Last weekend was my first weekend teacher training! It was exciting, intriguing, amazing, and exhausting; mentally, physically and emotionally! Like, literally ALL of those, rolled into this HUGE ball of a w e s o m e!
Friday was short and quick. There are 8 of us total; including the teachers. So, 6 students. Everyone is so different. We all look different. We have different styles. We have different reasons for wanting to share yoga with the world. But we're all here for the same thing. I found that SO awesome. Truly, we're an amazing bunch! I can't wait to get to know these ladies!!
The Holy Bible.... AKA, My Manual! :-)
We ended Friday night with a gentle practice. WHICH WAS AWESOME!!!!! Everything was on the floor. Which didn't mean it wasn't challenging. But it was REALLY neat to be able to do the entire practice on the floor. Something I totally want to try!
Saturday was longer. I was tired, but it was manageable. Practice was a little more intense. I guess the other thing I wasn't expecting was so much practice. Obviously I look now and think; DUH! And I'm so glad it isn't just sitting and listening to lecture all day/night. The practice was a happy medium in between my normal practices. Which was super nice.
For the most part, aside the practice - this is what Saturday looked like... This was in the beginning of the day when i just set up my stuff!
Sunday was the worst. And I say that the best way possible. It wasn't bad.... Actually, it was GREAT! I was just EXHAUSTED mentally at that point, and with little sleep the actual practice was super hard for me. Granted, it was a harder practice too. It took everything in me to not stomp my feet like my inner toddler and throw a tantrum. When the pain in my feet got too intense, I took a break. I left the room. Splashed water on my face. Took a couple breaths. Got a ball to roll my feet out with. Then I came back and tried again. I'm so proud of myself for that.
We also had a lot of information to get through. But the beauty of it is; even though it was 12 hours, it was FUN and exciting!
Of course, by the end of the weekend, I had a pretty sweet drink collection going on.
Exhibit A: my Sprite left over from dinner on Saturday, My Passion tea cup from Saturday (that I originally wanted to keep, but ended up throwing it out, my water, the coffee I drove in with Sunday, and then an Oatmeal Latte from Bakin' & Eggs (SO FREAKING GOOD!). I also enjoyed a delicious Blueberry scone. YUM! It's probably a good thing they're moving locations LOL
I also got a pretty SWEET bag from Target to lug all of my books and such with. I'm really digging it! Like; INSANELY digging it. I'm in love! And I love that my wallet matches the "leather" part on the bag too.
I also found out, apparently, I'm drawn to purple! LoL (water bottle, coffee cup, bag, mat and bolster... ALL purple!)
I have to say. Not being around technology all that much was SUPER great! I think that's definitely something I'm going to work on! Getting rid of that addiction! Because it was AWESOME!
I also have to say, as tired as I was... It was something that I constantly held gratitude for. I was constantly finding myself in that state of "Wow! I'm here, and I'm so thankful that I am." On top of that, I felt like it was just where I was meant to be. Everything felt right! Like everything was happening the way it was supposed to and this truly IS what I'm supposed to be doing!
Funny thing is, I have this thing where prior to starting something new within yoga; an animal or insect crosses my path. Like, literally. Before I started practicing, each time I started a new class (like when I ventured on my own), and NOW when I enter yoga teacher training. You can choose to believe in this kind of stuff or you can think I'm a little weird or "cooky". I am just the type of person who believes EVERYTHING happens for a reason and has meaning.
This didn't happen until Sunday. I was sitting on my bolster, taking notes and listening to lecture when I noticed a cricket like, ALL in my space. I'm not the biggest insect fan. But, I know enough; or rather I believe enough, to know not to kill it. So, I scooted it along. As I watched it scurry over to my mat, and just chill staring at me. Once it felt like I had noticed it's presence, it just kept walking/hopping away towards the front of the room.
When I googled Cricket Spirit Animal This is what I found;
*I usually use Spirit-Animals.com for this.
If Cricket has jumped across your path;
It is a sign of extreme good luck. All the things that you have been working toward and dreaming about are now possible. Stay open to guidance and cosmic messages and you will know exactly what you have to do. Whether its buying a lottery ticket, interviewing for a new job, or being in the right place at the right time. All things are possible right now – all you have to do is feel that you deserve it!
Additional Associations for Cricket…
Good luck
Emerging Self
Enhanced intuition and psychic abilities
Contentment
Inner Voice
Teaching the power of song in darkness
New Vibrational Energies
Finding ones way out of darkness by following their song
Self Expression
Understanding the time to jump out of a situation
Satisfaction
Communication
Good Fortune
Pleasure
Connection to the plant kingdom
Positive Outcomes
So, even if I wasn't truly believing that I was where I was supposed it be THIS totally reassured me. It was eerie, but REALLY really nice! And you can TOTALLY think I'm a weirdo for reading that much into it. But it's so odd that literally, EVERY TIME I start something new in Yoga, some type of animal crosses my path.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEKEND!!!