What is anatomical variation and why does it matter? Anatomical variation refers to the different shapes and sizes within the human body and the variety of ways that the inferential parts of the body fit together. Every human being has a slightly different bone structure, and therefore how every skeleton is pieced together is unique. While we all have a femur bone (thigh bone) and pelvis, how the head of your femur bone fits into the pelvis varies from person to person and sometimes even from side to side within the same person! If you just look at the photo from this blog it shows the difference in internal rotation between two people.  One can’t internally rotate her femur enough to be able to sit between her feet, she can only sit on them, while the other student is the opposite extreme.  While teaching yoga, it is essential to take this variation of bone shape and size from person to person into account.

When our bone structures are all unique, how is it that we’ve been taught yoga poses are one size fits all? Due to the rapid rise and interest in yoga alliance certification in the West during the 90’s there weren’t enough teachers to meet demand.  The quickest way to have more teachers was to produce them en mass through 200-hour yoga teacher training.  In this setting, it’s easy to get everyone to learn the same cues so standardized alignment and a consistent approach to teaching asanas in yoga were developed. The problem is, that no two bodies are the same, and teaching yoga in a way that only caters to one anatomical structure has the potential to be harmful and cause injury to others. If you’ve been practicing yoga consistently for a while, you might have noticed that no matter how much you practice, some poses just aren’t accessible. Rather than a lack of strength or flexibility, this could actually be because your bones are hitting bone when you are trying to make your way into an asana. This is known as compression.

There are two reasons that you will not be able to access a pose – either compression or tension.  Compression can either be bone-hitting bone or bone-hitting soft tissue.  It’s that feeling of being stuck and you just can’t go any further into a pose.  Tension occurs on the opposite of the body from compression and generally relates to how flexible your muscles are.  Tension is the familiar sensation of the muscles and fascia being stretched. If it’s tension that you are feeling rather than compression you will have a sense that you’re able to go a bit further but it feels “tight”.  The blind spot with the majority of yoga teachers (and what you see on Instagram) is an assumption that someone can’t do a pose because they are tight and don’t have the flexibility.  This is a very narrow view and doesn’t take into consideration someone’s compression points and their unique bone structure.

It’s important to understand whether you are experiencing tension or compression in different poses.  If, over time, you try to push beyond your compression points to do the “perfect pose” this can lead to injury.  If you try to square your hips in certain poses but your bone structure doesn’t allow for it you can injure your knee.  So how do we know whether not being able to get into a pose is due to a lack of practice or our bone structure? The best way to learn the difference is by attending a yoga teacher training in Bali hosted by Inner Yoga Training. As part of both their 200-hour yoga teacher training and 100-hour yin yoga teacher training, you will learn not only about compression and tension but also, a wide array of range of motion tests and movements to practice to determine whether what is stopping you from going deeper into a pose or accessing a pose at all is because of tension or compression.

While a wide-legged forward fold may be hard for some people due to a lack of flexibility in their adductors or hamstrings, some people may have a particular femur or pelvis shape that only allows them to go so far into a pose. Trying to push past the body’s natural anatomy can be harmful and ultimately cause injury. Paying attention to compression and tension is fundamental to any yoga practice whether it’s vinyasa yoga or yin yoga.  Taking anatomical variation into account during any yin or yang practice is important. The sensations experienced in cases of tension and compression are different, and there is also a variety of tests and practices you can partake in that can determine whether or not the inability to access a particular yoga pose is due to tension or compression.

As a yoga teacher, how can you teach a yoga class that takes anatomical variation into account? Giving cues that speak to the sensation and target area of the poser rather than the specific placement of different body parts is essential. While it may be tempting to teach more standardized cues, teaching with anatomical variation in mind is essential to teaching a yoga class that will most benefit your students and their needs, in both the short and long term. Both the yin and yin yang yoga teacher training in Bali hosted by Inner Yoga Training will educate you in anatomical variation and help you practice and teach safer yoga classes.  Because after all, as yoga teachers we have a responsibility to do no harm.

The post Functional Alignment in Yoga first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

But first, we need to understand what cultural appropriation is. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.”

Yoga is one of six philosophical schools that come from Hinduism.  The goal is not to be able to do a handstand or headstand; yoga is a personal inward journey to connect with your true nature.  It is a path to release the practitioner from worldly attachments which is achieved primarily through meditation and cleansing practices.  It’s our ability to still the mind, gain insight into deeper aspects of ourselves, and rest in a detached awareness.  Yoga is how we are in the world and it is a way of life not a 90-minute class in a studio.  Unless you are truly following, living, and breathing all aspects of Yoga you cannot really call yourself a yogi.  It requires self-study, a deeper inquiry into your limiting beliefs, behaviors, and thoughts.  It is a spiritual practice and one that is intrinsically connected to Indian culture.

As a newly graduated yoga teacher, you may want to incorporate some non-physical elements that you learned during your yoga certification course into your classes.  So how do you know what’s appropriate and what’s not and how do you acknowledge where the practices have come from?  Referencing things from another culture should always be done with respect, knowledge, and understanding.  Wearing malas, a Ganesha t-shirt, and chanting Om does not make someone spiritual.  In fact, it’s usually the opposite!  A spiritual journey is not all peace, love, and ease.  It can be messy and challenging but if you use these outer symbols to appear more spiritual you are appropriating a culture that is not part of your daily life and practice.

We would like to offer a few things to think about and how you engage with various representations of Hinduism.

Namaste

You may have heard this word commonly used at the beginning or end of a yoga class by Western teachers.  But do they actually know what it means and is it appropriate?  Namaste is derived from the Sanskrit Namaskar.  Nama means to bow and te means to you.  It is used, predominantly in North India as a greeting of respect towards elders, people you don’t know, or priests.  It is a way to show respect to God in someone as you would respect God in a temple.  If a yoga teacher is indeed bowing to respect the Soul that resides in each person in the class, then it can add a level of meaning but according to Hindu culture an elder person won’t offer Namaste to younger people it’s the other way around.  So, it’s important that if the word is used it is used with understanding and context otherwise it’s just throwing a word around.  But will the same teachers say Namaste when they meet people outside of the context of a yoga class?  Will they acknowledge the divine Soul that resides in people with whom they have daily interactions with the word Namaste?  If it’s not part of their usual vocabulary then does it become a throwaway word in a yoga class to make it seem more “authentic”?

Ganesha

Ganesha is a Hindu God that represents beginnings so at the start of any ceremony or prayer he would be honoured.  He also represents prosperity and is the remover of obstacles. In India, he would be at the entrance to a temple, in a home temple, and in shops and businesses.  Wherever he is represented people would perform a daily offering and prayer to Ganesha.  You will often see a statue of Ganesha in yoga studios but if he is not worshipped daily as part of the studio owners’ own practice then why would he be there?  He becomes nothing more than interior decoration in the guise of spirituality unless he is held in reverence and worshipped.  Clothing is another area where Ganesha has been misappropriated.  Unfortunately, many yoga clothing manufacturers insensitively print an image of Ganesha on leggings and t-shirts as a way to make money and make the wearer feel more “spiritual”.  This is gross cultural misappropriation and is not a way that you would revere a God. Gods and Goddesses should never be in a lower position than humans so it is inappropriate to have them on a lower part of the body, let alone leggings.

Tattoos

Many Westerners like to tattoo symbols or texts onto their bodies to display that they are spiritual or following a yoga lifestyle but are they appropriate?  The first thing to think about is where on the body they are placed.  Many people tattoo the Om symbol on the back of their necks or on their feet which to a Hindu is totally inappropriate.  They should only appear on the front side of the body and usually that only on the upper outer or inner lower arm.  They would never appear on the feet or lower part of the body.  We mentioned earlier that Gods and Goddesses should sit higher than humans according to Hindu belief, yet so many people tattoo Ganesha on their lower legs or backs.  Similarly, sacred texts shouldn’t be tattooed on the side of the torso or near the buttocks.  If you want to express yourself through tattoos then make sure that what you are tattooing and where it is located is appropriate and respectful to the culture which it comes from.

The post Cultural Appropriation of Yoga first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

The history of yoga, and therefore the history of the warrior poses, are steeped in Hindu culture and tradition. The warrior poses are named after great warriors from ancient Hindu texts. Virabhadra was a fierce and powerful warrior that Lord Shiva created to avenge the death of his wife. He embodied the qualities of strength, courage, and focus- each of which is reflected in the warrior poses. When the warrior poses were developed, it was essential that they encapsulate an energy that was fierce, fiery, and focused as the warrior of their origin story. Anyone who has held a warrior pose for an extended period of time can testify to the truth of these energetic effects.

If you join Inner Yoga Training in Bali you will learn that each of the warrior poses offers unique benefits and challenges for the body, mind, and spirit. Warrior I strengthens the legs, hips, and core while opening the pecs (chest) and shoulders. It also helps to improve focus and concentration, while building a sense of confidence and internal stability. Warrior II requires a deep level of concentration and focus. It strengthens the legs, hips, and core while stretching the inner thigh region- all while helping improve balance and stability.  A common transition in vinyasa yoga is from Warrior II into Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana) where you flip the front hand, raise the arm up, slide the back arm down the back leg, and take a backbend thereby stretching the side body.  This can help to open up the chest and lungs and stretch the intercostal muscles (situated in between the ribs).

In studying the warriors on a yoga teacher training in Bali, you will learn that Warrior III is in some ways the most advanced of the three poses, due to the fact it is a balancing pose, it requires even more strength, stability, and focus. It strengthens the legs, core, and upper body while improving balance, stability, and coordination. It establishes balance and focus in both the mind and body and in doing so helps create more balance and focus in life. One of the benefits of yoga is that the lessons we learn on the mat extend far beyond that time. We carry the lessons and effects with us not only into our next practice but into our lives.

Warrior poses are more “modern” yoga poses, being introduced more recently than a plethora of other more “traditional” asanas such as Trikonasana, Balasana, and Shalabasana. Despite their more “recent” origins, warriors are part of yang-style yoga practice and are some of the core poses you will learn about on any 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali.

So what is it that makes warriors so powerful? They are physically activating and strengthening. Warrior I, II, and III all build strength in the lower body. Further, ample core activation is required to maintain alignment. Additional to their physical benefits is the spiritual significance of warrior poses. Each pose embodies strength, courage, and focus. Including them in your practice regularly may help you bring the same sense of focus, courage, and strength not only in your practice but in your life.

The post The Warrior Series in Yoga first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

While a 200 hour yoga teacher training can definitely help you develop your practice and do poses that you might have struggled with in the past, good yoga teacher training courses and good teachers meet the students where they are and embrace different body shapes, sizes, and proportions and allow for injuries.  You don’t have to be able to do a headstand or handstand and be size 8 to be an amazing yoga teacher.   During your yoga teacher training, as you learn more about the philosophy behind the practice, you’ll begin to understand that yoga is for everybody, regardless of shape, size, or skill level and it’s not always about the physical yoga practice.

In any yoga community, diversity should not only be encouraged but beautifully celebrated. Join a yoga studio class or yoga teacher training, and you’ll encounter individuals of all ages, sizes, backgrounds, and abilities coming together to align souls and share their practice. Inclusivity lies at the heart of yoga, fostering a sense of unity and acceptance among practitioners. Regardless of our differences, we all share the common goal of finding balance, inner peace, and physical and mental well-being.  The more you develop your inner practice through meditation and mindfulness you will understand that yoga is less about how the physical body looks and more about how it feels.

A yoga teacher training in Bali can teach you to embrace yourself fully, flaws and all as you are away from daily expectations and pressures and can connect more deeply with your inner sense of self.   AYTT can remind us that our bodies are unique vessels capable of incredible things. Whether you’re curvy, slender, muscular, or have any other body shape, yoga invites you to appreciate and honor the gorgeous body you have.   It is a divine vessel for the soul that it carries and needs to be looked after and celebrated as such.  Through the practice of asanas (poses), you learn to focus on what your body does for you rather than how it looks. It’s about building strength, flexibility, and balance while cultivating a deep sense of self-love and respect for oneself!

Every time you step onto your mat, whether it’s for a studio class or during a 200-hour yoga teacher training, your mat becomes a sacred space, free from judgment or comparison. It’s an opportunity to let go of societal expectations and our own expectations and focus solely on being present as we move through the asana.  Daily yoga practice allows you to tune into your body, connect with your breath, and move in a way that feels good for the mind, body, and soul. Whether you’re in an eight-angle pose or in a child’s pose, you can learn to honor and listen to your body, without the pressure to perform or conform. After all, yoga is a practice that can be tailored to meet the unique needs and abilities of every individual.

During your YTT (specifically in asana clinics), you’ll learn that poses can be modified and adapted to accommodate different body types and physical capabilities. Whether you have limited mobility, are recovering from an injury, or need props to work with your body’s proportions exploring the many variations and tuning into how each pose feels, makes yoga accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The focus shifts from achieving a perfect pose to finding what feels right and honoring our own limitations and boundaries.

Yoga provides a nurturing and supportive community where yoga practitioners can come together, share their journeys, and uplift one another to become certified yoga teachers. It’s a safe, non-judgemental space where you learn to see beauty in diversity and appreciate the uniqueness of each person’s practice. Whether you’re attending a YTT in person or connecting with fellow yog is online, you’ll find a community that loves and supports you in your pursuit of self-discovery and growth. So do your thing and don’t let anyone or anything stop you from celebrating what your body can do!

The post The Vibrant World of Yoga first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

Inversions are known for their ability to increase circulation and blood flow to the brain.  When we stand in our usual upright posture, gravity pools blood towards our lower extremities, which can lead to stagnation and a lack of oxygen to the brain. By “inverting”, we reverse the flow of blood and send fresh oxygenated blood and energy to the brain. This shift has the potential to improve cognitive function, memory, and focus. Because of this increase in blood flow to the head and face, inversions are also known for their anti-aging properties – there is even an inversion known as the “fountain of youth!”  Physically, inversions tend to reduce tension in the neck and shoulders and in turn can alleviate head, neck, and shoulder pain as well as headaches.

Inversions are beneficial for supporting the cardiovascular system. By reversing the usual flow of blood in the body, the circulatory system is stimulated, improving the health of the heart and blood vessels. Practicing inversions regularly can reduce blood pressure and improve general circulation. If you tend to experience cold hands and feet frequently, practicing inversions regularly can help increase circulation to the extremities and assist in a consistent body temperature. When learning to sequence a yoga class on a vinyasa yoga teacher training in Bali, you will understand when and how to sequence your yoga classes using inversions.  If you are teaching a special needs population, they are great to include for individuals who need support in their cardiovascular and circulatory health.

Mentally and emotionally, inversions help settle the nervous system. When we are stressed or anxious, the sympathetic nervous system is activated. When the sympathetic nervous system is active, we experience an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and breath.  Inner Yoga Training in Bali will teach you about the energetic and health benefits of inversions including how they activate the parasympathetic nervous and counter the effects of stress and anxiety. This can improve sleep, soothe anxiety, and contribute to an overall sense of ease and internal peace. In a world where stress and anxiety are widespread, incorporating inversions into our regular yoga practice can help us come back to an internal sense of equilibrium.

Lastly, inversions can be a fun and playful way to explore our edges. Approaching inversions with a sense of curiosity and playfulness can help us tap into our inner child and rediscover a sense of exploration and play. Whether it be a more dynamic inversion such as a headstand or handstand, or a more passive yin yoga style inversion such as a standing forward fold, wide knee child’s pose or melting heart.

All inversions can be approached with a sense of lightness and play. If you find headstands or handstands a little scary then a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali is a great place to learn the right technique and approach.  You may even find that you are more capable than you may have initially thought and once they become a part of your regular practice, you’ll enjoy them even more understanding the health benefits you are gaining.

The post Essential Inversions first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

People from nooks and corners of the world come to this island for spiritual and transformational experiences, as well as to enjoy the beaches, surf the waters, and immerse themselves in the culture that is very welcoming on this island. But is that it? Well, in this blog, Inner Yoga Training, the best yoga teacher training Bali, will tell you seven spectacular reasons behind Bali is the best place for a yoga teacher training course.

• Brimming up with yoga retreats and spiritual centers.

The biggest reason to go to Bali for a yoga retreat is that it is brimming up with umpteen retreats and well-being centers. Starting from Vinyasa to Ashtanga, each and every yogic style is taught here and can be mastered by even beginners. This makes Bali a breeding center of spirituality, relaxation as well and good health. Get to master two different yogic styles in one teaching course. 200 hour yoga training retreat can only be found in Bali. Enrol now!

• Gorge a plant-based diet and develop it into a habit.

At Inner Yoga Training, all one needs to do is eat locally-produced plant-based food and stick to it. Trust us, this is far better than the chia seeds smoothie you consume every morning. The food served here is organic and is prepared by our French resident chef. As a result, one gets to forge upon scrumptious yet healthy meals throughout their stay in Bali. Eventually, this develops into a habit. 

• Learn to live with nature under a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali.

Wherever the eye goes, one can spot luscious paddy fields and a panoramic view of Mt. Batur. This is something that gets replaced by steely skyscrapers, too many vehicles, traffic, and whatnot. With a course like the 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali, one gets to live with nature. 

• Learn a yogic style and teach it.

The combination of self-development and yoga training goes hand-in-hand, as learning about yourself and understanding yourself is a skill that makes you an incredible teacher. In Bali, additional styles are also practiced to encourage your yoga practice development, which most certainly makes you a more well-rounded yoga instructor. Best of all, you’ll take away heaps of new inspiration and ideas of things you can incorporate into your daily life to help keep the retreat magic alive and spread it.

• Lower your stress and anxiety levels.

An exotic location like Bali can help in the lowering of cortisol, improved concentration, and feeling a deeper sense of connection. So, the next time you feel stressed, anxious, or maybe just tired of the monotony of your daily routine, recognize the need to recharge and take a step outside to get some fresh air. Even if you live in a big city or don’t have easy access to wilderness, there’s always somewhere you can escape appreciating the elements of the environment. Whether it’s in your office balcony, patio, garden, or a nearby metropolitan park, just find somewhere a bit more peaceful than the hustle and bustle of your daily routine.

Aside from vinyasa and aerial yoga training, you’ll also practice yin, yoga Nidra, and restorative yoga in the evenings, with your more active practices beginning in the day. 

• Get bestowed with long-lasting motivation.

If you’re like many and find it hard to stay dedicated to a routine, then it’s a good idea to consider a 200 hour vinyasa yin yoga teacher training in Bali. Participating in a structured program with yoga at its core encourages a routine with tangible feel-good results. Additionally, it provides you with new elements to add to your lifestyle when you get back home. 

• Connect with yourself better.

Your mind and emotions will be taken care of through your daily yoga practice, plus meditation and mindfulness, different workshops, or even time in silence. You may even get to speak to your soul as you take time out in the nurturing environment of a retreat, helping you to find answers or a new direction. The main focus of the 200 hour certification course in Bali is often to help you to feel really, really good in all ways, so no matter what your initial reasons for going, a yoga retreat will leave you feeling cleansed, restored, re-inspired, recharged, and most of all, like new! 

All set to go to Bali? Sign up now for a yoga teacher training course at https://inneryogatraining.com/. You can also check out our 100 hour yin yoga certification course in Bali.

The post 7 Reasons Why Bali is the Best Place for a Yoga Teacher Training first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

Traditionally, and even today for some people, self-realization was the goal of yoga and the asanas and pranayama were a very small part of this journey.  Asana (a Sanskrit word that translates as “to sit down”) was designed to keep the body supple to allow seekers to sit in meditation for hours on end and bring the body back into a more balanced state allowing for the free flow of energy.  Pranayama was cleansing or calming for the body, depending on which pranayama practiced.   Today’s modern practice has changed this focus and made it much more about the physical practice and, with the rise of social media, it has also become about beauty and body image.  A far cry from the origins of this ancient and spiritual practice.

While we may not always steponto our mats today with the goal of enlightenment in mind, there are threads of this initial outcome that can, and likelywill, arise with regular yoga practice.  Self-realization can be described as the realization ofone’s true nature beyond the limitations of the mind, physical body, and ego. Yoga teachesus that the “true nature” of a human being is pure consciousness- the witness, or the selfbeyond the “human” self. While undertaking a yoga training in Bali, you will learn the pathwaythere, not only with the physical practice but with the study of yoga philosophy and Ayurveda and modern psychology teachings. Through practicing asana, pranayama, and meditation, it is one path in which we are able to access our trueself.

According to yogic philosophy, every human being is composed of layers of “self”. In theancient tantric yoga text, the Taittiriya Upanishad, these are known as koshas. Similar to anonion, as we peel back each layer, we get clearer on our centre or our pure essence that is free from emotional and mental ailments. The outermostlayer is the physical body (Annamaya kosha), followed by the pranic (energetic) body(Pranayama kosha), the mental/emotional body (Manomaya kosha), the wisdom body (Vijnanamaya kosha), and lastly, the bliss body (Anandamaya kosha)- the true self beyond all layersof self.  Each kosha affects the others and they mingle and change so when you work on one you can influence the others.  This influence can either take you closer towards peeling away the layers or take you further away from it.  For example, when we are stressed thinking about something that might happen in the future it affects our Manomaya kosha.  This in turn affects the physical body (Annamaya kosha) and we may feel tight in certain areas; our breathing may change, and our heart rate increase.  This affects our energetic body (Pranayama kosha) and our energy becomes scattered and off.  We are less grounded.  We will find it hard to focus and think clearly (Vijnanamaya kosha) and it becomes impossible for us to be in a blissful state (Anandamaya kosha).

While most yogis today aren’t seeking full transcendence, this model of the koshas canbe used as a roadmap to self-awareness to facilitate personal growth and transformation. Oncewe become conscious of the different layers of the self, we have the opportunity to overcomethe limitations of the mind and ego and experience the divinity of our true nature.Like the practice of yoga, self-realization is not a one-time event. While you may attend ayoga training in Bali and do yoga every day for a month, the effects of the practice extend farbeyond those thirty days. It is a continual process of discovery, growth, and ultimately, evolution.  Georgina, the Founder of Inner Yoga Training in Bali believes that ultimately yoga is about how we are in the world, how we show up in our relationship with self and others.  The physical practice is just one of the tools that invite our shedding of layers and conditioning.

By practicing yoga regularly, we are constantly growing in our strength and flexibility- in bodyand mind.Whether it be physically or mentally, by showing up to the yoga mat, we grow. Withevery yoga practice, we take a step closer to our true nature. By practicing yoga every day on a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali, you have the opportunity to go much deeper than you would by going to a daily class at home.  A residential yoga certification course especially is truly transformational and allows you to shed a lot emotionally and mentally.  The opportunity to experience this evolution is daily and you are not distracted by your day-to-day routines.

While yoga is far from what it once was, the potency of some of its original goals haveremained. The ability of a regular yoga practice to facilitate growth and transformation hasremained intact throughout the centuries. By practicing yoga regularly, you can extend not onlyyour physical and mental strength and flexibility, but also deepen your connection with yourself.While specific practices may be different to what they once were, modern day yoga can still helptranscend the identification with mind and can facilitate a deeper connection with oneself.

The post The Evolution of Yoga first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

Some of the best yoga certification courses in Bali for a start!  Ubud provides what Bali is most known for; cascading rice paddies, flowing rivers, towering coconut trees, and tropical jungle that create a serene and majestic atmosphere.  It attracts top yoga teachers from all over the world who decide to call Ubud home.  People are health conscious and it’s a joke amongst local yogis that nothing happens after 10 pm because everyone is in bed early getting beauty sleep before their early morning yoga practice!  Basically, it’s the perfect backdrop for learning how to become a yoga instructor. It provides a space free of distraction and full of energy, yet rich in Hindu culture.  Bali is the only Indonesian island that is Hindu.  It’s a nice synergy as yoga stems from ancient India with many elements coming from Hindu philosophy. Azadi Retreat Bali has welcomed yogis from all over the world who want to learn to become a yoga teacher in Bali.  Here is their list of what makes Ubud special.

Melukat

The Balinese Melukat is a soul purification ceremony using holy water, as a way to get closer to a higher being. It is often performed after a storm in your life to surrender the bad and make way for good.  Although it derives from Hindu practices, a Balinese priest allows anyone to take part in the magic. You can partake in Melukat for anything that you feel is going wrong but it’s performed often when people are feeling overwhelmed in life.  They do this ritual to reset.  The recommendation from the staff at Azadi Retreat is to start your trip with this, especially before a yoga teacher training to purify yourself, and wish you good luck on the transformational journey ahead.

Cafes

Food is the energy for our mind, body, and soul; especially if you’re going to be practicing yoga every day during your 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali.   Ubud has some amazing world-class cafes serving great coffee using Indonesian coffee beans.  As Ubud is a yoga center, many cafes offer vegetarian, raw, and healthy food options.  You can choose from Western-style cafes for brunch or dinner or traditional Indonesian food.  Azadi Retreat serves amazing vegetarian dishes to students doing their yoga teacher training and all meals are included in the package that Inner Yoga Training offers.  However, some of their recommendations on the days off from the training include Clear Café, Milk & Madu, Watercress, Kafe, Alchemy, and Bali Buddha.  There are many more, we could go in but this will give you a great start.  Many students decide to stay and eat at Azadi Retreat though on their days off because the food is so good.  They offer a carefully derived plant-based menu using only local and fresh produce from the local market.  You’ll never get bored of the variety and you will feel great with the balanced meals.  Even non-vegetarians love the food and are amazed at the ever-changing options! 

Ecstatic Dance

You could say that ecstatic dance is the yogi version of a night out! As you move your body to the rhythms and beats of the music it can become like a moving meditation that invites to you enter a trance-like state and connect more deeply with yourself and those around you as everyone moves and connects together with the music.  It is a safe space free of judgment to fully express yourself through movement.  There is no right or wrong, no steps to follow just your own body intuitively moving to the music.  Allow yourself to be guided by your body and what movement it needs to follow.  It’s a chance to get out of your head and into your body.  You can let your body and mind both be free from any expectations.  The Yoga Barn hosts an ecstatic dance night every Friday.  It often sells out so make sure to get your tickets at least one day before!

Yoga Wear

We know what you’re thinking, if I’m traveling to Ubud for yoga why should I shop?  I’m coming to get away from that!  Well, here’s a little secret; Ubud is full of great yoga shops! If you forgot your mat don’t worry because you won’t have trouble finding one. All down Hanoman Street, you’ll find endless stores dedicated to yoga equipment, yoga wear, and even energizing crystals. No more Lulu Lemons but many unique yoga wear brands that are locally designed and made using organic cotton and natural dyes.   If you want to shop with a conscious for your yoga leggings or tops (and you’ll need quite a few if you’re doing your 200-hour yoga teacher training) then Ubud is abound with great options.

Best Yoga Certification Courses in Bali

We might be biased but Ubud, is full of the best yoga certification courses in Bali.  Being in Ubud offers an amazing opportunity to deepen your practice and study the history and philosophy behind yoga, or even pursue a yoga career and become a mentor to others.  Inner Yoga Training offers one of the best yoga teacher training in Bali.  Not only do you master and become certified in two forms of yoga – Vinyasa and Yin, but you also dive deep into Meditation and Pranayama, Ayurveda, yoga philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, voice activation, sound healing and mindfulness.  Their training is all-inclusive and is located at the beautiful Azadi Retreat Bali near Ubud.  A 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali can take around three weeks plus but it’s worth it, especially when the retreat center is surrounded by stunning rice fields. Who doesn’t want to spend a bit of time away to fully devote time to a practice they love in a beautiful setting?

Art and Culture

Ubud is known as the artistic capital of Bali and there are villages that specialize in certain crafts.  For example, there is a village dedicated to silver making where you can find amazing jewellery.  Other villages specialize in word work where you can find hand-carved mirrors and furniture.  The Ubud Traditional Art Market is well worth a visit in the center of Ubud.  Here you will find small shops selling a variety of local handicrafts including hand-woven bags, silk scarves, sarongs, hand-painted wooden masks, and pottery.  If you wander the side streets you’ll find galleries showing the work of local Ubud painters.  When you’re finished there, you can go across the road to the residence of the Ubud Royal Family and attend a traditional Balinese dance performance held every day at the Palace.

There is so much more that we could say about Ubud but you’ll just have to sign up for your yoga instructor course in Bali and come and experience it for yourself.

The post A Yogi’s Guide to Ubud Bali first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

But how does Sound Healing work? How is it used for healing? Every bone, cell, muscle, and organ in the human body has its own resonant frequency and if an organ is out of tune it will affect the rest of our system. When sound healers use vibrations and frequencies, they are able to create a relaxing and therapeutic atmosphere that supports overall well-being. Through the resonance of sound, you can bring the body back to homeostasis (balance). Imagine having two tuning forks both tuned to the note C. If you strike one fork and place the second one next to it, the second one will automatically start to resonate in accordance with the first one. The first one is transferring its energy to the second. The same principle applies to Sound Healing. The resonance from natural instruments and the practitioner’s voice will resonate with the vibrations of your body. This resonance helps to rebalance your system. Fabien Maman, a French Sound pioneer carried out an experiment on healthy blood cells and cancer cells. He submitted them both to the same frequencies and found that the cancer cells became unstable and deteriorated whereas the healthy cells absorbed the sound and became more vibrant and resonated at a higher frequency.

Sound Healing has many health benefits. It can help reduce pain and inflammation, promote rest and relaxation, and lower the heart rate and blood pressure, to mention a few. It can also help to release emotions that have been trapped and stuck in the body due to emotional or physical trauma. After completing her Sound Healing Practitioner course, Georgina the founder of Inner Yoga Training now includes a Sound Healing session in every 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali due to the healing benefits. She explains that due to the way she has designed the yoga teacher training in Bali, stored emotions can start to be released that are stored in the body through the various daily practices. Incorporating a Sound Healing session into the yoga instructor course helps release and heal those emotions. It also alters the state of consciousness by influencing our brain waves. The frequency of the sound changes the brain patterns that allow us to feel more relaxed, resulting in a lower heart and respiratory rate.

A Sound Healing experience will be different for everyone and even if you attend many Sound Healings you will not have the same experience each time. How you receive the Sound Healing depends on the vibrations of the instruments and the voice of the practitioner and how it resonates with your energy. We are constantly changing on a daily basis depending what is happening in our lives, what we’ve eaten, the state of our thoughts. Our vibrations change as a result so naturally the vibrations that we receive from a Sound Healing will always be different. To experience a Sound Healing you can remain seated or lie down in Savasana. Your body temperature may drop as the body relaxes so it’s good to have a blanket or extra layer. There will be some sounds that you will find very relaxing and others may be a bit more challenging for you to receive as it may bring back difficult memories or experiences that your body has stored. The key is to hold an intention that whatever you experience is for your higher good and healing purposes. It’s common too that as you relax into the experience it’s easy to fall asleep or be somewhere in between a state of awake and asleep. You may experience flashes of memories or events that you haven’t thought about in decades. You may see colors or light. You may be fully at peace or have an emotional breakthrough. Your body may experience tremors as it releases things. Nonetheless, everyone’s experience is different and there is no correct way to feel. You just need to go into the class with an open heart and gratitude.

The post The Power of Sound first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.

Yoga in different spheres of life

It is believed that yoga is highly beneficial for our physical, mental, and overall well-being. Wondering how? We will tell you.

• Physical Health: Most importantly, it not only bestows you with tensile physical strength but also helps you heal yourself from injuries and helps in the right detoxification of the body. Yoga poses, or asanas, help to strengthen and stretch the body, increase flexibility, and improve balance and posture. Regular yoga practice can also improve cardiovascular health, respiratory function, and immune system function. Moreover, with the regular practice of yoga, we tend to become more sensitive to our body and its needs. This, in turn, helps keep a check on our food intake and body weight. Our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind, and spirit. An irregularity in the body affects the mind and similarly, unpleasantness or restlessness in the mind can manifest as an ailment in the body. Yoga asana helps massage organs and strengthen muscles while breathing techniques and meditation release stress and improve immunity.
• Mental Health: A few minutes of yoga daily can be a great way to get rid of stress, both in body and mind. Asana, pranayama, and meditation are effective techniques to release stress. Yoga is known to help calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mood. The practice of meditation and breathing exercises in yoga can also enhance mental clarity, focus, and concentration. 
• Emotional Well-being: Yoga teaches us to be more mindful, present, and self-aware, which can lead to greater emotional stability, self-confidence, and resilience. It can also improve our ability to cope with difficult emotions and life challenges. Moreover, yoga can even help improve your relationship with your loved ones. A mind that is relaxed, happy, and content is better able to deal with sensitive relationship matters. Yoga and meditation aid in keeping the mind happy and peaceful. Gradually, you will also notice an improvement in your relations with those around you.
• Spiritual Growth: Yoga is rooted in ancient Indian philosophy and spirituality. It is known to offer a path to personal growth and spiritual awakening. By cultivating a deeper connection to oneself and the universe, one can experience greater peace, harmony, and purpose in life.

How to get the maximum benefit out of yoga?

It has been found that when we impact something on others, we tend to get a better understanding of that concept. Along the same lines is yoga. The moment you start teaching it, the better you will be at it. However, only those who have taken certified yoga teacher training in Bali can teach it. Wondering where to obtain this certification? Well, this is where we step in. Inner Yoga Training is known to extend a lucrative 200 hour yoga teacher training in Bali where two different yogic styles – Vinyasa and Yin will be taught. Apart from the lessons, you will get to take classes with different groups of people so that you get a hang of the teaching methodology better. Get a 200 hour yoga teacher certificate and teach freely at the world’s largest yoga center – Yoga Alliance. 

Overall, the importance of yoga lies in its ability to promote holistic health and wellness and to help individuals live a more balanced, harmonious, and fulfilling life. So, what’s stopping you? Signup for a yoga teacher training course at https://inneryogatraining.com/ and become a certified yoga instructor now.

The post What is the Importance of Yoga in our life? first appeared on Inner Yoga Training.