This blog looks at my process of becoming a certified Yoga Therapist through the American ViniYoga Institute.
Let’s go back to 1997 for a moment. This is the moment that I was introduced to yoga in a gym in Montana as I was living in the wild Northwest while my soon to be husband was working in collaboration with a small semiconductor company in Kalispell. I was interested in “yoga” and started taking classes as a way to get in shape at a local gym. I had a teacher that inspired me to come back and remain curious to explore postures and my breath. We then moved back to Austin in October of 1997 and eventually I found my way into a small yoga studio where I started taking classes once a week. That was 23 years ago! A love affair had begun…
In 2003, I graduated from my first 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program. But, that only nicked the surface as I observed this yoga process is deep and I wanted to go into the depths of the teachings. I was introduced to a particular lineage of T.K.V. Desikachar through a teacher that was trained in the tradition. She was charismatic and cool, but more importantly possessed knowledge. I wanted that! She told me about her teacher, Gary Kraftsow whose program was coming to Austin. I took a leap of faith and enrolled in 2006 in the first 500 hours of his teacher training program through the American Viniyoga Institute.
This training gave me what I was looking for…a profound depth of knowledge around all of the tools of yoga from the asanas (postures) to pranayama (breath techniques) to using sound and meditation. I graduated with my 500 hours certification through this Institute at the end of 2007, but I wasn’t finished by a long shot.
I taught and practiced for many years and honed my craft while meeting wonderful students who fueled the fire within to develop further. Thus, 11 years after my 500 hour graduation, I went back to finish the next 500 hours to become a ViniYoga Therapist. As a prerequisite to the Yoga Therapy training, I took a 7 month course by Leslie Kaminoff on Yoga Anatomy Principles. Over the last two years, I have learned the clinical perspectives of many diseases and injuries involving structural, physiological, and psychological and the Yoga Therapy perspective in working with these conditions. It’s a lot, ya’ll!!
The Journey of 1,000 hours begins with one breath!
I am happy to say that the 1,000 hours is complete, but my journey will continue. Every day that I get on the mat, I learn something about myself. My mentor, Chase Bossart says, “Yoga is really about getting to know yourself.” He is referring to your authentic self.
What is the journey that calls you? What inspires you? Listen to that.