Teacher Training Insights: Fearless in the City

By Zui Duckers, recent Lumi Teacher Training Grad

In my search for the right teacher training I had been to many studio introductions but nothing felt quite right. I then spotted my own studio (Lumi) was running a teacher training introduction. At the information session I felt something I hadn’t felt anywhere else, their vision seemed so in tune with my own vision. The idea that teaching yoga is something that you are compelled to do, it is a powerful gift that you can give to those around you, and training would make a positive change our lives. I think I’d found the one! And it was right under my nose.

I was committed to Lumi, to becoming a teacher, and to giving back to the studio that I love so much. Then amidst the laughter, tears and sweat my husband received an offer for an incredible work opportunity in the US. The start date was 3 weeks after I completed training. The timing was unexpected, and to be completely honest I was a little heartbroken. I was so excited to grow with my new beautiful teacher friends, and I had planned to immediately start teaching in London, the city that I love.

When we graduated it was bittersweet. We were happy to get our weekends back, to use our new teaching skills and be released into the world as authentic yoga teachers. But it was also terrifying; the onus was on us to succeed! I felt fearful because I was going to a city that I didn’t know, where I didn’t know anyone, where I didn’t even know where I was going to practice. What was going to happen to me?

We arrived and it took a couple of weeks to get used to being here in New York City. Luckily we found a flat in Brooklyn and in a building with a dedicated yoga studio! We moved in and I started practicing in the studio every day, playing with the advanced postures Elina taught us in training.

I decided to start holding community classes in the yoga studio.  I was so nervous to make the final decision and hang up class posters around the building. Would anyone come? Would they like me? Would they get anything out of my classes? I bit the bullet and made 7 classes available in the studio on a donation basis, students pay what they can, when they can. It’s only been a couple of weeks so it’s going to take time to build momentum; I’ve had a couple of classes with a few people, a few privates and a few classes where it was just me, but that’s ok. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, and to begin creating a sense of community where I live.

Whilst looking to volunteer here in Brooklyn, I came across the most perfect opportunity! A not-for-profit yoga studio where classes are donation-based and all profit goes towards introducing yoga to schools and nursing homes – what a find! I contacted them and later that week they asked me in for an audition. How scary. An audition. I’d never had a yoga teacher audition before!

There were 2 other teachers auditioning in front of the studio’s director. Each of us teachers taught a 10 minute sequence while the director watched. I was a success! The studio asked me to join making me aware that I was on the substitute teacher list, and that classes could be few and far between. To my luck a week later a class popped up that no-one else seemed to want, a level 3 vinyasa, maybe nobody wanted to cover it because it was an advanced class, but I swallowed my fear and emailed back and asked if I could take it. I introduced myself, told them I hadn’t taught at the studio yet and described my training and experience. I was nervous; I didn’t think they would want me teaching their advanced class without any experience at the studio. They said yes. THEY SAID YES! I was going to teach a level 3 vinyasa class in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

I couldn’t have done it without training at Lumi. Elina and Ari really took me to the next level. Encouraging me to become more aware of myself, to feel the fear and use it, and drilling into us a powerful sequence which can be tailored to any level. I feel confident (even in moments of doubt) in myself as a teacher and I feel confident in what I have to share – even if it is in a new city with new people.

Lumi Teacher Training is back by popular demand for an autumn session starting on 9 Oct to 15 Nov. If you’re thinking about becoming a yoga teacher be sure to come to our open house on Saturday, August 1st to get all your questions answered about the course from Ari, Elina and our brilliant new teachers. All the details are on our website here.

Stay tuned for more Teacher Training Insights  from recent grads!