I'm thrilled to make an online introduction to our Namaslay® Yoga Teacher Trainees! Our training starts in July and I couldn't be more excited about it. I'm thinking of doing a US-based training, but currently just want to focus all my efforts on this first training. You can follow our training on Instagram and keep a close eye on the blog, as some of them will be doing guest posts about their journey. Thanks for the support!
Michelle
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Do something that scares them. Mine was cutting off all my hair.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
The other person's perspective.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Take NOTHING personal.
Katrina
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I initially thought of so many living people Id love to have coffee with. But then I thought, why pick someone I could, when I could pick someone I know I’m never going to have the chance to have coffee with again as they are no longer with us. My late granny.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
You are enough!
If you could relive one moment in your life, what would it be and why?
Driving into Banff, Canada for a years working visa with my partner. I had visualised it soo many times and it looked exactly as I had imagined. It was both a surreal and amazing moment knowing I had manifested my desires.
Shyla
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Take a trip or vacation where you're off the "internet grid" (I guess electricity and running water are okay!). I especially recommend this with a group of people you love dearly. It's such a special and intimate experience to spend time together without many of the distractions our modern technologies tend to offer. Apart from growing closer to your people, you have the chance to grow closer to yourself and explore how you react in times of quiet and slowness. I personally love to spend time reading, cooking, journaling, playing outside, chatting with family and friends, and--of course--spontaneous shenanigans of any kind. I can promise you the experiences and memories will remain dear to your heart forever.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
I believe everyone should possess the skill to listen, and listen well. To use the words of Stephen R. Covey, "most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." The art of sincerely listening allows for the people you interact with to be truly heard and appreciated, thus forming a trust on which strong, beautiful, and nourishing relationships can be built. Try it out sometime, because it's much harder than it seems!
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Just have fun!
Elizabeth
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Visit Italy and eat all the food.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
Asking good questions/holding a conversation with anyone.
What would you put on a billboard?
Live a little.
Leota
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
Empathy.
What would you put on a billboard?
Love more.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be afraid.
Eva
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Michael Angelo, because he was a genius in his understanding of the mechanics and proportions of the ideal human body, which is reflected in his incredible pieces of art that we are still privileged to be able to view today.
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Practice awareness on how we live. So many people drift through life on auto-pilot without knowing what and why they are doing things.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Relax, have fun!
Ashley
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
I think everyone should live alone at least once, even if only for a short time. The empowerment that comes from independence and self sustainability encourages drive and self esteem in ways few other experiences can provide.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
Gratitude is a skill to learn and practice daily. It brings immediate, positive results and only increases what we have to be grateful for.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Yes, you can.
Brittany
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
My great grandfather. He immigrated to the United States from Russia at the young age of 16 all by himself, after his family had died trying. He didn’t know the littlest bit of English, but managed to build the foundation for our family with his wife- who had immigrated from Poland. He died long before I was able to know him, but I'm sure that I could learn a lot from him.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
The ability to take constructive criticism. I am a firm believer that we all have something to learn from one another, but only if we're open to listen. The ability to listen to others opinions and react with appreciation and love is a vital life skill that I am constantly working on.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep moving forward.
Alexandra
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Louisa Lust who was a prominent naturopathic physician known for empowering women during her time, and who recognized the important role that food and the environment had on one's health and the health of communities.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
This is actually a virtue, (one of Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues) and that would be sincerity. "Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly." Simply put, be kind and honest in your words and do not mislead.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Trust, love, breath. (something that I still have to tell myself!)
Christina
One thing people might be surprised to know about you?
Even though I spend all day socializing as a hairstylist, I'm actually an introverted person.
What would you put on a billboard?
Did you hug your dog today?
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Take no sh*t!
Danielle
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would love to have tea with Andy Shaw, the creator of the ‘Bug Free Mind’ process. I started reading his two books ‘Creating a Bug Free Mind’ and ‘Using a Bug Free Mind’ in July 2015 and they have become my manual for mindset and self-growth. I’ve re-read them 6 times so far, gaining new insights with every read-through. I will never finish reading these books, so to be able to meet Andy and pick his brain would be an incredible experience.
Share two truths and a lie about yourself (see the lie, written backwards, at the end of this section).
1. I’ve run two marathons 2. I’ve done a sky dive 3. I have an Engineering degree
One thing people might be surprised to know about you?
I believed in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy until I was 11 – the only reason I stopped believing is because my Dad had ‘the talk’ with me before I started high school so I wouldn’t get teased!
*The lie was: evid yks
Ellie
One thing people might be surprised to know about you?
Most people are surprised when I tell them what I do as a day job: I run a construction business with my Dad. We’re a very small business and in practice this means I spend most of my days as a Builder. I guess there still aren’t many girls in our sector. I love having a constructive and creative job and it’s a great source of pride to me, being able to build things with my own hands.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
I think being a good communicator is vital in all parts of life. Our communication skills are the foundation on which we build relationships with those around us. The ability to share with and learn from others is so valuable to us as humans.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Be more humble. I guess, like a lot of teens, I spent a good few years not listening to anyone and thinking I had all the answers. I was a pretty cocky kid. In retrospect, I was probably trying to cover up the insecurities that come with being a teenager. But, that said, my arrogance didn’t help me feel any better about myself; actually it made me feel worse and as a result, I didn’t learn a lot of things I could have.
Jennifer
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Travel Solo to the other side of the world.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have?
Patience
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Nourish Your Heart.
Daron
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Conquer their biggest fear.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you?
I'm really good at improvising parody songs, especially if they're about my dogs.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don't worry about what other people think of you. People are more worried about what other people think of them to notice what you've got going on. We're all in the same boat.
Lauren
If you could have tea or coffee with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Stephen King. I'm an English teacher at a community college, and his books helped inspire me to chase one of my dream careers!
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Have a quiet moment holding a sleeping baby. Even if it's not your baby, the pure bliss of a sleeping babe is unlike anything else in the world!
One thing people might be surprised to know about you?
I'm an English teacher, but I rarely even notice grammatical or spelling mistakes, unless I'm grading a paper. I'm definitely not an officer of the grammar police!
Elin
What is one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Leave everything behind, move to another country and build a life from nothing. Be way out of your comfort zone. Be surprised how able you are and how much you can accomplish. It's magic.
What books have you gifted the most to other people?
A Hungarian fantasy novel series about a secret society of shamans, healers, fairies and other mythical creatures living in hiding, traveling in dreams and fighting evil in various ways.
In three words, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Get a cat.