Two Years of Teaching: A Reflection on My Yoga Journey

Sunrise in Hakalau, Hawaii.

When I was living in Hawaii during yoga teacher training, I would wake up around 5 am each morning to watch the sunrise over the ocean before our morning yoga practice. I would sit quietly, sometimes writing, and feel the first light of day as it rose from the sea to illuminate the green, verdant land. 

The Big Island of Hawaii is the least densely populated of the islands, and contains a lot of open space and incredible flora and fauna. I lived for a month on a rainforest property, where there were little frogs that screamed so loudly at night I needed earplugs to sleep. ​​The climate was humid and warm, with rain falling throughout the day in between brief, golden bursts of sun. Perched on a hill, we had a view of the ocean through a grove of macadamia nut trees. A river wound through the property, and I often went there alone to decompress and meditate.

It’s now been two years since I began my yoga teaching journey, when I completed my 200-hour training at age 21. Reflecting on these past two years, I wanted to write not just about the experience of teaching, but also about some of the beautiful lessons yoga has gifted me. Since that time, yoga has deepened my self-awareness, expanded my capacity for connection, and shaped the dreams I have for my life.

When I arrived in Hakalau for training, I soon found myself to be the youngest of the group by several years. My fellow trainees came from a wide range of backgrounds and life stages. Despite these differences, they became an essential part of my experience–we formed close bonds and helped each other find our voices as teachers. 

We were guided by two incredible instructors, each with different strengths and a wealth of experience. They shared with us their yoga lineage, teaching not only the physical practice but also the philosophy and tradition behind it. Most importantly, they led with love and support.

Studying asana in yoga teacher training.

At the start of training, I lacked the confidence to lead a group. Public speaking had always made me nervous. But as we studied anatomy, philosophy, the history and business of yoga, we also learned how to guide movement and articulate it clearly. At first, I was anxious even leading a single posture. It’s almost funny now—considering I teach hour-long classes several times a week–that it all began with breaking down individual poses and slowly building toward a full class.

I’ll never forget the first hour-long class I taught at the end of training. I had practiced it multiple times, written out my sequence, and created a playlist. Still, nothing could have prepared me for how it actually felt to lead a room of students. It was exhilarating. I was hooked.

That was yoga’s first gift to me: confidence. I had doubted my ability to speak in front of others, but the support of my teachers and peers helped me discover a new sense of self-trust. I realized that not only could I do it–I actually loved doing it.

Back in California, I began teaching at a large gym on my college campus and working with private clients. Jumping right in helped me quickly develop my voice as a teacher and deepened my passion for teaching.

First yoga teaching job in San Luis Obispo, California.

During that time, I began to truly understand yoga as a tool for connection. In Sanskrit, the word yoga means “to yoke” or “union.” Sometimes, in Western spaces, some of the deeper philosophical and historical context of yoga is a bit harder to teach, when yoga in the West usually centers the physical side of the practice. However, the concept of union can be applied to students in Western yoga spaces through teaching the connection between mind, body, and breath.

Teaching university students, I saw firsthand how yoga could help them recenter amid academic and personal stress. Many of them came to class feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from themselves. Guiding them to reconnect with their breath and bodies felt deeply meaningful and rewarding.

Now, in Madrid, yoga has connected me with students from all over the world. I’ve taught people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Even in a busy, cosmopolitan city, yoga creates a space for presence, stillness, and connection–a thread that binds people across languages and borders.

Building a career in yoga in Madrid, Spain.

Looking back, I see how these two years of teaching have shaped not just my work, but my path and dreams. I think back to my mornings in Hakalau, looking out at the water and envisioning what my life could become with this new passion. Yoga has brought growth, connection, and clarity into my life. It has inspired me to pursue a career in wellness and to dream of sharing this practice with people around the world.

When I began teaching, I discovered a passion and learned so much about myself and what I want from life. It motivated me to work hard, follow my curiosity, and trust that I am capable of even the things that once felt intimidating. Today, here in Spain, yoga continues to guide me–to help me dream, connect, and stay present.

I don’t know exactly where this path will lead, but I trust that if I keep following what I love, yoga will take me exactly where I need to be.