A couple of days ago I was sitting there feeling a bit sorry for myself as my back was giving me some grief. It was affecting my ability to practice yoga and even take my dogs for a simple walk down the beach, one of my favorite pastimes. I suddenly realized this week that it is 12 years since I had my car accident. This accident no doubt changed my life.

I read the above saying a few weeks ago and it really stuck with me. When people ask me about my accident they often say “that must have been so hard’ etc. and yes it was hard but I always say it was the hardest thing that happened to me but also the best thing that happened to me. As I was feeling a bit down and thinking ‘Man its been 12 years and I still have problems with my back when is this going to end? Is this going to end?’ I emailed a friend and said “do you know it’s 12 years today since I had my car accident’ She emailed back and gave me avery good reminder. She emailed back and said

‘Wow… it’s been 12 years. I remember reading your profile and thinking about what your Dr. said. It’s amazing where you are now. You inspire so many people‘

It made me stop and remember how lucky I am and how far I’ve come from 12 years ago. Mentally, physically and emotionally I am a much stronger person. I am more sure of who I am as a person and what I want out of life. It made me realize what was important to me. It set me on my path towards yoga and becoming a yoga teacher.

After my car accident I was depressed feeling sorry for myself listening to negativity from my doctors and others around me in the pain clinic I was attending. Luckily I had some great people in my life who didn’t let me spiral downwards. My partner at the time was fantastic and a great support, sometimes too much support, which was more detrimental than helpful, but he meant well. No doubt my brother was my biggest challenge. My brother never let me feel sorry for myself, he never felt sorry for me and would often basically tell me ‘to get over it, its not that bad’ although at the time it was sometimes hard it was also the best thing for me. Because it made me get over myself and decide to make a change. I didn’t have to accept what people were telling me. It was my choice how I decided to let this affect me life. At the end of the day it was up to me.

I was going through physical therapy with a great occupational therapist who also challenged me. She was probably the person who put the idea in my head about becoming a personal trainer. One day she commented ‘You should consider doing this work. Help to inspire others.’ And so after a couple of years I did, I quit my job in retail studied personal training and then started in the industry.
A few of my clients were people who had had injuries or medical conditions that affected their lives. Yes I had a few “healthy” clients who were also amazing to train. But it was so important to me to help others who were like me. I wanted to give back to show others that you don’t have to accept what the Dr’s tell you, you can do anything you put your mind to.

I started practicing and it has since taken over my life and changed it even more. So when my body complains or if I have a bad day it’s just a reminder to me of how far I’ve come. All because of this crazy car accident 12 years ago. I found my purpose.

As a few friends gathered last night I was asked this question by a very special lady and it got me thinking ‘What was I going to do this year?’

2012 was a big year for me and it seems it was year of change and challenge for many people. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard someone say I’m glad to put 2012 behind me.

Although in my classes the past couple of weeks I’ve talked to my students about reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead I’ve realized I haven’t really taken the time yet myself to sit back and reflect or really look to the year ahead.

The past year was a challenging year I was sick over the winter period and had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder. This made me realize how I have allowed other people to put pressure on me and I have put pressure on myself to be there others, often at the expense of my own needs. I ran two teacher trainings in Bali where I met some amazing people who have inspired me in so many ways. I had conflicting thoughts about whether to open a yoga studio in Adelaide and put pressure on myself to try and make this a reality and felt like a failure when things just never seemed to come together. But the biggest thing was spending time with my father on a family trip to America. After not having a relationship with my father for 14years I was nervous about this trip and had reservations but I knew it was something I needed to do.

The trip was challenging for various reasons but it also had many amazing times and I learnt so much.

I realized I’m much stronger now than I was years ago and being around my father was not as hard as I thought it would be. This was certainly helped by the fact that my brother was such an amazing support throughout the trip, one of the great things to have come out of this trip. I was also so proud of my brother who after all the training and hard work didn’t let the marathon being cancelled stop him from reaching his goal of running his first marathon. Instead of being defeated he and a few others searched and found a marathon that was being held in Malibu the following weekend and after a bit of juggling with travel arrangements ended up running the marathon there instead. It just shows that nothing can stop you unless you let it.

This little quote and saying I came across yesterday says it all

It’s never too late to change plans..

John Lennon was right…

Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. Plans are guidelines. Not regulations. If they don’t fit the circumstances. Change them. The greatest skill isn’t planning ahead. It’s being able to adapt to life’s unexpected obstacles. And still look ahead with a smile.

So after reflecting on the past year the question is where to now? How was I going to inspire myself? What inspires me? I realized that opening a yoga studio in Adelaide, although is still a goal of mine, does not have to happen right now. I think I put pressure on myself for my students and for my students who had come to Bali with the idea of teaching yoga in Adelaide and I felt I had let them down. However I realized that I was the only one putting this pressure on myself no one else was. I have a few travel plans this year and the reality is that it’s not the right time to do something here.

This friend asked why don’t I teach more workshops overseas and around Australia. My initial reaction was that’s what I want to do but then good old self-doubt kicked in J I started to judge myself against other teachers who have inspired me and who have at least 10yrs experience on me and found myself lacking. I started to explain this to my friend and she told me how ridiculous I was being. My students have told me before how lucky they are to have me as a teacher and I do take it in but I think in the back of my mind I think ‘yeah but you haven’t been to many teachers and you only have Adelaide to compare it to’, in case you haven’t realized yet Adelaide is by no means a yoga mecca lol!

Last night after everyone had left I read the quote above from a book given to me by one of my students before they moved interstate. It was exactly what I needed to read. I sent this student a message to say thanks and when she emailed back saying how much she missed my teaching it made me stop and think.

I realized that I do have something to offer but it was just my fear that was stopping me. I realized that I was not putting myself out there because if I didn’t I could be safe; if I didn’t put myself out there then I couldn’t fail but of course the reverse is that neither could I succeed. That whole thing of sometimes its safer just not to try, rather than try and fail. So although it’s scary I’m going to do it. Put myself out there and just see what happens.

On reflection here are a few things that inspire me are:

1. Learning something new- last year I took up the challenge to learn the guitar, something that still challenges me lol!
2. Seeing other people transform themselves inside and out and being part of that process. I am always grateful for my students. For their trust in me and allowing me to be a part of their journey. The transformations I see always inspire me to reach for more in my own life
3. Photography: I love taking photos and I want to learn more about how to take great photos
4. Travel

So what are you going to do this to inspire yourself?

Build strength with this continuous flow from beginning to end. Open move and strengthen the whole body with this intermediate level practice. Full of twists, core work and arm balances such as ekdpadakoundinyasa, bakasana and parvrttabakasana this challenging sequence will get you working hard and leave you feeling amazing.

This morning, after talking about the ganesha removing obstacles whether they be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual and also signifying new beginnings, I asked my students to think about what they wanted to let go of in their lives. Whether it be stress, fear, self-doubt etc. and to then think about how letting this go will lead them to bring something new to their lives. A new way of living by letting go of whatever it may be that is holding you back from reaching your true potential.

As we moved through the practice with a focus on handstands, I often find these can be confronting for people. There is a lot of fear and students don’t trust they can do it. I myself have these same fears. I find handstand challenging but I love them anyway. They have a way of making me face my fears. I remember a couple of years ago whilst on retreat with my teacher Clive Sheridan popping up into a handstand and without even getting up just collapsing in a burst of tears.

Handstand for me represents my self-doubt that I am not strong enough or that I am not good enough. After having a car accident and two shoulder surgeries this is where the fear of not being strong enough comes from. My fear of not being good enough comes from my father and my family. I have this fear that if my father couldn’t accept me and love me everyone else will eventually see that there is something wrong with me and that I’m not worthy of love, which after many years of self study, I’m sure he does love me in his own way. However as I was growing up I was always the little bitch, I was fat I was not as god as my brother etc….  I have not had a relationship with my father for 15yrs now and in a couple of months time I will be spending almost two weeks with him my brother my mum and their partners as my brother takes on the New York Marathon and we are all going over to support him in his endeavour and have a holiday at the same time. I can say this fills me with some trepidation. However I believe that I am now strong enough to handle this and even though there is some fear there it is absolutely something I need to do.

Anyway throughout the class I saw a change in some of my students; they had smiles on their faces, even laughter when they were falling out of handstands. Sometimes I see my students as I’m sure I’ve been the same myself fighting against he handstand. Handstand for some people is “THE” posture. If I can do handstand then I must be good. It’s the pinnacle for a lot of people. No doubt most people have seen videos of yogi’s displaying amazing strength as they effortlessly lift into handstand and admire the control and beauty they see and then often the corresponding judgement on ourselves of “I wish I could do that’ or “why cant I be like that?”. But its when we let go of these judgement of ourselves and others and instead of fighting against just let go and play that we allow ourselves to open to the possibility of growth and change.

Learning to trust ourselves and just have a go. What the worst that could happen? We fail and try again.  I love this Thomas Edison quote

“I didn’t fail I just found 100 ways that didn’t work.”

It was great to see how for some students after practicing their handstands and laughing and having fun when we came to do back arch they were more open. Their hearts were open.

At the end of the class I read a story as I always do. This story was about loving yourself no matter what, no matter what you are doing, feeling etc. Not to worry about what anyone else thinks of you because the only approval we ever really need is our own. The acceptance and approval we give ourselves is all that counts. To love and accept ourselves wholeheartedly.

At the end I said to my students to think about that and to send love to yourself just as you are your perceived “flaws” and all. We finished with 5 “AUM’s” with our hands in Ganesha mudra over our heart centres to give us courage to open our hearts to love and acceptance. To have the courage to let go of our old habits and negative thought patterns. I said at the end, as I always do,  ‘may our yoga practice bring us love and compassion for ourselves and others, to live with integrity in our actions and joy in our hearts’ then I added ‘may we have the courage to trust ourselves and always follow our dreams’

As I was saying these words I realised that I was talking to myself. I had a very strong image of one of my dreams come into my mind that I have been struggling with lately. There are two paths I can possibly take at the moment and I’m still not sure which one to follow.  But I realised that one of those paths involves a lot of fear. Fear of not being successful, of commitment, fear of failing, of not being good enough. And I realised that I had to let this go. I had to trust that when the time is right I can do whatever I set my mind to do. Whatever is truly in my heart.

A Tony Robbins quote comes to mind

“The truth of the matter is that there’s nothing you cant accomplish if you clearly decide what it is that you’re absolutely committed to achieving, you’re willing to take massive action, you notice what’s working or not, and you continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way.”

Its not uncommon to hear that yoga has changed someone’s life. But is it really possible? Well… here is my story about how Yoga changed my life. Feel free to take it as a pinch of salt if you wish. Or..use it as a source of inspiration.

It was August 2006 in Montreal Canada. I was in a mildly depressed state because of a break-up. I had a cigarette in my right hand and a drink in my left, eating junk food without any health concern, covered with thick make-up… basically I was avoiding myself, trying not to feel alone. I was acting like everything was fine, when in reality I was in pain.

A friend of mine told me I needed to change something, that I had lost a shine in my smile. I heard of $5 donation Yoga on Friday night at a Hot Yoga studio and I decided to give it a try, since I was out of shape, hadn’t done any exercise for a number of years and felt the need to lose some weight.

So, I began moving my body after a long time of the absence of physical exercise, and my body screamed in joy and pain. I was 19 years old, my hamstrings were aching and my lungs were shocked. However, after the 90 minutes of practice, I felt calmness and peacefulness inside of me. I can’t remember why I was driven into the practice, I went back again and again.

I stopped seeing friends for a while. I distanced myself from most of my friends. I guess I was scared of feeling the sensation of ‘belonging’ but I kept up with my Yoga practice. I gradually started to notice the change in my body and my heart. I started to love myself and look myself in the mirror again. After the three months of practice, I cried. I thought I cried because of sadness of the loss of the relationship but I cried because I let myself being in the state of not accepting myself, and I cried because I was able to love myself once again.

Three years had passed in my regular practice, and I decided to go to take another step forward and attend a teacher training in Byron Bay Australia in 2009. My dream was to serve communities across the globe and I thought teaching Yoga could save and help people in the same way that Yoga saved me through during the difficult times. Within the three years of my practice, I found new love and a partner supports me and shares my laughs and the joys. I thought learning about Yoga would be all physical but since the training started, I became more into the mental and spiritual side of the practice.

I cried during the training because of my childhood, from having a divorced family experience and the self-doubts about the relationship. Teachers and fellow Yogi friends helped me through to go through the past pain deeply stored in my heart. I had an awakening. I’ve noticed Yoga is more than a physical fitness and it is a self-development and empowerment journey for the life.

I would never want pity because I had these experiences in my life. In reality, I feel as though these life experiences have actually helped me to understand people better. Also, I’m not wise because I’ve noticed the beauty of Yoga. Instead, i’m happy that Yoga found me or the path opened up in front of me so I can share and enjoy the marvel tradition.

I’ve been teaching Yoga for almost 2 years since 2010. I’m still a new teacher and I’m learning everyday. I’ve witnessed change in people’s life. I saw anger and sadness in people. I’ve seen joy and happiness. Also I became extremely sensitive to people’s energy which ables me to understand the cause of the sorrow. As a messenger who loves to share Yoga with people, this teaching job is the most rewarding profession I could think of.

Without Yoga, I can’t imagine what my life could have become. I walk without make-up, I express pain and happiness without hesitation. I inquire towards discomfort in my heart and work through from it. I connect with people in more sufficient way. But the most important thing is, I love myself and I accept myself. I don’t need expressive materials because I know I’m shining from inside.

Yoga changed me because it helps me to glow in to a beautiful light from my heart.

written by Asami Martens

admin for SBC Yoga

teaching yoga in Singapore

SBC’s hometown is Adelaide. South Australia’s capital, Adelaide is a fantastic city to live in. Its said to be a ‘brilliant blend’ and I think that pretty much sums it up. Whether you’re into art, culture, city life, bars and restaurants, it has everything a city lover could wish for…and for a lover of the outdoors? Well it has a bunch to offer on that front too (and there aren’t many cities that can say the same).

Whether you’re living in Adelaide or just here on a visit, here are a few things that we at SBC Yoga love about the city

1. River Torrens linear park trail:

Whether your active and want to go for a walk, jog, cycle or just want to sit back and enjoy the sunshine River Torrens Linear park has it all. With lots of fantastic spots along the trail to sit back and enjoy a picnic with lots of play equipment for the kids hat better way to spend you Sunday afternoon.

Running through the city center the trail passes the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre and the Adelaide Zoo.

The city section and Elder Park are the most popular spots to stop and enjoy your day. Feeding the ducks is a favorite pastime for kids of all ages. You’ll also get to see the beautiful native Black Swans.

Please be careful about feeding the Black Swans however as breads are actually not healthy for them.

Although not suitable for swimming there are plenty of other water activities such as the River Torrens paddleboats, these colorful boats are a fun way to see the river. The iconic PopEye boat also delivers tours along the river. Most people who grew up in Adelaide will have some childhood memory of these two fun activities.

2. Central markets

An international melting pot of color the Adelaide Central Market buzzes with life. The noise, the smells, the variety and the atmosphere are what make this spot a shopping experience not to be missed.

With a wide range of fresh food all under one roof – from meat and poultry, seafood, gourmet cheese, fruit and vegetables, bakery products, sweets, nuts and health foods; the Adelaide Central Markets really does have it all.

While your there why not take a break at one of the great cafes located throughout.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday every week.

3. Beaches

Wide expansive beaches run all along the Adelaide. Popular beachside location such as Glenelg, Henley Beach and Semaphore are great places to spend the day, even in winter there are some great of cafes or shops to explore while staying out of the wintery weather.

If you’re a surfer the beaches down south Noarlunga and further south Middleton, Victor Harbor are great places to catch a wave. Unlike the beaches on the south coast of Australia you sure to find a spot to yourself to sit and enjoy the sounds of the waves.

4. Take a hike

With a wide variety of national parks Adelaide is the home to some of the best nature walks around. Whether you’re after a short walk in nature or a multi-day hike there is plenty on offer. Popular places to visit are

Waterfall gully/Mt Lofty

Morialta

Belair National Park

Deep Creek

There are also some great coastal walks such as the Marion Coastal Trial

For more information check out the South Australian Trails website

http://www.southaustraliantrails.com

Loaded with fun outdoor ideas it’s a great resource for all things nature in Adelaide. With some great tips on canoeing, kayaking and other great outdoor activities.

5. Port River dolphin sightseeing cruise

There are about 30 dolphins calling the port river estuary home. There are many cruise companies offering daily cruises or you can even hire the boats for a specific function.

Not only is it a great way to see dolphins up close but also it’s a great way to explore the Port River estuary and its surround.

6. Festivals

Undoubtedly the best time of the year to be in Adelaide is festival month. Running from late February to March the city of Adelaide comes alive.

The international Fringe Festival, http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/

, takes place during this time with a tonne of international and local talent on display the Fringe is not to be missed. For those on a budget there are plenty of street performers around and free or extremely cheep shows, or you could always just go hang out in The Garden of Unearthly Delights, a favorite hangout during the Fringe.

But lets not forget the amazing Adelaide Festival, which takes place in March; it is Australia’s largest Multi-arts festival. It is one of the worlds greatest art events featuring the best in opera, theatre, dance, music, cabaret, new media events, literature, outdoor entertainment, the visual arts, master classes, forums and a purpose built late night club.

http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/

As we enter the coldest months of the year, across the southern hemisphere and more locally in S.B.C. Yoga’s home-town of Adelaide, Australia, we’re all a little bit more more susceptible to picking up illnesses that interfere with our yoga practice (we all know its not so fun practicing yoga with a running nose and a loud cough!).

Ever the advocates of natural remedies here at S.B.C. Yoga. Here are some of our top natural remedies and immune boosters to help you through the winter and keep you on yoga practising form!

1. Garlic

Garlic is a powerful immune booster in fact it is deemed one of natures most powerful antibiotics. By stimulating the production of infection fighting white blood cells it also increases the efficiency of antibody production. Much of its benefits seem to derive from sulfur containing compounds one of which is Allin which converts into Allicin, this is an effective antifungal, antiviral, anti bacterial and helps fight against parasitic infection.

To receive the highest benefit from garlic it is best eaten raw, that’s if you can stomach it of course. I suggest putting it in some salad dressing or as part of a guacamole sauce or something that requires raw garlic http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/10934/guacamole . Other alternatives are to fry it in a pan with some olive oil or even add it to your vegetables or soups.

2. Ginger

Ginger is a fantastic antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-biotic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, helps ease the pain of a sore throat, decreases congestion, gets rid of chills and fever, promotes circulation, cleanses the blood, relieves indigestion and nausea, contains Vitamins A, C, E, B Complex, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Beta-Carotene and Potassium.

Ginger can be used in food, drinks and baking. Use fresh gingers peel and grate it and it to a pot of boiling water once off the boil add lemon and honey for a great tasting medicinal tea. It may be an old wives tale but Ginger has also be known to be used in a warm bath, the properties of ginger increase the production of sweat and therefore help the body dispel toxins and germs.

Ginger is also a great remedy for nausea and vomiting if you’re unlucky enough to get a bout of either of those over the winter!

3. Turmeric

Containing curcumin, a polyphenol that has strong cold and flu-fighting properties, this rich spice has been used for centuries as part of Ayurvedic medicine. It is used widely for cooking and is found in every yellow curry. The powder is a rich golden color that has antiseptic qualities; it is often used to treat cuts, burns and bruises. Tumeric is a fantastic spice for cooking, adding lots of great flavor

4. Vitamin C.

Vitamin C has been widely researched and has been proven to increase the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibodies. It is a strong anti-viral, antioxidant and even acts as an antihistamine. It increases the levels of HDL cholesterol whilst lowering blood pressure and interferes with the process of fat being converted into plaque in the arteries, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Available naturally in fruits and vegetables you don’t need to take massive amounts of Vitamin C to boost your immune system. The recommended daily dose of 200milliigrams can e achieved just by eating at lease six servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

Lemons are a fantastic source of Vitamin C and have the added bonus of equalizing the balance of acids and alkali in your body. Adding lemons to you tea or water or even squeezing them over your vegetables is a great way to get an extra dose of Vitamin C. Citrus, papaya, strawberries, tomatoes etc. are also great sources of natural Vitamin C. Of course you can also take it as a drink or in pill form of just by drinking plenty of OJ.

5. Flax Seed Oil:

Considered to be natures richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids this natural oil is recommended to help maintain general well being and good health in the whole body. It contains 50% more Omega-3 than fish oil (making it a great alternative for vegetarians) and also contains Omega-6 and Omega-9 essential fatty acids as well as B vitamins, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, fiber, protein, and zinc.

It is derived from a blue flowering plant and can also be known as linseed oil.

It’s important to get a high quality unfiltered cold pressed Flax Seed Oil for the greatest benefits. You can buy it in oil form which you can add to salad dressing or other items. You can also take it in capsule form. Make sure you keep it refrigerated and protect it from being exposed to light and this can make the oil turn rancid.

1. The Yoga Mat; Likely to be the most important piece of equipment you will own. When choosing a yoga mat, there are a few things you may want to consider.
1. Weight - For example, if you’re planning to do a lot of travelling, you might want to consider a lighter mat. Manduka have a good range of yoga mats available. Personally I prefer the VBPro mats you can get from empind.com.au (the only problem being, they can be a little on the heavy side)
2. Thickness of mat- Sometimes when practicing on hard floors it’s better to have a thicker mat to give more protection to the knees and also for support of the head in headstands.
3. Quality - There are some really cheap mats put there but they often don’t last very long, which in the end can cost you more as you have to keep replacing them. I’ve had my mat for 6 years now yes it was expensive $80 but well worth the investment.
4. Colour – You’re going to be staring face down at your mat for hours on end. Choose a colour you wont get tired of!

2. Yoga Strap; these are great assistance in your yoga practice helping you manage poses even if you haven’t yet developed your flexibility enough. See use of Yoga Straps for more info

3. Blocks; Another useful aid for more challenging poses, blocks can elevate and help position yourself correctly. Its likely that your yoga studio will provide these, but if you’re practising at home, blocks are a good purchase

4. Bolsters; great for lying over or sitting on to support your practice

5. Blankets; Always a useful and comfortable addition to your practice. Blankets are great to sit and a necessity to place over yourself in savasana to keep you warm

Where to buy your yoga props

Today’s yoga industry is big business, and unfortunately there are lots of yoga wesbites and portals that for a variety of reasons, i’m not a big fan of. I’m very cautious about recommending any particular company as there are so many around. I don’t feel that it is necessary to spend $100s on yoga equipment and clothing. Many companies out there unfortunately do not support the yoga philosophy of non-harming, non-possessiveness and non-greed. However, thankfully for every not so great organisation there are a few good ones. For those of you who want to invest a bit of money in your yoga practice, here are some of my favorite websites:

Yoga Props - www.yogaprops.net
A basic site that offers a great range of products, ethically sourced and at reasonable prices. You can buy online or alternatively over the phone. And the best thing about them is that their phones are manned by people with yoga experience and knowledge

Iyogaprops - www.iyogaprops.com.au
Self proclaimed ‘Australia’s leading yoga equipment provider’. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case. These guys do things well, with a great set of products, including books, DVDs, wooden props all at very reasonable, wholesale range prices

Empind - www.empind.com.au
A nicely laid out site, with a range of really nice eco friendly products..

Manduka - www.manduka.com
Beautiful site that is a joy to go shop in. As well as great brands and products (all ethically sourced and eco friendly) they have a great community and blog to distract you from your shopping cart!

The stronger the wind, the stronger the tree.

What an amazing training we’ve just finished in Bali.  Set in the mountainside district of Tabanan, Bali Mountain Retreat was the perfect location, remote and serene with the sounds of nature (albeit a few chainsaw’s J) surrounding you. Practicing every morning in the yoga shala welcoming the rising sun what a beautiful memory we will all have.

A very diverse group of students from all over the world, South Africa, Australia, Japan and Canada just to name a few.

Despite a few ups and down and illnesses everyone who participated in the assessments graduated with smiles, some are already out there teaching and spreading the joy of yoga to the world.

A very big thank you to Chris Kummer and Philip Lemke for being not only wonderful teachers but wonderful, loving and supportive souls for without you both this training would not have been the beautiful journey that it was.

A very big thank you to Asami Martens also for acting as student support whilst on the training and being the first point of contact via email for students. Your beautiful energy shines through and really helped students to feel connected.

At the graduation ceremony the owner of Bali Mountain Retreat, the very talented Richard Karl, sang a beautiful song titled The Stronger The Wind The Stronger the Tree. It was a reminder that our struggles are what make us strong. Instead of fighting against situations that arise which we may not welcome we should try to learn to accept them and bend and grow with them. For without these struggles we would not grow. The song title says it all The Stronger The Wind The Stronger The Tree.

With gratitude I thank all of you who took part in the training for without you I wouldn’t be able to share what I love. You all inspire me in such different ways.

My true joy as a teacher is watching students grow, not just in their physical practice but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Seeing these amazing people develop and grow over the month is truly inspiring. If I ever have any doubts about my job they are very quickly squashed when witnessing and being pat of these amazing transformations.

Love, light and happiness

Zoe Trenwith

Here is a little overview of some of our favorite world yoga destinations

1. India

The ‘home’ of yoga India is the original yoga destination. With places such as Mysore – the home of ashtanga yoga, Pune – the home of Iyengar and the beach side region of Goa that hosts many western teachers and retreats during the dry season (Sept-June). India has a lot to offer on the yoga front as well as being an incredible tourist destination that will bombard your senses and leave a lasting impression on you. For a bit more information on some of the courses and ashrams available in india, this website has some good suggestions.

2. Bali

If you’re thinking of visiting Bali, we urge you to step outside of the tourist trap of Kuta and discover the culture and heritage this small island has to offer. Ubud is the cultural and artistic heart of Bali and hosts many yoga retreats within its region. The Yoga Barn in Ubud offers a wide variety of yoga classes in different styles you’re sure to find something that suits you. Visit the Bali Spirit website for retreats, teacher trainings and all things yoga Bali related, their annual Spirit festival held in March attracts well know yoga teachers from all over the world. Many five start resorts offer daily yoga classes and retreats. With amazing cuisine on offer all over the island and some truly special places Bali is well worth the visit. And dont forget, S.B.C Yoga offers teacher training courses in Bali twice yearly! 

3. Costa Rica;

Costs Rica has long been known as a great destination for nature lovers, with incredibly diverse flora and fauna but nowadays, it is also fast becoming the yoga destination of choice in Central America. With rainforests, beautiful beaches and amazing surf, yoga and Costa Rica is a perfect combination. Enjoy the fresh clean air as you surround yourself in the harmony of nature. With numerous resorts and eco lodges both on the Caribbean coast and the Pacific coast, there are lots of options, a great climate and some of the best surfing in the world, if you like the outdoors, Costa Rica comes highly recommended. This website is a great place to check out the options

4. Thailand;

Thailand is far from being an undiscovered tourist destination but it really does have a lot to offer to the yoga community. Whether it be an island destination, Koh Phangan or Koh Samui or mountain views you’re after, there is a lot to choose from in Thailand. From amazing 5 star resorts offering all sorts of beauty and health services to budget beach shacks, Thailand has it covered.  Other little bonuses are the amazing thai massages on offer to ease those tired muscles after all that hard yoga practice and amazing food on just about every corner Thailand has a lot to offer.

5. Sri Lanka;

Sri Lanka has been called the jewel of the Indian Ocean. From tropical surrounds, natural beauty and stunning wildlife wake up to the sounds of the ocean waves. Sri Lanka still has a relatively underdeveloped yoga tourism scene but there are a few retreat centers popping up and more and more teachers looking to host retreats here, Sri Lanka is a place to watch.