Student Spotlight with Grace

We feel incredibly fortunate to welcome students from all corners of the globe to our location. It's been a while since our last Student Spotlight interview, and we believe it's crucial to share the insights and advice of our graduates. These interviews provide valuable perspectives and challenge any preconceived notions about who can and should pursue yoga teacher training.

Through the upcoming Student Spotlight series on this blog, we hope you'll see that our yoga teacher training course is for everyone that has a passion for yoga and a commitment to growth. Regardless of whether or not you can do a handstand! 

In this edition, we feature Grace, a recent graduate of our 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher training course from April of this year...

When and why did you decide to train as a yoga teacher?

Taking the Yoga Teacher Training course was one of the most meaningful decisions I made as I prepared for retirement. For me, retirement meant a chance to reset my life, and this time, I had the freedom to choose how to fill my days. 

Staying physically active has always been crucial for my physical and mental health, and I knew I wanted yoga to be a significant part of my new chapter. Yoga would give me purpose and daily structure.

For years, I had taken various yoga classes with different teachers at different levels. My career and family life often got in the way of dedicating the time I wanted to yoga and meditation. As soon as I set my retirement date, I booked my yoga teacher training. What better way to kick off my retirement, my life reset? I wanted to deepen my practice and acquire the tools to enhance it. I recognized there were aspects of yoga I hadn't fully explored or understood. I wanted to solidify my foundation and set a more regular daily yoga practice.

I also knew that retiring from a career I loved meant I would be grieving a little, and four weeks away from home with something else to focus on would do me good. I was not wrong! This training also allowed me to discern what to look for in a good yoga teacher and what qualities to seek out.

Becoming a teacher was secondary for me; my primary goal was to deepen my own understanding and practice of yoga. The skills I gained for teaching yoga have been a wonderful bonus from this experience.

If you could describe your time with Wild Warrior Yoga in 3 words, what would they be?

a - Inspiring

b - Challenging

c - Reflective

What did you most enjoy about your 200 hour course?

What I liked most about the course were the actual yoga classes, where I could fully immerse myself in the practice. I cherished meeting the other students and feeling a special connection with all of them. The bond with our teachers was also incredibly meaningful.

I loved the feeling of being free to be ourselves (something often repeated by the other students), knowing we were totally accepted and cared for. Surprisingly, I also enjoyed the philosophy classes. Morwenna's passion for the subject was truly inspiring and infectious.

What did you find the most challenging?

Learning Sanskrit names of the postures: I realized my memory skills aren't what they used to be. Anatomy classes: I had never taken anatomy classes before, and better memory skills would have helped. Sitting still during meditation: It took me well into the third week to be able to stay seated for the full meditation class without feeling pain!

If you could give someone advice that is thinking of signing up for a 200 hour yoga teacher training what would it be?

If you can, start learning some Sanskrit names of the postures and the sequence of the Ashtanga series before the training. But, don't stress about the written exam—you'll do well just by attending all the classes. Have fun and explore new things as you prepare and give your yoga classes. Everyone is incredibly supportive!

And what is your favourite posture from the Ashtanga Primary Series!?

My favourite posture is Parivrtta Parsvakonasana, or the Revolved Side Angle Pose! I love the incredible full-body stretch and the powerful sense of strength it gives me. And for me practicing breathwork in this pose feels amazing!

Thanks so much Grace for sharing your words of wisdom we really appreciate it. And if you want to read more from Grace you can also check out the gorgeous review she wrote us on google here (it's the latest one!). 

You can keep updated with our courses on our instagram and facebook pages :)

Student Interviews with Elise, Autumn and Nelly

We catch up with Elise, Autumn and Nelly who graduated from our 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training course in September 2023…

3 Ways to Stay Balanced as the Seasons Change

According to Ayurveda the microcosm reflects the macrocosm and the macrocosm reflects the microcosm. In other words, our inner and outer worlds are connected and constantly reflecting back at each other. 

As the seasons shift so does our internal environment in order to maintain harmony and health. Sometimes this change can create instability and imbalance. This is one reason people tend to suffer colds and ailments during this time as their inner world catches up with the outer world. 

Just as when Winter turns to Spring we do a 'Spring Clean' in preparation for a warmer more extroverted time of year, it is helpful to do the same as we shift from Summer to Autumn in preparation for the more introverted part of the year. 

1.Find Your Space

Summer is a season to be social and saucy! If you are a super summery person it can be hard not to resent the seasons shifting. Find things you enjoy during the Autumn. There's a reason our American friends call it fall. It is a season to fall back a little. 

Give yourself the time and space to surrender to this fall. Perhaps add some warmer colours to your home or set aside some time for an Autumn clear out to create some more inner space both physically and mentally for more time spent indoors. 

2.Add Some Spice

As the air cools around you it's important to maintain inner heat for both your digestion and immunity, especially if you have a Vata or Kapha dominant dosha. 

Spices that are a great addition for some autumnal warmth include ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. 

Small changes and additions can make all the difference.

3.Invest In Yourself

September, of course, is the month when the new school year starts and everyone with children is preparing for them to go back to school. The cooler, darker weather naturally lends itself to this shift. 

Just because you are not a child anymore doesn't mean you can't take advantage of this and find ways to stay curious, develop and acquire new skills.

The month of September is also a great time for adults to take a look at their routine to see what serves them and what doesn't. In Ayurveda, routine is queen! Take a look at yours and see if there is a space for something that lights your fire :) 

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde

Student Interviews with Ayra and Eve

We catch up with Ayra and Eve who graduated from our 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training course in April 2023…

Student Interviews with Nadine, Sophie and Lauren

We catch up with Nadine, Sophie and Lauren who graduated the 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in November 2022...

Student Interviews with Bente and Floor

We catch up with Bente and Floor who graduated the 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in October 2022…

Our Top 3 Books on Breath

For something that we do every day and every night for the whole of our lives, you would have thought we’d think about it a little bit more! Thankfully for most of us, breathing comes naturally. Breath is a magical thing that sustains our every moment and bridges the gap between our conscious and unconscious mind. The old yogis knew this and practiced controlling their breath in order to control their energy and ultimately their mind.

We’ve chosen 3 quite different books on breath to give a better perspective on the breadth of the practice!

Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar

It would be impossible not to include this classic of a book in a top 3 list of breathing books, on a yoga school blog!

Light on Yoga first published in 1981 sets out the traditional pranayama techniques in a methodical and organised way. For those that don’t know, pranayama can be interpreted as control of vital life force energy and this can be done through breathing techniques known as pranayama exercises. Iyengar also explains yogic theory and philosophy to support and educate the practitioner.

”Breath is the king of mind. By drawing our senses of perception inward, we are able to experience the control, silence, and quietness of the mind. Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome.” BKS Iyengar

Breath by James Nestor

Relatively modern compared to the previous text, as this book was released in 2020. Breath by James Nestor is a surprisingly entertaining page-turner. If you prefer a more ‘scientific’ based approach then this book might be more for you. Not only does he give studies and references to back up his points he also delves into different cultural practices from around the world and offers up some of his own anecdotal evidence to convince and amuse.

Nestor’s main focus is on the danger of habitual mouth breathing, what it causes and how it can be avoided to improve your health and happiness all round.

“I call this a ‘lost art’ because so many of these new discoveries aren’t new at all. Most of the techniques I’ll be exploring have been around for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. They were created, documented, forgotten, and discovered in another culture at another time, then forgotten again. This went on for centuries.” James Nestor

Restoring Prana by Robin Rothenberg

It took me some time to find a text like this one. I was looking for a book that had both yogic wisdom and scientific studies in one. And I found it! Restoring Prana is a comprehensive guide to the anatomy and biomechanics of the breath alongside how it relates to our yoga practice on and off our mats.

Rothenberg also does quite a lot of myth-busting around the topic of breath and yoga which is much needed considering the number of misunderstandings that abound in yogaland.

”This book uncovers the truth about breath and brings wisdom from the ancient sutras on pranayama into the 21st century.” Patrick McKeown

We hope these voices of wisdom can accompany you and feed your lungs as well as your soul!

To explore some of these subjects in more depth join us on our next 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher training course!

Yoga Teacher Training Dates Autumn/Winter 2022

An infographic to sum up some of the best bits about one of the best yoga teacher trainings in Europe! ;-)

Student Spotlight

Anouchka graduated from the course only a few weeks ago. We managed to catch up with her on graduationday to get her words of wisdom and share a little about her experience with us :)

Student Spotlight

We are currently finishing the third week of our January yoga teacher training. This week is when teaching practicum starts to step up a gear and everyone's classes begin to take shape. It's an exciting time to see how things improve so quickly. Teaching practice is a big part of the yoga teacher training. Talking about teaching is important but actually teaching is even better!

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Vicky is currently on the course, so we thought we'd catch up with her and ask her a few questions about her experience here in Spain.

Hey! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm Vicky, I'm 22, I'm from Germany and I've just finished my studies in primary school education and now I'm on a mission to find out whether I want to do my masters or something else. 

Are you planning to teach yoga after the course here? 

When I signed up I was thinking of doing so but I was also very open. I knew maybe I would discover it wasn't something for me but 3 weeks into the course I feel very confident in teaching yoga.

Is there anything about this process of training that has surprised you?

As I've just studied to become a primary school teacher I know that a lot of thought and preparation goes into a lesson, before I thought it would be a bit less with a yoga class but it's a lot to think about (not in a negative way!) It's very nice to think about all the things that go into planning and teaching a yoga class and that every class is very well prepared if you do it right. 

Also all of the yoga philosophy and yoga history which maybe wasn't surprising but very nice to know and also very important to learn about if you want to be a teacher.

What advice would you give somone that was about to start an intensive yoga teacher training like this one?

Have a regular yoga practice before and know what you are getting yourself into especially physically. I did that before coming here and I think that it was a good basis because you know you're not going to be dead after doing at least 2 hours of yoga each day because it can be a lot along with all the content that you learn, so it's nice to have a strong physical basis to power you through.

Thanks so much Vicky! 

You can learn more about Vicky’s experience by listening to her episode about her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Spain here :)

3 Things to do just before you start your 200hr YTTC

It can sometimes feel like you’re stepping into a room blind folded when you sign up to a course in a place you might of never been with people you’ve probably never met! But you’ve done it! Your place is booked and your bag is packed. What else is left to do?!

We think checking in with yourself and taking some time to reflect before you dive in will help you make the most out of your experience. Over our years of offering yoga teacher trainings to many dedicated students, we know these 3 pieces of advice will put your mind at ease and help you go with the flow.

1.       Expectation

Check yourself before you wreck yourself! Rome wasn’t built in a day. A 200 hour yoga teacher training is a great way to start but no matter how comprehensive the course, your first training is just the beginning. Know that you are about to learn a hell of a lot! But also know you will come to realise how much you don’t know and how much more there is to learn. Even if you spent your whole life studying yoga, you still wouldn’t know everything!

Be proud that you took the first step and be ready to open yourself up for different ways of thinking and living. Know that there isn’t one yoga teacher in the world that knows everything but be assured that each one of us has a unique perspective and experience and we all have something to teach and share with the world!

2.       Consider What Type of Learner You Are

We all learn in different ways. It may help you to write pages and pages of notes. Others find it helpful to draw pictures and take photos. Consider the ways you learn and retain information best in order to prepare the right tools to help you.

Many times students will ask after a class or course if anyone took a certain photo or video of a posture or adjustment that they’ve forgotten or ask us for coloured cards to make proper revision flashcards. What will you need? Card? Highlighters? 20 different pen colours? Enough memory on your phone? It’s better to be over prepared in this situation!

3.       Be Kind To Yourself

Many students come with the worry that they won’t be as ‘good’ as the other students, especially when it comes to the physical asana practice. For one, being good at yoga postures does not automatically make you a good yoga teacher. Being naturally good at something can sometimes make it harder to teach it as you’ve not got a lived experience of how to improve or what it feels like to be in different forms of postures.

If you pick a good school then the place is a learning environment not a competition platform. The space will be safe and supportive, which encourages you to make mistakes, fall over and try new things because that’s the best way to learn!

We hope these small pieces of advice will help you soak up as much joy and knowledge as possible on your teacher training journey. If you have any questions for us please don’t hesitate to get in contact, we always like to hear from you! And for more information on our offerings check out our 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in Spain.

Our Top 3 Yoga and Ayurveda Podcasts

These are our absolute favourite yoga podcasts on the internet. They are informative, insightful and down to earth. I hope you get as much out of them as we did.

Yoga is Dead

6 episodes of pure gold! Indian-American hosts, Tejal and Jesal, run us through the main culprits of who killled yoga. They address subjects such as privilege, power and pay with depth and humor.
They generously share resources and advice on how to overcome some of the issues that face the yoga world today, leaving us both educated and entertained.

'We created the Yoga is Dead podcast as a way to jumpstart critical conversations, elevate oppressed voices and perspectives and to expose the problems felt by anyone who isn’t in the “in” crowd of the yoga industry.'

https://www.yogaisdeadpodcast.com/

Living It

I first found 'Living It' by being sent a version of The Yoga Sutra which is written by the hosts of this podcast. To be honest when I first received it I wasn't a big fan, but as time went by I came to understand it's value as an accessible version of the text and as a useful comparison to traditional interpretations in my philosophy classes.

The podcast follows similar themes in that it is accesible and practical, giving us ways to apply yoga philosophy to our everyday lives. This is especially true of Season 2 where they match their interview guests with a Yama or Niyama (the ethical precepts of yoga) and by doing so explore each one with a refreshing perspective. Highlights include, 'Discipline' with Kino MacGregor and 'Happiness' with Mo Gawdat.

'Join Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden as they untangle the mindset, habits and practices that can teach us where we are in our mind to create a joyful, meaningful life. A podcast for people who want to live a life on purpose.'

https://livingitpodcast.com/

The Simple Ayurveda Podcast

After searching for a good ayurveda podcast for a long time, 2 months ago I found an excellent one! The host, Angela Perger, treats ayurveda as it should be treated, as a practice just like yoga.

There are well over 100 episodes that cover a wide range of subjects from, the dosha basics, to advice on doing an ayurvedic home cleanse, to the value of storytelling. A great resource for those that are looking to learn the foundations of ayurveda and also for those that want to go deeper.

'Simple Ayurveda is here to make ancient science easy to understand, relatable and totally possible for you to apply into your modern day life so that you can be your healthiest, most vibrant self.'

https://simpleayurveda.com/

We hope these voices of wisdom can accompany you and feed your ears!

To explore some of these subjects in more depth join us on our next 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyas Yoga teacher training course!

4 Differences Between a Yogic and Ayurvedic Diet

Check out our guest blog on yogi approved…

Even though they are closely related there are some differences between the ancient sciences of yoga and ayurveda. To gain a deeper perspective take a look at our latest guest blog that delves into 4 of the main differences between the diet systems of each science.

Ashtanga Yoga Posture Quiz

Which Ashtanga Primary Posture Are You?

If you were a posture from the ashtanga primary series which one would you be?

Take the quiz to find out…

The Panchmahabhutas

The 5 Elements in Yoga and Ayurveda

An Infographic

The panchmahabhutas or the 5 great elements are the foundation of both yogic and ayurvedic philosophy. In western based philosophy we often think of just 4 elements that exist in the external, material world only. Within ayurvedic and yogic philosophy there are 5 main elements that we are deeply connected to and made up of.

Each element has their own unique characteristics that are very important to become familiar with before delving deeper into the doshas of Ayurveda or the Samkhya philosophy which many connect to The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. Always start from the ground up!

Here is a simplified visual guide to help you; recognise each element externally and also internally within your body, practices in how to increase them, the Sanskrit and some fun facts along the way!

We cover the panchmahabhutas or 5 element theory in our Ayurveda classes here at Wild Warrior Yoga, as apart of the 200hr yoga teacher training and the 300hr advanced training.

There are 3 hours worth of Ayurveda theory classes, on the 200 hour course, with options to learn more about the habit forming and routine implementing aspects of the practice during your living experience with us. You will learn about the 5 elements along with the 3 doshas which are the main constitutions or the humor of a person. You will also become familiar with the way the doshas manifest when they are in balance and when they are out of balance and what we can do to maintain health and vibrancy day to day.

The last part of the Ayurveda theory classes will focus on diet principles and the theory behind why certain doshas or constitutions should avoid eating too much of certain foods and tastes. Along with universal ayurvedic eating principles that you can apply to anyone, anywhere!

Interview with Ina!

We managed to catch up with Ina a few weeks after she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga here with us in Spain in January 2021.

She loves this part of Southern Spain as it has so much to offer from the surfing, to the nature and the culture. She loves it so much she decided to stay a few months more! And we think that she may be back next year too.

We cover some different topics including advice she has for anyone considering doing a yoga teacher training, how she would sum up her experience and what her plans are for the future.

Hear what she has to say with Morwenna, one of our lead teachers on the training, in her short interview on the terrace…

Our January 2021 training course was a special time where we managed to make our own safe, little yoga bubble amongst the chaos of the pandemic. So we would like to thank everyone that managed to join us at that time. And we can say that everyone else made it back safely!

If you’d like any more tips, advice or information when it comes to enrolling onto and choosing a yoga teacher training course please feel free to get in contact with us, we are always happy to help and advise on what is best for you. Teacher trainings are diverse and varied and it is important that you find one that is the right for you and your needs.

And if you’d like to see more from our alumni take a look at our graduates page in the ‘about’ section of the website or scroll down our blog page for some student spotlight interviews. Head over to our google account to see more reviews on our Ashtanga Vinyasa Training Course!

Student Spotlight with Offer

Meet Offer!

Offer completed his 200 hour teaching training with us this year in 2021. Get to know our students and graduates in our ‘Student Spotlight’ blog.

When did you complete your yoga teacher training course with us?

30th of January, 2021

What advice would you give to people thinking about taking a Yoga Teacher Training Course? 

This course is a rather intense experience as you spend a long time practicing, studying, eating and sleeping in the same place with the same people for a month. I would therefore strongly consider not only the material taught such as the type of Yoga practice, but also, and probably mainly, the teachers' attitude and their 'vibe'. In that I mean their approach to teaching (methodology) and to Yoga, such as which atmosphere they would like to foster and cultivate in the practice,  how experienced they are etc. I was lucky and the teacher's attitude suited me perfectly, which only made me realize how important that is in such an intense a course. 

If you could describe your experience at Wild Warrior Yoga in 3 words what would they be?!  

    Copyright 1 - Just do it. 

    Copyright 2 - Fun Wholesome Learning.

    Copyright 3 - Deep Integrated Learning.

 What is your favourite thing about teaching yoga? 

 I have not really taught it yet outside the course, but I have a strong feeling that I would really enjoy putting a class together (asana / meditation / music) and seeing people practicing and getting into it.  

What are you up to now? (will you be teaching anyone?!) 

Currently in lockdown mode so not teaching atm ; I am trying to deepen my own practice in the primary series,  getting ready for the time that studios would open - Inshallah!

You can keep updated with our courses on our instagram and facebook pages :)

5 Ayurvedic Eating Habits to Improve Digestion

Some of our teachers guest blog on specialist yoga sites!

Check out Morwenna’s latest Ayurveda Blog on Yogi Approved…

3 Reasons to sign up to a 300 hour YTTC!

For those of you that are confused by all the numbers, 300 hour yoga teacher trainings are for those that have already taken a foundational 200 hour course and want to take further training.

We run an advanced yoga training at our school in Spain once a year and it is a great opportunity for us to see some of our 200 hour students again and welcome new students from different yogic backgrounds.

300 hour trainings can be an excellent way to refresh and deepen your knowledge. Here at Wild Warrior Yoga we can think of 3 main reasons why you might enroll onto any 300 hour course…not just ours!

1. Deepen and Diversify

   Hatha, yin, vinyasa, kundalini, power the list goes on and on.

   Having knowledge of different yoga styles helps you to understand that there isn’t one right way of doing anything. By being well versed in different styles of yoga you can explore the reasons behind the different methodologies and come to your own educated choice. It may help to deepen your existing knowledge or give you the tools to be able to teach different types of classes. If you teach a diverse array of people and populations having knowledge in more than one style can help you to serve your students in a more effective and appropriate way.

   You might feel like your 200 hour didn’t go into as much depth as you like and you feel like you need to revisit a training in the same style. If that’s the case, be specific about what you want to come away from the training with and check whether the course you’re looking at will offer you that.

2. Receive Feedback

   Friends, family and even loyal students are great! One thing that they tend not to be great at is useful and constructive feedback. Receiving feedback is one of the most rewarding and effective ways to grow and improve as a teacher. Giving feedback is also a skill and by practicing this exchange in a safe and supported environment, it allows you the room and space to open up.

3. Recharge your Batteries

   Teaching any subject with full passion and vigor takes a lot of energy. One complaint that we hear often from full time yoga teachers is that they don’t feel they have enough time to do their own practice. Going on retreats and trainings not only gives you that time but allows you to put your student head back on!

   It may be that you need a recharge of your confidence batteries! We have many students that come onto the 300 hour course that have already taken a 200 hour but never felt prepared to teach and need a confidence boost to get them going straight away after they graduate.

Whether you need time to practice, a recharge or a break from your house in 2020! Trainings and retreats in any discipline can be a great way to feed your body, mind and soul.

Student Spotlight with Megan

Meet Megan!

Megan completed her 200 hour yoga teaching training in Spain with us in 2019 and has been teaching yoga ever since. Get to know our students and graduates in this monthly blog post. Yogi of the Month.

When did you complete your yoga teacher training course with us?

I finished my training at the beginning of February 2019 which is nearly 19 months of teaching already....crazy! 

How did you feel about teaching yoga before you completed the 200hr teacher training course?

I was so excited about doing the course, particularly the thought of going on my own, meeting new people and deepening my yoga practice. In saying that, the thought of me ever actually teaching yoga wasn't a real goal of mine mainly because I didn't believe I could achieve it! I have always had a fear of public speaking so I was apprehensive about that part of teaching but I also knew that I wanted to challenge myself. Yoga has always had a calming influence over my life so I was hoping it could be the magic ingredient in calming my public speaking nerves too. I think when you asked us all at the start 'who wants to teach after the course?' I didn't even raise my hand because I was embarrassed at thinking I could! 

What advice would you give to people thinking about taking a Yoga Teacher Training Course?

Try not to get overwhelmed by the amount of different courses available. If possible, think of the two or three key aspects of yoga that are important to you and seek those out in a course. And remember, you don't have to have it all figured out, or have bags of confidence before you go. You will meet people with diverse personality traits, different yoga backgrounds and practices; and you will grow and develop a confidence unique to you through the course. Lastly,  remember to relax and enjoy all the reasons why you came to the yoga practice while you are there. It is an intense learning environment but it is also a huge privilege to have the time and resource to do it so enjoy the process! 

What is your favourite thing about teaching yoga classes?

I love introducing people to yoga and seeing the therapeutic effects the practice has on them. I like teaching a small class and getting to know people through the practice, keeping the classes light hearted and relaxed.

When can we join you?! (when and where are your classes?!)

I teach two evening classes a week in the Void Art Gallery in Derry, Northern Ireland - 5:30pm on a Tuesday and Thursday. A great opportunity to get your fill of contemporary art too :)

You can see what Megan is up to on Instagram @makespace.bymegan and facebook https://www.facebook.com/MakeSpace.byMegan/

Thanks Megan!

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