Before I begin this week’s blog, I want to let you know why I’m writing about my 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) journey: First of all, I’m using it as a journal so that I can document the changes that I make throughout this program. Secondly, I’m hoping that any yogis out there that are considering going through a YTT — whether it’s their first YTT or an additional 300 hours after their initial 200 hours — can use my blogs to make a decision on whether or not they’re ready to commit to a program. Lastly, I want to speak to the Christian community out there, that you can absolutely be a committed, God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian and go through a YTT without feeling like you have to denounce your faith. In fact, Yoga is not a religion but rather a tool to enhance your faith.
Now let’s get into Week Two of 300-Hour YTT…
I learned from the first week that I can’t be super rigid with my YTT schedule. Being that I’m taking an online YTT that’s taking place in Thailand and (Bali) Indonesia, I haven’t been able to participate in any of the live online trainings (I’ve been watching the sessions that they record during the live trainings). The good thing is that I can study whenever I would like. The bad thing is (also) that I can study whenever I would like. I went from being super organized to the point of getting too rigid the first week to being very laid back this week. I got more reading done, but I found myself strolling in and out of my home yoga studio/office and taking more breaks than I really needed. I woke up later and started my yoga practice later which made coordinating “quiet times” in the house more tricky (my family uses the blender for smoothies every mid-morning). Even though I have an extremely supportive family who are more than willing to modify their morning schedule to minimize noise during my 2-hour yoga practice in the mornings, I just didn’t want to inconvenience them in this way. Somehow, I got all of my yoga and meditation practice done every day (except for last Tuesday because I woke up feeling a bit dizzy). Towards the end of the week, I decided to try using my wireless earbuds during the yoga and meditation practices which worked out great!
LESSON LEARNED DURING WEEK TWO:
Each day felt like they were just flying by. I would get sidetracked with some things around the house and by the time I sat down to study, it would already be 4PM! I started feeling down that I couldn’t keep up with the daily schedule that I created for myself. On the flip side though, I was learning more and more about yoga philosophy and even about God’s will for me. In the book that I’m currently reading (Inside The Yoga Sutras), the author (Jaganath 
Carrera) compares having an inaccurate view of yourself is like looking at your reflection in a cracked mirror. The cracks represent our non-virtuous tendencies and traumas, so looking at yourself through a cracked mirror and believing that that’s exactly the way you look is the same as believing that you are those tendencies (i.e.- I am lazy, I am selfish, I am worthless, etc.). Once you fix the mirror so that the cracks are gone, you are finally able to see a clear, accurate image of yourself.
The way that we can apply this to our lives as Christians is this: We are not the sins that we struggle with. We are not lazy, selfish, impure, impatient, prideful, etc. These are the things we may struggle with, but these do not define us. We need to “clean up” and “fix” the mirror with the Word of God so that we can see our true reflection. God has made us fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14).
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139.14
One of the ways we can begin to “restore the mirror” is by opening the Word of God and incorporating the scriptures into your yoga and meditation practice. If you don’t know how to do this or you would like to see how I practice these things, join me in my monthly virtual Scriptural Yoga & Biblical Meditation workshop and/or pick up a copy of my book, “Be Still: The Power of Biblical Meditation.”
As I start Week Three of the 300-Hr YTT, my goal is to figure out a certain consistency without being too rigid. I will let you know next Monday how this week went!
With Gratitude,
Jheni Solis Wellness 
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