I feel when you come across your guru you have no idea it's actually happening, even through all the deep teachings, lessons and discussions you have no idea it's your guru right in front of you.
In 2012 I had some major life changes and found meditation and its benefits, I was so interested in meditation I did multiple courses and read a heap of books about mindfulness, meditation and Buddhism. Over those years my life changed dramatically then I began practicing yoga early 2014 as something to do with my girlfriend at the time. This is where I met Anna, my teacher and now guru.
After beginning to practice yoga more and more I had some work colleagues ask to teach them a yoga class on a work trip as they could see me becoming passionate about my practice and even though I had no idea what I was doing I was immediately in love. When I returned from the trip I asked Anna where I could do a Teacher Training, who said she is about to start a yoga school and would be honored to have me as her first student. At the time I didn’t know it was going to be just us the whole year. I was keen and ready to start asap. A few months later we began and from the beginning I felt the transformation, Anna and I having deep discussions for hours about the eight limbs, asanas, anatomy and the yoga sutras.
We had began to have a very tight bond after classes sipping Masala Chai and eating chocolate going even deeper into the discussions. Over this one year of teacher training my life changed massively, I went from a kid who grew up on a dairy farm, ex-butcher and meat eater to a vegan, I changed my friends and people in my life completely and began to see the world in a completely different way.
I don't have anything to compare it to as in a classroom or intensive teacher training but this one on one experience was something else. Little did I know that the moment I met Anna in 2014 she became my guru, from then on guiding me and teaching me so much about yoga and putting me on a yoga teaching journey I don't think I could of had anywhere else. Anna would never force me to see things from any perspective, just giving me the tools and letting me figure it out, this became me coming to class each week with new perspectives and understandings of Yoga, meditation and the world.
Not only did I know I was coming to class knowing I had someone who would listen and be interested to discuss but would continue to give me more guidance and information to push me further on the journey.
A one year one on one yoga teacher training is something that I've never heard anyone else do or seen as a choice anywhere, I was lucky enough to be a part of that and I think the experience inspired me and opened me up in so many ways, awakening my true passion for yoga and teaching yoga. I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer as a yoga teacher for 7 months during my teacher training and land a job 3 months before completing my certification in the very room I first practiced yoga and met Anna. Then in late 2017 leaving my full time job to take on over 8 permanent classes per week over 4 locations and pursue Yoga teaching as a career. These opportunities and chances to grow and take on this career change all came from my guru Anna and I am forever grateful.
Thank you Guru Anna.
Namaste 🙏🕉
