One Mom's Experience with Yoga Instructor Training
Updated January 01, 2014.
Claire Wilson is a mom of two who enrolled in a yoga instructor training course in Scotland. (Claire is British, her husband is American, and they lived in Scotland for several years.) Since I have been practicing for yoga for many years and am fascinated by what it takes to become a yoga teacher, I had a lot of questions for Claire about her teacher training. (If you're a mom and a yoga enthusiast, I bet you're curious too!) She agreed to answer my questions here, in a walk-through of what led her to begin practicing yoga and then to make the commitment to a nine-month, 200-hour yoga teacher training course.
Beginning Yoga During Pregnancy
Updated January 01, 2014.
Catherine Holecko: How long have you been practicing yoga? What drew you to beginning yoga and why do you like it now? What style do you usually practice?
Claire Wilson: My first pregnancy prompted me into beginning yoga. I started doing yoga when I was pregnant with my daughter. I went to prenatal classes at my local YMCA. I thought yoga would be a great way to exercise safely whilst pregnant. It was nice to spend time just focusing on all the changes my body was going through and connect with my bump!
The breathing techniques also helped with labor.
After the birth of my daughter, I continued with Hatha yoga on and off until about a year ago. At that time, a friend of mine was beginning an Ashtanga yoga class and asked if I would be interested in coming along. Ashtanga is a very different type of yoga. It is much more physical and energetic. The 90-minute primary series is a great workout, but more importantly, the focus turns inward and it is a chance to shut out the world for a while and focus only on your movements and breathing. After the class I feel revitalized and energized. Any tension that has built up over the day has gone. I think it helps make me a calmer and more relaxed person, which definitely helps when you have two small children!
Deciding to Enroll in a Yoga Training Course
Updated January 01, 2014.
CH: Why did you decide to enroll in your yoga training course? Do you plan to teach after you finish the course?
CW: I started to think about doing a yoga training course about six months after being introduced to Ashtanga yoga. However, the nearest course was a three-hour drive away and over a weekend, which just wasn't feasible with two young children and a husband who travels often for work.
Then later, a yoga studio with a great reputation, in a city nearby, advertised that they were beginning a yoga training course—and in the Ashtanga style.
After discussing it with my husband, I signed up. I hope to teach when I have finished the training course and perhaps set up classes out in the countryside where I live so people don't have to drive into the city to the main yoga studios and gyms.
Updated January 01, 2014.
CH: Tell us about the yoga teacher course you're taking. How often do you meet? What are the sessions like? How long will it take you to complete the teacher course? Is it a challenge to balance with your family responsibilities?
CW: The course takes nine months to complete (May to January). It is a 200-hour yoga teacher course, which certifies me to teach a power yoga class in the Ashtanga style. There are about 12 of us on the course, of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds.
They are predominantly women but the one brave male adds a different perspective to discussions and is a welcome addition. We meet two weekends a month, except over the summer where it was just one. It is a commitment but one that I was happy to make.
The course is fascinating. Not only do we learn the practical aspects of teaching a yoga class, but also a lot about the history and philosophical foundations of yoga, the anatomy and physiology of the body, the different styles of yoga, and of course the business aspects involved in teaching yoga. There is so much to take in that I know the learning will continue long after the teaching course is over.
At times the work I have to do outside the classroom—reading and developing a personal yoga practice—can be hard. With a family and a house to run it can be difficult figuring out when I can get everything done. But it is like anything: If you really want something, you find the time. My husband is very supportive and I've even got him on the yoga mat to practice my teaching on him.
He couldn't believe how inflexible and stiff he was, so maybe I have a yoga convert on my hands!
Updated January 01, 2014.
CH: Do you think there are particular benefits of yoga for moms—as a form of exercise, and/or a career?
CW: I think there are many benefits! For me, yoga is a chance for my body and mind to be quiet, to shut out all distractions, to put aside the frustrations of the day. It is my time—a chance to focus on my well-being and rediscover myself.
There are so many types of yoga out there that there is a style for all levels of fitness and interest.
Some are more energetic like Ashtanga, and others are slower and more gentle with the focus more on relaxation. All types help lengthen and tone the muscles and strengthen our bodies. As a stay-at-home mum, I find that extremely helpful when I'm chasing a very active boy and juggling all the tasks involved in managing a family.
As a career I think there are benefits to yoga teaching too. It can be an attractive option for mothers as the hours are flexible. Many classes take place in the evening or while children are at school. You can even set up space at your own home to teach small groups or on a one-to-one basis.
Our whole family enjoys yoga. It has been nice to rediscover who I am again. As a mother it is easy to lose yourself as you care for the family. We are eating an even healthier and more balanced diet and my children have benefited from seeing me exercising regularly. They see this as just a normal part of the day and even better, they join in! There is nothing nicer than having my children join me on my mat eager to show me what they can do.
My son has a better down dog than me!