Maria | Bali 200hr YTT Testimonial
Reflecting on my 200-hour yoga teacher training with SYI in Bali, I am filled with gratitude for the invaluable experience I have had! It was a transformative journey of learning, connection and growth. As I leave Bali, I have a deeper understanding of yoga, greater confidence in my teaching abilities and a heart full of beautiful memories and gratitude for the people who were part of this experience.
It’s been so valuable to learn from such incredible teachers like Javi and April. We could feel their love for yoga and for what they teach from day one. It was impressive to see how much knowledge they were able to share and how thoughtfully they condensed such vast subjects into 200 hours. From the foundations of yoga anatomy and meditation to discussions of the Yoga Sutras and Ayurveda. Throughout it all, they made the learning engaging, accessible, and meaningful.
They brought so much genuine care into the training, creating an environment in which we felt supported, safe, and encouraged to grow. There was a strong foundation of trust that allowed us to ask questions, and make mistakes. Javi and April made us feel supported and understood while also giving us the freedom to find our own way. They knew when to guide us and when to step back, experiment, and learn.
Their care, clarity, and genuine enthusiasm made a lasting impression on the whole group (Thank you, Javi; thank you April for everything you shared with us and for making this journey feel so empowering!).
Even beyond the formal lessons, I especially appreciated the conversations we shared, inside and outside the classes that added another dimension to the experience, enabling us to gain insight into their perspectives, experiences and personal relationship with yoga.
Another highlight of the training has been having the space to put the learnings into practice from the very beginning, working together and eventually taking on the role of teacher. This made the training feel both practical and deeply personal.
The Art of Touch classes were particularly meaningful to me. Learning about hands-on assists opened up a new perspective on the relationship between teacher and student. I think many of us have experienced that one special moment when a teacher’s gentle guidance, whether through touch or those exact words, helps us understand a posture in an entirely new way; and we begin to experience the posture differently in our own bodies.
Understanding the intention behind hands-on assists, and learning how to offer them thoughtfully and respectfully, has been nourishing: It has deepened my awareness of how subtle adjustments can support a student’s experience and the importance of presence and sensitivity, about helping each person find a meaningful expression of a posture within their own body.
Through this process, I have begun to find my own voice and presence as a yoga teacher. I have gained confidence in creating mindful practices, building sequences around a particular intention and the energy I want to cultivate throughout a class. I feel that I have a solid foundation from which to continue growing – since there is still soo soo much to learn. I am excited to keep exploring my teaching style, trusting my intuition, and developing the skills to guide others through their own practice. Becoming a yoga teacher (to me) is about remaining a student, continuing to learn, and approaching both ourselves and others with curiosity and kindness. It is about creating spaces where people feel safe enough to explore, grow, and connect.
I am leaving this training with a much greater awareness of my own body and of the different postures we explored: how poses can impact the body, their benefits and intentions. As an added bonus, this awareness has made my personal practice feel richer and more intentional: awareness, breath, presence, and the relationship we build with ourselves (meeting ourselves where we are). These are all lessons I hope to continue embodying both on and off the mat.
It was such a privilege to be able to slow down, step away from everyday routines, dedicate this time to learning and growth, and immerse oneself into this yoga universe. Bali offered a space in which I could feel present, grounded, and open to everything the experience had to offer (thank you so so much for sharing your gifts with us mama tree) The setting of this training has been just as special as the learning itself. Bumi Cinta, in the beautiful north of Bali, felt like a little man-made paradise. Surrounded by the gifts of nature, and sharing this experience with such wonderful women (and the incredibly kind staff), I found myself feeling deeply connected to my surroundings and to the people around me.
One of the greatest gifts of this yoga journey has for sure been the connections I have made. I am so grateful for the women I have shared these weeks with, for the conversations, the laughter, the vulnerability, transparency and encouragement we have shared/ offered one another. It’s beautiful to grow alongside people on their own journeys, each of us bringing different experiences, perspectives and stories into the space. I leave feeling connected: to these women, to nature, and to myself.
I feel surrounded by love and abundance, and I know that the memories and connections formed here will stay with me long after leaving this beautiful space. I am taking away far more than a yoga teaching certificate; I am leaving with knowledge, practical skills, a deeper connection to my body, a newfound confidence in my ability to share yoga with others, and a greater appreciation for the importance of trust, compassion, and the strength of a community of women.
Thank you, SYI, Bumi Cinta, and to all the wonderful souls who made this experience what it was.
I’m leaving with a very full heart, and the excitement of knowing that this is only the beginning.
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