New Skills & New Perspective
A personal share from Humble Haven’s Marketing Manager & 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training graduate, Hailey Yost
I never truly wanted to teach yoga. Or, that was what 22-year-old me thought when I signed up for my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training back in 2020. What’s funny is while I can safely say that 3 years later that feeling holds true, so much has changed in my life, my relationships and subsequently my career...and I chalk a lot of this change up to my experience with completing teacher training.
Before finding the Humble Haven community, my knowledge around yoga teacher trainings was very limited and I just assumed they were reserved for “real yogis” or those who wished to pursue a career in teaching yoga full time…and I kept thinking why the heck would anyone wish to invest so much money in an education that wouldn’t be put to “good use" or used as intended?
I’ve never been so glad to be proven wrong.
I walked away from my 200-hour YTT with a completely new perspective of myself and the practice that has been so near and dear to me for the last decade of my life. I can honestly say that the experience was invaluable.
As an introvert and one who panics at the thought of public speaking, certain aspects of Humble Haven’s 200-hour training pushed me further past my comfort zone than anything I had experienced in college or in professional work settings. Learning how to be in deeper listening to those around me, holding space for others, and finding a new appreciation for my body and my breath are tools I now use every single day. And not to mention, the ability to finally put some knowledge behind the poses and practice that I was participating in, while gaining a newfound respect for the cultures and people that created it. Somewhere along the way, I stopped viewing yoga as my “workout” and found the ability to connect with my mind and body on a deeper level.
On the other hand, pursuing a career in Marketing took me through a few years submerged in the stress and grind of agency life. I quickly found that so many of the skills we practiced in teacher training could be applied to how I interacted with my team members and clients, and ultimately how I handled myself in stressful situations that left me feeling ungrounded.
So what changed my mind to get me to participate in YTT in the first place? Somewhere along the way, I noticed that many of the people I was pulling the most inspiration from, spending the most time around, and holding the most admiration for, were the teachers at Humble Haven. Working at the studio’s front desk during college, I watched first-hand as solid friendships formed between participants in the YTT classes before mine. And just like joining the Humble Haven community as a student (and team member), I figured that jumping into the 200-hour training would be another investment in myself and my ties to the community. I knew that yoga in general often brought out the best in each of us as individuals and as a whole, and I knew I wanted more of that.
While I did go on to try teaching for a few months after wrapping up training, I ultimately determined it wasn’t for me… at least not at this point in my life. The magic I feel and receive from the power yoga practice is best felt when I get to be the student, and I know I am not the only Humble Haven training graduate who feels this way. All this to say you don’t have to participate in teacher training for any specific reason, or with any desired outcome. There is much to be gained from simply showing up and being in listening alongside others who see the value in deepening our knowledge of the yoga practice.
Curious About Teacher Training?
There are a million reasons to say no, and the timing may never feel right. That’s typically when we need to lean into the opportunities before us. Lucky for you, we have a new 200-hour training beginning this December.
Ready to expand your skillset as a yoga teacher?
Join us for a variety of upcoming continuing education offerings led by bo