Cambodia (Yoga Teacher Training)
Leaving my full time job in early June allowed me to fulfill my inkling to further explore the world, my independence, and my spiritually. As soon as I left my job, I packed my bags to return to Asia. I took a quick pitstop in Hong Kong to see my beloved parents while anxiously awaiting my 3 week 200 hour yoga teacher training (YTT) in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
My excitement encompassed my yearning to improve my yoga practice and to share my love for all aspects of yoga with others. I assure you that every hesitation I had about my ability to teach and understand yoga was diminished after an enduring and awe-inspiring learning experience.
As soon as I knew I wanted to teach yoga, I began thoroughly searching for yoga teacher trainings all over the world. I hoped for an immersive and traditional experience. I ended up picking the teacher training held at the Tavoos Garden in Siem Reap, after debating between several other courses in South East Asia and India. I was captivated by Tavoos because of their dedication to give back to the Khmer (Cambodian) community. The money I paid for the course not only benefited my fervor for yoga but also helped build local water wells in remote Cambodian villages and provided school supplies for Cambodian students. Tavoos’ mission lured me in. I knew that Tavoos was special.
My experience included about 50 hours of Hatha yoga, daily yoga philosophy lectures, daily sequence and alignment lectures, breathing exercises, a vegan diet, and a supportive group of 10 other kind souls. My experience was magical…destined. Every student in the course was equally as curious, as genuine, and as eager as I was. The teacher was patient, knowledgable, and traditional in the sense that he was born and bred in India and embodied yoga. The food that was provided was cooked to perfection and included all the fresh nutrients that paired thoroughly with the cleanse we needed. Each and every aspect of my teacher training intertwined to create the perfect spell. I am forever spellbound by this experience, and forever grateful to have learned the basics of yoga. My time in Cambodia was only the beginning of my educational journey in the yoga realm. I am grateful that this experience granted me access to becoming a lifetime student, forever inquisitive and exploring.
During the teacher training, we had two days off to explore Cambodia. Notably, most of us visited the historic Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples. Immersing ourselves in such a grand ancient spectacle added to our fascination of tradition, timelessness, and devotion that harmonized perfectly with our study of the ancient practice of yoga. Siem Reap, a young city, was delightful, innovative, and enchanting. The locals were all friendly, helpful, and curious. I will forever remember the charm of Siem Reap that infused through every practice each and every day.
Reflecting on my experience gives me endless elation. Predominantly because of the sacred and pure essence of what I learned yoga to be. After the course, yoga meant health, balance, harmony, peace, kindness, and basically every quality that human beings aspire to have. Yoga epitomizes love, respect, and devotion. Most importantly, I learned that yoga is omnipresent, that it exists in every facet of life and that it can be practiced by anyone.
