28th September 2020 was a memorable day for me. The day I completed my Yoga Teacher Training Certification with Anahata Yoga Zone and 6 years back on this exact same day, I had completed my first 200 Hours Teacher Training Certification with Aayana Yoga Academy, Bangalore.
Why another teacher training course?
My association with Anahata Yoga Zone (https://www.anahatayoga.in/) and Pratibha Agarwal, who is the founder and lead instructor at Anahata Yoga Zone dates way back to 2010.
She is an extremely qualified and compassionate teacher who has never failed to inspire me in all aspects. She established her own yoga studio at a time when yoga hadn't gained much popularity, against all odds. She pursued her passion and today is recognized amongst the top yoga instructors in India. She was recently awarded as the best Female Trainer for Runners in Hyderabad.
Watch this short video to hear more about Mrs. Pratibha's journey and experience directly from her - https://youtu.be/t-F_KD4q8HY
Now coming back to the question of why did I choose to pursue a refresher teacher training course, after having successfully completed 500 hours of Teachers Training already, the reasons are threefold:
1. To deepen my yoga practice through expanding knowledge
Even though you may be going through the same topics during the course, the experience & discussions vary significantly depending on your batchmates who are taking the journey along with you. It helps to delve deeper on the concepts learnt earlier.
2. To fine tune my instructions and teaching style
Different teachers have different teaching styles and through experiencing different cues, it helps to fine tune and develop your own style further. And even if you are learning from the same instructor, sometimes when you revisit some of the concepts after several years, your understanding and maturity level differs.
3. And finally, to keep up the continuous practice of learning and staying up-to date
So when this opportunity came about to pursue the Teacher Training Course online with Anahata Yoga Zone, it felt like a blessing in disguise and I immediately took it up.
My key takeaways from the Teacher Training program with Anahata Yoga Zone
As someone who has already been teaching yoga for several years now, the things that were most valuable to me were:
1. Getting feedback on my teaching style
It's not often that you get this opportunity to be assessed and hear expert comments on what's working well, what can be improved, etc. Receiving feedback from my batchmates and Pratibha Mam served as a validation of my journey so far and also gave me great pointers to make my practice even better.
2. Working in teams on group projects
Discussing various aspects of the course and sequencing classes together as a team was an enjoyable experience to me since I have been operating quite independently ever since I finished my previous TTC.
3. Improving physical and mental strength
As a teacher, it is necessary that you challenge yourself out of your comfort zone and keep trying something new. With Pratibha Mam's guidance, I was able to develop my asana practice even further and build on my core strength through consistent practice.
4. Applying Yamas and Niyamas in everyday life
Yoga is much more beyond asanas and is a way of life. Read my blog post on www.yogadeepika.com to know more about yamas and niyamas and how I began to practice yamas and niyamas in day-to-day life.
5. Connecting with amazing people and exchanging ideas & ideologies with them
I couldn't think of any other better way to spend my weekends over the period of 3.5 months of this course.
The entire Teacher Training program was online given the lockdown situation however the experience was no different than an in-person one. In fact, this even gave us an opportunity to train in taking up online classes as the preferred method of delivery is trending to virtual these days.
To know more about the courses offered by Anahata Yoga Zone, check out their website - https://www.anahatayoga.in/
My feedback on Yin Yoga TTC with Anahata - https://youtu.be/sXxOw0Tl-A8
Feedback on 21 days Pranayama course - https://youtu.be/ALIyzmHGKMM
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