YepYoga, my yoga

René Smit

Columns
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My YTT at Samyak Yoga

My favorite sequences
YepYoga, my Yoga

Copyright © 2017 by Rene Smit

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The sequences in part III are made with Tummee’s Yoga Sequence Builder.
Images owned by Tummee, used with permission

Printed in the Netherlands

Parts of this book has been published at www.yep-yoga.com

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First Printing, 2017

ISBN 0-9000000-0-0
MY YOGA STORY

I started late with yoga. Too late. The DVD of Yoga for Dummies
has been an endless time on the shelve. Sometimes I watched
YouTube videos of Tara Stiles and I even did a yoga class some
years ago on a campsite with Chiara, a lovely but I think not
really trained teacher. I’ve the idea that after four adjustments
she gave up. All my life I have dealt with stress issues; I wish that
I started earlier, but everything in life needs its process.

THE CHANGE

I was restless after spending and working a summer in Rome,

Italy. Suddenly I heard a little voice: “And *now* you’re going to
the yoga studio which you pass often”. So I started in November
2014 ago with Bikram Yoga in Arnhem, in Arnhem, the
Netherlands to come back on earth. After the first time it was
like I was on a high. Maybe one of the best moments of my life.

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I knew that my life had changed.

In January 2015 I moved (back) to France and continued yoga

with the wonderful teachers of Affordable Yoga in Paris to keep
destressed.

It helped me a lot. Besides being physically so much more

flexible and strong, I’ve stopped eating meat and for the first
time in my life the words “stress resistance” are missing in my
work evaluation. My attention span increased, I remember that I
had to count money in batches of 20 coins. Now I can count
endlessly. On all areas there is more that I can let go and accept.
I’ve learnt so much on my mat!

ANOTHER NEW LIFE

After being inspired by a lady who started a new life in Nepal,

I've quit my job again and in April 2016 I went back to wonderful
Rome working at a campsite and doing yoga at Ryoga.

In November I followed a 200 hours yoga teacher training in

Mysore, India at Samyak Yoga. This is the beginning on the
wonderful path of teaching and sharing the knowledge to make
somebody’s life more beautiful.

I deeply felt the desire to learn more and deepening my practice.

Inspired by Affordable Yoga Paris and various pop-up initiatives, I

also had the wish to make yoga more accessible and affordable
to the people, because it’s often expensive to follow yoga
classes.

After that I travelled in Thailand (eh… I stayed almost 2 months

in Chiang Mai) and Bali, Indonesia where I practiced a lot of yoga
and got some opportunities to teach.

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During and after my YTT I became aware of things like the
universal energy and consciousness and the law of attraction.
Things that I also use in my life when I’m not on the mat. My
YepYoga quotes collection is a nice representation of how I see
life.

THE DREAM

The ultimate dream is combining work in tourism with being a

yoga- and digital nomad. The masterplan and desire are to make
a difference in the life of others and maybe the world. May be
something with kids or leisure (camping’s, animation, hotels)

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6
COLUMNS

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Plaisir and envie

‘Plaisir et envie’ are important words in the hotel where I

worked until yesterday. ‘Plaisir’, having fun in what you do.
‘Envie’, going to your work with the desire to do so.

My secret dream is to live a life and doing a work that is

independent of place. ‘Digital nomad’ is a term that is used lot
for people like that. Imagine sitting at the beach designing a
website with a (virgin) mojito next to you.

Another desire is making the difference. For my guests, people

around me or even humanity. In January I saw a television
program about a young lady - she has my age - who gave up
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everything to help people in Nepal some years ago. It woke up a
sleeping desire. What could *I* do to make a difference? I noted
some keywords. Tourism, kids, yoga, poverty. You can guess the
resulting phrase.

When the camping in Rome asked to come back on very good

conditions I secretly knew the answer. Or better said, felt it. This
was also the chance to fulfill another desire: traveling in south
east Asia. Making a long trip before I am old and have bigger
responsibilities than not having a walkout. So I practiced every
decision-making model possible and wrote my letter. Then I read
again about a yoga teacher training in India (samyakyoga.org),
maybe too early but felt another spark and filled in the form.
And after that I’ll travel in Thailand and Indonesia.

I think it’s important not to be afraid of making choices to do

what you really want in life (respecting your limits and
responsibilities). So like I said in my very improvised goodbye
speech at work: “it’s not that I don’t have the ‘plaisir and envie’
here, but I think there are more things that will give me even
more ‘plaisir and envie’”

Who knows what the future brings. I hope, believe and am

confident that it will work out for me whatever it will be. Just
breath. And if it all doesn’t work out for this moment, there’s the
French expression that I heard a lot the last days: ‘Jamais deux
sans trois’ - after two times there’ll always be a third time. And
that will be with the same dedication as always.

Thanks to all for being there.

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YEPYOGA IS BORN

(Photo by Marat Zaripov)

Because I like social media and personal branding, I had to find a

name for my online yoga-presence just I’ve done before with
CrazyWaiter. Not an easy task because I didn’t want it to be too
esoteric (no Sanskrit) and without any reference to existing
persons (ReneYoga was too egocentric) or places etc. Then I
suddenly found it. Why not using the prefix Yep, which I already
use for my first site with checklists YepCheck and the weblogs

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Yeplog (15 years old!) and YepFoto.

It’s short, catchy and international. I already started a group

YepYoga Roma for my group of friends on the campsite where I
work, but imagine YepYoga Bangkok, YepYoga Bali, YepYoga
Amsterdam etc. etc. (being a yoga- and digital nomad is a secret
dream).

The group is closed (for the moment only for friends and
colleagues, also because I’m not certified yet), but you’re very
welcome to like YepYoga at Facebook !

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WHY I STOPPED EATING MEAT

Until two years ago, I ate meat and fish. Bread with mortadella
for breakfast and lunch and animal proteins for dinner like most
of the people

At some certain moments I doubted but still ate it because I

didn’t know how to replace it. In my education a meal consisted
of pasta/rice/potatoes with vegetables and meat.

But on the 30th of December 2015 I was standing in the

supermarket with a package of Mortadella in my hand and
suddenly a little voice said “WTF are you doing” I’ve put it back
in the shelve and stopped eating meat.

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WHY DID I STOP?

EASY ANSWER: IT’S SAD FOR THE ANIMALS

The first seed is planted by a video with a little Portuguese

speaking boy. Luis asks his mother why they eat meat: “We have
to take care for them, not eat them”. Also the way they are
treated at the farms and the butchers doesn’t make me very
happy.

A LITTLE LESS EASY ANSWER: WHY WOULD I EAT SOMETHING I

COULDNT KILL MYSELF

Just before I decided to stop eating, I saw a trailer of the movie

“Vleesverlangen” (Desire for meat), a Dutch movie where Marijn
Frank is looking for the answer why she loves meat so much.

This trailer alone was already enough to make a deep

impression. The screenshot below is taken at the moment just
before a cow is shot and shows everything. It made me realize
that also I can’t even look at it neither, let alone do it myself. Still
from the movie Vleesverlangen (desire for meat)

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THE MOST DIFFICULT ANSWER: WE ARE ALL ONE

Everything has a consciousness and maybe we are all divine

beings and connected to each other because we are all from the
same source, the universal and pure consciousness. When you
would have said a year ago that I would write it now, I’d declare
you for crazy, but the yoga teacher training made me aware of
this of this thought and feeling.

Like my friend L. said: “The way of Yoga, the way of being your
True Self will make You an empath towards all living beings. We
are all One!”

Also taken in account in this aspect is also the care for the
environment and the impact on the world of breeding meat.
Eating meat takes a lot of resources of the world.

OTHER FACTORS

The decision was made in one second but not totally

spontaneous. It has been a long time in the corner of my mind
that it’s “bad” to eat meat, but the desire and lack of knowledge
made me do it. But because of the yoga, you’re more conscious
of your role, start to live more healthier and get to know ahimsa,
non-violence. Also due to the yoga I became stronger to follow
my own heart and stand up for my own opinion (I care less
about the question “What would others think?”)

AND NOW

In fact there are three options: one day I will eat meat again,
who knows. Only the person who doesn’t think and evaluate
doesn’t change his mind. The other option is that I become
vegan, so I skip also cheese and eggs. I don’t see it happen
because I like it too much and don’t know how to replace it
(especially cheese on bread), but hey I used that as arguments a

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long time also for meat. Most chanceful is that I continue like
this in the future. No meat and skipping a bit more eggs and
cheese.

Not to forget that I respect the opinion of choices of others. So

my roommate is still eating meat and I’m totally okay with it,
occasionally I even prepare it for him. I can show others my way,
but everybody his own path in life!

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TRAVELING, PACKING AND
SPENDING MONEY - WHAT
DID I LEARN

I already talked about my lessons in the spirit, mind and heart

while traveling. What did I learn about logistics and financial?
Not really yoga related but still might be interesting for other
and future yoga nomads

PACKING

Packing too much: I’ve seen someone with one backpack of 25 l.

She had met someone without luggage, with only his passport in
his pocket. Wow. If you want to know how, the Google search is
no bag travel. I couldn’t do that, my backpack (65 + 10) was 18
kg when flying to Ubud.

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No, you don’t need to take three tubes of Sensodyne toothpaste
with you. You only need one in three months and they sell it in
the Seven Eleven for even a cheaper price. You don’t need to
take two extra in-case-of phones (+chargers, +cables) with you.
Extra wallet. Hip wallet. Didn’t use it. Duct tape, tie rips and
other MacGyver stuff didn’t need it, and everything can be
bought. (Happy though with a rope and clips to hang my clothes
on)

In a lot of countries in Asia it is not done to wear sleeveless

shirts/tank tops. So they are mostly unused. Instead take white
shirts of technical sports material (nylon, with little holes, like
running shirts) with you (if you have a Decathlon around: buy
them there for a couple of euros.)

SPENDING MONEY

First rule: If I lunch cheap on a day, I can dinner more expensive.

And vice versa. A cheap lunch was 35 bahts for a plate of rice
and vegetables. My average price was 80-100 baht for diner
without alcohol. A pizza costs 250 baht, and one time I’ve eaten
for 600 bahts after walking for hours in Bangkok’s Chinatown
and not finding a Vega restaurant. Alcohol is expensive, 60 bahts
for a beer, 120 bahts for a glass of wine. (That’s why the average
is higher than 100. Not that I drank that much :-))

Second rule: keep track of your expenses. Set a day limit (for me
500 bahts excl. hotel) and don’t spend more than that on
average. You can, but the next day you _have_ to spend less.
And don’t forget, a lot of small amounts is a big amount.

See everything as a percentage of this limit helps also to keep

the discipline. So a beer of 60 bat is 12% of the budget of the
day. You see that I have spent two bahts too much a day. Three
euro for all the period, not bad for a big spender like me.

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Last rule: don’t get obsessed with the rules. Enjoy!!

56 days Thailand 29 days

in euro Bali.
in euro

tot avg tot avg

hotel € 353,16 € 6,31 € 234,07 € 8,07

breakfast € 36,58 € 0,65 € 12,00 € 0,41

lunch € 87,76 € 1,57 € 128,30 € 4,42

diner+alcohol during diner € 169,05 € 3,02 € 98,44 € 3,39

snacks/drinks/smoothies € 54,74 € 0,98 € 25,56 € 0,88

espresso € 36,92 € 0,66 € 81,56 € 2,81

massage/yoga/meditation € 40,00 € 0,71 € 68,52 € 2,36

transport short distances € 21,05 € 0,38 € 24,44 € 0,84

transport intercity € 26,08 € 0,47 € 28,52 € 0,98

bike rental € 25,00 € 0,45 € 9,63 € 0,33

entrance/mats park € 48,68 € 0,87 € 0,00 € 0,00

alcohol/going out € 19,21 € 0,34 € 14,81 € 0,51

various/visa (1900)/clothes (500) € 109,63 € 1,96 € 26,30 € 0,91

laundry € 18,74 € 0,33 € 13,33 € 0,46

unknow/shortage/misc. € 45,81 € 0,82 € 19,37 € 0,67

Total € 1.092,42 € 19,51 € 784,85 € 27,06

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OBSERVATIONS

Normally you’ll spend more: I didn’t travel a lot and didn’t do

tours or trekking (count on 1500 bahts per tour day). Take also in
account that Chiang Mai/Northern Thailand is much cheaper
than the South/the Islands. About yoga: I only did two walk in
classes, count for 200-250 baht in Chiang Mai and 300 bahts in
the south.

Food in Bali is much more expensive. In the evening I ate at a

cheap warung near my hostel.
I had a 15 class yogapass for 825k in Ubud. And a single yoga
class in Cangue.

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THANKS YOU, ANONYMOUS
LADY IN THE RICEFIELD

This anonymous lady in the rice field opened a world for me.

When I was young we used to live in a rural area surrounded by

a lot of farmers. We even had some baby pigs in our house who
couldn’t stay with their mother. But until now I never realized all
the effort mad to put my food on the table.

As kid I never understood why people prayed before eating. But

mom, you bought it in the supermarket and not God. Still I don’t
believe in the classical God, but I become more and more aware
of the Universal Energy.

Now I’m here I South East Asia and see a lot of people working
very hard for our food under difficult circumstances. The rice I

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see in the supermarket once has been yielded on a beautiful
green rice field far away by people working their ass off literally
in the mud.

In that bowl of rice can be found so much energy. Of the sun and
nature which made it grow. Of the rain who brought water. Of
the earth with all her nutrients. The farmer, the worker, the
transporter. Of the food technologist who thought about how to
process and pack it. The people in the supermarket. The chef in
the kitchen, the smiling waitress and hey, even the bowl didn’t
appear in my life without any effort.

AHIMSA

Ahimsa means no violence. Last year I stopped with eating meat

and fish. Why would I eat something that I can’t kill myself?
Something that also has been given life, and is part of the
universal energy (this awareness came later). Also the
circumstances and production methods play a role, as well as
the environmental impact.

I am absolutely not the one to tell the others how to live or eat.
Not at all. But it’s beautiful to see that the people around me
adapt their self and eat less meat (at least in my presence). Be
the change you want to see in the world. Who knows what to
follows.

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THE SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED

During my yoga teacher training my teacher Trupta planted the

seed by mentioning this and now the awareness has grown more
and more.

I’m not like, and won’t never be like the Buddhist monks from
my silent retreat who say that food doesn’t have to look well
(bye bye #instafood) or even must taste well. For them it has
only the role of nourishing. (See their contemplation below).
Many steps too far away.

But it’s good to realize that it’s not naturally that we can eat
every day healthy and nourishing food. So many people in the
world can’t. And yes, I must admit that also I look at my phone
during eating (as solo traveler and eater), but I intend that I will
eat at least my first bite of the meal with grace and mindful from
now on.

And I’ll try to avoid spoilage of the food as much as possible.

Because in every grain of rice is the energy of the anonymous
lady in the rice field.

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CONTEMPLATION AS SEEN IN WARUNG 9, UBUD

I bless my meals with silent prayer and spoken grace

I send healing energy into all that I eat and drink

and I am nourished by spirit

THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS

This food is the gift of the whole universe: the earth, the sky,
numerous living beings and much hard, loving work.

May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to

receive it.

May we recognize and transform our unwholesome mental

formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with
moderation.

May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that

we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, and
reverse the process of global warming.

We accept this food so that we may nurture our sisterhood and

brotherhood, strengthen our community, and nourish our ideal of
serving all living beings.

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SILENCE PLEASE – TWO DAYS
OF MEDIATION AND SILENCE

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I just return from a two-day meditation program of the CMU
university of Chiang Mai, Thailand. And it a very nice experience
to get into meditation!

We started at Tuesday afternoon at 13:30 at the Wat Susan Dok,

a little bit east of the old town. There were around 30
participants. People from all over the world but a lot of
Germans. We started with a short introduction about Buddhism
near the temple. By taxi we were brought 15 km out of town
where they have a meditation center in the middle of the
nature. Strange to hear the birds after spending two weeks in big
cities.

After the check in (two persons per room, simple but clean) the
meditation course started. We’ve learnt four types of
meditation: sitting, standing, walking and lying. The only thing
you must do is to focus on an object. Here they use the breath
(in/out) or abdomen(up/down). Of course there are a lot of
other objects (candle, statue, mantra etc.) but they keep it
simple.

We had dinner (monks don’t eat normally in the evening by the

way) and another session of meditation. Because there are a lot
of people who are new into meditation they start calm with
blocks of 10 minutes. But gradually it is built up to 20 minutes.
On the second day the meditation is self-led for 90 minutes so
you can choose how and how long you meditate.

We went to bed around 21:45 to be woken up at 5:00. Quite

early, but that’s life of a monk. We started with some
meditation, had to offer rice to the monk and had a discussion
with another monk. I asked why monks eat meat while
nonviolence is one of the rules. The answer is that they get the
good offered, so there’s often no choice then eating it. But by
choice they are vegetarian. A lot of questions were asked about

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the suffering. The main conclusion is that you must love in life
without attaching yourself to prevent suffering.

After that some mediation, a lunch and again meditation (both

self-led), to be brought to the city center around 15:00. So it’s
more a 24 hours experience than two days but it’s okay for a
first course.

Everything is done in silence. On one side it’s a pity because you

don’t get to know each other. On the other side it’s a blessing
because it saves a lot of useless small talk and gives you rest to
think all the thoughts you pushed away while meditating. I
thought it would be hard for me being silent, but I liked it more
than expected.

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The food was simple but good. By the way we start eating by
saying a contemplation that the food is only to nourish yourself
and not to be delicious, pleasure, fun or for beauty. So the
#foodporn at Instagram is not very Buddhistic.

They ask 500 baht for the food and transport, 300 baht for
clothes (a white trouser (one size fits all, way too big for me) and
a T-shirt) and a non-mandatory gift to support the center.

It was a nice experience to learn some more about Buddhism

and meditation. I didn’t get a lot of extra knowledge (especially
after the yoga training I did last month) but I liked the overall
experience a lot. Also being silent was less hard than I thought it
would be. Who knows I will do a 10 days retreat in the future.

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#MYMOMENT OF 2016

The year is almost over. Every year Henk-Jan Winkeldermaat of

Punkmedia asks people from his network for the most important
moment of the year to publish with Christmas at
#mijnmoment(#MyMoment). As said before it was an amazing
year. I started in France, spend a summer in Italy, did a yoga
teacher training (YTT) in India and now I’m in Thailand. So what
would be #mijnmoment?

The moment that I decided to leave the most magical place in

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Europe? Just by answering the question: “What would you
advise somebody else in your situation?” Despite all the good
things choosing for the uncertain, adventure and even more
growth? The moment that I finally succeeded to lift my legs into
headstand (without jumping of course)? The moment that we
looked at the full moon in India after having a reading of my
birth horoscope?

The most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen after an intense day of
the practical and theoretical exam of my YTT? The moment on
which I became aware that we are all one and united in and with
the universal energy?

The moment that C. and I were allowed to see the Wat Chedi
Luang temple in the nighttime, all alone without other tourists?
All the good moments spent in the park of Chiang Mai with
people on the same journey as me? The moment that I gave
unexpected my first ”real” class to 14 unknown people just
because the teacher had her day of? (Just this morning but
nevertheless a milestone in a yogi’s life)

So many beautiful moments and I can’t choose. Why should I?

I’m so very grateful for all the beautiful moments and persons
which I’ve met in 2016. Grazie, Thank you, Merci, Bedankt,
Gracias, Danke, Dhanyavaad, Kop Khun Krup. Enjoy life. Enjoy
2017.

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50 SHADES OF YOGA

A very old book about Yoga, the yoga pradipika, states that a
yogi should live in a hut far away from other people without
windows and furniture and must do all day long yoga. Asana’s,
breathing exercises, meditation etc.

Nowadays some people doing some yoga in front of the

computer with a YouTube video of Tara Stiles. Or they go once a
week to the yoga class. Some people say that this has nothing to
do with yoga because it’s only stretching. Nevertheless millions
of people benefit from it on physical and mental side.
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A lot of people will live more consciously for them self as well for
the world around them. Some people get inspired and going to
try to do more like breathing exercises and meditation. For
example, speaking for myself, I stopped eating meat and I think
doing yoga has caused this process.

It’s like at the high school. One teacher said to me: “If only one
student out of two, three classes is going to university and
studying my domain, I have done a good job.” I don’t think that
the teacher of my first yoga class would ever think that I’m in
India now, doing a yoga teacher training.

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And who knows one of my fellow students will end up in a lonely
hut or become a famous yoga star on the internet. A large width
creates a pyramid with some ‘stars’ at the top. It works also the
other way around. Some stars attract people for a large base.

There is also a lot of discussion about the Instagram generation.

Seeing flexible, slim, blond girls doing poses on the beach has
nothing to do with yoga. But for other people they can be an
inspiration. For example Kino MacGregor post regularly yoga
assignments in which she makes you think. Comparing yourself
and your body with such photos of yoga stars is like comparing
yourself to Usain Bolt or Dafne Schippers. You don’t have to be
able to run 100 meters in or around less than 10 seconds to
enjoy running.

So what would be the real yoga? No doubt the lonely yogi in his
hut. But the real question is what is the right yoga? That is the
form of yoga which fits best to you, your body, your situation
etc. And who knows what will follow.

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CONNECT. REFLECT. SERVE

Being spiritual is always a bit vague and woolly. I kept myself far
away from this, but my yoga path awakens also this part of me.
This week I’ve read the book The Power of Modern Spirituality
and it explained a lot for me.

In this book spirituality is divided in three parts and I resonate a

lot with it. The three parts are Connection, Reflection and
Service.

CONNECTION

It’s about feeling connected to the others in the world. Feeling

connected to a Higher power, force or source. I started to realize
that every life has a purpose, a cause and an energy. Mine,
yours, the people around us. Also the animals, the trees every
blade of grass is a miracle of Life.

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And we are all part of it. We share the molecules, atoms and
smaller particles with everything around us. Everything comes
from the big bang, everything is made of the same star dust.

Also the connection to the Self, and the search of meaning of

life. The feeling starts coming that the awareness of a higher
force gives a mental rest for me. Things are as they are. We just
must surrender to the feeling of connection.

REFLECTION

It’s about thinking about the connection to your Self, reflecting

about yourself and your life. who are you, what do you want and
what are your values. But also how do you behave.

Self-study (svadhyaya) like it is written in the Sutras, one of the

’bibles’ of Yoga. Also self-love is a part of this. As they self, the
relation with yourself defines every relation you have with other
people

SERVICE

This has been a great part of my life. It started with my parents

having two children adopted and taking care of several dozens of
foster children. When I was older they had a local pub serving
the community of our little town. Also I worked a lot in the
hospitality business (see my love for it at my weblog
crazywaiter.com). But I also did quite a lot of voluntary work and
always want to try to make a difference in the life of others.
Nowadays I try to make yoga accessible. I’m still looking for a
form, but I’m sure I will find my way. I know there is a higher
goal, I felt it when I left my fixed job two years ago.

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To serve is taking care for others. Doing random acts of kindness.
Making the world a little bit more beautiful. Also this makes part
of a meaning of live

CONNECT. REFLECT. SE RVE.

These three words say exactly what spirituality is for me at this

moment and I think it’s also what yoga is about.

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LESSONS OF CHIANG MAI

One week left in Chiang Mai! A pretty sad realization, but I’m
also ready for the next step, a month in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
It’s a good moment to reflect on what I discovered the last two
months.

As you might know the plan was to travel around in Thailand. I

started with five days of Bangkok and the plan was to visit four
or five days in Chiang Mai. But at the third or fourth day I visited
the park with people doing (acro)yoga, slacklining and juggling. I
got hooked and will stay around seven weeks (with a break of
four days in Pai). Maybe I’m less a traveler (and less die-hard
regarding (lack of) luxury and comfort) than I thought I was, but
that was certainly not the most important lesson.

The first important lesson is the realization that for me traveling

is all about the people you meet instead of ticking of the boxes of
the travel guide bingo. I’ve met such cool, nice, friendly and
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inspirational people who I connected with on several ways.
Thank you all for being part of this journey! This was also the
reason why I stayed so long here, because I was afraid that this
would not be the case elsewhere.

The second lesson is in line with the first item. The awareness
that the law of attraction exists. It is for me a combination of the
expressions “What you think you become” and “Birds of a
feather flock together”. Everywhere where I came were yogi’s.
Of course there are more people doing yoga here than in …. (fill
in a random place) and there is a matter of selective perception,
but I met so much yogi’s and yogini’s and other people with the
same interests and lifestyle as me.

(I realize now that I contradict myself - even when I would have

gone elsewhere (for instance at Surat Thani at the island Koh
Phangan, another place in Thailand with a lot of yoga etc.), I’d
meet (read: attract) other cool people, but another important
factor not to go there was the never-ending rain in the south of
Thailand)

37
Third lesson: There is a huge factor of serendipity, luck or
coincidence and maybe even universal forces in life but in the
end you must take the chances yourself. For example the class
that I taught at Christmas day. First it was not foreseen that I
stayed a day longer in Pai but the hostel in Chiang Mai was full.
First I decided to do yoga near the river where there should be
an ashtanga class, but there was nobody, so I went to the Circus
hostel where there should be yoga. But when I arrived I heard
that the teacher was off that day. Two people saw my yoga mat
and asked more or less as a joke: “Can’t you teach for us?” After
all these moments of coincidence it was finally _myself_ who
decided to take the chance, do it and end up teaching a class for
fourteen people like I’ve always done it (thanks again Samyak
Yoga and fellow students).

Last but certainly not least the fourth lesson and awareness are
that I’m worth, liked and loved more than I have ever thought or
believed myself. The start of a new journey

What did you learn on your travels?

38
ON MY MAT I'VE LEARNED

I’ve learned so much on my mat. In the yoga classes of Bikram

Yoga Arnhem, Affordable Yoga Paris, RYoga Rome. At my yoga
teacher training with Samyak Yoga in Mysore, India. During my
self-practice at home, in hotels and outside in parks.

Of course I’ve learned about how to move my body into a

posture. How to hold it. Steady and comfortable as it should be
but also sometimes unsteady and uncomfortable. I have learned
how to teach, to adjust, to assist.

There is so much more to learn.. but until now.

On my mat I’ve learned about myself. The way you practice is a

mirror about how you are in real life. Do you struggle, won’t you
give up, will you take it easy?

On my mat I’ve learned to accept more my physical self. I

remember being horrified during my first lessons at Bikram Yoga
with mirrors on all the walls. Now it’s much easier.

On my mat I’ve learned about acceptance. Of things that

happened or are going to happen. When something though
happened in my life a year ago, my feeling was really quick ‘it is
as it is’. Also I’ve learned more ‘to forgive, heal and release
everything that consciously or unconsciously could delay or block
the complete evolution of my being’, the mantra at the end of a
class of Elena Brower at YogaGlo. This class changed my life and
the way how I viewed things in the past.

39
On my mat I’ve learned about handling emotions. After a year of
practice, for the first time in my life the word ‘stress’ didn’t show
up in my work evaluation. Quit a milestone for me. I get stressed
less, and I come back to the normal state way faster when I was
upset or having negative emotions. Now it’s easier to recognize

40
feelings and emotions, acknowledge them, accept them and
release them and let them go. Let it goooo

On my mat I’ve learned to feel the awareness of being one. With

the universal energy, with the nature, with the people around
us. Everything comes from the same energy. Everything is one.

On my mat I’ve learned also coming closer to old emotions,

grieve and sadness. Especially hip openers are famous for that.

On my mat I’ve learned to listen to my compass and intuition. It

gave me the power to quit my job, having confidence and be
more open for the future.

41
On my mat I’ve learned about being tolerant regarding others.
Having compassion even for your enemies. Everybody you see
has a fight you don’t know about.

On my mat I’ve learned to follow the yogic rules, called Yama’s

and niyama’s, as far as I didn’t do them already. Like not
stealing, not lying, sex only when there is love, non-greedy (the
less stuff I have, the better) and non-violence, last year at 31
December I stood with meat in my hand in the supermarket and
I thought: “What am I doing, why would I eat something I can’t
kill myself”, put it back and stopped eating meat and fish (with
some small exceptions). But also having a pure mind, being
happy with what you have, discipline (every day yoga, at least a
bit of), self-study of the yoga philosophy and surrender to the
divine and universal energy.

On my mat I’ve learned to connect. The meaning of the word

‘yoga’. The ultimate goal of yoga. Connect with myself. With
others. With the world and maybe the universe.

On my mat I’ve learned a lot. And there is still so much more to

learn.

42
ONE WEEK AFTER

It’s incredible how fast the time flies. It’s already one week ago
that I’ve been given my certificate for the teacher training. After
the ceremony me and one of my fellow students flew to
43
Thailand. So no black hole for us. We’ve started in Bangkok and
stayed there for 5 days. I’ve seen a lot of markets, the three
most famous temples, ate a lot of nice things, been served and
helped by a lot of kind people but I missed somehow the charm
that Paris, Amsterdam of Rome has.

After that we went to Chiang Mai. Already in the taxi I felt that I
like this city more. More charm, smaller and we were lucky to
arrive at Sunday evening so there was the Weekend market
(another one!).

Still we sing at least once a day ’radhe radhe radhe govinda‘,

reflect a lot on our training and think a lot of our fellow students.
I’m very glad that I’m able to do so. At our arrival here we’ve
decided to give each other some more space and have a
separate day program and rooms. It seems that only now I really
start to process the training and everything that happened and
being said. My feelings swing from happy to sad, from “we are
all one” to deep loneliness and everything in between. Quite
funny for a pretty stable person as I am normally.

There is also process of introspection going on, also because the

right things are said and the good questions are asked on the
right moment. What are the patterns, thoughts and behaviors
that prevent me from being who I am or who I want to be? Who
I should be (according to who)? The more answers, the more
questions. Maybe I should go into a real retreat. Who knows
which answers will follow that.

44
But first some days in Chiang Mai. I succeed in slowing down my
tempo and enjoying the dolce far niente. (Only four temples
seen today, 296 to go). My travel mate just sent the 50 best
cafe’s here, so I have something to do the following days. I’ve
just been warned not to drink too much coffee otherwise I’ll be
speedy again soon.

45
PUB GURU

46
Real wisdom can be found in the pub. Wise words spoken by the
pub guru

1) The POWER is inside YOU

2) One step backward, two steps forward. Eventually, the

number of steps forward will increase. Sometimes you
need a setback to see how far you have gone ahead.

3) Don’t be to depend on your professional helpers to avoid

being kept in the role of victim and wait passively for
what they propose

4) Do not listen to your internal critical voice but to the

internal voice that gives you compliments. (Give them
names)

5) Don’t put the responsibility outside yourself (social

workers, others, friends)

6) Take care not to be too influenced by external events and

actions of others

7) Find social support and distraction. When you don’t

want it, is just when you need it!

8) Do not to pretend to know what other people think.

9) Not everything happens immediately. A lot of things

need time. Just keep breathing

10) The pub guru is always right. Listen to the pub guru!

47
48
MY YTT

49
JUST ARRIVED AT THE YOGA
TEACHER TRAINING

After a journey of 24 hours traveling and waiting I arrived at the

Ashram of Samyak Yoga where I start the RYT-200 for Hatha
Yoga tomorrow. From the hostel to Schiphol (Amsterdam) to
Abu Dabhi, having a layover there of one hour, to Muscat,
waiting 4 hours over there (of course practiced at the airport), to
Bangalore, finished with a car drive of 4 hours.

50
If you think Napels (Italy) is crazy, think again. Everybody uses
the claxon, passing left and right, four cars in a lane when there’s
place for three, people walking along the highway etc. etc. But I
had a very skillful driver and I think two third of the time I’ve
slept

But I arrived safe and well. Some introduction formalities and

then a relax. Getting to know the other students (a lot of
Frenchies, Mr. Destiny doesn’t want me to forget the language of
Moliere apparently) Having lunch, walking to the river close to
the ashram, having diner and for the rest il dolce far niente.
Tomorrow we start at 7h30 with a self-practice and at 17h the
openings ceremony!

51
JUST STARTED TEACHING

I just finished my second real day as yoga teacher training

student at Samyak Yoga in India. Totally no regrets, the other
students are great, there is a very good vibe in the group and
everybody has his own stories and strengths. It would be a very
nice tv-format to follow a group of want to be yoga teachers and
tell the story of everybody.

The teachers are very good, they are very skilled, have a lot of
knowledge and are always happy to answer questions. And the
big advantage of this school is that you start teaching already at
the second day. How cool is that. We started today with the first
poses of the sun salutation. Some people are a little bit nervous
but thanks to the opportunities I had this summer with friends
and guests at the campsite it wasn’t something scary for me.

52
The course takes around 200 hours. How does the days look
like?

6.00 - I wake up. Early early early

6.00 - first class, mantra chanting and after that a yoga sequence
of around 90 minutes

8:30 - breakfast. Fresh fruit, cereals, toast etc.

10.00 - lecture about yoga philosophy

11:30 - explanation about yoga poses and more important how

to teach them

12:30 - we teach the poses we just learnt. At said, at this school

you already start teaching from the second day!

13:30 - lunch, self-study and rest

16:30 - evening practice. We do a sequence but there’s more

time for questions and explanation

18:30 - we learn about breathing exercises (“pranayama”) and

meditation

19:30 - dinner, self-study and bedtime

They are long days but until now it looks very balanced and
doable for me. Let’s see if I still think that at the end of the
week.

53
54
FIRST WEEK ALREADY OVER

The first week is over already. Time flies when having fun!
Spending it with equal feeling souls going for one target. Taking
all the knowledge into you to become a good yogi and yoga
teacher. I got already then feeling that this won’t be the last
training.

And today on our day off we went to Mysore, the town near our
yoga school and visited the royal palace and some shops. Being
in an Indian town is a special experience for someone who is
used to rules and order.

Like there is no light without dark, there aren’t only ups without
downs. When there is joy there are tears. At an intensive course
like this almost everyone will break. Some once, others more
times. Some soon, others later.

55
I don’t like massages so when it was my turn to be massaged I
wasn’t very eager to undergo it and certain boxes opened. Still
the day after I feel some sadness which for sure will be filled
with light and joy soon..

It was a good lesson about the thin line of challenging yourself

by going out of your comfort zone and staying between the lines
you shouldn’t cross.

After all that’s why we’re here. Lessons, not alone about yoga
but also about life itself. Namasté

56
BECOMING A YOGA TEACHER,
ONE VERB AT THE TIME

One verb at the time, that’s the mantra of this week. Each day
we must prepare three poses and to teach them to our fellow
students. Softly the pressure and the standard are getting higher
to get us at the best level possible. The feedback given to me is
that I give too much instructions at the same time and
sometimes I mix things up, so the students get confused. When I
started the mantra of one verb at the time, like “Put your left
feet backward. Lift your arm. Go down”, it’s getting better and
better.

One of the reason of the confusion for the students but also for
me that is that I must work on my motoric and body awareness.
And on the synchronization of thinking, speaking and
demonstrating. Due what happened in my first year of my life I
think that that part of my brain is not as good developed as
57
other people.

Also I’m very nervous for the daily presentation. The problem is
not that I must give the lesson to the fellow students but the fact
of being judged. That was the reason that it took six(!) tests to
pass for my driver’s license. It feels like I’m in the TV show So
you want to be Yoga Teacher and that every day somebody is
eliminated (The final price is of course a yoga shala on the beach
of Goa). The teacher had a good laugh when I told him so and of
course I know that’s not the fact. But to know and to feel are
two different things.

But we’re full in the process and that feels damn good. Who
knows I’ll win the show at the end!

58
FULL MOON WEEK

59
The third week is over. This was the week of the full moon. On
14 November 2016, a super full moon occurred closer to the
Earth than at any time for the previous 68 years and it was
another special week. Full of training of course.

That was another amazing day and evening here in Mysore. The
moon was like a light bulb. When praying for the father of our
fellow students I felt energy between my hands, an amazing
discovery. I hope that even a little bit is transferred to
Scandinavia

Last but not least my birth horoscope has been read this week.
I’m sociable and sensitive, meet always a lot of people, like
discipline and might going to earn my life with something
spiritual or yogic around the world. How cool would that be if
that becomes true. And handy to know: the love of my life
seems to live somewhere in another country (“not surprising if
you move so often between countries like you do”).
Unfortunately it couldn’t be told where she lives exactly and
when I’ll meet her (maybe I’ve met her already without knowing
it, who knows?).

We’ve started the preparations for our final presentation /

lesson. Together with Elene I’ve the honor to finish the series of
lessons on the last day with a nice sequence of around 90
minutes that we’ve prepared for our fellow students. We must
present also a short meditation and breathing exercise. The
process of planning a class, studying the postures and her
corrections, working together is as educative and important as
the teaching of the final class on itself. Of course our final
sequence will be shown on this weblog when we have done it, it
must be a big surprise of course!

Somewhere was written that the third week is the week of the
crisis. Luckily I didn’t suffer from it, neither do the others very
much as it seems. But of course you don’t know what they don’t

60
tell you. And for some of us the process will start here but the
crisis and changes will occur once they are at home.

My body is still very okay although sometimes I wondered what

made me eligible to do this training (Module 2!). Although
others have small and bigger pains due to four hours of yoga
each day I’m really blessed with my body. I still have enough
(some people say ‘a lot’) energy in general and my mind is still
fresh as always, although some phrases said by me and others
make things boil in my head. (‘Because you’re worth it’) The
results will be visible after some processes I guess. And I thought
that yoga was meant to stop the movements in the mind

Anyway the conversations get more interesting every week now

we get to know each other well. Such a pity that I have to say
goodbye in a week of these beautiful souls. Don’t think about it,
don’t think about it. Saying goodbye is also part of the way for
new paths and Mr. Destiny will make you meet again those who
you need to meet again. But don’t think about it for now.

Let’s see what will be in our future. I always was too scientifically
for that, but I might start to believe that everything is written in
the sun, the moon and the stars!

61
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

The course had ended! The last day of the yoga teacher training
started with a lesson of two hours that I gave together with
lovely Elene to all the fellow students. We were last in line and
we made the theme of the class “gratitude”.

Gratitude for all the beautiful moments, for the beautiful souls
we have met, the 1000% dedicated teachers Trupta, Rakesh,
Arvind and Stephanie, the delicious food (thanks Jitou and
Chinboun!), for doing the sun salutations (12 each day) when the
sun was rising (we were lucky to have that coincidence one or
62
two weeks, amazing feeling!), the beautiful sunsets and nature
around Samyak, all the knowledge and experience we were
given here. We have seen each other being changed by all the
wisdom around us.

At a certain moment this week the teacher asked us to give a

description or compliment to the person right of you. A rainfall
of nice words was spread in the atmosphere. Also I was very
touched about the things said to me.

The class of today went very good and also the written test was
passed well. Two tests on one day, quite heavy. I felt empty
afterwards. The day ended with singing the mantras. I had to
concentrate on the letters in my book and certainly not watch
others. When I look back at the video I see that I was not the
only one.

As said, it was a though day. I didn’t feel nervous but

unconscious I was, otherwise I wouldn’t be awake from midnight
to 3am. I did do my letter-to-myself writing assignment though
because I was totally awake. It will be funny to receive that letter
in one and a half year. Let’s see how many of my wishes and
goals have been fulfilled.

In the evening I still had a mix of energy, tiredness and

emptiness, so I did a yin session on my own in the yoga room.
When I went back to my room the stars shined bright. What will
be true from the theory about universal energy, personal energy
and oneness of that. Can we become one? Are we all one?
Amazing thoughts, if it wasn’t that cold I would have laid my mat
in the grass and slept outside.

Today I started the day with 12 sun salutations (tapas,

discipline!) and we have gotten our certificate and we had to say
goodbye. A very sad moment after such an amazing and
intensive month. But every end will have a new beginning. “Om
63
namah Sivayah”.

I have nothing to complain, I will go to Bangkok, Thailand to

backpack and doing yoga of course. Keep following the log and
Facebook page to stay tuned! Goodbye dear teachers, goodbye
dear Friends, goodbye Samyak, goodbye India. Namasté

64
REBORN AGAIN - REVIEW
SAMYAK YOGA TEACHER
TRAINING

It has flown away, the 28 days to do a Yoga Teacher Training

(YTT) in Hatha yoga for 200 hours at Samyak Yoga in Mysore.
Exactly two years after doing my first yoga class (ok, two days
missing) my diploma was given. Like said at the ceremony, it’s
like a rebirth. An old life ends, and a new path of yoga starts.

Take a cup of tea or good coffee because here is a long review. I

was glad to read those things before starting so I am happy to
write one also for those orientating on the huge market or YTT’s.

65
ONCE UPON A TIME

I never planned to do a YTT (me?) until I saw an enthusiastic

blogpost at Ohmybuddha.fr, so I looked at their website
http://www.samyakyoga.org. Very informative and after 28 days
I can confirm everything that has been written is true and
truthful. The price (€ 1400) is a good and realistic price given all
the lessons, the housing and the food. My then teachers
convinced me (thanks forever Louise and Rosalina) so the
interest was getting seriously.

The contacts before entering my adhesion were very hope

giving, always quick responses on my questions by e-mail or at
Facebook. I have looked at some other YTT’s but the feeling that
I had with Samyak was so good that I even haven’t considered
them really.

After entering the submission form everything went very

smoothly. Aryan from the back office deserves compliments by
doing this process so well.

HERE WE GO

Then finally I arrived after a long and wild taxi drive, already one
month ago. The room is very spacious, single, with a private
shower and toilet. At arrival everything was very clean, and
everything is cleaned thoroughly once a week.

The food prepared by the hardworking Jittu and Chiboun is of

course vegetarian (ahimsa, you know). Officially they do not
provide vegan food, but I think that my vegan colleagues didn’t
have any problem to eat vegan. Every day it was well prepared,
not too spicy, enough and most important delicious! Simply said,
it was restaurant quality, it matched easily the food I ate “out of
home” (for your info I visited Dhatu and Greenleaf in Mysore)

66
Also the personal care is high. Sick people got the help they
needed and even help was given to organize the trips on the
days off!

THE TRAINING

67
Then where I came for. The training. Only three words: Very very
good. The teachers are all very dedicated, warm and helpful.
We’ve gotten a very good base in yoga philosophy, things as
pranayama and kriyas and above all the asana’s, the art of
teaching and correcting. These are the big strength of Samyak,
the classes are very much based on experiences, competences
and insight.

The philosophy is beautiful explained. At a certain moment I was

disappointed that we didn’t study the yoga sutra’s, but at a
certain moment I was reading them and recognized what was
told by Arvind. By the way, it is handy that you have a base
knowledge about the yoga and the principle of duality (
purusha/prakriti) because there is a lot to learn in a bit of time.

Around hundred asanas (postures) are reviewed deeply with all

the possible corrections you can give. The nice thing is that you’ll
get the information on an (self to be brought) USB stick.

Maybe unique for this training is the fact that you get to teach
and learn to teach so much from day two until the final exam of
forty minutes to one hour, so you can learn to deal with
performing stress and start to develop your own style. (by the
way last week you teach only during the exam, but also in this
period you have a lot of opportunities to practice with your
fellows).

Another strong point is that Samyak has maximal 18 students

68
each course! (Some more in their Paris summer training I think.)
18! I see class pictures from other schools with more than 50
students. So enough attention for everybody and time to answer
questions which I wisely used of course. (Though I’m waiting for
an Instagram picture of the Marichyasana D :))

BUT…

Besides the many, many big strengths there is always a small

weakness. For me that is the fact that we did get only a bit of
western- and yoga anatomy. I knew this before I came, as it is
written in other reviews and part of the school’s philosophy
(“you only need anatomy if you want to give yoga therapy
classes”).

Irrespective whether it’s a real need or not, there is my personal

interest and questions of students (why can/can’t I do this, can
you really physically stretch/lengthen a muscle etc.) and luckily
this is something you can study this easily on your own with
some good books (for example by Kaminoff, Long or Clark) and
YouTube videos, so it’s a very acceptable tradeoff for me (more
attention for teaching and asana’s versus less anatomy).

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

For me personally it was not too hard physically seen. No big

pains and only few small pains in my body. But it is really wise to
have a regular practice of at least three times a week for a
longer period (six months or more) as indicated. Sometimes I
thought “What made me think that I was eligible to do this” -
(Module 2!) but everything was very doable for me. Also
mentally it was less hard than I had foreseen. No big emotional
rollercoasters (except two days at the end of the first week) in
my head. Also less than foreseen in those of the colleges,
although you never know what they don’t tell you. But it is a fact
that everybody has undergone changes in feelings and mindsets.
69
I’m so very curious where everybody stands in two years, as
teacher and in personal life (who will still be with the current
partner;)). Remember, two years ago I started with yoga and see
the path I walked.

READY TO TEACH?

It’s “only” 200 hours and there is so much to learn. I just feel like
I opened a box and only see the surface. Do I know enough to be
a teacher? It’s a long discussion. The teachers indicate that the
course is a base and advice to deepen your practice first for a
while and slowly start teaching friends etc. Really teaching as a
job should be able in one or two years after the training. It also
depends on your own background.

70
But seen the joy and relatively easiness while teaching the daily
classes (except feeling being in a TV show) - and also earlier this
year combined with all the knowledge and experiences that I’ve
gotten here at Mysore I’ll be absolutely not afraid to offer
already classes here and there, replace a teacher who didn’t
arrive (*), do pop up yoga or give sessions at the campsite where
I’ll hopefully work next summer (It will be Fabulous, be prepared
ragazzi :)) Fact is that I’m already orientating on what to learn
next. Vinyasa Flow? Kids Yoga? 300 hours in some years?

*) In fact I did, not even a month after the training and due to
the practices and experiences it went very automatically like
you’ve always done it.

Like said the teachers are very friendly, knowledgeable,

accessible and warm. So I recommend Samyak, Trupta, Rakesh,
Arvind, Stephanie with their support staff with everything I have
in me. Definitely worth it! It was a great time being with Andrew,
Chloé, Gaelle, Sabrina, Elin, Elene, Christel, Marek, Jean Pierrre,
Sebastien, Jeanne, Elisabeth, Huyen, Laure, Lyla and Maria. With
some I’ll cross paths again for sure, some are less likely, but you
are all part of the month that pretty sure will be seen as the best
time of my life if I’m (really) old. Thank you all. Namasté. Happy
to be member of the Samyak Family!

I know it’s not easy to choose a YTT, so if you have any

questions, feel free to contact me!

71
SUMMARY

+ Amazing life changing experience with good teachers and solid

curriculum
+ teachers are very knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and
accessible
+ classes are very much based on experiences, competences and
insight
+ you get to teach and learn to teach very much from day two
until the final exam.
+ small class size; maximal 18 students each course
+ delicious food and comfortable housing
- only a bit of western- and yoga anatomy (easily done with self-
study)

72
THE CLASSES

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75
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CONTENTS
My yoga story ................................................................................................ 2

Columns............................................................................................................. 7

Plaisir and envie ............................................................................................ 8

YepYoga is born ........................................................................................... 10

Why I stopped eating meat ......................................................................... 12

Traveling, packing and spending money - what did I learn ......................... 16

Thanks you, anonymous lady in the ricefield .............................................. 20

Silence please – two days of mediation and silence ................................... 24

#MyMoment of 2016 .................................................................................. 28

50 shades of yoga ........................................................................................ 30

Connect. Reflect. Serve ............................................................................... 33

Lessons of Chiang Mai ................................................................................. 36

On my mat I've learned ............................................................................... 39

One week after ............................................................................................ 43

Pub guru ...................................................................................................... 46

77
My YTT ............................................................................................................. 49

Just arrived at the Yoga Teacher Training ................................................... 50

Just started teaching ................................................................................... 52

Becoming a yoga teacher, one verb at the time ......................................... 57

Full moon week ........................................................................................... 59

Om namah shivaya ...................................................................................... 62

Reborn again - Review Samyak Yoga Teacher Training ............................... 65

The classes....................................................................................................... 73

78