Tag Archives: training

Yoga in Ubud – Week 2

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“Remember, it doesn’t matter how deep into a posture you go – what does matter is who you are when you get there.” ~ Max Strom

  

It is hard to believe we are already half way through our training. The first week was quite overwhelming – new people, new teachers, new location and a challenge to our ideas of who we are. But now we feel like we have come out of the energy dip and things keep getting better!

Our days in the course are long, but full of amazing information and physical classes… there is so much to take in.

Here is an example of what our schedule is like:

  • 6:00am – Leave our hotel, watching dawn break over the rice fields and walk to The Yoga Barn
  • 6:30-9:00am – Meditation / Pranayama (breath work) / Asana (physical poses) 
  • Breakfast (usually at Yoga Barn’s Garden Cafe)
  • 10:30-12:30pm – Lectures (in week 2 we studied Anatomy, Yin Yoga, Pre-natal, Meridians and more…)
  • Lunch!
  • 2:00-5:00pm – Posture Clinic (breaking down poses and practice teaching)
  • 5:00-6:00pm – Yoga Nidra (yogic ‘sleep’ to help expand our consciousness) Or Yin Yoga 
  • Dinner and home time!

   

 

All up it was a fantastic week. We really feel like we are getting in the swing of it now. We have inspirational teachers every day. We have have made 30 amazing new friends, from all different backgrounds. So many new concepts and seeds are being planted in our minds. It is going to take some time to let it all settle in and see what grows… it is exciting.

Fortunately we do get a break from all that thinking to enjoy Sundays off. The perfect time for exploring Ubud!

  

Last weekend we had no energy (massage time!), but this week we felt great, and took a walk up the Campuhan Ridge. Campuhan (Cham-pu-han) Hill is a hill that is just off the main road of Ubud. It is a 2km walk that goes up the hill and along the ridge and at the top there is a nice cafe overlooking the rice paddies.   

    

  
 

In the little village at the top there are a few art galleries. We talked to a man who has been painting for 25 years (the knowledge passed down from his family) and then bought two pieces of art from him.    

 Another really cool thing about the hike was the number of locals also taking the walk. There were so many couples on romantic strolls and groups of friends just hanging out. It was nice to see the inhabitants of Ubud just being themselves. 

The walk up the hill took us about an hour but we went very slowly. From the cafe at the top you can continue along the road which takes you through another village and back to the main road but we decided to just go back the way we came. 

 

Every day is a gift and we are so grateful to be here. Two more weeks to go. Namaste! 

Yoga in Ubud – Week 1

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Our first week of training in Bali is over – and it has surprised us.  

 

First of all – our yoga course. It sounds crazy, but we think it has already changed us. Courses like this are often said to be ‘transformative’ – but it is still hard to believe until it happens! We didn’t expect to get information that is so motivating. It is truly widening our perspective on yoga and on life.

 

 

Just a few things we focused on:

  • How every moment, thought and action has an affect on your life force. Working on self awareness.
  • Learning what it takes to ‘strengthen your internal world’, so that you can manage the challenges of life.
  • Yoga helps you achieve a balanced state – not worn out or tired, not stressed or anxious. Your natural balanced state!
  • Amazing insights into meditation and breathing… and actually trying it.
  • There is a lot more to the art of Yoga than poses. A lot. 
  • And yes – we meditated at dawn, did headstands during ‘reggae yoga’ and sat around a fire chanting sanskrit mantras. We even got a string of mala beads. Total yogis!

…there is so much more. We could write pages! 

  Our yoga teacher training course is with The School of Sacred Arts at The Yoga Barn. We are having an amazing time. Even if it finished now, we would be satisfied – and there is still 3 weeks left!

 Oh, and secondly – Ubud is a wonderful place to visit. You should go.

Great things about taking a rejuvenating trip to Ubud! :

  • Amazing food – local, organic, raw, vegan or pretty much anything else… All at very low prices.
  • Yoga classes – the Yoga Barn alone has an amazing selection of classes, not to mention awesome stuff like ecstatic dance and healing music concerts. 
  • All kinds of talks/lectures/healing therapies available… It is easy to do something for yourself and try new things.
  • Lots of cheap massage/spa treatments /reflexology etc to calm down your day.
  • Live traditional Balinese music and dance – presented in the evening at many temples around town throughout the week. You can really feel the spirit of Bali!
  • The scenic rice paddies – escape the motorcycles and go for a walk or hike into the green. It is so peaceful and beautiful out there!
  • Lots more! …local shopping on the narrow and busy streets – locally made yoga related clothes and jewellery – Balinese sculpture and art… The list goes on!

What an interesting and different holiday this  could make for so many people! Open your mind. Do it for yourself. Find your balanced state! (Plus the rest of Bali is right there, waiting to be explored…)

 

  

 

We have a lot more to say, but thought we would start with this overview of our experience.

See you again soon – Namaste.