It’s time to celebrate ANOTHER amazing MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training graduate. This time we have the absolute pleasure of hearing directly from Bec, one of our 2023 graduates who is now ready to teach with her world-recognised certification.
Sometimes we find it hard to put into words what we have created with MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training and this is why it’s our graduates who always know how to say it best! We are so grateful we were able to experience this journey together. Take it away Bec!
Before Bec started Yoga Teacher Training, her intention was…
My intention during this program is to stay present, enjoy the journey, learn as much as I can, and apply these teachings in my everyday life. Although I have enjoyed Yoga for many years, I would like to understand all the aspects in more depth, linking my physical body with mindfulness. Feeling it all. I am a wife and a mother to three wonderful children (young adults). For the last few decades, I’ve only looked outwards, towards them… it is now time for me to turn my attention inwards…on me. Self-growth, knowledge, and understanding. I have a full heart and can’t wait to share it all. I’m nervous and excited!
Now that Bec is fully certified, we asked her to reflect on her journey through Online Yoga Teacher Training…
What an amazing experience!
The intention I set over a year ago, was to learn as much as I could about Yoga, not just the Asana (postures) as I had been practising for many years, but the history, theory, philosophies, methodologies, culture and overall understanding of Yoga as a holistic practice.
Module 1 absolutely delivered on this and my first of many a-ha moments hit. I couldn’t receive enough information regarding the History of Yoga, the different branches, and Limbs and trying to get my tongue around some of those Sanskrit words was hilarious. Having a new appreciation of MerryBody’s lineage and how I was a part of this, was a very powerful moment.
The lectures from Andrew Mournehis were amongst some of my favourite memories of my training. Andrew is a gifted storyteller and I found myself transfixed by him. I have revisited a few of his videos again, absorbing all the detail again.
The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are just like a bible on life, to me…. I know these little books will follow me forever. It blows my mind to think that these teachings were written thousands of years ago and are still so relevant today.
Moving on to the teachings of connecting mind, body and breath was also another HUGE awareness opener for me and probably the most immediate transformation with massive impact personally.
Over the years, I had learnt to not trust my body (due to a sudden life-threatening diagnosis). The consequence of this constant angst was to often feel anxious and overwhelmed. Pranayama = life force for me, literally! Observing and practising the different breathing techniques has been life changing.
I love the quote from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika “when the breath is irregular, the mind wavers – when the breath is steady so is the mind.”
I utterly enjoyed the Anatomy and Physiology module. This was my comfort space having a previous career in pharmaceuticals. I loved observing the true connection between Western and Eastern medicine perspectives.
The biggest a-ha moment for me throughout this entire program was learning about Ayurveda. This philosophy was the glue to stick all my life experiences together.
At the age of 27, I was working as a pharmaceutical business manager when I was diagnosed with my life-threatening disease. I was surrounded by all things medical – all Western medicine. At 35 I again became very sick; I spent the next few years having my liver stented amongst other procedures to save my life. I was thrown around between many brilliant specialists and surgeons all fighting for my life.
I DID survive – YAY.
But was left with the residual effects of having hepatic infarctions, damaged organs, and the ongoing symptoms of the underlying autoimmune disease. At the end of my years of treatment, I was sent on my merry way (pardon the pun), even though I was left completely toxic from all the anaesthetics (12 in 2 years) scans, medications etc etc. My Western Doctors simply said, “eat and drink what you like, your body will cope”. I found this alarming and knew that there must be more.
I landed at my Chinese Medicine practitioner’s Office through recommendation (still a patient 16 years later) and I credit this treatment with ‘truly’ saving my body. I have often spoken about (my poor friends hear about this ALL the time) the need to merge both Western and Eastern medicine for the best outcome for patients – I just didn’t know this existed… in Ayurveda! After listening to Chara (a goddess in my mind) I was literally mind blown! This information resonated so personally and profoundly for me. I have already investigated more into this practice, and I may have told my husband that I have found my life’s passion in Ayurveda.
When we started to learn about designing a class… I was unnerved.
The MBTT program was so well set up, the treasure map, cueing, the show-tell-do and connecting breath, but I was stumped. I had hit a roadblock subconsciously and I needed to apply all my previous module learnings to change some serious old habits. I had been an aerobics and fitness instructor in my early 20’s, and I don’t have any fond memories of this work. I just couldn’t align myself with the enormous egos and self-importance that surrounded these gym spaces back then. Was it this that had come back to haunt me?
I realised that I was on my own unique Yogic journey, and although my initial intention was to learn all things Yoga, while completing a Yoga Teaching Course, meant that I was probably going to actually do some teaching (LOL). This was going to push me outside my comfort zone even though my love for Yoga is real. My studies slowed as I needed to discover, uncover and recover (I love this verse) myself.
I came to realise that I was still in need of ‘receiving’ the gift of Yoga, and I wasn’t ready to ‘give’ as I had imagined teaching would be. I still had so much to learn. I continued my Yoga philosophical learnings, I talked my truth to many friends and family, kept practising asana WITH breath and meditation, and I finally attained the space for Teaching Yoga. I had recognised what type of Yoga I enjoyed and slowly imagined myself teaching. This was VERY different to my previous teaching experience.
The designing of classes was challenging and so rewarding.
I loved this more than I had anticipated… but getting in front of that camera and recording myself was NEXT level. Eventually, I did, and I’m super proud of my courage.
I finally taught my class with my 2 friends reviewing me over this past weekend. It was amazing. I was relaxed and enjoyed the experience; they were so kind with really effective feedback which I was grateful for.
The last step to my certification was my one-on-one recorded class. It really was the final step of faith in myself. I was actually super excited to complete this… which surprised me.
It seems I am ready (I think).
Finally, the business end of this course was necessary to send me on my way fully equipped and created the perfect ‘bookend’ to my journey.
I have been thinking about business names and how I can put all this together. I love the name ‘Enough’ as it resonates so deeply with me. I am enough, you are enough, may we all have enough. The list goes on. A small word with a big meaning.
I haven’t arrived fully at the space of teaching regularly, or as a paid job but I will start with my social community classes and see where that leads me.
I have learnt the importance of accepting ‘it is as it is’ philosophy.
Writing this journal has really made me reflect on just how far I have come.
I am full of gratitude for all I have learnt to date, and I’m so eager to continue this learning path. I will continue to practise Yoga – all the aspects with a content and open heart.
I am mostly grateful to you both Emma and Carla… you are MerryBody. You have transformed my body to be merry… I am now on my Merry way literally.
-Rebecca.
Thank you to Bec for sharing your beautiful experience with MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training. It has been our absolute privilege to go on this journey with you and we simply cannot wait to see what you do next. Watching our graduates step out into the world and follow their bliss is exactly why we do what we do. We look forward to shining a light on everything each of our graduates achieves. Beyond proud.