Thank you to our wonderful alumni, Courtney Branch for this touching and honest yoga story.

“I’ve never been one that got involved on social media, well maybe when I was in college 8 years ago, but since then I have been barely active on the platforms at all. I wanted to share my story but since my reach in the social media world isn’t too far I thought I’d send an email that I feel encompasses everything I want to say about my journey to becoming a teacher with Evolation.

The initial call I received from JeriLyn saying that my studio thought I’d make a great yoga teacher sent me reeling with feelings of excitement. Before this call I knew I wanted to slowly stop bartending and felt at a loss of what it would be I would pursue next. I had been taking Bikram yoga classes at this point for about 4 years. From the first week I started taking classes I knew it was something I would enjoy forever. The hot room, the sweat, being told what to do and how to do it, everything appealed to me. After practicing for a month or so I realized my focus was better, I was sleeping easier, and my appetite was more consistent. So once I started thinking of the other career paths I would pursue once I was finished with the bar industry, my mind immediately went to teaching the yoga I love. Then JeriLyn called saying my studio would have teacher trainings and it was like the universe had aligned. I had to jump on the opportunity.

The plan was to have TT in Winston Salem, 3 modules, 8 days for each module. During the first module the task of memorizing the dialogue seemed so big and scary that I started to doubt myself and the decision I made to become a teacher, but I had already made up my mind (and paid the tuition) so I was going to see it through. Everything we did during the first module made me more confident and slowly memorizing the dialogue still seemed scary but do-able if I put my mind to it. I also developed such a better understanding of the 26 postures and the anatomy behind them. I felt closer to the postures and closer with the students and my fellow trainees. Once module 1 ended, I was eager to start module 2 as soon as possible but scheduling conflicts the other trainees had pushed us to November 2019 for the second module start date.

Thank goodness I received a phone call asking if I’d be interested in completing the entire rest of training in Santa Barbara. Turns out my studio was in need of another teacher ASAP, and I could fly out there, finish up my training, and return to a set number of classes each week! I felt like it was yet another sign from the universe that I was on the right path and booked my flight. Upon arriving in Santa Barbara I can only describe the feeling as a nervous excitement. I didn’t know the other trainees who had been learning and living together for a week at this point, but everyone opened their hearts and arms to me as soon as I got there.

The environment was so perfect to learn everything that we needed to, and perfect to expand our spiritual selfs. I was able to do so much exploring of myself. That exploration of myself is one of the most valuable things I will take from this experience. Alongside the confidence to speak in front of strangers and large groups, something you would think I had already mastered as a bartender, but public speaking has always been such a big fear of mine. I learned how to be healthier in my day to day. Not only did my diet and understanding of nutrition evolve but I also learned how to meditate and take the time to look inward at ME.

By the end of our training I felt so close to everyone, it was like I had just became part of another family. That’s exactly what had happened. It was a family of like minded individuals who support me and want to see me excel. I am so thankful for the opportunity and thankful to myself for knowing to take advantage of something that has truly changed me for the better. There are so many sayings about “becoming your truer and better self” and I feel like I’ve really accomplished this through Evolation. I will forever be grateful for what the Evolation team has given to me and how they allowed me to grow, to see what I was fully capable of!”