As I’m writing this, I’m currently in the last week of my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program aka YTT. It’s been a unique ride since it’s been mostly online and for me even a little more unique for how long it’s taken me to finish.

I started my round of Yoga Teacher Training in person with my Lucky 13 crew, we got to be together for a whole session before quarantine forced us online. Most, if not all of us were thankful to have this safe space during such an uncertain time. The physical aspect of yoga, the asana, is a small part of the actual practice of yoga. It’s full of philosophy, breathwork, and meditation, which were much-needed tools then and now.

My YTT journey was put on pause when I lost my mom to COVID-19 and went home to be with my family, unsure of what the future would hold for me. The fears of teaching, of being able to absorb all that information mounted, and when I was finally able to come back to YTT with the Quarantine 15 crew, an entire year later, I was not sure teaching was for me. 

Here are my top 5 insights to prepare for this journey and show yourself some kindness along the way.

1. Everyone is nervous, it’s normal!

I felt such imposter syndrome at first because I was not a handstand, pretzel yogi. No matter how long you’ve been practicing this is still a new adventure and it was so nice to all be beginners in a sense. It created such a beautiful space of support.

2. Anatomy is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Seriously don’t freak out if you can’t remember all the muscles or get confused by abduction and adduction. It’s like math, it comes easier to some, and others might need a tutor, others being me!

3. Teaching is scary!  

You might get towards the end of your program and seriously question if you can teach. I promise you can, when you get in front of your fellow YTTers it’s just going to magically happen. So, try not to spend too much time worrying about it but do prepare and practice.

4. It’s okay to not be okay.

200 hours is a lot even for the most seasoned yogi and avid learner. Take care of your body and know that it’s ok to have a grumpy day over the time commitment and information overload.

5. There will be magical moments.

Ayurveda, finding your voice and the yoga sutras were some of my favorite lessons but the true magic was being so lucky to have been in two amazing groups of humans.

So here I am days away from graduation and like many that complete YTT, just thankful for the knowledge I’ve gained in how to listen to and move my body with breath. When I’m in class now I feel empowered to skip or change something up if it’s not feeling right for my body that day. Gone are the deer in headlights days when I hear yogi’s choice because I now know what my body needs. However, in these last few days, I’ve realized I absorbed more than I’m giving myself credit for, and teaching and sharing this practice is something I definitely see in my future.

Interested in Yoga Teacher Training?

Now enrolling for Fall 2022.

Save $500 when you put a deposit down by August 15th.

Learn more about Yoga Teacher Training at One Down Dog >>

The post How To Prepare for Yoga Teacher Training (And Be Kind to Yourself Along the Way) appeared first on One Down Dog.

Chioma Nwosu is an incredible addition to our teaching team. We feel so lucky! This Nigerian-born Detroit native residing in Los Angeles immediately caught our attention. Chioma merges the gap between science and spirituality; empowering everyone to take control of our own wellbeing. She’s spent over 20 years working with patients in the hospital systems and her focus is on a tapping into ancestral knowledge to begin cultivating a personal practice that would provide healing in ways that our current healthcare system could not – energetically. 

Ms. Nwosu wears many hats professionally as a certified educator, health & wellness empowerment coach, certified & licensed massage therapist, yoga instructor, meditation facilitator, reiki master, sound healer and plant Spirit medicine facilitator after studying ceremonial rituals with Shipibo Shamans in Peru. 

Hi, hello, we are in love.

Pronouns: she/her

Hometown:  Detroit, MI

Favorite artist: Anyone who offers AfroBeat music

ODD Fact: I’m Vegan

My class style: Fun, energetic and well-rounded

The post #ODDlight: Meet Our New Teacher, Chioma Nwosu! appeared first on One Down Dog.

You might already know Lani! She has been part of the ODDfam since 2016 and we are SO excited to welcome this One Down Dog teacher training alumni to the teaching side of things.

Lani (like Annie with an L in front) found yoga in college in Iowa and followed her interest in this full mind/body practice to Los Angeles. She was one of the 5 to do our only 200-hr intensive teacher training at ODD! Sergio who is also on the schedule now was also part of that small group.

Lani lives her best LA life as an actor, sketch-comedian, and improvisor loving on energetic classes, Ru Paul’s Drag Race and the Dodgers. Come take her in-person classes and you’ll find a friend you have something in common with.

Pronouns: she/her

Hometown: Moline, IL (home of the John Deere Tractor!)

Favorite artist:

The Beatles, Lizzo, Courtney Barnett, Beyonce, and The Who to name a few!

ODD fact:

9-month old Lani thought it was a good idea to place her hand on the hot stove and now my hand a pretty strange scar.

Class style/vibe:

I love to flow through simple and accessible sequencing with breath. I will seek to help you find that balance of effort and ease while encouraging you to do what feels good in your body. I hope to help you find places to amp up energy, as well as places to let go of tension and stress. Things you can count are mess-ups from me, good tunes, a laugh, and of course, a twerk sesh. 

The post #ODDlight: Meet Our New Teacher, Lani Engstrom! appeared first on One Down Dog.

We met Grace online in 2020! Like many of the online romances in 2020, it’s proven to be solid stuff. Grace is a good listener, big dreamer, and we are LOVING gettin’ down in studio! Successfully turning an online love into an in-person relationship as she teaches in studio.

Grace loves lots of types of movement: dancing, jumping, stretching, swimming, walking, interval training, and barre. That’s why you’ll find her not only making the shapes but also shaking my booty and skipping around my mat. Think of her class as recess for adults!

Pronouns: she/her

Hometown: Rochester, NY 

Favorite Artist: I always try to come up with something more creative, but the answer is always Taylor Swift

ODD Fact: I sneeze every time I see the sun (lol that I live in California now) and sometimes, if my phone screen is too bright that makes me sneeze too. 

Class Style/Vibe: My classes are a balance of hard work and play. I will ask you to challenge yourself, dig deep, and bring a little bit of grit, but I will also ask you to honor and love yourself the whole entire time. (And I’ll probably make a joke or two that no one thinks is funny). I’m a little sassy and a little sweet. We will make weird shapes, move our bodies freely, listen to good music, and most importantly, have fun. No two classes are ever the same. 

The post #ODDlight: Meet Our New Teacher, Grace Slifkin! appeared first on One Down Dog.

We love Dylan! Introduced to us through a fellow friend and student. While the physical practice he thrived at first drew Dylan to yoga it was the wholeness that yoga allows you to feel that kept him coming back. Dylan uses this practice to overcome daily insecurities, it replaced a destructive habit for alcohol and has allowed him to connect with a peaceful inner self. “It is my wish to help others find this same peace within themselves."

Pronouns: He/Him/They/Them

HOMETOWN: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

FAVORITE SONG/ARTIST: This is always changing but some I know will last with me forever are Björk, FKA Twigs, Robyn, and Janet Jackson.

ODD FACT: When I was 16 I competed solo as a clog dancer on PAX TV’s “America’s Most Talented Kids" and lost! But I used the participation money to buy a green iPod Mini and felt super cool. #winning

MY STEEZ: I want to make yoga as inviting for everyone as possible by creating a judgement-free space where you can find and feel your power. I believe that part of being strong means knowing when it’s time to be gentle. I’ll drop a little reminder here and there, and tell you to curl the corners of your mouth towards the outer corners of your eyes.

The post #ODDlight: Meet Our New Teacher, Dylan Wallace! appeared first on One Down Dog.

Meet Jack Workman!

Jack makes us LAUGH, it’s the kind of humor that’s wickedly accurate and honest. That’s the kind of teacher we love at One Down Dog. The svadhyaya (self-study) paired with the YA YA’s!

This new ODD teacher had his first 200 hr teacher training by age 15, teaching for over 10 years now! It’s a dedication to a practice of teaching while having teachers that inspires us to learn what Jack has to offer.

Jack seeks to facilitate a community that honors and celebrates everyone’s unique flavors. He strives to make space for everyone to take something valuable back into their lives off the mat.

Pronouns: he/him

Hometown:

I was born in Fort Collins, Colorado – but I just recently moved from San Francisco.

ODD fact:

In college I studied German. I speak it fluently and I lived in Germany for about two years. 

I started practicing yoga when I was 12 and I received my first 200 hr yoga teacher certification when I was 15.

Favorite Artist:

As the child of hippie parents, I grew up listening to lots of folk music from the sixties and seventies. So I have a soft spot for anything from Cat Stevens to Joan Baez…

I also enjoy the music of Swedish pianist Henrik Lindstrand, and particularly love his album Nattresan. It’s a focused yet relaxed soundtrack that eases the mind and is great for yoga.

Class vibe/style:

I teach a playful, yet focused vinyasa yoga. In my class, we will stay true to the roots of yoga without taking ourselves too seriously. Skillful sequencing and alignment are important elements of my class, but so is curiosity and lightheartedness. Everyone will have the opportunity to feel growth in my classes, no matter where they might be on the spectrum of physical and mental ability.

The post #ODDlight: Meet Our New Teacher, Jack Workman! appeared first on One Down Dog.

Name: Janine Glass

What brought you to become an instructor? Yoga was and still is the thing that connects me to self and the universe. Yoga continues to heal and help me. When I took my first teacher training I knew yoga was my new journey and it makes me so happy and humble to share the practice, the space, and time with others! I left that teacher training quit my corporate job and started teaching immediately (thanks to Ducky Punch:)

What is your favorite song to play in class? That changes on the daily

What is your favorite pose or flow? Why? Honestly, that so changes on the daily too. But I always love to invert!

Memorable yoga moment? Arriving on the mat; yes that memorable moment when peace washes though every cell tissue of the body!

Are there any links, @names, and #hashtags you would you like us to use in promoting you and your happenings? www.JanineGlassYogaCo.com, #j9yogaco #forrestyoga Follow my social media to see update of all yoga happenings and my boys!

The post #ODDlight Teacher Feature: Janine Glass appeared first on One Down Dog.