Sharing the wisdom
We never stop learning. Paula Hines shares her own wisdom on what it means to pass on knowledge as we grow
By the time you read this I will have been an accredited senior yoga teacher for just over a year. But what does this mean? Does this make me a yoga expert? My feeling is that you can practice yoga for a lifetime and still have an infinite amount to learn (even though you might be called an expert by others).
Yoga is ultimately a way of being. So, while in certain ways I may know more now than when I began practicing nearly 20 years ago, an accreditation does not now mean that I know everything. And I am mindful of the great teachers in the world who don’t have a piece of paper to say they are qualified. However, reaching this stage, it does mark a notable milestone.
For someone who thought they would never be a teacher, I sometimes find it hard to believe that I am here. One thing being a senior teacher does mean is that I am now able to offer workshops and trainings to teachers. In deciding to do this - to pass on what I have learned so far to other teachers — I feel it is essential that I continue to work on my own practice and to continue learning.
A big part of my personal practice has, and continues to involve, Restorative Yoga. Though popularised in the west mainly by Judith Hanson Lasater (who I studied with), this practice stems from the therapeutic teachings of BKS Iyengar (Judith Hanson Lasater’s teacher).
Sharing this practice with teachers for their own benefit and the benefit of their students is something I have wanted to do for some time. After a successful initial workshop in late 2019, this February I am repeating my one-day workshop for teachers who would like to teach Restorative Yoga. My workshop groups are intentionally small in size and the setting is friendly. After positive feedback last year, I am also offering a Part 2 workshop in May 2020 for those interested in further learning on adapting the practice for pregnancy and for students with specific injuries.
If you are a yoga teacher who would like an introduction to teaching Restorative Yoga, I’d love you to join me! You can find details of both workshops on the events page of my website.
Teaching Restorative Yoga: Fundamentals Part 1 takes place on Saturday February 22, 2020 and *Teaching Restorative Yoga: Fundamentals Part 2 (*completion of Part 1 is a pre-requisite) takes place on Saturday May 23, 2020 – both from 9.30am-5pm at Mothering Lotus Yoga Studio in West Sussex. For bookings and information visit: ucanyoga.co.uk.
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