08 Jun Graceful Transitions: A New Life Flow
The reasons why students embark on their Yoga Teacher Training journey are limitless. Some of us feel ready to deepen our own practice and understanding of yoga, and some of us know without a doubt that we want to teach! And of course, many of us land somewhere in the middle.
If you’ve been thinking about making the leap to yoga teacher, just know that you can do so in a way that works for your unique circumstances! Whether it’s a slow transition, or you dive straight in; there are so many teachers who have travelled up the same mountain, each of us taking different routes!
We spoke to one of our teachers, Bettina Simbuerger, about her big transition from marketing to teaching yoga.
What did you do before teaching yoga?
“I was Head of Marketing for a global fashion brand.”
What inspired you to make the change?
“I didn’t embark on YTT to become a yoga teacher at all, as I loved my job back then! However, YTT can create a lot of shifts and I found that my personal values were not aligned with my professional ones anymore. These shifts, plus having been on the steady road to burnout for awhile, inspired me to quit my job to take some time off! During this time my yoga teaching jobs began to grow organically. And here I am almost five years later! I wouldn’t change a thing.”
What has been the best part? What was challenging?
“Apart from teaching and sharing what you absolutely love, one of the best parts is meeting and connecting to so many different students from all walks of life. You work in a job that requires you to be your authentic self, and you meet others on that same path. It’s also so nice to not be stuck at a desk all day!”
“One tricky part is that you might find yourself teaching when your friends are off work and ready to go for brunch or to dinner! Everyone assumes teaching yoga is a chilled-out job, but behind the scenes, there is a lot of planning, continued education, and commuting to studios!”
Any advice for new yoga teachers?
“Get out there and teach as much as you can, and know that it’s completely normal to be nervous and excited at the same time! We all experience that mix of emotions! Don’t take yourself too seriously, especially when you mix up sides or leave out a pose! You are a human and you will connect more with your students when you let go of needing everything to be perfect.”
“It’s also very important to honour your rest days. Holding space and sharing energy can be tiring, so prioritise your own wellbeing. We all need this reminder!”
The wonderful thing about continuing your yoga journey is that no effort is ever wasted! Whether you further your education for your own health and wellness or complete your 200HR YTT to say goodbye to the corporate life, your path will be as colourful and unique as you choose it to be!
You can practice with Bettina at our Power Living Bondi Beach studio:
Thursdays 8:00pm Yin Yoga
Fridays 6:00am – 7:30am Heated Vinyasa
Saturdays 3:00pm – 4:30pm Heated Vinyasa
Written by Katie Tetz
Studio Business Manager | Ever Inspiring Writer & Yoga Teacher for Power Living Australia
