An Education

Raja Yoga Academy Class of Fall 2016

Over the course of six weeks, I had an opportunity to re-immerse myself in an environment of growth, expansion, and education, this time from a very unique vantage point: simultaneously as a partner, as a teacher and facilitator, and (always) as a student. As my fiancé, Sal, embarked on his own journey to becoming a yoga instructor through Raja Yoga Academy, I was able to share in the experience, learning about myself in this new capacity while witnessing the transformations in each trainee, the facilitators themselves, and the group as a whole.

I absolutely love learning. I've always been one of those students who sits at the front of the class and raises my hand to answer the questions... you know the type. I feel that any time you enter into something with a dedicated focus and intention set on learning new things (as opposed to acquiring new information in passing), you bring a higher quality of receptivity which opens your mind to a greater sense of understanding—going beyond what you "already know" into what you didn't know that you didn't know.

Many people fear what they don't know or what may seem to conflict with their currently-held knowledge. I am of the mind that if I am to grasp even a sliver of an abstraction of Truth, I have to fill the pipeline with information from many sources and perspectives and filter out any untruths that I encounter. I trust that the untruths will not resonate, and new ideas that do hold truth will only continue to reinforce my sense of Truth, in other words, help me to calibrate my esoteric bullshit meter.

That being said, it was not surprising to discover that the experience of the past couple months has inspired me to want to learn even more! I met some unique souls and inspiring teachers that have reinstalled in me a drive to seek. To understand more. To hone my skills. To communicate, translate, and pass on information. To become a better teacher.

It seems education begets a desire to learn. And for that, I am grateful and embracing what I have yet to learn.