For years, I felt the pull toward teacher training, but I never quite had the courage to take the leap.

I knew in my heart it was something I wanted, yet I kept waiting for the “right time.” When COVID happened and everything slowed down, I realized it was the perfect moment to finally say yes to myself.

I signed up for my 200-hour teacher training with the intention of deepening my own practice, learning more about yoga, and hopefully becoming a teacher one day. I wanted to understand the practice that had given me so much and to eventually share it with others.

What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply this journey would help me see myself.

Throughout the training, I formed friendships that became some of the most meaningful relationships in my life. The inquiry work, journaling, and honest conversations created space for reflection that went far beyond the physical practice. I uncovered strengths I hadn’t fully recognized, acknowledged areas where I was still growing, and learned to trust my own voice. Teacher training became not just a place to learn yoga, but a place to learn myself.

When I began my 200-hour training, I was convinced I would never teach Power Vinyasa.

Yin, Restorative, and Foundations felt like my lane. But training has a way of opening doors you don’t expect. After completing my 200 hours, I felt eager to keep learning and immediately stepped into my 300-hour training. Yoga revealed itself as a lifelong, ever-evolving practice, one that continues to shape who I am.

Last year, when I had the opportunity to help lead the 200-hour teacher training at element yoga, everything came full circle. Teaching Power Vinyasa was something I once believed impossible, yet there I was, doing exactly that. Stepping into a co-facilitator role showed me just how capable we are when we allow ourselves to grow beyond our perceived limits.

Teacher training didn’t just change my yoga practice. It changed how I move through the world.

It gave me confidence, clarity, purpose, and a sense of belonging I didn’t realize I was craving. Transformation doesn’t always arrive through dramatic moments. Often, it unfolds through small acts of courage, steady practice, and the willingness to look within.

If you feel that quiet nudge toward something deeper, trust it. This training has the power to open doors you didn’t even know were there and to reveal the most authentic version of yourself waiting on the other side.

— Christine

If Christine’s story resonates with you and you feel called to explore your own path more deeply, you can learn more about our 200-hour teacher training here:

Yoga Academy / Teacher Training