Bucket List: Yoga Teacher Training in Mexico

As my yoga practice has deepened, I've been starting to seriously consider the logistics of getting my 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certification. Right now a friend of mine is doing her 200-hr training on the weekends at a local studio, but I don't think that method would work for me. I want to do my training all at once, preferably on a retreat where I can focus solely on my practice. And since becoming such a fan of Beach Yoga this summer, I want to find a training location on the ocean.

While getting my certification is something I'm 100% committed to, I've classified it as a "Bucket List" item because of the logistics. Not only is Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) expensive, but the retreats I've been looking at range from 16-28 days... something that will be hard to manage with only 20 PTO days a year. Although I'm very grateful for how much PTO I get, I'll have to be creative in finding a way to fit YTT into my busy work life. But in the end, everything comes down to drive - you have to ask yourself, how much do I want it? And there is no doubt in my mind that I want this.

Once I decided that I was absolutely going to do my YTT, I started looking at various schools at which to get my certification. One in particular stood out - the School Yoga Institute, with training offered in various international locations. And once I read this post on the Lululemon blog about the SYI, I made up my mind that it was the right school for me.

When I do my training, I definitely want to go to the SYI location in Mexico, at the Present Moment Retreat center in Troncones. Just looking at their website makes me instantly crave beach yoga, sun-warmed breeze, and the sound of the ocean. (And guacamole.)

While yoga isn't necessarily about where you practice, the effects of visual aesthetics on the brain should not be discounted. I learned this first-hand at beach yoga this summer - it's so much easier to find inner peace and beauty while practicing in a beautiful place. Being near the ocean while practicing yoga is an amazing experience, especially with the sound of the waves ebbing and flowing in time with your ujjayi breath.

Everything about the Present Moment Retreat center looks amazing. I can't wait to go there for my training!

Bucket List: Deep Water Soloing in Mallorca

Yesterday, I sent my first 5.11-. It wasn't the cleanest climb I've ever done (I had to stop and rest a lot), but I made it to the top. As physically demanding as this route was for me, it was just as much of a mental problem as it was athletic. When I got to the crux of the route, I had to try a few different positions to get past it, almost reducing me to tears of frustration. However, when I finally got past the crux and pushed my way to the top, I felt such an incredible sense of elation and accomplishment like I've never felt before on the wall. Even though my forearms were pumped and my fingers were locked, I felt so proud that I didn't give up on the route.

But what was the most satisfying was knowing that I was improving. For a while, I felt like I had plateaued on 5.10's, but I wasn't really stepping outside my comfort zone to push myself onto harder routes. So it was really gratifying knowing that I could succeed even when I was reaching the limits of my ability.

To reward myself for this improvement, I allowed myself to dream about the day when I'm good enough to go Deep Water Soloing in Mallorca, Spain.

For those of you who don't know, Deep Water Soloing is a form of free-climbing where you're not attached to any ropes or safety equipment– it's just you and the rock. But when you fall, you'll just fall into whatever body of water is beneath you. How awesome is that?

One day I'd absolutely love to travel to Mallorca and do some climbing there. Obviously, I'd like to wait until I'm good enough to enjoy the routes, and not struggling through them like I often am now. But I know that waiting will only make it more worth it when I finally do go!