Evolation Yoga Teacher Training 2015 right here in Milwaukee at the Hot Yoga studio. I have been practicing hot yoga since November 13th, 2009 and what a journey it has been. I have been doing a work trade at the studio since 2012. I love this place and the people, and now I am doing the 250 hour 30 day teacher training. I can’t believe it. I also opened my house to the owner of Evolation and I have three Yogis leaving with me. Joe from Michigan, who is the kindest soul; Shannon from Manhattan (now Florida), who is energetic, generous, and fun; Tanya from Vermont, originally from Russia, who is authentic and honest. And me, Deanne, who is generous and grateful. They all arrived on Sunday, July 12th, 2015 to start on our journey together.

July 13th, 2015

First day of training. The start of teacher training. 26 hot poses with 2 breathing excersises. All 250 hours in an intensive 30 days training. The first question pops up at our training, “Who am I?” – I am a mother, generous, grateful, hopeful, and determined. “When one door closes another opens,” Francisco says, readapt when you are injured. Mark, the owner of evolation, has integrated meditation at the beginning and end of each class. It is non-guided meditation. I will be able to teach meditation. Yeah.

They then ask us to make an agreement/promise with ourselves! Here is my 30 day promise to myself: I will be in integrity with myself, I will be the healthiest I can be, in nutrition, fitness, and spirit. I will be honest with myself, and others. A lot of teaching is rising up, and doing it anyway.

True teaching comes from the heart. Why a dialog? Because it is a conversation between 2 people! The first day of training started at 6am at the studio in a thunderstorm. We came back hunched up from the day. Just what we needed for the day of course… my bag weighed 30lbs. We started with a name game that introduced our favorite standing poses. We toured the studio and found out a little about everyone. We had time for lunch and then went into posture mechanics. In the hot room we all taught our 1st posture, half-moon pose. It wasn’t pretty, but Gary gave us the best advice, we must know dialog when teaching.

We were let out at 5:30 to go home for dinner. I took the dogs on a nice walk through the woods. Being outside really helped clear my mind. When I got back, I talked the gang into walking down to the lake. We took the seminary lane to get to Lake Michigan. The sky was magical. We did a 4 mile loop back. Then the rain started. We had a great night’s sleep and an end to an amazing 1st day.

July 14th, 2015

Up at 6am to take a quick shower and ride my bike to Starbucks. What a beautiful morning. I needed to do a few things. We left the house at 7:30am, and from 8-9:30 we did group study. Which was each of us presenting Backward Bend. I sucked the first time through. When I got off of the podium I had an epiphany: Deanne, next time close your eyes and use your visualization techniques. You’re a visual person, a teacher, a coach. You have been speaking in front of people for years, and you know this dialog! We then did Francesco’s 90 minute Bikram class it was way over 105 degrees. I was next to a first timer. I got back to the studio and we worked on yoga techniques, which meant I needed to take a lot of notes.

July 15th, 2015

Woke up at 5:08am and the weather was glorious. I practiced the 60 minute express class that Tonya taught and my day continued to be glorious.

Lecture, discussion-meditation, and then guided meditation followed my day. I shall set aside 5 minutes in the morning when I wake up. Seated meditation lotus pose. I will need to meditate in hero pose. Meditate with a flame! You can say a Mantra. Stop the brain chatter with meditation is a practice. Pure body pure mind. I am done worrying what others think of me. Start with people you love and end with the ones that drive you crazy.

July 16th, 2015

Eagle pose, Garurasana. Feet together. Eyes focused in the mirror in front of you. Be still. Inhale. Arms over head sideways. Exhale. Bring your right arm under your left arm, thumbs towards your face. Cross your arms at the elbows and the wrist bring your hands in front of your face. Palms together, thumbs toward your face, little fingers toward the mirror pull your elbows down towards the floor. Until your thumbs are below your nose. This will help to open your shoulders. Take a deep breath. Suck your stomach in. exhale sit all the way down. Upper body back. Stay down there.

Lecture on Eagle Pose – garurasana. The more your practice with integrity the more your body will open up. Move slow and be sure to move with your breath.

What I can do better (feedback from myself): I relaxed better tonight, but I should work on the dialogue in the beginning because it builds and then I know it by the end.

Self vs big self. What is your first thought? Reactionary and negative. Simplicity. Chapter 1 observing the army on the battle field. What are our greatest enemies and selfishness? Knowledge is everything. We need to preform selfless service. What makes a guru teacher? Find someone when you are in despair.

July 19th 2015

We have the day off or do we? In the aspect of this last week it was incredible. I can’t believe how fast it went. I practiced yoga 9 times in the last week. Shannon and I went to vinyasa today. It was very challenging but very rewarding. I couldn’t even eat that much.

evolation

Evolation yoga is devoted to helping you become more Self-centered – in an ego-free way. By combining the powerful physical properties of hot yoga with the awareness-enhancing effects of meditation, evolation’s aim is to make you healthier, happier, and more in touch with that elusive little thing called the Self.