MEET THE TEACHER WITH REBECCA
Can you share a bit about your yoga journey and how it has evolved over the years?
Rebecca: In my early 20s I suffered with chronic back and shoulder pain, I was also struggling with anxiety, stress and burnout from working in a corporate job. I had no idea who I was at this time and didn’t know what I wanted out of life. In 2015 I joined a gym which had a huge offering of classes including yoga in various modalities. I tried out a range of different classes and kept coming back to yoga. Away from yoga, I’d been feeling constant tension and stress. But being on my mat was the place I could feel at peace. Before long, I noticed a considerable reduction in my back and shoulder pain as well as improvements in my mobility, strength, balance and well-being generally.
It was during lockdown that I came to find a deep resonance with the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga. It was also during this time that I decided I wanted to start to shift away from my corporate career and take action steps towards my dream of building my own business promoting inner healing and well-being in others, which is what set me on the path to take my teacher training.
How has yoga influenced your overall well-being and outlook on life?
Rebecca: I’ve come to learn that yoga is just as much a practice off the mat as it is on the mat. How we show up on our mat can be a reflection of our life off it. Yoga has had a profoundly healing effect on my inner dialogue and mind chatter. I’m generally living much more in the present moment since coming to yoga and I’m able to find enjoyment and happiness in the now, where in the past I’d had the mindset that I’d only feel happy once I’d reached a particular goal that was always just slightly out of reach.
Can you share some tips for beginners who are just starting their yoga journey?
Rebecca: You belong here. Yoga is for everybody and every body - no matter how inflexible you might think you are! Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher questions and always listen to your body by honouring where it’s at today, rather than where you might think it should be. Explore different types of classes to find which styles resonate with you most. And remember - yoga props are your friends!
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in becoming a yoga teacher?
Rebecca: If you’re feeling the call to take a teacher training course - embrace the challenge and go for it! Do your research before deciding which 200 hour course to sign up for. Think about how you tend to learn best to determine the type and style of training environment that will work best for you. For me, I wanted to take a training where I would have lifetime access to all the course materials as I like to revisit certain topics from time to time. The 200 hour training is just the beginning of your learning journey as a yoga teacher. Immerse yourself in your studies and find opportunities to practice teach your friends and family. Be curious, eager to learn and be prepared to do a lot of inner work.
Thank you Rebecca!