Driven by a willingness to learn more about Yoga, I signed up for a teacher training this April at the Yoga Barn.

I love yoga and have been practicing for the last ten years, but a part of me felt that I was not good enough to sign up for a teacher training. I was wrong. The experience has been much more than I expected. An amazing human experience of learning and transformation.

What makes the School Of Sacred Arts ( SOSA) training unique is that they are not lead by a single teacher but by a collaboration of some amazing yoga teachers.

On our training, Simone Mckay was the lead teacher. She has lead over 20 teachers training in the past and knows what she is doing.

SOSA’s philosophy is to encourage teaching what we know as true because we have experienced it deep within yourself. The program was thus very much about experiencing yoga and breathing techniques ( Pranayama) so that we could figure out what works for us.

The content of the SOSA teacher training

Our program was very diverse. We learned about the traditional yoga philosophy with Randall O’Leary. From the history of Yoga to the eight limbs of Patanjali, we went deep into the foundations behind Yoga. We also studied breathing techniques like Ujayi, Kapalabati or Samavritti and meditation.

The anatomy classes where lead by Rachel Ellery. I had study biology at school but still found myself learning a lot about my body during those classes. From the movement of the diaphragm, the location of most bones and organs in my body to the importance of fascia and fascia line. The anatomy classes were fun and applied to Yoga so that we could each found some practical applications that would change the way we breathe or the way we move.

I also did a private physiotherapy session with Rachel Ellery, and I found it amazing. Her knowledge of the body and her ability to apply it to individuals is quite phenomenal.

We learned about posture with Simone McKay and Eka Sabeh. Every afternoon, we would have a posture clinic where we would review the primary poses of yoga. First by watching someone demonstrate them and then trying them ourselves and trying to teach them to our fellow students.

The SOSA teacher training goes much further than just postures and yoga theory. We learned about the 5 Koshas, the qualities of self and how to teach beyond just the physical body. How can we sequence and offer a class that also includes breath and energy? How do we incorporate the chakras into our practice and teaching?

Cat Kabira had a session on the energy body.

Bex Tyrer shifted our perspective and tried to make us understand what is yoga for each of us and how to develop our own unique teaching style that supports our lives and our student’s life. We looked at teaching styles and how to develop a practice and teaching style that is authentic to ourselves

We also discovered acro yoga and yoga activism. How can yoga be a force of good?

Beyond yang yoga, we also received teaching in yin yoga with Eka Sabeh and yoga nidra. It had done many yin and yoga Nidra classes in the past, and it was fascinating to understand the science and technology beyond those. I had always considered them as relaxing classes for when I felt a bit too lazy to do a regular yoga class but will now look at those types of yoga with a different view.

The class included a trip to the Bumi Sehat birthing clinic where we met Robin Lin, the inspiring woman that created the foundation that helps so many women in Indonesia giving birth. There we learned about prenatal yoga. It is not that different from regular yoga except that there are a few positions that pregnant women can’t do to protect their belly.

Our second outing was to amrtasiddhi Ayurveda retreat center where Dr. Sujatha Kekada gave us a cooking class on ayurvedic food.

The overall flow of the teacher training program

The program was jam-packed. Two hundred hours of teaching in 4 weeks is a lot of teaching I worried that it might become too much physical exercise but also too much seating on the floor listening to lectures.

It was intense and hard at the time, but the diversity of teaching and the fantastic teachers made it doable and even enjoyable.

The physical practice was done in the morning starting at 6:30 am and many struggled with the early start. We, however, showed up every morning and did the practice and it became more comfortable as the weeks progressed. The practice was very well adapted to the various level within the class. We learned quickly how important it is to listen to your body and your natural cycles and adjust the practice to meet our needs. Our practice should not look the same every day, and this is what makes yoga useful. I must admit that on some days I did a lot of childs poses…

The late morning sessions was usually a lecture like yoga philosophy, anatomy or the ethics of yoga

The afternoon sessions where often posture clinics that would mix a bit of theory with practice. We would then finish the day with a good practice of Yin Yoga or Yoga Nidra.

I feel that through all the sessions, we got to experience a lot of Yoga and explore how we can tailor it to ourselves ( our to our students for those wanting to get into teaching). It was very much an embodied experience incorporating the physical practice but also tuning into the subtle energy and the calming of the mind.

There was a lot of different topics covered and to be honest not all of them resonated with me. By the end of the month-long training, I feel stable and content and confident that the seeds that have planted will have an impact on my life

The participants at our Yoga Barn teacher training

Sixteen amazing women from all over the world participated in the training. Asia, Europe, and the US were well represented. Age varied from the twenties to the sixties. The professional background and intention for the training were also very diverse. For some, it was a chance to take a long holiday; for others, it was a founding step for their new career as a yoga teacher. Despite this diversity, the group was very cohesive and supportive. It was truly a fantastic experience with many participants choosing to have dinner together or explore Bali together on their days off. I am sure some lifelong friendships have been formed during this training. By the end of the training, many participants expressed having gained wisdom and being more ready to embrace life

Practical tips if you do a retreat or a yoga teacher training at the Yoga Barn

Getting there:

The Yoga Barn is located in the center of Ubud about 80 minutes from the airport. It is easier to book a driver through your accommodation as the arrival in Bali can be chaotic if you need to negotiate a driver. The price is usually between 250000 and 350000 rupiahs.

 

Where to stay in Ubud near the Yoga Barn:

I recommend staying within 5-10 minutes from the Yoga Barn as it makes it easier to go home and relax during the breaks.

I stay at Samastiti villa, a fantastic villa with two bedrooms and a private pool with an excellent view of a small rice field. It is incredible to find such a cool and quiet pool in the center of Ubud minutes walk from the Yoga Barn. This villa is usually booked up a few months in advance.

If it is booked, check out Tegal Sari hotel. For a cheaper option, check out Tunjung Mas Bungalow. They have a beautiful pool and garden.

Where to eat in Ubud:

Check out this article with my favorite restaurants in Ubud

 

Conclusion of my review of SOSA teacher training in Bali

The Yoga Barn in Bali is an amazing place to do a teacher training. SOSA teacher trainings are special because of the vast wisdom of yoga topics that they cover and the flexibility given to each student to experiment with their practice according to their needs and capacity.

I strongly recommend this training to anyone interested to go deeper into yoga and look forward to continuing learning with the various SOSA teachers

If you are into Yoga, do check my review of the Bali Spirit festival. A fantastic yoga festival held in Ubud one a year that is also worth a visit.