Lately, glossy magazines and lifestyle blogs have been promoting vacations that stretch the mind, body and soul. Instead of lounging poolside with an umbrella drink and trashy novel loaded up on the tablet, you can acquire a new language, culinary skill, philosophy or world view. Personal Growth Vacation is the buzzword for this, but really, it's just a fancy way of saying meaningful travel or travel with purpose.
If you are planning on studying Spanish at Habla Ya, you've already grasped the concept of 'personal growth vacation' – maybe it's time to consider adding yoga to the mix. You can choose from daily yoga classes in Boquete, Bocas del Toro or Panama City, or, now available in Boquete: Yoga Teacher Training Certification at YiA Yoga – just steps away from Habla Ya. It's one of the few permanent yoga teacher training facilities in Panama and upon graduation, students are certified by Yoga Alliance, the world's largest non-profit yoga certification and training organization.
Boquete's vibe, natural surroundings, cool climate and fresh air is ideal for yoga.
Yoga teacher training (or a daily yoga practice) alongside Spanish language classes provides the perfect balance for students: after spending time in the classroom – working parts of your brain you're not used to engaging – the asanas (or, physical component of yoga) will stretch you out and help you relax. Multiple studies show that yoga has immense benefits for students of all ages, including: increased concentration, reduced fatigue and improved academic performance.
I just completed yoga teacher training at YiA Yoga and grateful I made the decision to sign up. Before considering yoga teacher training, I had an idea in my head about the type of person who becomes a yoga instructor. One part incredibly fit; one part new age flakey and one part calm, poised and unruffled on the mat (why don't women in yoga inspiration videos ever get red sweaty faces or crooked ponytails when they're upside down?). I missed the mark on two of the three "Yoga Teacher Requirements" I'd devised, so I didn't even consider teaching. I mostly registered because I really like the teacher (Kaytee Hoverson, Founder of YiA Yoga, resident of Boquete for 10+ years and Habla Ya graduate) and the women who were already enrolled. I also saw it as a chance to deepen my yoga practice, learn something new and get into shape.
Week 1!
Four weeks of training has boosted my confidence and resolve: so much so, that I know that it is possible for me to teach, and I will. I overcame fear while doing the physical practice (I was able to fly a yogi in AcroYoga and kick up to an assisted head stand!) but I think the yoga philosophy, deepening friendships and heightened focus diminished some fears I had off the mat, too.
Overcoming my fear and flying a yogi. Note the concerned look on my classmate's face.
My inner nerd has also been satisfied: we've studied anatomy, yoga philosophy, early sacred texts and Sanskrit. And while Hindu texts obviously play an important role in the development of yoga, a key element of the teacher training is to develop a personal concept of yoga for yourself, in line with your own spiritual beliefs (or lack thereof).
Kaytee employs active teaching techniques: While learning the Sanskrit names for poses in the Sun Salutation sequence, we also had to do the poses. I was Chaturanga Dandasana in this photo.
And it's not all theory, obviously. We dug in right away and within the first two weeks, taught our first classes. We learned sequencing and created yoga classes that built up to a peak pose: starting with preparatory poses and then poses that neutralize and counterbalance your peak. (For example if your peak pose is a back bend like Wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana), you'd follow with neutralizing spinal twists and then some forward folds to counterbalance the intense back bend).
The part-time schedule requires a daily commitment of four hours, five days a week, with weekend activities twice a month. The total time commitment for teacher certification is 200 hours, and following the part-time schedule, takes 8 weeks to complete.
And as far as climate and vibe goes, you couldn't find a better place for Yoga teacher training than Boquete – a safe, pretty little mountain town that is only an hour away from the beach.
The Chiriqui Gulf National Marine Park is only 1.5 hours away and a must do for your weekends while in Boquete.
And get ready for some of that new-age flakiness I was talking about: Kaytee, the founder of Yia Yoga, believes that from an energetic standpoint, the volcano, the connection to nature and the positivism of Boquete is conducive to a powerful yoga practice. And what the hell, after 160 hours of teacher training, I find myself agreeing with her.
Boquete is the ideal destination for yoga!
YiA Yoga Teacher Training Certification takes place four times a year in Boquete. Visit the YiA Yoga website for more information about the next session or check out the current Yia Yoga class and event schedule on their Facebook page.
"Mentally and spiritually, it's made me more aware of life in the present moment and has taken me out of worry about the future. When you are in the present moment, which Yoga helps you practice, you become more grateful for your life. Yoga has changed me in many ways – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I'm more flexible, more aware of my body and I'm able to quickly pinpoint and deal with any issues with my body."
- Chris Miller, 2016 graduate of YiA Yoga Teacher Training program
We did it!
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