is to recognize what we are capable of in each moment, and to show up in an authentic and compassionate way. Sometimes my best is full throttle, all in, total effort towards a goal or passion project or helping someone in need. And other times doing my best is gracefully bowing out, honoring my needs, and letting things be, knowing that I don’t always have to be changing the world. Oftentimes doing my best is making mistakes, reflecting on them, and growing from them. This agreement also reminds me that just as my best changes moment to moment, other people’s best changes too, and so I try to honor that everyone IS doing the best they can, with what they have to give.

This is such a brief reflection of a truly life changing book. There is more to it, and especially helpful is the concept of our domestication, or as I understand it, the conditioning that we’ve all undergone which has hugely impacted our perception of ourselves and the world. I highly recommend you get it if you haven’t read it yet, and even if you have, I recommend rereading it from time to time. It would also be thoughtful Christmas gift! If you’ve read it, reply and let me know how it impacted you! Maybe I should start a book club….

P.S. If you haven’t heard…I still have one more room available for my Awakened Heart Costa Rica Retreat this January. I’m so excited for all the yummy juicy rejuvenating things I plan to facilitate with this group of women, including Prana Vinyasa yoga, self massage, ayurveda, meditation, singing circles, dance, chakra balancing, breathwork, mindful eating, hot springs soaking, stand up paddleboarding, and simply enjoying the nature of Finca Luna Nueva (New Moon Farm). Find out more at www.awakenedheart.org.

Easy and Delicious Red Lentil Dal

 Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I have to admit I’m not a big fan of the big Thanksgiving Day American style feasts. In fact this year my family is vacationing in Southern California and our celebration will be a picnic lunch at the beach! Heavy turkey, potato and casserole dishes are ok once in a while, but if you’re feeling heavy afterwards, consider an ayurvedic cleanse for a day or three. An ayurvedic cleanse can be as simple as sticking to liquids for day or committing to eating only organic, cooked grains, vegetables, broths, and lentils or split mung beans for a few days. The following recipe is one of my go-tos all year, but especially for when I’ve been indulging too much and need a digestive reset. The first recipe is for the Instant Pot, below find the regular stovetop version. This recipe was adapted with gratitude from www.vegrecipesofindia.com

Easy and Delicious Red Lentil Dal:

Ingredients

·         1 cup red lentils

·         2 tablespoons ghee, coconut oil, or neutral oil of choice

·         1 medium yellow onion, chopped (optional)

·         1- inch piece fresh ginger, grated or minced (about 1 tablespoon)

·         1 teaspoon curry powder

·         1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

·         1 teaspoon garam masala

·         2 3/4 cups water if Instant Pot, 4 cups water if Stovetop

·         Optional: about 1 cup veggies of choice, my faves are carrots, sweet potatoes, greens, mushrooms

·         1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

·         Black pepper to taste

·         1 (14.5-ounce / 410g) can diced tomatoes (can skip if pitta aggravated)

·         1 small handful of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

           Instant Pot Directions

1.      Soak the lentils in cold water for 15 minutes and then drain them.

2.     Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and let the pot heat up. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or oil of choice, followed by the onion. Cook until the onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.

3.     Add the ginger, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Add the Ground Spices and stir to coat into the onions, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring almost constantly.

4.     Select the Cancel setting and pour in water, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the soaked and drained lentils, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper to taste, and tomatoes. Stir to combine.

5.     Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook setting at high pressure and set the cook time to 10 minutes.

6.     Once the 10-minute timer has completed, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before manually releasing the steam.

7.     Serve over basmati rice and other optional toppings, ie avocado, cilantro, ghee, lime, salt to taste.

Stovetop Directions

1.      Soak the lentils in cold water for an hour or more and then drain them.

2.     Heat a large heavy bottomed pot on medium flame. Add 1 tablespoon of ghee, coconut oil or oil of choice, followed by the onion. Cook until the onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.

3.     Add the ginger, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Add the Ground Spices and stir to coat into the onions, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring almost constantly.

4.    Pour in water, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the soaked and drained lentils, and tomatoes. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

5.     Put on the lid and set to simmer for about 45 minutes or until lentils are soft. Stir occasionally and add water if necessary to keep it liquid and prevent sticking. Cook until lentils are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6.     Serve over basmati rice and other optional toppings, ie avocado, cilantro, ghee, lime, salt to taste.

Why Choosing a Yoga Teacher Training is like Choosing a Tattoo Artist

A lot of people don't know this about me, but I trained and worked as a tattoo artist for several years in my early twenties. After a few years I decided giving tattoos was not my dharma and I should leave it to those who are really passionate about it. In addition to learning what I did not want to do, and that I could try something and then let it go,  I learned a few other things through this experience. One thing I learned is that many people think that tattoo artists are pretty much all the same and you can go to any tattoo artist to get the tattoo you want. But all tattoo artists are not created equal. Of course, a tattoo artist, like any artist, has their own style. They've been through unique experiences, training, they have their own culture, personal history, and resonance with certain styles and aesthetics. Good tattoo artists have not just crisp, clean lines, but also a unique approach and technique that they've honed through years of practice and preference. If you want something special and creative put on your body in literally indelible ink that will last the rest of your life, you probably want to do some research into the style you like and find an artist whose work you love and whose style and personality you resonate with.

Around my tattoo artist period was also the time I got serious about yoga and took my first yoga teacher training. I chose a training primarily because it fit with my schedule and budget and was in a location that was convenient for me. I found out later on that just like tattoo artists, all yoga teacher trainings are not created equal. There are a vast variety of yoga teacher trainings available to choose from. I feel very fortunate that despite choosing my first 200-hour training without much consideration, I found myself in a very comprehensive program with a strong lineage that started me out with a well-rounded base of understanding and technique. However, as the years progressed, I started to realize the style of yoga I was really drawn to and resonated with was quite different from the style I trained in. I love organic, intuitive flowing movement combined with practices of reverence, chanting, and meditation. This is why about 7 years subsequent to my first training, I did a second 200-hour training in Prana Vinyasa, which is still the kind of yoga I most resonate with and suits my personality and needs.

Just like seeing people with poorly done tattoos, or tat choices that people later regret, I have also heard many expressions of disappointment from friends and aquaintances about their yoga teacher training experience. So now when someone asks me about choosing a yoga teacher training, I really try to impress upon them the importance of taking the time to learn what you resonate with, and then find a training that suits you. This starts with taking classes from a lot of different teachers until you really know what feels good to you, and what you don't really connect with.

Additionally, here are some important questions to consider when choosing a training:

Who are the teachers and what are their accreditations?

In addition to finding a style that you resonate with, make sure you specifically resonate well with the main trainer or trainers. Even within one style of yoga, you'll find a broad array of nuances depending on the teacher. For example, I LOVE Prana Vinyasa, but there are certain Prana vinyasa teachers I truly love to take classes from, and some that I just don't have the same kind of personal connection with.  And, in addition to resonating with their style of being and style of teaching, it's a good idea to look into what kind of and how much teaching experience the trainers have and what trainings they've taken.

What is the program's lineage?

If you find you like a style or a teacher, it may be important to ask about their lineage. Remember that yoga comes from India and has been passed down through many different lineages as well as has evolved along the way. If you want to learn in a way that honors yoga's roots and pays reverence to the teachers and modalities it comes from, make sure the training you are considering has a culture of honoring these roots.

 

What is the Content and Focus?

It's important to look for the content and teaching objectives intended for your training. If the website does not list many, or you ask and don't get much of an answer, this is probably not a good sign. A teacher training that lacks a well-thought out plan and structure could prove to be very disappointing. It doesn't take THAT much to be accredited as a yoga teacher trainer, to be honest, although gratefully the standards were recently reviewed and updated and so yoga teacher trainings approved by Yoga Alliance are now subject to stricter standards. Also, the content and focus of various yoga teacher trainings varies widely. Some trainings are very alignment based and spend a lot of time in teaching anatomy and very specific postural techniques. Some trainings are very workout focused and spend a lot of time on the physical practice but not much time on the many other facets of yoga such as philosophy, mantra, lifestyle, meditation, or pranayama. Some trainings focus on a very specific set of postures that the teacher is trained to teach in every class without variation, other trainings have varying degrees of creativity. Some trainings have a very particular focus, such as yin, ashtanga, kids yoga, restorative, prenatal, trauma informed, and more.

 

What is the format? 

Are the 200 hours done all at once in a 3 week immersion? Or are they spread out across weeks or months? Having experienced both types, I can say that neither is better, but there are things to keep in mind about each. The immersive experience is life changing in its own way, because you get to take 3 weeks away from your usual responsibilities and habits and practice living the yoga lifestyle in a very structured way, doing yoga and meditation all day, getting up early, going to bed early, probably being fed a very healthy vegetarian diet, being surrounded by people who are all on a very high frequency with similar intentions as you. It can work well for some people who don't have major work responsibilities or young children at home, and it can be an amazing way to break some bad habits and start new ones.  In my experience I felt absolutely amazing afterwards, living on a high that lasted for a couple weeks after the training but slowly diffused as I entered the real world and lost a lot of the habits I'd been practicing during the training.  In contrast, my second training experience was spread out over 6 months, one long weekend a month. I realized during this experience the benefit of having time to practice and integrate the knowledge I was gaining. It is pretty challenging to retain a ton of new information when taken in a short amount of time, unless you have an absolutely incredible memory. I found the 6-month format to have a more lasting impact on my habits, my lifestyle, and my knowledge and understanding of the many facets of yoga. For a lot of people with regular daily work and family commitments, this format is a lot more accessible too, plus usually, you can work out a payment plan spread out over the months of the training rather than pay all at once for the 3-week immersion.

Is it Yoga Alliance approved?

 I mentioned before about what it takes for a yoga school or teacher trainer to be accredited. I was referring to the most well-known and generally well-respected governing body for yoga teacher trainings at least in America, Yoga Alliance. Although it's a free world and anyone could offer YTT without Yoga Alliance accreditation, if you are thinking about teaching in a yoga studio after graduation, yoga studios these days will probably want to see that your training is approved by Yoga Alliance because they will know that there has been some oversight into the content and structure of your training that they can trust.  I am aware that there are other organizations accrediting yoga teacher trainings, but as far as 200-hour trainings go Yoga Alliance is definitely the most well known and generally most well thought of.

Is it in person or online?

This question is one I can hardly believe I have to include because I personally have a major issue with online yoga teacher training. Yes it has been done, and some people who lead them or who have done them give them good reviews, but to me it’s obvious that trying to learn to teach yoga on a computer is ridiculous. Yoga is such a nuanced, energetic, sensitive practice, meant to reconnect us to what is true and real. Spending hours and hours in front of screen, without any physical connection with your teacher, any physical feedback for adjusting your or your student's posture, just lacks so much depth. Not to mention, one of the most beautiful parts of a yoga teacher training are the friendships you make with your classmates and personal relationship you develop with your teachers, which is naturally going to be so constrained in an online-only program. Granted, during the pandemic, many people had to make do with online events because it was the only way most people could connect, but I am truly hoping that this temporary solution dissolves and we get back to real, live, community-oriented connection with each other.

How many students?

A final point I'd like to make is considering the size of your training group. A huge class size means less connection with your teachers, less time to get your questions answered, and less chance of having your teachers give you personal feedback.  Large group events also make it generally harder to maintain a relaxed, balanced nervous system state, ideal for retaining information, forming connections, and staying vital and healthy. Personally I like to keep my trainings to 14 or less for these reasons.

So hopefully you have some good points to ponder and keep in mind if you are now or find yourself in the future looking into become a yoga teacher and choosing a yoga teacher training. I highly recommend yoga teacher training for anyone who is interested in deepening their practice and experience of the yoga lifestyle, whether it is with the intention to teach or simply for deep personal transformation. I'm currently gearing up to lead a 200 hour Prana Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training from April to October, 2022, and I highly suggest anyone who considers joining it take classes with me and or have a conversation with me to really make sure that this particular training is right for them. I don't recommend it for everyone and I celebrate the diverse array of people and training options out there. If I honestly feel like a person would be better suited to a different type of training, I will tell them that and make another suggestion for them. I want the people who join my trainings to be truly happy they did because this style, this format, my presence and the presence of my guest teachers really resonates with them and their values. So if you are interested please reach out and let me know and let's talk!

Thanks for reading! Sending you blessings for health and abundance and peace on this beautiful fall day.