How is yoga teacher training abroad as the only dude?
You are often called out as the male with, can you do this. Most men often have trouble with groin stretches, down dog, flexibility etc. Also, the teachers often don't address your cock and balls. They expect you to do ball crunchers in chair twists and seated pigeon, so do remind rare guys in your class to arrange for comfort; tuck or lift your members. I think my next yoga course will have a male teacher, as I feel I need to have someone who understands my male body, not just the majority of yoga students, the female body.
The teachers do address women's bodies in much more detail like pregnancies and menstruation. There is plenty of concern for pregnancies, obviously, and interestingly menstruation, so you get an nuanced take on the female body's needs during that time like inversions or cobra and lady's opinions of the male reactions. Be prepared for some fun convos over drinks after this class. I recommend being there to hear what females want a male to understand about their nonsexual bodies, especially if you will teach or have a daughter.
The only dude among fit yogi ladies
Initially, I was very aware of how lucky it is to be surrounded by attractive fit ladies in form-fitting clothing. Largely, it is not a crazy hookup situation, despite most women going through recent breakups, being on vacations, and largely being relaxed the first week. That is because you are being taught as they are and they are hanging out with each other mostly, not that random dude. Eventually, they see you more as a brother or friend zone you with some occasional hookup options, mostly by others wanting you to save one from her ex or whatever their intentions. So, do not expect to be the bro stud, yet you may come out knowing much more about the female body, and how female yogis practice and think, which has its own benefits as a teacher and an aware male.
Still, most ladies are in life crisis mode so you could crash into a fun fling that may lead to something great. You just need to insist on one, as they hangout together, which makes talking with one harder.
I imagined that after yoga, we would go to cenotes and enjoy the beach sunsets or healthy drinks. Sadly, everyone went home and or randomly met each other at a bar for happy hour drinks. I found group texts get good responses, yet little positive action, like actually meeting up. Also, do not underestimate the time at the yoga studio (9-5) with some homework reading and plenty of work obligations or a need to chat with distant semi boyfriends, jobs etc. So, send out individual texts or verbally agree to meet one or two in 10 minutes before they get relaxed at home. They loved nice drinks and cute styled restaurants or the beach early or at sunset, so keep them out of their homes. Do watch out for mosquitoes at sunset at cenotes or the beach, as well as the rain storms.
I learned that everybody is different with their bone on bone compression dangers vs tension of stretching resistance. This was highlighted by Paul Grilley's DVD. I have plenty of areas where I can improve flexibility, like groin, hamstrings, gluts, yet I can't change my hips internal rotation, as it is bone on bone, sadly. Firelog is not going to happen or lotus, yet I can be thankful for knowing without hurting myself too badly first. After this information, I will not have the urge to push everyone to make it to my flexibility level or the comparatively very flexible ladies. This is a common complaint by injured yogis, doing well improving health and flexibility before finding that yoga teacher that wants them to reach new heights and unnecessary injuries and a break in their routine. So, don't be that crossfit yoga teacher and motivate but don't expect everyone's downdog to the be same or flexibility to seem the same.
I really wanted to experience yoga intensively, as I get distracted and don't finish over the long haul. Yoga abroad does permit you to finish and get really into a daily practice. Sadly, when you return from abroad, your support network is dispersed and not local. So, you lose the routine and can't return to the studio or see your group in person. Instead, it is mostly online and often depends on your actively seeking community and a new yoga crew. As such, I recommend a local group to solidify your practice and routine. As I was traveling, I lacked one, yet routine is based on a yogi, not his external community. So, just deepen your personal practice and expand your yogic circle locally.
I wanted to do yoga in a beautiful place, warm, and with the beach nearby. Sadly, intensive yoga teaching certs tend to be 9-5 ish, so you will spend most of the time in the yoga studio doing yoga or learning, while you may enjoy the local town, you will be busy, not on vacation. I did enjoy cheap tacos for lunch and early morning beach rides, yet this was like 2 times over 3 weeks. We mostly had good drinks and food out, while I mostly cooked and relaxed at home. So, don't expect to be exploring the surrounding after a long day, as you need to relax. Also, the last week is a bit stressful like pre-performance in acting or dance performances, so take excursions early and relax later.
The beach has real appeal to me, yet is not ideal for yoga. If the beach has no palm trees, you will burn sitting out all day. While the beach IG pics are often the best, the actual experience is anything but orifice annoying sand fests. I'd recommend rocks for poses, instead of full classes. Either way, the sand teaches you a new appreciation for mats, grass, and forests, because the sand leaves much to be disliked and plenty of unwanted attachments. I'd only do yoga with shade, a limited time period, and for pictures mostly. Some of my best pics and memories are under the palm trees on the beach, yet the actual experience is less pleasant. Strangely, our mind idealizes the beach and palm trees, your guess why...!?
Next time, I'll take a male-led, local yoga teacher training, where the excursions are to the park/forest, not the beach. Still, I do enjoy the warmth over the cold, so a retreat with the right group from my locale is still enticing.
Never forget when you graduate and have some epic parties afterwards. This is when the yogis let loose and the real person remembers they are no monk or seeking enlightenment via prana yamas just yet. Remember that your 1st yoga class is way more prepared than 90% of the other yoga classes, which tend to be adlibed due to your I have x injury or I want hips and not shoulders etc. You need just 4-5 standard flows and then mix it up with harder levels to start as a teacher and gain experience and confidence.
You are often called out as the male with, can you do this. Most men often have trouble with groin stretches, down dog, flexibility etc. Also, the teachers often don't address your cock and balls. They expect you to do ball crunchers in chair twists and seated pigeon, so do remind rare guys in your class to arrange for comfort; tuck or lift your members. I think my next yoga course will have a male teacher, as I feel I need to have someone who understands my male body, not just the majority of yoga students, the female body.
Balanced cactus sometimes needs lower bases
The teachers do address women's bodies in much more detail like pregnancies and menstruation. There is plenty of concern for pregnancies, obviously, and interestingly menstruation, so you get an nuanced take on the female body's needs during that time like inversions or cobra and lady's opinions of the male reactions. Be prepared for some fun convos over drinks after this class. I recommend being there to hear what females want a male to understand about their nonsexual bodies, especially if you will teach or have a daughter.
The only dude among fit yogi ladies
Initially, I was very aware of how lucky it is to be surrounded by attractive fit ladies in form-fitting clothing. Largely, it is not a crazy hookup situation, despite most women going through recent breakups, being on vacations, and largely being relaxed the first week. That is because you are being taught as they are and they are hanging out with each other mostly, not that random dude. Eventually, they see you more as a brother or friend zone you with some occasional hookup options, mostly by others wanting you to save one from her ex or whatever their intentions. So, do not expect to be the bro stud, yet you may come out knowing much more about the female body, and how female yogis practice and think, which has its own benefits as a teacher and an aware male.
Local yoga groupies do get some action with older women though
Get the yoga group out together?
I imagined that after yoga, we would go to cenotes and enjoy the beach sunsets or healthy drinks. Sadly, everyone went home and or randomly met each other at a bar for happy hour drinks. I found group texts get good responses, yet little positive action, like actually meeting up. Also, do not underestimate the time at the yoga studio (9-5) with some homework reading and plenty of work obligations or a need to chat with distant semi boyfriends, jobs etc. So, send out individual texts or verbally agree to meet one or two in 10 minutes before they get relaxed at home. They loved nice drinks and cute styled restaurants or the beach early or at sunset, so keep them out of their homes. Do watch out for mosquitoes at sunset at cenotes or the beach, as well as the rain storms.
Hard studying/prepping requires funny costumes
Favorite take away from yoga teaching?
I learned that everybody is different with their bone on bone compression dangers vs tension of stretching resistance. This was highlighted by Paul Grilley's DVD. I have plenty of areas where I can improve flexibility, like groin, hamstrings, gluts, yet I can't change my hips internal rotation, as it is bone on bone, sadly. Firelog is not going to happen or lotus, yet I can be thankful for knowing without hurting myself too badly first. After this information, I will not have the urge to push everyone to make it to my flexibility level or the comparatively very flexible ladies. This is a common complaint by injured yogis, doing well improving health and flexibility before finding that yoga teacher that wants them to reach new heights and unnecessary injuries and a break in their routine. So, don't be that crossfit yoga teacher and motivate but don't expect everyone's downdog to the be same or flexibility to seem the same.
Sunset yoga is nice and better with margaritas, only if you are a relaxed yoga teacher lol
Do Yoga abroad or local community?
I really wanted to experience yoga intensively, as I get distracted and don't finish over the long haul. Yoga abroad does permit you to finish and get really into a daily practice. Sadly, when you return from abroad, your support network is dispersed and not local. So, you lose the routine and can't return to the studio or see your group in person. Instead, it is mostly online and often depends on your actively seeking community and a new yoga crew. As such, I recommend a local group to solidify your practice and routine. As I was traveling, I lacked one, yet routine is based on a yogi, not his external community. So, just deepen your personal practice and expand your yogic circle locally.
Get burnt at Tulum beach but felt nice then before military police rolled up
Yup, you pass out from learning all those moves and cues...
Yoga in exotic beautiful place, not necessary!
I wanted to do yoga in a beautiful place, warm, and with the beach nearby. Sadly, intensive yoga teaching certs tend to be 9-5 ish, so you will spend most of the time in the yoga studio doing yoga or learning, while you may enjoy the local town, you will be busy, not on vacation. I did enjoy cheap tacos for lunch and early morning beach rides, yet this was like 2 times over 3 weeks. We mostly had good drinks and food out, while I mostly cooked and relaxed at home. So, don't expect to be exploring the surrounding after a long day, as you need to relax. Also, the last week is a bit stressful like pre-performance in acting or dance performances, so take excursions early and relax later.
Explore the tasty food more with your friends before the last night!
Explore the iguana's homes in the rocks and Mayan ruins
Hang out at the park watching the birds fly at sunset chatting with locals
~Stopping to ssssay hi to the neighborhood green snake, (find it?) no rush be chill!
It looks lovely and may be better than your current location, just this is a rare day
Next time, I'll take a male-led, local yoga teacher training, where the excursions are to the park/forest, not the beach. Still, I do enjoy the warmth over the cold, so a retreat with the right group from my locale is still enticing.
Never forget when you graduate and have some epic parties afterwards. This is when the yogis let loose and the real person remembers they are no monk or seeking enlightenment via prana yamas just yet. Remember that your 1st yoga class is way more prepared than 90% of the other yoga classes, which tend to be adlibed due to your I have x injury or I want hips and not shoulders etc. You need just 4-5 standard flows and then mix it up with harder levels to start as a teacher and gain experience and confidence.
Graduation class post savasana puppy celebration, we be Yogis!
Besties getting down till the sunrise multiple days in a row, crazy!
Yes, we did take a fun excursion to a Cenote with videos of a croc and some mangrove jumping!
Mangrove jumps into cenote
Afraid but swimming up to the cenote's crocodile, don't touch!
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