Yoga at Sea

Practicing yoga is my passion. I've been taking classes and practicing on my own for years. I've also worked at two different yoga studios in order to get free classes and be in an environment of "yoga-lovers." For a while now, one of my goals has been to get certified as a yoga instructor. But not just any certification, one of the reputable programs that is recognized by Yoga Alliance and integrates all of the different elements of the practice, including the history, the tradition, the spiritual aspects, and the lifestyle. However, these programs can cost thousands of dollars and take almost a year to complete. As much as I wanted to teach yoga, I knew that I did not have the money or the time to do it if I was going to go abroad. And going on Semester at Sea was not something I was willing to sacrifice.





One of the things I love about the "yoga-attitude" is the belief that everything will happen the way it is supposed to happen. And I was told this by one of my yoga instructors last summer when I was feeling discouraged that I would never be able to teach yoga. She assured me that everything would work out in time as long as I continued to go in the direction of my passion.





Fast forward a few months.... Sure enough, the opportunity presented itself on the second day of the voyage when we were asked to sign up for different activities. As much as I felt intimidated by all the new faces, I decided to at least offer to teach a class in case they didn't have anyone else or needed more instructors. So that is what I did. I still remember walking up to the lady in charge of spiritual life (Jenny Finn) and telling her that I could teach yoga if they needed me to.





To some people, this might not seem like a big deal, but for me, it marks the moment on Semester at Sea that I decided to leap into newness instead of timidly avoiding it or waiting for opportunities to come to me. Deciding to teach yoga was not just a way for me to pursue my passion, but it also became a way for me to meet people on the ship. I was putting myself out there in a big way--trying something new with a boat-load (literally) of new people.




As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I was beyond surprised to find 65 people show up for one of my first classes. I was even more surprised to find that I continued to have a large following of people at my classes-- teachers, students, and a few life-long learners. I started teaching at sunset and I even taught at sunrise a few times towards the end of the trip. Those classes were filled with some of the best moments of the voyage and probably some of the best I'll ever experience in my life. Imagine being in the middle of the ocean, doing your favorite thing in the world (for me, yoga)with the most amazing people, with nothing between you and a breathtaking sunset. This was my life.





I am aware that no yoga class will ever be able to compare to this. However, when I close my eyes and set me intention, I can practically hear the waves and feel the wind on the back. But most of all, I picture my friends who loyally attended my 3:30 A-day class and made this experience such a special part of my voyage.