Molly | Costa Rica 200hr YTT Testimonial
My 200 hour yoga teacher training in Montezuma, Costa Rica is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It is honestly hard to put into words because it was so much more than I expected it to be. I went into this training with a love for yoga as a physical practice. It was something that made me feel strong, grounded, and calm. It was a space I could return to when I needed to reset or reconnect. But I left with a completely different understanding of what yoga actually is, and that shift feels really meaningful to me.
Before this experience, yoga mostly lived on my mat. It was something I turned to for movement, for stress relief, and for a sense of balance when life felt overwhelming. I appreciated it, but in a somewhat limited way. Now I see that yoga is in everything. It is in how I move through my day, how I speak to myself and others, how I respond to challenges, and how I choose to show up in both easy and difficult moments. It is less about doing and so much more about being. That shift has stayed with me, and it is something I am genuinely excited to keep exploring and integrating into my everyday life.
A huge part of what made this training so special was our facilitators, Katie and Vanessa. I cannot thank them enough for the space they created for all of us. From the very beginning, it felt authentic, open, and safe in a way that allowed everyone to fully be themselves. They made it clear that we did not have to be perfect or have everything figured out. There was no pressure to perform or present a certain version of ourselves. We were allowed to show up exactly as we are, in whatever version of ourselves we were on that day, and that made all the difference.
They taught me so much, both in terms of yoga and in terms of personal growth. One of the biggest things I am taking with me is learning how to use my voice. That was something I did not even realize I needed going into this experience. Speaking in front of others, guiding a class, or even just sharing my thoughts openly felt intimidating at times. But they encouraged us to speak, to take up space, and to trust that what we have to say matters. That kind of encouragement pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.
There were definitely moments where it felt uncomfortable, where I questioned myself or felt unsure, but those moments were also where I experienced the most growth. Over time, I started to feel more confident, not just in teaching, but in expressing who I am. I feel like I have a better understanding of myself and more trust in my own voice. That is something I will carry with me far beyond this training.
Katie and Vanessa also showed me that there is no one way to be a yoga teacher or even a yoga student. You do not have to fit into a certain mold or meet some expectation of what a teacher “should” look or sound like. You just have to be yourself. That idea gave me so much freedom. It allowed me to let go of comparison and instead focus on what feels true to me. It helped me start to embrace all versions of myself, not just the ones that feel easy, polished, or put together.
Another part of this experience that meant so much to me was the people. The friendships I made during this training are truly so special. There is something about going through an experience like this together that creates really deep and genuine connections. We spent so much time learning, practicing, laughing, and also being vulnerable with each other. There was a level of openness and honesty that made it easy to connect in a real way. I am so grateful for every single person in my group. Everyone brought something unique, and I learned so much just from being around them and hearing their perspectives. It felt like such a supportive and encouraging environment, where everyone genuinely wanted to see each other grow and succeed. That kind of community is rare, and I feel really lucky to have been a part of it. I love that I can now say I have 16 new friends who I would actually travel to see again. That feels really special and says a lot about the kind of connections we built.
Being in Montezuma also made everything feel even more impactful. The setting itself was beautiful and grounding in a way that is hard to fully describe. Being surrounded by nature made it easier to slow down and really be present. There was something about the simplicity of being there that allowed me to tune out a lot of outside noise and distractions. Whether it was practicing yoga with the sound of the monkeys in the background, spending quiet time reflecting, or just taking in the beauty of everything around me, it all added so much to the experience. It felt like I was able to reconnect with myself in a deeper way. There was a sense of peace and clarity that came from being in that environment, and I think it allowed me to be more open to everything we were learning.
This training also challenged me in ways I did not expect. There were moments that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, especially when it came to speaking, teaching, and being seen. At times, it felt vulnerable and even a little overwhelming. But looking back, those were the moments where I grew the most. They taught me that growth does not always feel comfortable, and that is okay. In fact, it is often a sign that you are exactly where you need to be. I learned how to sit with discomfort instead of avoiding it. I learned how to trust myself even when I felt unsure. And I learned that I am capable of more than I sometimes give myself credit for. Those lessons feel just as important as anything I learned about yoga itself.
Looking back on the entire experience, I feel so much gratitude. I am grateful for Katie and Vanessa, for the space they held, and for everything they shared with us. I am grateful for the friendships that came out of this and for the support we gave each other along the way. I am grateful for the environment that allowed me to slow down and reconnect with myself. And I am especially grateful for the growth that happened, even in the moments that felt challenging or uncomfortable.
I am leaving this training with so much more than just a certification. I feel more connected to myself, more confident in my voice, and more open to continuing to grow. I feel inspired to keep learning, to keep exploring what yoga means to me, and to share this practice with others in a way that feels real, honest, and true to who I am. Most of all, I am excited to take everything I learned and bring it into my everyday life. Yoga is no longer just something I do when I step on my mat. It is something I carry with me in how I live, how I connect with others, and how I choose to show up each day. It is in the small moments, the quiet moments, and even the difficult ones.
This experience reminded me how powerful it is to be present, to stay open, and to fully be yourself without feeling like you need to change or hide any part of who you are. That is something I will continue to work on and grow into, but it is also something I will not forget. This training gave me tools, perspective, and confidence, but more than anything, it gave me a deeper connection to myself. And that is something I will carry with me long after this experience is over.
LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TRAINING OR LOCATION? LET’S FIND THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOU
