I Love Yoga So Much, I Wrote a Book About it!

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When I moved to Columbus Ohio from Atlanta, I did it in the dead of winter because I used to be as impulsive as fuck. Well. That’s changed. It’s still a big part of my hard-wiring, but I’ve learned to temper it . . . sometimes.

I slowly built yoga classes I was teaching, and became a part of the ever-growing yoga community. As a yoga teacher, it’s practically a daily occurrence that the question of yoga teacher training comes up. Students asking should I? Where? Am I ready? They say, “I love yoga so much I have to teach it!”

Well. That’s how I felt too. Going through teacher training was one of the best decisions of my life.

Shortly after moving to Ohio, I was hit by the inspiration that I wanted to write a novel about this experience. I remember telling a friend I had the whole concept in my head, and should be able to knock it out in a few weeks . . .

. . . Hilarious.

Five years later, my novel is finished.

Yoga teacher training is a vehicle for change. We can all change. We should all change throughout our lives. It’s the only way to grow.

This excerpt from my now-finished novel, Yoga Train drives home the struggle many of us have or had choosing to go from being a yoga student, to becoming a student and a teacher:

Our snack arrives via a far too-well dressed waiter who seemed to materialize from vapor. I tuck in as if I hadn’t eaten in days. I can’t remember if I did eat today, so perhaps my hunger makes sense. The music is soft, but the lyrics are clearly audible. “Make it count. Stop wasting time.” It just keeps repeating, causing me to eat faster.

“Ya know Devon, you’re really good at yoga. And you seem to be madly in love with it. Ever think about becoming a teacher?”

My practice looks good to Frankie because she’s never done yoga before. If she’d ever seen Ula or Gibby practice, she’d know it’s a silly suggestion. I almost told Ruby I want to teach. But I just can’t. I don’t want to hear her lie and tell me I should.

“Thanks. I love doing yoga, but I can’t imagine teaching it. Do you think you’ll try another class?”

Frankie’s face tilts towards the ceiling, eyes closed. She looks back down and sighs. “Yes, I do. I had this expectation that it would be really boring, and just a bunch of breathing, stretching, and a whole lotta quiet. I thought I’d be restless, but it was nothing like that.”

I nod. “Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first took it up. There are so many different styles of yoga. You can find what you just described, and people do love that. I enjoy a slow, quiet class sometimes, but usually prefer vinyasa, which is what we did tonight.”

We walk out into the blazing moonlit heat to our respective cars. Since we’re slightly tipsy, I decide to walk the four blocks home, and Frankie texts Uber. She turns to me, enfolding me in one of her delicious hugs, never letting go first. Her kids are so lucky to get these everyday.

“Dev, thanks for a much-needed date. I want to make more time to spend together. And I was serious when I suggested you would be a great yoga teacher. I noticed the way you explained several things tonight. It made total sense because of how you put it. You’re looking for something different in your life, so don’t rule this out, okay?” she says, still embracing me close, like a lover.

Rutu, my teacher in Atlanta, encouraged me towards teacher training. I might never have done it if someone hadn’t helped me find the confidence. Not everyone needs that, but whatever it is that may help you make the choice, sit with what that might be today.

Does everyone who loves yoga need to go teach it? Hell no. But, if there’s that medium-sized voice inside you saying, “Do it cutie pie (or whatever pet name works for you), just go for it” then maybe you should listen.