by guest author Keron Martin, entrant in Vitality Link’s Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship Competition
For the last three years I have been practicing Vinyasa Yoga and it has changed my life, slowly and profoundly. It has led me to a truer and happier version of myself.
The calm that Yoga presented to me was so incredible and lasting that I could not wait for the next opportunity to practice – this coming from someone who had always run on two speeds; fast and faster.
When I was younger I was convinced that I had A.D.D. My doctor at the time assured me that I had none of the diagnostic symptoms, and simply had an active mind. Every holistic remedy I could find only provided partial relief, and I half-wittingly thought that maybe only a lobotomy or potent drug could quiet the constant chatter in my mind.
About seven months ago I went to a Social Media seminar and found out about Facebook. My franchisor, Curves International, recommended setting up a personal Facebook account with a business page attached to it. This was a way to educate and encourage members, as well as market to new members.
After I set up the account, I started to ‘friend’ people who were already familiar to my fitness business, as well as other individuals who loved Fitness, Yoga, Spirituality, and Organic and Healthy Lifestyles. They posted so many wonderful and inspiring quotes, poems, art pictures, and items pertaining to Yoga philosophy, asanas (poses), and meditation.
This opened up a new world for me and I immersed myself in the information. I was inspired to find that my own creativity, normally stifled with the regular busyness of life, came alive… I started to write again!
One of my new friends was the administrator of Vitality Link, a wonderful site with a myriad of articles, practitioners, references, events, classes and blogs pertaining to wellness. I discovered that Vitality Link was offering a scholarship to an individual who was interested in learning to teach Yoga.
Aspiring students are able to pick from studios located all over the world – Agama Yoga, Purna Yoga East, Tribe Yoga, Sunstone Yoga, Pranashama Yoga Institute and Himalaya Valley Yoga studios are all participating in the challenge. You also could invite a school of your choice to participate.
Entrants were invited to compose an essay telling the world why becoming a yoga instructor is the next step on their journey. The essay then circulates on Facebook and through other very creative promotional methods to get voted on. This contest is currently in progress and there are many great participants who all deserve to win, though only one will be so lucky on June 21st to have received the most votes.
In my personal and professional life, I have always wanted to contribute to the health and well being of others. It brings me great joy to impart any knowledge or gift that can help a person feel better. I knew after practicing yoga for several years, and through the journey of my healing process, that Yoga is an amazing gift to be shared with others.
I would like to share this peace, joy, wonderment, self-control, and self-confidence that I have found. Teachers whom I have had the benefit of practicing with have spread their light to me, and I would like to do the same.
Through teaching others Yoga, not only can one enhance the lives and practices of the students, but their own as well. Naturally, when you love something you want to share it with others.
That is how I feel about Yoga. It is a gift of love for self and others. It is a solution for ridding feelings of anxiety, sadness, pain, decreased self-confidence, self-esteem and other feelings of negativity. Yoga strengthens and empowers the mind, body and soul. It is one of the most nurturing things you can do for yourself.
As you connect with your breath and float into the next asana, you feel calm and completely enabled. It may be challenging, however, you are listening carefully and working to honor your ability at that exact moment in time. I have been instructed that;
You are perfect right where you are in that moment.
Read my personal essay in the Vitality Link Scholarship Competition here.
Read the rest of the Vitality link Scholarship Competition entries here.
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