innacos's blog

The hours are growing longer and the classes harder. Now in the final weeks of her teacher training course in Goa, nerves are tested as Inna Costantini and classmates start teaching for real.

After a few weeks of fairly 'passive' studying, listening, reading, sitting in lectures, trying to get a grasp on different aspects of yoga anatomy, philosophy and technique, we're now shifting towards a more dynamic and challenging part - the actual teaching.

After all, that's what this course is all about. Learning theory is fascinating (and there's so much more I want to learn), but it wouldn't really make much sense without practice.

Most students have already set their foundations in their own daily yoga practice, style and approach, and I can see that everyone views an feels yoga in a different way and will end up teaching it (if at all) in a distinct manner.

But for most of us teacher trainees, standing up in front of a class, talking through postures, explaining the movement, the breath, the flow, the technique, in a concise, clear and pleasant manner is no easy feat.

Just when I was starting to get comfortable with my adjustments technique, happily 'squishing' fellow students and people from the drop in centre, into paschimottanasana, downdog and most of the key postures, newer, bigger challenges are being thrown my way.

Teaching is daunting for most of us - more for some than for others - and also involves being confident in one's own practice.

However, being thrown to the front of a class, having all eyes looking towards you waiting for instructions, also feels somewhat empowering.

For someone like me who's never taught any form of class before, it could be much worse.

My fears of mumbling, being confused and unclear weren't justified, and I found myself projecting my voice to the back of the shala quite well (though with a conscious effort) and it did all make sense in the end!

Mind over matter. It can be stressful, daunting, but also so much fun when it goes well. All along, I never thought about the practical side of teaching and how stressful it might be for everyone.

I was apprehensive about the 5am wake-up calls (which I turned out to quite enjoy), the daily hour long pranayama sessions, anatomy and philosophy lectures, the physical strain of the daily exercise and yoga practice.

But I seem to have sailed through most of this, and the part I was the least concerned about, the teaching technique, is by far the hardest.

That's also where lies the success of a great teacher- make your students feel at ease, relaxed, and yet be safe when adjusting them an teaching postures. Know the meaning of yoga. Keep up a firm personal practice and keep on learning.

But most importantly, create an environment which feels unique and special for class.

No two teachers follow the same style, energy or routine, and each teacher will offer something unique to students - whether it's great adjustments, a relaxing practice, a soft, gentle approach or a fun dynamic class, there's a style out there for everyone.

And hopefully I'll soon find mine....

Read Inna's other blog posts:

Into the deep end in Goa

Slipping into yogic life in Goa

Half way to becoming a teacher

It's already half way through Inna Constantini's two-month teacher training course. The Goan sun is hotting up and energy levels are flagging - but on the upside, the dawn starts are becoming easier.

It's week four already and most students' energy levels are sinking. I've seen tears, sulking, snapping, and near breakdowns, but all in all, most people are in pretty good form.

Hard times are inevitable on an intense course like this and you have to expect some unconventional behaviour.

With the challenges of the first few weeks behind me, I am keeping - more or less - sane and am even happily bouncing out of bed for early morning wake up calls.

So far, we have three 6am pranayama sessions and three 7am starts each week. This means my alarm is set for either 5 or 6am most days.

It's much easier than expected and I'm even starting to enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn, when the rest of Goa is still asleep. Even the dogs seem to have their moment of rest and lay off the howling for a couple of hours before sunrise.

After a shot of bee pollen and my dose of spirulina and chaiwanprash (my new ayurvedic superfood), I spring out of the room, ready to face another day of yoga practice and lessons.

I'm also now the proud owner (albeit temporarily) of a vintage 1950s Raleigh bicycle, which I've been pedalling around town and to class. Its a great way to get around flat-as-a-pancake Anjuna, but the hills of Parra, the nearby village where most of my classes are now shifting, aren't an easy ride.

I struggle uphill and try to hop on classmates' scooters when I can. However, early morning starts bring me to discover a brand new world: the bicycle milk wallah, sleepy roadside dogs and homeless people emerging from the gutter.

It also highlights Goa from a whole different perspective and puts me in a positive mood to start the day - most days.

I've overcome my fears of getting up at 5am and having to sleep so early (with no tv or internet to distract me, early nights aren't that hard).

The food is far better than I could have hoped - we're spoilt for choice: I now have the options of healthy salad/tofu/soup joints, Indian veg, market snacks, supermarket shopping or market stalls for fresh fruit and veg, which could potentially be prepared the ayurvedic way.

So far, I've only explored the first options and I'm amazed by the variety. But with all the morning practices, it's been mostly a two-meal a day affair so far - brunch and early dinner, with lots of fruits/snacks/chai thrown in between. It's a fairly healthy lifestyle I reckon.

Week three started in a dynamic, upbeat fashion. Physically, I'm feeling energized, my flexibility has improved and my understanding of yoga as a whole is increasing.

The anatomy classes are fascinating - there's only so much you can cover in nine hours a week, but knowing how the body works, from organs to the bones, muscles and systems, really does make a huge difference to your yoga practice.

Anatomy is such a wide subject but even the most basic bits of knowledge I've piked up from the classes feel so valuable. I need to keep reading, learning and putting all this into practice.

It may seem obvious, but the spine is the 'brain' of the body - yet we constantly forget to look after it: hence the importance of good posture, avoiding unnecessary pressure, tension and brutal movements, especially on the lower parts of the spine (lumbar and sacrum).

Anatomy is also a key part of the adjustments process - or 'how to give good adjustments without putting pressure on the wrong area and sending students into the A&E'!

Finding time to write and reflect on the course isn't easy either, but as the weeks fly past, keeping an online record of all this really does feel therapeutic - it's a technology-fuelled, materialistic escape from the spiritual and mental world of yoga!

Read Inna's first two blog posts:

Into the deep end in Goa

Slipping into yogic life in Goa

In the second of a series of blog posts, Inna Costantini sinks into life in Goa in week two of her yoga teacher training course.

It's the second week of this two-month course and I'm only just starting to ease into a different rhythm and pace.

Now I understand why we were asked to arrive at least a few days - if not a week - before the course began.

It takes the system time to adjust to the environment, food, time change, weather and local lifestyle, especially when coming from a busy city like London.

I consider myself fairly flexible - or more appropriately, adaptable - and having travelled in Asia before, India didn't come across as much of a culture shock.

Having said that, Goa is hardly a fair representation of India - with hoards of backpackers and package tourists, it's more of an Asian Ibiza.

Tucked away a few kilometres from the beach, in a peaceful garden, the Brahmani Yoga centre, where most of my classes are being taught during the first few weeks, is an idyllic pace to study.

The one other aspect I have found truly fascinating so far, apart from each person's individual practice, is the unique path everyone has chosen.

Needless to say, each of the other 12 students come from various backgrounds, but each person also appears to have quite different expectations of the course - why they chose to enroll, what they hope to get out of it, what they plan to do next.

Some have very clear paths and the post-course future all mapped out. Others (like me) are willing to let go and take things each step at a time, not quite knowing what my happen next.

I haven't even started thinking about what I might do after the training - apart from keeping up my practice, whilst hopefully assisting and eventually teaching.

I don't want to think about it too much either - the whole point for me is to take a step back from my unnecessarily busy life and focus on something completely different, and which I am passionately committed to.

Where it will lead me, who knows. The outcome can only be positive - unless I get struck with the inevitable Delhi belly syndrome!

I wouldn't go as far as saying it'll be life changing but let's hope I do take this all in and experience life in a new, eye-opening way.

Read Inna's first blog post, Into the Deep End in Goa

For more information about this two-month yoga teacher training course, see:

www.shaktispirit.com

Picture: Inna, left, and her teacher, Rachel Hull.

Ever fancied training to be a yoga teacher in India? London yogi Inna Costantini has begun a two-month stint in Goa to do just that. In the first of a series of blog posts, she describes a hazy first few days.

With lingering jet lag, I'm still in bit of daze - Goa is really gorgeous and resembles nothing like the India I know so far.

The whole trip feels surreal, and there's a dream like sensation floating in the air. The reality hasn't quite sunk in yet and I doubt it will for another few days at least.

The location is amazing - fresh, luscious, tropical, welcoming and very unlike the India I've seen before.

I am watching with amazement the world go by, hoards of foreigners -tourists and locals - on mopeds, clogging up the roads and making themselves seen and heard.

The population here seems to consist mainly of sun-burnt topless men with overgrown hair and beards, scantily clad beach babes and seasonal 'yoga-goans'....

But I'm not exactly here on on exotic holiday. I've flown all the way to Goa, India, to embark on an intensive two months, 300 hours, six days a week yoga teacher training course.

Whether I'll emerge a more committed practitioner, wanting to take things one step further is something I'll soon find out.

The teacher is Rachel Hull, an Australian woman living in Bali and with a background of Asthanga, Hatha and Vinyasa yoga.

She gradually began to create her own vinyasa flow style, which essentially consists of a flowing, creative practice - both dynamic and adapted to each person's level and experience.

Many postures and sequences derive from Asthanga yoga, which I thoroughly enjoy and currently practice.

Rachel, however, broke out of the Asthanga 'mould' and came up with a more freestyle, creative approach to the whole yogic practice, while also deriving much of her knowledge from Ayurveda, something which I'll also learn about in greater depth.

'Freestyle' was something I experienced for the first time this morning in our 'open self practice' class - a mixture of students, teachers and trainees, doing their own moves, their own yogic practice.

Being used the the strict Asthanga sequence, this definitely brought an an interesting perspective to things.

Still tired from the travelling, long haul flight and finding my feet, I've been thrown into this course at the deep end.

Luckily the first day consisted of a chilled out tea with yummy cakes, healthy snacks (and not so healthy ones too) as well as seriously spicy chai.

However the timetable isn't quite as laid-back as I had hoped. The first week starts at an 'easy' 7.30 am, with self practice classes; from week two, 6 am starts will be the usual routine. Sunday is the only day off and we'll still be expected to study - simply reading and absorbing everything.

It's the kind of mental and physical discipline one does need to become dedicated yoga practitioner and one of the first steps to being able to teach is a structured, serious practice.

More to follow - watch this space!

There is more information about this training course at:
www.shaktispirit.com