It’s an amazing feeling to turn off the thoughts running through my mind and really connect with the breath, to focus my attention on just being present in the moment. It seems so simple, yet it wasn’t until I found yoga that I actually started putting that concept into practice. Savasana, the final resting pose in yoga really taught me how to do this. I would never have thought laying on the mat completely still not thinking about anything, just be present in the moment could be so difficult but it was.
It’s so easy to get caught up in my day to day activities that I forget to take time for myself, I forget something so important to our being, I forget to breathe. I want to teach people savasana and the benefits it has, to take time for themselves, to take responsibility for their health and stop being so hard on one self. The rewards are something incredible. I would love to further my practice and be given the chance to teach others in a place that shares my beliefs; Yoga Thailand is the perfect place to do this. Winning a yoga teacher training scholarship could grant me opportunity to do so.
It’s Yoga Thailand is the ideal location to get my yoga certification, away from all distractions and located in the beautiful Mercure Samui Buri Resort. This is a great opportunity for me to explore another country so different from my own, while deepening my own practice. I love this program because it focuses a lot on the history of yoga, something I think is really valuable for a yoga instructor and something I am not super confident in; it’s a good opportunity for growth. I also love that students practice three times a day and once on their own. As much as I love a double workout, I know it’s going to be a challenge on some days to find the discipline to get up and do another practice. However it’s a challenge I welcome!
I have had a lot of great yoga teachers over the past five years. But what I have recently noticed is no two teachers are exactly the same. All teachers have their own styles of teaching. Some focus more on the physical side of yoga, giving their students a physically demanding workout. While some focus more on the mental or spiritual side, giving their students things to think about and apply while being more patient with oneself and others. Either way the teachers I have encountered have all been beneficial to my practice and growth as a yogi. To be a well-balanced yogi one needs both a physically demanding practice as well as a mental and spiritual practice. I am grateful for all the teachers I have had for giving me a chance to grow in nonjudgmental practice. One of things I love about yoga is the fact that it’s not competitive or judgmental, it’s a personal journey.
As a yoga teacher I hope to bring people together. I have always had really strong connection and interaction with people, which will complement my existing strengths. I hope to inspire students to take control of their health and to help them feel more at peace with themselves. I know when I finish a yoga class I always feel this peace with myself; the small stuff doesn’t seem to matter. I hope I can facilitate the same feeling of love and peace with my students.
Namaste.
2012 Yoga Scholarship Essay
By: Sarah O’Toole
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