Farewell 2017! Hello 2018! We love you already...
Hello all you lovelies!
Well, it has been a busy year, full of yoga, love, holidays and developments! (And the rest..!)
I took myself on an amazing teacher training, again with the wonderful Yoga People, who I had originally trained with in Ashtanga Vinyasa and Rocket. This time, however, the course was in Yin Yoga, specifically, applied to a vinyasa style practice. WOW. It was totally enlightening and as with all yoga TT's, I met the most beautiful souls along the way, and was humbled and empowered by all the knowledge bestowed upon me. To be honest, I had always taught from instinct, knowing that every single body is different, and that people show up for the practice for different reasons, but this training rang so true, and compounded my own feelings towards practice that it made me fall in love with teaching all over again! Thank you Jamie and Dulce (The Yoga People) for everything you give to us :)
In other news, I fell pregnant shortly after this TT...which is exactly what happened after my initial TT!! So my husband says no more TT's for a while..ha! Baby Number 2 is due end April 2018. Which leads me onto this! We have recently added a new teacher to our beautiful yoga family. Sally Hodgetts has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa with me since I was in training myself, and has become a dedicated Ashtangi herself. We asked her a few questions about her practice, and why she decided to train as a yoga teacher...here is what we found out :)
We look forward to seeing you all in 2018!
Love Isie xx
How and why did you come to yoga?
When I was 14, my Mum took me to a village hall and I wasn't sure what yoga it was but I remember falling asleep and snoring so loudly I had to be woken up by the instructor! I continued on and off over the years, watching online videos at home or trying the latest deals that were advertised but none of them grabbed me.
In 2014 I was invited to come along to a yoga class, I was told someone was training in yoga and the class would be free, I couldn't refuse, that class was taught by Isie Carter and that yoga was Ashtanga Primary.
I had no idea what was going on or how to move my body in the correct way, it was hard and frustrating and a handful of other emotions came flooding to the surface; I’m not good/fit enough to do this, I thought I was better than this, She/ he is better than me, what will others think of me, I cant do this.
But the truth is I did stick with it that day; I did what I was able to do and I actually overcame those thoughts of self doubt. And when I laid down in what I now know is Savasana, I felt calm. I was aware of my whole body and I felt satisfied (also a little glad it was over). This is when I felt drawn to the Ashtanga Practice and that is where my yoga story truly began.
Since that time I have been on a number of workshops, retreats and made the decision to travel to Mysore, India, the birthplace of the Ashtanga Vinyasa System in November 2017 to study with Sir Arya Sanath Rameshji.
What obstacles has yoga helped you overcome?
Each practice I learn to nurture myself and become further at peace; with myself and everything around me. Yoga has taught me to be patient, committed and kind, starting with myself first so it comes easily when giving to others. Being patient with poses/asana’s and not pushing myself, accepting how I am in that moment, in that position, without judgment and knowing that eventually it will come, yoga has taught me that what I thought was impossible, IS possible. This theory has continued into my life, being kind to others, to not push things too much and to rest confident that I can achieve what may seem impossible with patience and dedication.
Why is yoga important to you?
The physical part is only one portion of why yoga is important to me. For my whole life I have struggled with my body shape, maintaining a healthy weight and size; but a steady yoga practice has made not only my body stronger and healthier, but has also taught me (and is still teaching me) to accept myself for who I am with all my imperfections. and to accept others around me for whom they are and how to recognize emotions within me and how to let go of what doesn't serve me. I have become more aware of myself, my whole body and have begun my journey into enjoying everything around me.
I want to continue to live by the yoga’s ethical systems of personal observances and guidelines for being in the World.
Gratitude and Teaching!
I am so grateful to the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois, without whom we would not have The Ashtanga Yoga System and to his Grandson Sharath Jois.
I am so passionate about Ashtanga Yoga. I want to help grow people’s knowledge and understanding of the practice with the correct guidance and support, whilst continuing my own practice.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Continuing to deepen my practice, learning and sharing any knowledge I have picked up along the way. I truly see yoga being part of my life forever.
What is yoga?
He who is rooted in oneness
Realizes that I am
In every being, wherever
he goes, he remains in me.
When he sees all beings as equal
In suffering or in joy
Because they are like himself
that man has grown perfect in yoga
Bhagavad Gita (6.29-32)
Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga
- Yamas - Set of Social Ethics
- Niyamas - Personal set of principals.
- Asana – The method that releases us from past conditioning, stored in the body, to arrive in the present moment.
- Pranayama – The study and exercise of one’s breath to where it does not agitate the mind.
- Pratyahara – Sense withdrawal practiced through Drishti.
- Dharana – Concentration by focusing on the Bandhas.
- Dhyana – Meditation, binding all areas of the practice together to create a moving meditation.
- Samadhi – Objective and objectless, the mind is clarified to an extent that it does not modify sensory input.
