I instantly fell in love with the warm tropical weather and the simplicity of the culture, which felt completely different from life in America. There were no cars, just narrow paths winding through the fields for scooters to pass—unlike anything I’d ever seen before. 

The trip officially began when I arrived at my villa, complete with its own pool and windows that opened to views of palm trees swaying over the rice fields. I remember hearing the soothing sounds of animals all around me and taking the most perfect nap as soon as I settled in. Later, I got ready for the opening ceremony.

Welcome to the Fire Shala. Our first day began with a ceremony filled with thought-provoking questions that helped us better understand ourselves and connect with others who had traveled from all corners of the world. Each person brought their unique yoga journey and story of what led them here.

We took time to write letters to ourselves, setting our intentions for the training ahead. We even practiced an exercise where we closed our eyes to sense each other's energy (sounds crazy, it worked)

I loved starting each morning in a circle with Pranayama (breathwork), where we explored a variety of techniques to both energize and cool our bodies, mastering the art of air retention through precise breath control

• Ujjayi (ocean breath)

• Nadhi Sodhana (Alternate nose breath)

Mornings also included meditation, where we mentally journeyed through our lives, embracing each experience and cultivating gratitude for every part of our body. Afterward, we transitioned into 1.5 hours of vinyasa flow. These sessions focused on creative sequencing and building toward peak postures, all with an emphasis on alignment and mindful movement.

What made it even sweeter was afterwards we had a delicious breakfast and spent time recharing by the pool for the afternoon sessions

Week 2 was my favorite—when the lush green rice fields felt like a new home. More importantly, I could feel my body opening up, the poses becoming less about effort and more about flow. Instead of wondering what sequence came next, I began to sense the seamless connection between breath and movement, mind and body working as one. Which is the foundation of Vinyasa.

Afternoon sessions dove into alignment, breaking down every yoga pose to its essential elements. This was where the magic of teaching unfolded—our instructors offered personalized advice that not only improved our own practice but also prepared us to guide others with confidence.

The evenings were a dynamic blend of anatomy, philosophy, and creative workshops. Anatomy captivated me, enriching my understanding of health and wellness in ways I hadn’t imagined. Philosophy, to my surprise, went beyond theory, offering practical lessons for daily life and ancient wisdom to help cultivate mindfulness and intention in everything we do. We also delved into restorative techniques and explored various styles of yoga, from the gentle stretches of Yin to the playful movements of Acro and handstands, as well as Hatha and hip-opening practices, each bringing its own unique benefits.

By Week 3, you start to appreciate the little things—like $5 sushi dinners you know you won’t find back home. But the real highlight was preparing to teach my first flow!

Vinyasa sequencing is like building a pyramid: it starts with an intention and a warm-up, leads to a main flow that builds toward a peak posture, and ends with a cool-down. For my sequence, I chose eka pada koundinyasana II (flying splits) as my peak pose because it felt like the perfect representation of my style. Since it’s an open-hip pose, I worked backward to select asanas that would properly prepare the body.

We learned to break down our classes into distinct sequences, so I created three. The first focused on stretching with poses like warrior II and similar variations. The second sequence opened the hips with utkata konasana and engaged the core with boat pose. Finally, the third sequence included lizard pose to fully prepare for the peak posture.

I felt a wave of nerves as I started teaching my first class, but once I shared my experience with yoga, I settled into the moment, and it became one of my favorite experiences ever. It reassured me that I wanted to continue teaching when I returned home. The best part? At the end of class, everyone opened their eyes to a breathtaking sunset illuminating the sky

And just like that, you're a certified Yoga teacher!