Lily | Costa Rica 200hr YTT Testimonial
Leading up to my time at SYI, I was standing at a threshold. I had just graduated from college. I was moving back home. The structure that had defined my life for four years was dissolving, and I felt both excitement and instability. So much was shifting at once–location, identity, daily rhythm, future plans. I sensed that if I did not intentionally anchor myself, I would drift through this transition, reacting instead of choosing.
Yoga had been a steady presence in my life for years, but it was something I consumed rather than embodied. I went to classes. I followed videos. I moved, breathed, and left. I realized that this moment of change was the right time to deepen my practice and take ownership of it. That is why I chose to pursue my 200-hour certification.
I chose SYI for its location in Mal País, Costa Rica, and because of the positive experiences shared by other students. I wanted to step outside my normal environment and immerse myself in a place that would encourage reflection and growth. I wanted to go somewhere new, so I could cultivate a new mindset for this next chapter of my life.
The three-week intensive was, without question, intense. The schedule demanded sustained focus, discipline, and energy. I had never willingly woken up at 5:00 a.m. every day before, yet that rhythm became one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. Beginning my practice in the quiet darkness and moving through sun salutations as the sun rose felt grounding and purposeful. It set the tone for each day. That lifestyle shift was so rewarding that I have continued waking early and doing my yoga practice even after my training. The early mornings allowed us to fit in an extraordinary amount of learning.
SYI structures its program around the Peruvian Medicine Wheel: serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, and eagle. Instead of focusing solely on anatomy and sequencing, we progressed through intentional cycles of personal development alongside our technical training.
SYI structures its program around the Peruvian Medicine Wheel: serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, and eagle. Instead of focusing solely on anatomy and sequencing, we progressed through intentional cycles of personal development alongside our technical training.
The Serpent Cycle centered on letting go. At this point in my life, letting go was not abstract. I was letting go of a version of myself that existed in college. I was letting go of my old routine. More than anything, I was holding fear–fear of the future, fear of uncertainty, fear of not having a clear path. I tend to want control. I want to plan, to map, to anticipate. But in that moment, there was too much I could not control.
During our letting-go ceremony by the ocean, we were invited to physically and symbolically release what was weighing on us. Standing there with the sound of the waves, I understood that my anxiety was not protecting me; it was constraining me. The serpent sheds its skin to grow; I had to shed the illusion that I could control every outcome. That ceremony marked the moment I knew this training would be more than learning physical postures; this training would change my life.
The Jaguar Cycle focused on inner strength. In yoga, strength is often interpreted physically, like holding a headstand (which I still cannot do, but I am continuing to work toward). However, this cycle emphasized something deeper: quiet confidence, resilience, and grounded power. As we practiced teaching, speaking, and adjusting one another, I confronted real self-doubt. Could I truly hold space for others? Could I guide a room with clarity and presence?
The jaguar energy challenged me to trust my voice and recognize that strength does not have to be loud to be powerful. Teaching yoga was entirely new to me, and I was very nervous. By the end of the Jaguar Cycle, I had led my first one-on-one lesson. That experience shifted something in me. I felt a surge of confidence and genuine joy, realizing I was more capable than I had believed.
The Hummingbird Cycle shifted us toward connection. We were encouraged to perform small acts of kindness for one another, to brighten someone’s day anonymously (my hummingbird gifted me chocolate which made my whole week!), to notice the impact of simple presence. A few weeks earlier, we were strangers from different backgrounds and countries.
By this point, we were supporting one another’s growth. The hummingbird represents lightness and joy, and I began to see how intentional kindness builds community quickly. That lesson extended beyond the mat. It reminded me that we rarely understand what someone else is carrying. A small gesture can create a huge impact.
Finally, the Eagle Cycle invited us to rise. The eagle sees from a broader perspective. It encouraged us to ask: What do you want to do with this? What are you capable of? I do not envision yoga as my entire career. I did not enter this training with the intention of opening a studio or teaching full-time. But the eagle perspective helped me understand that yoga is not confined to a job title. It is a lens. It is a discipline that strengthens clarity, presence, and self-awareness. Those qualities translate into any path I pursue.
Since completing the training, the most meaningful shift has been my relationship with my own practice. I no longer feel dependent on a class or a video. I understand sequencing. I understand how to build heat or how to cool down. I understand how to listen to subtle cues in my body. That autonomy has been empowering. It has reinforced self-trust. When I step onto my mat now, I am not waiting for instruction; I am in conversation with myself.
My YTT with SYI influenced what I am doing now by strengthening my internal foundation. Instead of seeking external validation or direction, I feel more grounded in my own compass. When facing decisions, I return to breath. When uncertain, I remember the serpent and the necessity of shedding.
I hold deep gratitude for my teachers, Janani and Javi, whose knowledge and passion for yoga were matched by their genuine investment in our individual growth. They did not simply instruct; they paid attention to who we were becoming. Through their teachings on the spiritual history of yoga, especially the concept of yoga as “union,” I came to understand that union is not just about linking breath to movement, but about connection to self, to others, and to purpose.
It was through their leadership that our cohort developed real unity, supporting one another’s growth rather than competing, and deepening our practices in a shared and meaningful way. Janani and Javi modeled what it means to live with integrity, presence, and humility, and their care for my learning and development left a lasting impact on how I hope to guide and connect with others moving forward.
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