I spent some time thinking about what to write about in my first blog post. I decided to tell how it all began: with a yoga teacher training in Bali....
The last 8 months have been an exciting time for me with drastic experiences.
It all started when I set off on a journey to do a yoga teacher training in Bali. I was quite excited because I had planned everything for so long and was really looking forward to my adventure, which it ended up being.
I wanted to leave in March 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic (Covid-19) was already starting and I was unsure whether I should actually leave. But I wanted it so much and my friends and colleagues encouraged me to go for it. So I packed my bags and left on schedule on 4 March. The planes and airports were already quite empty as many people had already cancelled their flights. So I had space on the plane and reached Denpasar the next day after a pleasant journey.
The yoga teacher training in Bali took place at the Azadi Retreat, an enchanting facility in the jungle of Ubud in the heart of the island.
I was a bit excited and curious about who my fellow participants were and how many we would be. It turned out to be 13 young women from all over the world: Kuwait, Canada, USA, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, UK. From the very beginning we were such a fabulous, harmonious little unit that I couldn't have imagined better, even though we all couldn't have been more different.
In the following 2 weeks we experienced emotional ups and downs together, shared a sense of achievement and had a lot of fun together during our yoga teacher training in Bali.
The days were very strenuous and scheduled as follows:
6:00 Meditation and breathing exercises
7:00 Vinyasa Yoga Practice
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Lectures and Asana Labs
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00 Lectures and Asana Labs
18:00 Yin Yoga Practice
19:30 Dinner
9:00 pm to 9:30 am were so-called Ashram Hours - silence time. During this time we were not allowed to speak, use mobile phones or look each other in the eye. Everyone was supposed to be at peace with themselves and their thoughts. This was a little strange at first. But we got used to it and enjoyed the silence.
Unsere Lehrer waren allesamt einzigartig großartig. Besonders unsere “Hauptlehrerin” Marylene Henry. She taught us so much - in anatomy, philosophy and the asana labs. She taught us that it is not important that a pose looks particularly beautiful, but that it is important to align it according to the anatomical conditions and possibilities of the individual. And that it is right and important to use props to be able to perform an asana better.
Unfortunately, the rest of the world was not as peaceful and harmonious as our little bubble. The Corona virus continued to spread rapidly and many countries closed their borders and airlines suspended their flights. My flight was also cancelled and I was left without a return flight because I didn't want to stop the training.
One after the other of us had to return home. We almost felt like we were in a TV show, where every day another one is eliminated and accompanied to the taxi to the airport in tears.
After 2 weeks, there was no way around it and the training was interrupted because Indonesia was also closing its borders. So unfortunately I could not finish my yoga teacher training in Bali.
Those of us who were still there finally had to book our return flights, which was another challenge. Since so many flights had already been cancelled, but there were still many tourists in Bali, there were only a few tickets left. I had no choice but to book an expensive business class ticket on Qatar Airways. I didn't feel like hoping that there would be a Lufthansa government plane to bring me back at some point.
My flight left in the middle of the night on Friday March 20. That evening, it was me who had to say goodbye to the others who were still there and to this magical, idyllic corner of the world. I was sad too, because I had to leave without having achieved anything and leave behind people I had grown incredibly fond of.
The airport was full of tourists who wanted to go home. I joined my queue. Thank God I was in Business Class and there were only a few people waiting. They didn't want to let me on the plane at first.
I couldn't pay for the ticket with my own credit card because I hadn't told the bank that I was travelling to a faraway country. However, a dear fellow traveller lent me her card. Unfortunately, I could not show it at the counter, as I had been asked to do. So I had to contact my new friend to get her to confirm the use of the card and to show her identification.
I was lucky and after some back and forth and waiting, I was able to go back to the counter and they let me check in. If I had flown economy, I would have missed the flight for sure.
Afterwards, I felt like a princess from 1001 Nights 😉 Business Class was so great and a wonderful experience for me. I had champagne served and slept for 6 hours straight on this wonderfully comfortable bed chair. And although the flights were pleasant, I was still completely exhausted when I unlocked my flat door after more than 30 hours of travel.
I felt as if I had been away for 2.5 months and not just 2.5 weeks. So much had happened in that short amount of time.
At home there was already a lockdown and I went into a 2-week quarantine. I was also happy about this, because it gave me time to process everything I had experienced in the last 2 weeks and to get used to it again. I was still sad that I could not finish my yoga teacher training.
But as it turned out, our wonderful yoga teacher Marylene was so fantastic and within 3 weeks had created an Online-Training I didn't think twice and enrolled straight away. So I was able to complete my apprenticeship after all - at home, online, at my own pace. I had 30 modules to complete. That meant 2.5 hours of morning practice followed by another 4 to 5 hours of Asana Labs and lectures for 30 days. But it was great! I learned so much about yoga, its history and myself. And I grew beyond myself.
Despite inflammation in both knees, which I had contracted during my yoga teacher training in Bali from sitting cross-legged for long periods of time, I made it and passed my training.
In the meantime I even teach 2 regular classes.
It was then my yoga teacher who encouraged me to write a blog during one of our coaching calls. I had been thinking about this for a long time, but didn't really know where and how to start.
Finally, it was also Marylene who introduced me to The Free Website Guys a company that creates websites for free. You have to apply and if they like your concept, you get selected. I applied and was selected!
However, it took a while until I was satisfied enough with the site to announce it officially. But now the time has come. I am so looking forward to what is to come and what I will report on.
Stay tuned!
See you soon!
Tini
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