Today we are celebrating the amazing Jo Collier. She’s the very first to complete the MerryBody 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training! Her journey from a Yoga enthusiast to a confident instructor is nothing short of inspiring. Her story isn’t just about Yoga, it’s about personal growth, self-love and a total mind-body transformation.
When Jo first signed up for the training we were both very excited. Jo has been a part of the MerryBody community for years!
She said “I hadn’t ever considered doing a yoga teacher training, and then I read an email about it, and it sparked something magical – I can’t even explain what, but it felt very exciting. I wouldn’t have considered a Yoga Teacher Training if it wasn’t you two doing it!”
We are continually humbled, honoured and filled with gratitude when you choose MerryBody. Thank you Jo! And we are so excited to celebrate and share the magic of YOU!
When we asked Jo what her biggest takeaway from the training was, she said…
“I am amazing, just as I am. And that if you trust the process, you will learn and grow. That following your passion and bliss is so incredible.”
This statement shines a light on the MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training. It’s so much more than just a Yoga Teacher Training, Jo continued…
“I genuinely LOVE MerryBody and everything it represents, it brings joy to my life and I wanted to incorporate more self-acceptance and mindfulness into my own life – I wanted to commit to myself by taking a big step on this path for me, but also for my wonderful family.”
Jo dove into the experience headfirst, finding joy and knowledge in areas she didn’t expect. “I loved Ayurveda,” she shares, reflecting on the traditional wellness system she encountered in the training.
“And I really loved all the sequencing and how to cue, the discussions about Chakras, and oh, the live calls — those were invaluable! But honestly, every part of the course was incredible!”
Throughout the 16 weeks, Jo experienced a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. She embraced the challenge of stepping out of her comfort zone. She allowed herself to be curious and open.
“I have loved having a worldwide connection with such a wonderful group of people – I love that we are all listening to the same classes and then chatting about them live – so special! But there are so many things I am proud of…
- I am proud that I have made time each week to practice and listen to classes.
- I am proud that I have let go of my intense workout schedule and am being kinder to myself.
- I am proud of all the assignments I have stepped out of my comfort zone for and completed.
- I am proud of all the bits that felt hard or overwhelming and that I stepped away, checked in with
others and then came back to it and tried again! - I am proud that I did my best!”
When we start each cohort of MerryBody Teacher Training, we share our hopes for our trainees and how we encourage them to approach their journey. One of those is the mantra and mindset of simply showing up and doing your best.
This training isn’t about perfection. This training is about stepping outside of your comfort zone and into the growth zone. It’s about getting to know yourself and figuring out what you truly want out of life. And you’ll do this through the ancient practices and philosophies of Yoga just like so many of our graduates.
Jo’s struggles with stilling the mind and balancing time constraints were part of this journey, but her resilience and determination shone through. She learned to release control and embrace the flow of life, a vital lesson that extends far beyond the yoga mat.
“I still have many moments where I feel I need to work on stilling the fluctuations of the mind – but I LOVE that I have so many more tools now and can see how far I have already come!”
Jo’s story is more than a success story, it’s a testament to the transformative power of Yoga. She started with a desire to deepen her practice and walked away with a stronger sense of self and a whole new skill set as a Yoga Teacher!
And it’s not just about learning new moves and mastering the art of sequencing a Yoga Flow. It’s about the laughs, the ‘aha’ moments, and the real talk about purpose, life, love and everything in between. It’s about stepping outside the comfort zone into a realm of growth and magic.
Jo told us that her entire approach to living has shifted…
“My promise to myself is to keep giving myself time to plan and dream and also pause. I now approach life with detachment, well I try to! Letting go of knowing exactly WHAT the next step needs to be, or how long it might take and instead focus on tiptoeing forward. I keep a curious mindset, checking in with how I feel and what I want and listening to myself… and very importantly making sure I have fun, laugh lots and leave time for joy and pleasure too!”
We’re so excited to see what Jo does, now a fully certified Yoga Teacher! She’s already teaching Yoga in England, and the possibilities for her are endless. Whether it’s opening her dream café ‘Rainbow Jo’s’, conducting Disney-themed Yoga classes (which we’ve already seen and, yes please, sign us up!), exploring acroyoga, or delving into barre and Yoga fusion, her future brims with potential and excitement.
Jo’s story is the ultimate reminder that magic and transformation happen when you do something for yourself. Completing a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training isn’t just a milestone, it’s a life-altering journey that speaks volumes about your devotion and inner strength.
Keep up to date with everything Jo is doing on Instagram over here! We are SO proud of you Jo!
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla
Ps. learn more about our next Yoga Teacher Training Course!
