In the inky depths of December’s exam season, I found myself swamped by mounds of scribbled notes on my desk, looming deadlines, and thirty-two open tabs. Stressed and overwhelmed, I needed to strengthen my approach to times of pressure. Attending yoga teacher training seemed like the perfect adventure for fostering emotional growth, and my decision to book Nomad Yoga’s 200-hour training course in Costa Rica led to one of the most pivotal journeys I’ve ever undertaken.
1. Finding Balance
We began each day at 07:30 in a shala nestled in the jungle. Gazing out toward the rising sun and sea, we flowed through a themed 90-minute yoga practice, where one of my favorites focused on exploring the balance between effort and ease. Despite everyone sweating through arm balances and core conditioning, we sought softness within each moment of challenge. By engaging and relaxing different muscle groups while maintaining an even breath, we discovered our unique fusions of ‘effort and ease’.
Practicing a balance between strain and gentleness in a tangible, physical sense, helped me to recognize how to create a similar mental state. For example, even when I’m rushing to a morning lecture, I take a moment to breathe. I remind myself that I can exude ‘effort’ by speed-walking without also letting my brain get caught up in a fast-paced frenzy. Challenges don’t always have to be met with wholly gruelling effort.
2. Meditating on Presence
It’s easy to tell ourselves to ‘live in the moment’, but it’s another ordeal to actually do so, especially because this popular phrase only tells you what to do and not how to do it. Thankfully, at my training course, we were given several tools to approach being present.
The first step in remaining present is recognizing when your thoughts start to lead you astray. My meditation training in Costa Rica was key in building this awareness. We began by discussing that meditation does not mean that you must ‘clear your mind’. Instead, learning to meditate emphasizes how you approach your thoughts when they inevitably arise. Often, when we have thoughts, it’s easy to get swept into an endless tangle of them. You try to sit quietly, and suddenly Jane from summer camp pops into your mind. That reminds you of getting stung by a bee that summer, then you’re thinking about getting honeycomb ice cream at Janettas, and so on. One thought can easily carry you into an endless chain of them.
In Costa Rica, we approached this bustling brain by trying several meditation techniques to simply notice the arising thoughts, and let them go. We envisioned a swift stream where each thought became a leaf that was swept away with the current. We also tried a mantra meditation, where at the end of each exhale we silently repeated a word or phrase. This technique felt especially effective, because if I started to get caught up in a thought, my brain had to circle its attention back to this mantra every few seconds.
Meditation can also be practiced anytime and anywhere, it’s not restricted to sitting cross-legged with your eyes closed. You can focus on your breath, notice spiraling thoughts, and gently bring your attention back to the present within busy, stressful, happy, or mundane moments. Meditation is a tool for your entire approach to life, not just a practice that needs to end when you step off your mat.
3. Embracing Silence
Every morning of training, we ate our breakfast together in silence. The only sounds to be heard were the occasional barks of howler monkeys and the faint chinks of forks upon plates piled with fresh papaya, gallo pinto, and plantains. At first, it was definitely uncomfortable. I felt as though I should be talking simply because I dread awkward gaps in conversations. As the days progressed, I began to enjoy this newfound practice of peace, noticing the little things around me rather than just focusing on what to say, how to say it, and how I was being perceived.
In daily life, creating these moments of stillness can help you tune in to your surroundings. Simple activities like taking a walk without listening to music can be beneficial in helping you tap into being present, giving you a feeling to return to when rushing thoughts arise.
While I’m no longer practicing my morning yoga in a Costa Rican jungle, there are plenty of amazing opportunities for yoga at St Andrews. YogiSoc host classes at the Union twice a day, Monday through Friday (they also added a weekend class this semester at Victory Memorial Hall!). You can also try local studios like The Malt Barn, Hot House Yoga, or Salt. If you’d rather practice yoga from home, there are tons of fabulous free online videos. I especially love Yoga with Adriene, which has a range of accessible and uplifting classes.
You don’t have to do a full 200-hour training course to feel the benefits of yoga. Find whatever path helps you in the way that your body needs. Whether you seek to foster emotional growth, find a new way to exercise, or just have fun, there are countless opportunities to explore your own version of peace, health, and joy.