I really can't believe it myself, honestly. In late spring this year, I needed a break from the city, but couldn't afford to go out the country... I managed to do a Google search to find Kripalu in Massachusetts, but honestly I thought it was some kind of cult so I didn't have any high expectations, if anything I prepared to die... Long story short, I ended up experiencing the most freeing retreat and decided that I want to deepen my practice into yoga for real, for real.
By the grace of the universe, I found the perfect group for me, the First ever: Global Majority 200-hr Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training- for BIPOC folk. A group of 25 students who set out on a path to deepen inner healing and learn to decolonize the westernization of yoga. This 5 month long intensive course tested me in ways I didn't think I was ready for. But apparently I was, and I just had to trust myself and the universe that I was in the right place at the right time.
I’ve decided to continue my yoga teaching because I want to decolonize the westernization of yoga and remind people of color that yoga was created by us and is for us, as it soothes our trauma and opens us up to connection with self. Honestly, it’s still uncomfortable for me to tell people what to do with their bodies and there’s still a lot I have to learn but I feel that I’m opening myself up in this way, I can experience a beautiful balance between teaching and learning.
Yoga (or yog, as they say in India) is not a religion, or a strict way of being. To me, yoga is a practice of self discovery and self love. It’s more than just moving on a mat or breathing slowly. It’s finding what works for you in your life to make your experience how you want it to be. Of course, it changes as you grow, but yoga helps with accepting yourself where you’re at and encouraging you to grow.
A big part of my practice is embracing curiosity, play, and honoring the inner child. I’m a big kid, trapped in a growing body, so when I’m on my mat, it gives me the freedom to explore myself in an innocent and safe way. I like to smile, laugh, bounce/shake, and discover, so classes with me will almost always have elements of this.
I want to extend a moment of gratitude to my teachers who inspired me to dig deeper and remain consistent in my practice as I step from student to teacher to one day, master. Thank you to Monique, Pilin, Sadia, Myals, Aqila, Nico Marie, Mama Yoly, Jay Charli, Sunshine Sarah, and Halo for walking with me on this journey. Also the 25 other student teachers in my incubator. And special thank yous to Rich and Syreniti who crawled with me everyday and made sure I was in my 7am to my 7pm sessions. I did the class, but I couldn’t have done it alone.
Now here I am, at the end of it, the end of the year, feeling more full than I ever have. Feeling like I'm ready to dive in deeper and develop something lasting from my learning. Beginning with smaller community classes and seeing how comfortable I feel with teaching this subject with the intentions of growth and truth.
See you in class!
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