Curious about how to do a yoga training abroad?
Meet fitness expert, Andy Hoffer, to learn about her Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training that she did in London.
Teaching Traveling: Andy, tell us a bit about your background.
Andy: Hi! My name is Andy Hoffer. I have been a fitness professional for over 4 years now. I started yoga 10 years ago as a fitness endeavor, and found that it went so much deeper than just the physical for me.
I have been teaching yoga privately for these 4 year to help people connect with their body. I love to travel and get lost in other cultures. I take any opportunity to try new yoga or fitness classes whenever I am abroad.
TT: Wonderful! Tell us about a yoga training you did abroad.
A: In 2018, I had the opportunity to travel to London for an Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with famed teacher, David Swenson. I really wanted to take this class, hoping not only to learn how to teach the practice, but also to deepen my understanding of it.
I spent 10 days in London just taking these classes during the day and practicing with the teacher. It was DEEPLY fulfilling and life changing.
TT: Wow! How do you find this London yoga training?
A: When I look for opportunities, I tend to seek out the Ashtanga yoga instructor I want. Had David been teaching in Siberia, I might have followed them there. For me it is all about the connection to the teacher. How do they teach? What is their methodology? What is their personality like?
TT: Great point. How did you find the money to fund your travel?
A: I saved up for this for a year. It was grueling in terms of financing, but it was so worth every single penny.
TT: Well said. Tell us one moment from your travels that was particularly powerful.
A: By the last day of the practice, we were all exhausted. Practicing yoga 5-6 hours a day and all the learning and physical stuff was just wearing us all down. The teacher at the end of the course looked each and every single person in the eyes and said a huge thank you to each one of us. Most of us were teary-eyed by the end because it was just such a powerful moment.
TT: Ah! Now, how have your travels impacted you?
A: My practice had evolved. It is now just a part of who I am. Through the teachings I learned a great deal about myself and the amount of pressure I put on myself to be perfect.
It highlighted for me that I am human and that perfection is never possible. Yet, I can show up and do my best every single time. After that class I continued to teach Ashtanga through my own private fitness classes and coaching.
TT: What advice do you have for teachers who are dreaming of travel, or travelers dreaming of teaching?
A: Do it. Just leap. Take that leap of faith. Believe in yourself enough to know that the money will follow and that you work hard enough and are resourceful enough to figure it out. JUST TAKE THE LEAP!
TT: Thanks so much, Andy! Readers, what questions or comments do you have about studying yoga abroad?
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English from Boston who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched TeachingTraveling.com in 2010 to share expert global education resources, and over 1.6 million readers have visited over the past decade. Lillie also runs AroundTheWorld L.com Travel and Life Blog, and DrawingsOf.com for educational art. Do stay in touch via subscribing to her monthly newsletter, and following @WorldLillie on social media!