I haven’t met a single YB yogi or yogini who isn’t a huge fan of the insanely talented, warm, focused, and hilarious Edna Barr. I recently moved to San Francisco, and have been dropping in at different studios just for fun, and NO ONE holds a candle to my beloved Yoga Belly. The instructors here have spoiled me, I’m not just impressed with any old yoga class anymore!

Anyway, as many of you know, we will be hosting an upcoming teacher training this spring. I was curious about it myself, so I asked Edna to sit down and answer a few questions about what the training will cover. Here are her insightful answers, and I thought I’d pass them on to anyone who’s still on the fence…

-What will this class cover/involve?

This course is accredited with Yoga Alliance so we have to cover everything they require in order to register with them. Yoga philosophy, history, all eight limbs in detail.

-Who would benefit from taking this class/training?

Anyone & everyone! I have been on staff teaching this course internationally for the past 3 years & I fall in love with it over & over again. Even though we are covering the same information; it is so profound each & every time. Information ministers to us on different levels during different times in our lives. It is always an awakening as well as a reminder of what is truly important.

-What will a typical class look like?

The course is broken down into 3 hour sessions that cover a variety of topics so there no real “typical” session. The teaching style is repetitive so we will do a daily review of Sanskrit to ensure memory retention. Other than that, each session will be a new experience!

-How did you train to become a yoga teacher?

Haha! I have never heard this question before but the more I think about it, the more I feel that they should be a very common question. Yes, we absolutely must train to become a yoga teacher… There is a misconception that once you complete your YTT course; one is ready to start teaching but nobody trained them to teach…
You train by first being taught how to teach. Then you practice, get feedback, practice some more & get more feedback. A teacher training course is a safe space to learn, practice, get feedback & sharpen your skills before making a public debut. Too many courses out there do not prepare you for this. Rather they leave you to debut as an amateur instead of a professionally trained instructor. Becoming a teacher takes time & experience, but one should have a solid foundation from which to build upon.

-What do you hope to share with your students?

Wow, everything. I hope to share yoga… The full meaning, the full experience, the complete satisfaction & joy of yoga. That samadhi, even a tiny morsel of it, is wondrous.

-How is this program different from other teacher training programs out there?

Well, I mentioned some of it above where this course will prepare you to actually teach. There is a difference between an instructor who calls out cues & instructs and a teacher who can asses the room & actually teach. Once again it takes time & experience to learn to teach but standing in front of a crowded room reciting a generic script is not going to help anyone deepen their practice. I have students who have been practicing much longer than I have; never would I assume that I could teach them something but I do have the ability to assist them to go deeper.

This course is different because it is completely interactive. We don’t just give you a reading assignment & hope that you fully comprehend it. We come back & discuss it, find out if & how it resonated with you. We don’t want you to simply memorize the philosophy; we want you to understand how to live by it & make this life the best it can be.

We spend each day going over hands on assists & adjustments. I was speaking to the owner of an award winning studio last week & she said mentioned that they don’t teach assist in their YTT because of the liability. I responded by saying, “well even more so the importance to teach instructors the proper way to assist.” She nodded her head in agreement…

-How is teaching this program different from teaching your regular asana classes?

Oh gosh, another fantastic question! When we teach an asana class that is what we are there for. Too many teachers insist on cramming every element of yoga into a 60-90 minute class. Many students also expect a full yogic experience in this same amount of time. The truth is none of it can be rushed… If you want to learn philosophy, study it. If you want to learn meditation, study it. If you want to learn more pranayama techniques, study it. You come to an asana class to learn asana. Sure we practice a bit of pranayama but only as it pertains to the asana. Perhaps we throw in some calming, restorative breathing or meditation techniques but to think that 5 minutes of pranayama, 10 min warm up for asana, 30 minutes of asana, 5 minutes of restorative, 5 minutes meditation & 5 minutes of savasana with the instructor constantly talking you through each minute is a complete yogic experience… *sigh* That isn’t it…

More often than not people say that my classes are not spiritual enough which makes me laugh because I have practiced yoga my entire life. I grew up with meditation, the wonder & awe of life, spent a lot of time in the Hare Krishna temple as a teenager. Just because I don’t feel the need to preach one thing in the classroom & turn around & live another doesn’t mean that I do not live in a constant state of truth & bliss… How I can teach others to obtain this same bliss? I cannot… It is their journey to learn to surrender, seek knowledge & accept.

This is what I truly hope to share in this course. I hope that it will change everyone who attends the way that it has changed me. I have always been able to see the divine light in others but it took a lot of work to finally see the divine light in myself.

Good morning lovelies,

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween / Dia de los Muertos, and are enjoying the weather that is finally starting to feel like fall. I am reveling in the joy and soreness of another private lesson with Edna, which I’ll post about later, it was a game changer. There are so many little things to remember in yoga, and though they seem little, they feel pretty significant when you actually dial everything down. But, more on that later, my calves are still twitching.

Anyway, if you’re going to be around this weekend, check out the Vibhasana yoga conference put on by Almaden Yoga… looks pretty cool!

For those of you looking for a little more adventure a little further from home, Edna still has two spots left on her Kauai Yoga Retreat… there will be lots of yoga, meditation, outdoor excursions (snorkeling, hiking, beach combing!) and… wait for it… a PRIVATE CHEF. Yes, please! If you’re interested, sign up online or talk to her after class.

xoxo,

T

Good morning lovelies,

For those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to bear-hug our yoga-mama, Edna’s back! Yaaaaay! And, because apparently she can’t function without getting on an airplane every few weeks, she’s hosting an aMAzing looking retreat next month. Rumor has it there are still a few spots open, so get it while the gettin’s good… a week of yoga, meditation, a private chef, snorkeling and beach adventures… yes, please!

If you’re interested, holler at your girl or send her an email at edna.barr@gmail.com

Happy Monday yogis and yoginis! I am grudgingly back from Puerto Vallarta, a little tanner, with a little cold, and with a yoga-less week behind me… I’m jonesing for my yoga fix, hard core.

Luckily, we’ve got a ton of events coming up! For those of you who missed the email (or just need to hear things twice):

Date Night

Date night returns on Friday, October 21! Led by Edna and Rodney, couples can enjoy an evening learning partner yoga and Thai massage. Space will be limited to 12 couples. For more details or to book your spots here.

Thriller Night

Come join us for our very first Halloween bash on Saturday October 29th. The theme this year: Fitness-wear of the ages. Please come in your most fabulous retro fitness wear (leg warmers, head bands, tights, you name it) and let’s get the party started. Please bring your drink of choice and we’ll provide munchies. Party goes from 8-11pm… Bring a friend like Jane Fonda or Richard Simmons.

You guys.

A little bird told me there’s a place in Mountain View that has slurpee-style sangria. We know it’s not at Cascal. But we. Must. Find.

I think it’s high time for a Yoga Belly happy hour. So, I propose some serious business: Let’s put together a task force. A fearless, valiant team of yogis and yoginis who can brave the MV bar scene and report back with their findings.

Your mission: Find this elusive slurpee sangria.

Then: We sweat it out, YB style, and then go get drinks. And then summer is complete.

Any takers?

xoxo,

T

Image courtesy of liquorologist.com

Hello lovelies,

First, some eye candy:

Then, some info about the YB retreat this weekend!

For the bargain price of $200, you receive room and board (including all meals from Friday night dinner – Sunday afternoon lunch). There will be yoga, hiking, hot tubbing, margaritas, and long naps in the sunshine whenever the heck you feel like it. The event will be held at The Spirit House in Woodacre, be sure to email Aaron or Will at info@yogabellystudio.com to reserve your spot!

This month, Yoga Belly turns one. Can you believe it? It seems like just yesterday Will was initiating me into the “ring of fire” and I thought Thoa was joking when she said “Okay now reach up and grab your toes.”

We’re here. You’re here, I’m here, the studio’s here, yoga-daddies Will and Aaron are here. This calls for some serious celebration.

Plans are still in the making, but mark your calendar for Saturday July 30th at Zen Lounge. Details to follow.

Yes, please!

Y’all, Great America is hosting a pride night on Friday, May 27th, from 6pm-2am. This is a private event with rides, live music, and a whole lotta booty-shakin’. There will be performances by Robyn, Dev and the Cataracs, and DJ Hector Fonseca. And, um, did I mention the RIDES?!

Tickets are now $45, prices will go up in a few weeks. Our very own William and Aaron are hoping to get a group of Yoga Belly honeys out there, who’s coming?

If you’re interested, please contact Aaron and/or William at info@yogabellystudio.com or 650-862-3976.

More information on Pride Night and other awesomeness here

You heard right.

CMT Rodney Alika Medeiros will be at Yoga Belly Friday, June 3, 2011 offering private massages. Choices are 30-minute chair massage for $40 or 1-hour table massage for $75. Appointments are offered from 1:00pm to 4:00pm so please email your appointment request to info@yogabellystudio.com or call 650-862-3976.

Image courtesy of massagepanamacity.com

Hellllllooooooo yogis!! Hope you have all been well, I’m just getting back from a long weekend down in southern California… recovering from a friend’s wedding and wine tasting and not enough sleep and nineteen hours in a car in the past four days. Oh man, I need to get my yoga-booty back to the studio.

But, I figured we’d start your week off with some exciting news: Will’s friend, Susana Montes, is working on an iPhone app and is searching for a young female “model” for some exercise videos. Do you look good when you sweat? Do you come to life on the runway? Is “Photogenic” your middle name?

Well then, ladies, you could be Yoga Belly’s next top model!

(Alas, I am not even in the room with photogenic, whenever I try to give the camera a face I think is sexy, someone always asks if I’m in pain. Ouch. So, my fellow camera-shy sistas, you’re in good company… rock on with yo bad selves!)

If you’re interested, please email Susana (include a photo) at montes.susana@gmail.com.