Apurva – Yoga with Jenn

This 300-hour yoga teacher training began at the Santosha retreat in Mexico in 2016; reflecting on the past 5+ years is a daunting task as so much has occurred and so much has been learned. The past 4+ years are a blur courtesy of my previous profession entailing 70+ hour work week, thus only having the time and energy to tend to the coursework over winter and summer breaks, as well as extended weekends. Despite these limitations, I am grateful for these pauses as they provided me the time necessary to truly allow the various trainings to marinate and manifest in my own practice.

Each training offered truly unique experiences, materials of which are housed in a 4” binder along with my notes, and an entire shelf in my office devoted to course readings. To assist in my synthesizing this wealth of information, I began creating spreadsheets not only to collect, but to categorize and organize the information – often employing color-coding. As a visual learner, these charts were instrumental in helping me to conceptualize the various readings and voluminous amounts of information provided in the training sessions, particularly with regards to the various elements associated with this ancient practice. 

I remember asking Janet many years ago at a Hanuman Festival if there was a teacher or a studio in the Chicagoland area with similar offerings I’ve experienced with her. Her response: “You’ll have to create it.” I knew she wasn’t kidding, but the task seemed impossible. So, I focused on the path and let go of the goal, per se. I began incorporating a few elements and rituals into my own practice which then rippled into my teachings. Further along the path with a deeper connection to the practice, a shift began to occur: students became more interested in delving deeper.

Years later, the aforementioned spreadsheets gave birth to a new offering in the form of a workshop titled “Rituals”. Setting aside a lifetime of fears and doubts, I sought to create a unique experience: a 2-hour workshop that incorporates many of the elements and rituals associated with a particular deity. Having completed Hanuman, Ganesha, and Durga, students are now requesting monthly offerings; fellow teachers are suggesting that these offerings should be included in future YTTs (See Conceptualizations for charts and Rituals Student Manuals). Indeed, what seemed impossible many years ago has now manifested into something magical.

As stated in my 90-Day Sadhana reflection, there is much that I have learned about myself on this journey – especially during the 2020-21 Pilgrimage to India and the 8-Limbs training (See Sacred India and Living the 8-Limbs of Yoga).  My practice has definitely shifted and evolved over the course of this YTT, and it will continue to do so. For now, I am content and so very honored to have been included. While my Svādhyāya is far from over, I will continue on this path, and I will carry forward all that has been offered to me . . . love, compassion, grace, and gratitude. 

Respectfully submitted with heartfelt love and immense gratitude.

Om Namah Shivaya