Miranda | Bali 200hr YTT Testimonial
My intention going into this training was to deepen my yogic practice, begin forging a path towards my dharma, and seeking direct experience with the divine, Source, Self ~ my experience at SYI reminded me all i was searching for was myself. all that is in me and all of existence. this training brought me back to her, allowing to me to see her, and open my heart in ways i never had before – in a jungle, surrounded by a community of safe, supportive, beautiful beings – holding hands as we walked alongside one another during the process of shedding that which no longer served us, while stepping into the power that was inside all along.
Channeling the powerful energies of the serpent, jaguar, colobri and eagle as they guided us through this journey and shared their magic with us. the shamanic wheel and yogic philosophy danced beautifully together, offering ancient wisdom from different lineages that ultimately lead us to the same path- oneness. union.
I have listened to the whispers from my heart of experiencing a yoga teacher training for around 10 years. held back by my own fear, self doubts, limiting beliefs. What i should do versus what is calling, and in alignment with my soul’s deepest desires. For years, i ignored the whispers until it became a demand from Spirit. i needed to create the change i wanted to see in my life. to began paving the path towards my purpose, my dharma. remembering my life is sacred, and i was brought here right now, for divine reason. I was given unique gifts that no one else can carry into this existence. we all were.
For the last few years, i’ve spent my time working in hospitality – craving flexibility and freedom in order to travel the world searching for answers everywhere i walked. I fouId myself in this cycle of working, saving money, traveling; having incredibly transformative experiences, experiencing different cultures and ways of life – from Peru, Guatemala, Greece, and pieces of earth in between- only to come ‘home’ to a life I wasn’t truly fulfilled with. Traveling has taught me the true importance of this life for me. It’s found in direct experience, living outside of my comfort zone, learning from others, sharing my gifts and taking theirs in connection, openness to it all, living from my heart, using the mind as a tool, rather than the compass.
I realized this is a life i could no longer live. I didn’t want to have to run away from my ‘home’ to find true contentment, peace, bliss. I couldn’t run away from myself anymore. Everywhere I went, there I was. I had to choose to invest in the woman I wanted to become and begin this evolution from the inside, out; not the other way around. It was in darkness that I began to see the light. I wasn’t ready for the last ten years. I wasn’t ready last year when I began researching schools in India, creating the narrative that i “should” go to India to learn directly from the source of where yoga was born. Nothing felt right in my heart. I released the idea for a while until again, I could no longer push away my dreams, the whispers of my heart.
It wasn’t until a few months ago, I woke up in the early hours of the morning and had the intuitive feeling to watch a video of yoga teachers experiences around the world. The three places they explored in the video, were India, Costa Rica, and Bali ~ three places that I had in mind. Bali was a dream destination for me, sitting on my bucket list for years, knowing i’d make it there someday but, when was that someday? If not now, then when? this unlocked a pathway for me. I immediately began researching schools ~ envisioning practicing yoga in the jungle, near the beach, connecting with pachamama, and myself- and with other beautiful women along parallel paths. This idea was exciting to me in a way I hadn’t experienced before, affirming I was in alignment.
I found School Yoga Institute after reading their values, and the curriculum of the mystical 200 hour program, it clicked. This was all I had been searching for, a spiritually driven program, weaving ancient shamanic practices with yogic philosophy and training, guided by the Peruvian medicine wheel. Peru is so special to me and the clarity I found in my travels there was something that had stuck with me for years. the wisdom of the culture, the land, its people. Pachamama, she was calling, and I was finally ready. I applied for the scholarship, and told myself if I got it, it was right, divine, meant to be. The overwhelming happiness and flow of energy when I received the email I was being given the scholarship was all the confirmation I needed to realize that I was exactly where I belonged at that moment. Everything I had been through, every time it didn’t feel right, everything that went wrong before – it all lead up to this moment.
Before i knew it, my certification was in my hand, wrapped in a white dress from a market in Ubud, a marigold lei around my neck, sipping cacao and singing with 14 beautiful women surrounding me, in an ocean view yoga shala in the jungle of Bali. Love, bliss and gratitude overflowing from my being. I received more from this experience than I could have ever dreamed. I have never felt so seen, held, and accepted in a space. It was scary and beautiful simultaneously, like all that we learn from just outside of our comfort zone, is our learning zone, where we can blossom into a new version of ourselves by simply being brave and releasing fears, old stories, shedding skin like the serpent, stepping into my divine feminine power and listening to my intiution like the jaguar, playing, feeling free and finding beauty in the journey like the hummingbird, and soaring above seeing all as it is from a higher perspective, like the eagle.
I thank these beautiful creatures that served as guides for us in this experience, the beautiful teachers that created the space for me to learn and feel safe to open my heart, the women who walked along me on this journey with whom i created lifelong sisterhoods with; all the yogis who have come before me. endless gratitude for myself for showing up for me and my dreams ~ and endlessly gratitude for every moment that brought me right here right now. my heart is so full, so open. Thank you SYI.
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