If you’ve never taken an intensive 200 hour yoga teacher training, you should know it’s not a luxury getaway. I think people envision some spa setting where they practice yoga all day between dreamy savasana assists, sipping cucumber infused water, and meditating on ornate pillows. That sounds like an awesome vacation - and if that’s the experience you’re looking for, we got you - but it wouldn’t produce quality yoga teachers. At Namaslay® YTT, we are studying, practicing and learning from dawn til dusk, and though the work is tough, we are confident in the yoga teachers who graduate after three weeks of growth and hard work. Most days look a little something like this…
5:45am - Morning Yoga Practice
We meet before the sun comes up, in total silence for pranayama, meditation and asana practice. Greeting the day in silent reverence allows our students time to go within and reflect before the interactive work begins. Most of our classes are not entirely lecture based. Students listen and take notes, but they also participate in the learning process by working in partners or groups to put the lesson into action. With a full day of sharing, asking questions, and exploring practical application ahead of them, this is a time for self-observation.
7:00am - Breakfast
We carry the silence and meditation into breakfast. Students receive a journal prompt to process whatever they’re feeling and to encourage self inquiry while they eat. Even though there’s no talking, coffee feels mandatory at this point. In Tennessee, we’ve been sipping Dare Greatly Coffee and are inspired by their mission to live authentically and be vulnerable in the pursuit of our best lives and truest selves.
Breakfast is prepared by the teachers at our venue in Tennessee. We usually put out a spread of healthy fats, proteins and fresh fruit, and sometimes a little treat, too. These individual serving packets of SuperFat mixed nut butter have been a favorite this time around, and with no sugar added, they’re a great source of steady energy and brain food. For our paleo loving, keto faithful students, these are gold.
Our personal chef usually makes homemade yogurt for us to have at breakfast, too. Since traveling and stress can be tough on gut health, I’m grateful for the probiotic boost in the morning. We’ve been topping yogurt with this sprouted buckwheat cereal from Lil Bucks. It’s high in protein, gluten free, vegan and paleo friendly, but what I’m loving most about them is the cacao flavor. Chocolate for breakfast makes it hard to have a bad day.
We’ve also made yogurt masterpieces or just added milk to True North Granola. This small, family owned business from Vermont hand makes 14 flavors of granola and offer grain free, gluten free, organic, vegan, nut free, and low sugar varieties. This Nutty No Grainer blend is made from all-natural nuts, coconut oil, seeds and spices, and tastes great even from my pocket (because you know your girl has to have snacks at the ready).
Speaking of snacks, Honey Stinger sent us these organic waffle treats for an energy boost, and they are delightful. They make tons of flavors (I’ve got my eye on the strawberry next.) and partner with aligned organizations in a strong corporate giving program that makes me feel good about supporting their business.
For those who want a lighter breakfast, or need a boost after a class with our Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dan Tavino, we have Orgain protein packed organic superfood smoothies. This protein powder is gluten free, soy free, non-gmo, kosher and vegan, so all of our trainees feel good about adding this to the menu. It’s not chalky or artificial tasting and blends really nicely with a banana.
We’ve used the Orgain Almond Milk as one of the key ingredients to add protein to these gluten free Simple Mills Muffins. Both the banana and pumpkin mixes have been a hit, but with fall around the corner, the pumpkin vibes have me excited. I love that these are made with just a handful of simple, whole food ingredients.
8:00 - 12:00 Classes in Asana, Business and Strength
After we’re fed, it’s on to the learning. For about four hours, the trainees take classes in business and marketing, learn how to run their own retreats, workshops and events, strength to complement a yoga practice, and how to teach, assist, adjust and modify yoga poses safely.
Our strength classes incorporate the anatomy lessons into physical practice, and then we discuss how these movements can be built into a yoga sequence to promote healthy movement and longevity. We want our students to know how to help people feel strong and balanced even when they’re not on the yoga mat.
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
In Tennessee, we have farm to table meals prepared by our chef. We can even walk through the garden of produce soon to be on our plates. Intensive trainings can be emotionally taxing, so we usually assign students to smaller lunch groups. They take this time to share anything that’s coming up for them and support one another.
1:30 - 6:30 Classes in Anatomy, Adaptive and Inclusive Yoga, and Practicums
After lunch, we’re back at it with applied anatomy lessons and modules in adaptive and inclusive yoga. Our trainees learn how to use their anatomy knowledge in a yoga practice, so they can design safe and intelligent sequences for any size or shape of practitioner and are then put to the test with a practicum. They practice teaching one another from day one, so these opportunities for feedback become routine after the first few days and are a great chance for them to try new things and explore what styles of yoga speak to them.
6:30 - 7:30 Dinner
We have family style dinner and try to talk about things other than yoga for a bit. It’s a time to get to know one another and ask things like: How’s your family? What do you enjoy doing back home? What are your goals after training?
7:30 - 9:00 Study Hall
The students use this time to review their notes from the day, practice teaching one another, and prepare for the day ahead. As teachers, we are available to answer questions and act as guinea pigs for assists, adjustments and cuing practice.
9:00 Sleep
Whew! We pack a lot in to these days, but the confidence and transformation we see in the trainees by the end of it all is why we do it. This is one of my favorite aspects of my job, and I’m already looking forward to our next 200 hour Namaslay® YTT in Santorini next April. If you’re ready to work hard, learn a lot, and become the great yoga teacher you have inside you, click here to apply to join us.