The road ahead
Less than a week now to graduation (*if and when I pass theory*), we do feel a little bittersweet knowing that weekends would be very different from then on. Okay mainly me, because I am pita like this ha. Big shoutout to Jess, Alexis and my batchmates for the love and support throughout the journey. It feels really good to see how every single one of us benefitted from YTT one way or the other at the end of it; indeed, we are the #weekendwarriors. Really grateful to have completed YTT with this bunch <3 Excited to see us start our next chapters in life, come what may! Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20-Jan’21
Juggling
The past three months flew by in a blink of an eye. I remember burning midnight oil so that my work wouldn’t spill over to the weekends, rushing assignments in the middle of the night, finding time to practise, juggling between being a wife/ daughter/ friend, and still making time for myself – totally milking every minute of my waking hours to achieve the most in a day. My days would be packed and I would knock out every night. Boy was I tired.. but it’s such a good feeling going to bed knowing that you’ve lived the day. Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
Teaching
The first time I taught, I didn’t want to fail. And I failed so terribly. Sure, I gave the right instructions but my intention was wrong. I cared too much about whether I was saying the right thing vs whether the class understood them and if they were really enjoying the class. Jessica called me out and thankfully, she did. I learned that while I am a teacher, I am still a student.. learning about the class dynamics and learning about each individual to really help them achieve the union of mind and body with breath. My intention before each class now? Have fun, enjoy the process and spread the joy 🙂 Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
Who am I?
Is my mind drifting during meditation? Am I standing tall, strong and stable in a tadasana? Am I dropping my head completely in a uttanasana? Am I gazing at my nosetip in a phalankasana? Am I breathing? Am I completely relaxed in savasana? Are my eyebrows relaxed? Are my shoulders tense? Unbeknownst to me, the more aware I am about an asana’s alignment, the better I know myself at that moment. Asanas are indeed physical expressions of who we are in the moment and sometimes, this is all you need to know what’s on your subconscious mind.. embracing our true self, facing our deepest fears/ worries and simply, acknowledging the the thoughts. Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
Two weekends in
I became way stronger! I couldn’t believe it – it was just two weekends of classes yet I had so much more physical strength than when I first started (gotta be the chaturangassssss). Engaging muscles I never knew existed during the classes reminded me that we are way stronger than we think we are and it’s up to us to discover our strengths – to keep reinventing ourselves. I don’t care for a crazy hardcore workout as much as one that makes me happier than before the workout. Kind of a chill pill but it just means that I stopped pushing myself way out of the comfort zone and I stopped trying new things and stopped improving. The human body is INDEED made for BIG THINGS – surprise yourself and try something new every so often Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
Day 1
“Let’s gather around and introduce ourselves – who we are, why are we here, do you intend to teach and is there any asana you would like to achieve after the course?” Honestly, I wasn’t too sure what I was doing there at that moment. I didn’t even have a pose I aspired to achieve. I signed up for YTT because many years ago I’ve been emphasizing the importance of being present and being mindful (which most would pursue via meditation or practicing yoga) and thought I would get myself certified to spread the word that it’s possible to find serenity in a world of chaos. It’s kind of realizing a teenage dream that may have lost its meaning over the years.. yet somehow found its way back to me. Kyara 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
WHY do I want to teach yoga?
In 2017, I attended a Yoga Teaching Methods class in Seoul at Yonsei University. It was led by a cool and very wise French-Korean professor named Martine Prost. As she shared about the history of yoga and guided us through different poses each week, including the classical Sun Salutation sequence, it sparked my interest to also do the same – to learn more about yoga and share the joy I get from practising yoga through teaching. In 2018, I signed up for the weekday 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with The Yoga Mandala online but had the cheque, which I have submitted as a deposit payment, bounced back unexpectedly. It was also the day when my first job was confirmed so I took it as fated that I will have to postpone my Yoga Teacher Training. I am grateful and glad to have returned to sign up under the October 2020 weekend batch two years later, as my birthday gift to myself. I wish to inspire more people to do more of what they love. It can be taking long baths to relax, taking restful naps to recharge or practising yoga to reset, so that we can all spread more love and light on this planet. Now that our Yoga Teacher Training is coming towards an end, it feels bittersweet. I am grateful for my family and loved ones who have supported me throughout the training period, for having shared energies and practices with a lovely bunch of like-minded yogi friends and also, for the unwavering care, love and support Jessica and Alexis have given us! ❤ Hui Jie 200 Hour YTT Oct’20-Jan’21
WHERE was I when I first started yoga and where am I now?
When I first started yoga, I was told by a yoga teacher that I am more flexible than strong physically. I was unable to enter, not to mention hold, plank pose since my back would automatically arch. I also remember how changes in schedules used to terrify me sometimes because I was not mentally prepared for the challenges that came with that. I took that into a snowball effect and it has affected me emotionally at times. I found myself breaking down when stressed and was not always in my element. In many points of my life, yoga has helped me find calmness through chaos and taught me patience above all things. It taught me harmony, to not only be flexible physically, but also mentally. I remember waking up in the middle of some nights, unrolling my mat and just getting into a downward-facing dog to calm my mind down. I feel an indescribable sense of freedom whenever I practise yoga and not- so-secretly, enjoy the muscle-aches that followed. Though not for very long, I can now get into and hold in plank and wish to work on my Chaturanga Dandasana (push-ups; Four-Limbed Staff pose). Today, I feel better “equipped” mentally to face changes in general. I can now accept and understand how change is a constant in our everyday lives; while it is scary to know that things keep changing, it is also comforting to know that things keep changing. I have since learned how to perk myself up whenever I am feeling down, through loads of puns as well as a good yoga session! Hui Jie 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
HOW do I practice yoga?
For the years which I have been practising, I mainly go for themed classes without a structured curriculum since they are most accessible. However, I slowly noticed how I was not progressing much in terms of skills and knowledge even though I have been practising for years. I still find it a struggle to make time for daily yoga practice so it has always been on and off for me. Yoga is something I wish to continue to work towards. I love that through this Yoga Teacher Training, we got to revisit and deconstruct many of the foundational poses and sequences along with exploring invigorating pranayama (breathing; life force expansion) techniques. I also like how we got to delve deeper into the origins and teachings of yoga through the ages. Another highlight would be learning Sanskrit and proper alignments for each of the poses under the syllabus. The latter is super important to make sure we do not injure ourselves since the Eight Limbs of Yoga teaches us non-violence and suggests that yoga practice should never be painful. I particularly enjoyed our morning meditations and listening to Jessica’s interesting adventures most – I look forward to these every single week! Hui Jie 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
WHAT have I learnt from doing yoga?
I feel that yoga has taught me most about physical, mental and emotional strength. I believe that as we breathe through tough poses to hold in them, we will breeze through them the next time we get back into them. It is important to note that this can also be applied to the many challenges we face in everyday life. For instance, to keep trying out mathematical formulae while working on problem sums until they become second nature to us. To me, yoga is also about self-discovery and discipline. Yoga lets us discover how our bodies are structured and how our minds work. I wish to continue learning more about myself so as to achieve better balance and cultivate more awareness in my life, through the continued practice of yoga. Hui Jie 200 Hour YTT Oct’20
