Student guest blog: A beautiful dance of souls on the path of Yoga

by Sammy Garrett, Zuna Yoga 200 hour yoga teacher training graduate

Sammy leads the class 

As the soon-to-be Zuna Yoga graduates near the end of the 200 hour yoga instructor certification course, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Each of us is overwhelmed with the sheer amount of knowledge and yogic wisdom which has been imparted to us over the last three weeks. How on earth is it possible to retain all the learnings, absorb the complexities and share my understanding with the world? Nevertheless, there are far bigger questions to ponder!

Small group teaching

The entire 200 yoga teacher training group entered a new phase this past week, quite literally. Auspiciously, the new moon played a role in the changes unfolding amongst the group. Not just any moon: a supermoon, total solar eclipse and even a spring equinox in some parts of the world. Unfortunately, none of this was visible for the 19 eager yogis on the small island of Gili Meno, Indonesia. But this tribe of curious and dedicated souls shared something equally significant, marking the occasion with a Vedic fire ceremony. Understanding the importance of stepping forward with intention, we participated in the sacred ritual which was a powerful source of clearing for the group as a whole.

New moon fire ceremony

Through such processes, deep bonds have been created amongst a diverse group of individuals. It's amazing how in a few short weeks, life long friendships have been forged. Sharing in this experience of learning, connected as a collective of universal yoga lovers. It was always all peace and love; there have also been times of great challenge. Borders have been tested and pushed in a battle of limitations between the mind and body. Egos were left at the door (or in our case, on the steps of the maoMeno Yoga Shala). Here in this peaceful place, there is no need for camouflage, masks or protective walls. A space is held by the Zuna Yoga teachers where individuality and authentic self expression are encouraged. The process of barriers and barricades collapsing, replaced with the discovery of inner truth has been wonderfully enriching. A beautiful dance of souls on the path of Yoga.

Personally, this journey of growth and self discovery symbolizes a step forward, whereby I have multiple tools in my belt to live a powerful and meaningful life. The past no longer controls my present or future, I step forward with trust and belief in the universe. This is of course what brought me here in the first place. No longer confined by the grasps of fear and expectations I am able to dive further into my yoga practice, realizing I am a wave, riding the tides in the ocean of life. A heartfelt thank-you to Zuna Yoga and my fellow yogis for an unforgettable voyage. With an inhale and exhale, I say farewell to the beautiful island of Gili Meno and the wonderful memories created here. May we all continue to thrive and prosper!

More from Sammy at https://spiritofsammy.wordpress.com/

Student guest blog: Sunshine after the Storm

by Chantal Capes, Zuna Yoga 200 hour teacher trainee


Why Zuna Yoga? I wanted to become a yoga teacher. I liked yoga and it had a calming influence on me - so important, considering the heavy responsibilities I carry at work. The Zuna Yoga 200 hour program was the right timing, just far enough away (19 hours flying) from my daily life to create the needed separation, and had lots of great reviews. I also had a personal referral from a friend who had already done a Zuna Yoga teacher training.

Boom! I made a bold choice and booked my training. My journey started in London... a busy lifestyle full of stress, a lack of sleep and a general fear. A fear of what people thought of me, was I performing well enough, was I making the right choices, body image issues, etc. Most of us experience a fear of losing what we're attached to. I stepped away from it, into the unknown. And there I was, on the remote Indonesian island of Gili Meno, near Bali and Lombok.

Bang! The thunder roared in timing with lightning that burnt your retinas whilst eyes were closed. The ground trembled and my heart stopped each time. Our first day started during a terrific thunderstorm. It was a truly incredible and powerful asana practice and meditation. The weather terrified me. I had never experienced anything like it, not in the UK or on any of my travels. After a couple days, I was able to stop worrying and surrender to the power of nature. Then the sun shined brightly, continually for the remaining two weeks.

My new bff's

The accommodation was raw, organic and set in the jungle. No walls, no doors and a safe environment ... other than the sneaky handful of mosquitoes that managed to get me.

The bonding amongst the group was amazing... the friendships I've gained will last a lifetime. It's a 19 strong, unique family with 4 trainers who were like our elders.

The course consisted of 18 girls and one guy, such a fabulous group of Kiwis, Aussies, Swedish, Swiss, Canadian, American, Portugese, Scottish, Indonesian and moi, the only Londoner.
The backgrounds varied from singers, models, scientist, designers, New Scotland Yard Detective (me) etc. Every night someone had a great story to tell.

The asana and meditation practices were incredible, changing my daily mood and outlook on my own life. I was able to let go of my fear of what people thought of me, and now when that voice creeps in, I ignore it and do what I want to do. The effect already has been so positive. I am the boss of my mind and body. No more wasted energy.

The depth of knowledge you gain and the understanding what yoga really is. I never truly appreciated how the heart of yoga began, where it started, how it developed, who used it, communities that developed since about 4000BC, the history, architecture, founders of the many forms, ashtanga (not the branding since 1950 - originally purely spiritual), then the asanas, breathing techniques, health benefits (body and mind).... the list is endless!

Hands-on learning

The trainers: yoga masters sharing their personal journeys and not judging any of us or predetermining the path we should take. It was refreshing to learn and be able decide for myself what I wanted to achieve and take from the 200 hours.

My main concern when I looked for a yoga teacher training course was the quality of training and to avoid a company with no knowledge of the level of their instructors other than their certificates. You will not be disappointed should you be lucky enough to study with Zuna Yoga... an intimate team, all incredibly knowledgeable. 

Zuna Yoga has been the perfect choice and a great compliment to my recent certification as a Remedial Sports therapist with the North London School of Sports Massage. It's expanding my knowledge, not only of anatomy, but also in creating a recipe of recovery exercises to strengthen and lengthen muscle groups and create space in the body and mind. All requirements for a healthy lifestyle.

This has been an incredible journey. Not only I have I learnt the necessary skills to become a yoga teacher, but I have also learnt so much more about myself.

Prepping for your destination yoga teacher training

by Hannah Liot, Zuna Yoga 200 hour yoga teacher training student

Traveling is a wonderful experience, especially when you can combine it with an amazing yoga event. However, the travel part doesn’t come without some stress. To ease any anxiety, we put together a few yogi reminders and tips to help you prepare for your next trip. Keep these things in mind whether you’re getting ready for the teacher training in Gili Meno, dreaming of your training program later in the spring or tossing around the idea of signing up for a 200, 300 or 500 Zuna Yoga teacher training.

The first and probably most stressful part of traveling is actually getting there. Whether you are traveling for 24 hours or 4 hours, flights can be tough on the body and leave you feeling cramped and stiff. Deep vein thrombosis is also a major side effect of flying. It’s a serious, potentially life-threatening medical condition where the circulation in the body decreases and the blood clots. It can occur from a combination of sitting for long periods of time and air pressure change. However, doing a few simple Yoga poses and stretches before, during and after your flight can stimulate your blood flow, ease jet lag and help reenergize your whole system. 

Three amazing poses to try while you are seated: 

Seated twist

Simply hold onto the seats around you and twist your torso. This pose helps to create a deep stretch in the back and also gives your organs a soothing massage, helping your body to re-energize. 

Gomukhasana (cow face pose)

For this posture position your arms so that your hands meet between your shoulder blades and lean back slightly, feeling the stretch in your arms, upper shoulders and back. This pose also opens your chest, which will balance your body from the concave position the airplane chairs naturally put us in.

Aginstambhasana, Ankle to knee Pose or Fire Log Pose

For this posture place your foot on your knee. You can do this with one leg at a time or with both legs simultaneously. To feel a little more, you can deepen the stretch by leaning forward. This posture is great for creating circulation in the legs and creating space in your hips, which can become very tight and stiff after sitting for a few hours. 

If you’re up for it, there is also a small and easy standing sequence to try. You can do it in the aisle, or find a peaceful space in the back of the plane. The sequence helps stretch and soften the body, stimulate blood flow and calm the mind. 

Start in Tadasana, Mountain Pose. Take a moment for yourself and connect with your breath. With your breath, move to Uttanasana, forward bend. Exhale to Ardha Uttanasana, half forward bend, with your back straight and head looking forward. On your next breath move to Utthita Trikonasana, Extended Triangle Pose. Take a few breaths here and repeat on the other side. With the next breath, move into Vrksasana, treepose. While here, practice some equalized breathing techniques. Inhale for a count of 4 or 5 and exhale for the same amount of time. Finally, relax back into your chair. For the sake of helping you to relax, lets call it seated savasana. Let your thoughts peacefully drift away and fall into a deep sleep for the rest of the flight. 

The other challenging aspect of traveling is packing. You have to make sure you have all the essentials, without overdoing it. We put together a short list of items that are fundamentals when you do an exotic destination yoga teacher training or retreat. 

Things to check off your packing list: 

• Lightweight Yoga Clothes 
• Yoga Mat (Jade's Travel Mat is our fave) & Cleaner (we love Herbal Essentials yoga wipes)
• Sunscreen & hat, you don’t want to be sunburned while doing downward dog!
• Mosquito repellent. Bug bites are the worst!
• Swimwear and a beach towel. Even though the main focus is yoga ,there will always be a time to jump in the ocean, waterfall or river nearby. 
• Sarong. They can be used for anything from a beach cover up to blanket during savasana.  
• Refillable water bottle. Stay hydrated and help the environment!
• Adapter for electronics. You’ll want a charger so you can upload those exciting photos of you finally mastering that challenging yoga pose!
• Notebook & Pen. To study and takes notes with or to keep a personal journal with. 
• Required Reading for your yoga teacher training

Borobodur 

Lastly, when you are traveling it can be difficult to find the unique and special places to visit. Even choosing which sights to see with limited time can be overwhelming. Since you are taking the time and energy to go to a destination yoga teacher training or retreat, it’s nice if you can maximize your time abroad and explore the surrounding area. Always contact Zuna Yoga for suggestions, were happy to help! As for the Zuna Yogis who will be coming to Gili Meno and Bali, we wanted to share some of our favorite places around Indonesia!

• Borobodur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, located in central Java. Just an hour's flight from Denpasar, Bali.
• Air Panas Banjar natural hot springs in the tropical Balinese forest next to a beautiful Buddhist monastery. 



Balinese hot springs

• Visiting the Yogi community in Ubud and going to see the stunning Tegenungan waterfall just outside of the town. 

Traveling is a wonderful experience that should involve a limited amount of stress. As you prepare for your next big adventure, connect to your inner yogi and keep these tips in mind. You will have an unforgettable trip!