Have you ever felt called to go in a direction that you can't quite make sense of, yet felt deep within that you must follow?

Every yoga teacher training and yoga teacher’s story will be different, but this is mine.

Introduction

My passion for movement with breath, healing, and finding our inner connectedness continues to grow. I have truly enjoyed working with all kinds of different people and energies throughout my experience teaching Reformer Pilates. I love sharing with community and feeling a part of something so much bigger than myself. Teaching is a gift. I have felt in alignment with my true calling. But I kept asking myself, how can I expand this even further? What more can I learn and share?

Yoga has been a part of my life throughout many years as a place to find stillness and strength.

Through research, I came across international yoga teacher trainings. Something in me was telling me I had to go. Without knowing why, I knew this experience would be transformative. I had always wanted to travel alone — at least once in my life — to push myself out of my comfort zone. I knew that regardless of the outcome, I would deepen my practice as a student as well as a teacher. Despite my initial doubts, I booked my flight to Costa Rica and put the deposit down for the 200-hour yoga teacher training.

Stepping into the Unknown

The night before takeoff, I was faced with anxiety and fear of the unknown... I thought to myself: What if I get lost in the airport and miss my layover? Who is going to be at this training? Will I make any friends? Are we going to be doing yoga 24/7? How do I tip in Costa Rica? Did I pack enough? I kept rereading my flight info and my emails from the coordinators, making sure I didn’t miss anything. All I was told was to bring the yoga books, a refillable water bottle, a journal, and myself. Lastly, to meet for the opening ceremony circle at 5:30 PM.

This is every “I-need-a-detailed-plan” person’s worst fear.

The next morning, my mom drove me to the airport. She reassured me this was going to be such an incredible experience, that I got this, and that there was no need to worry. I gave her a big squeeze, took a deep breath, and walked into the airport. Little did I know how significant this journey would shape the person I’d be when I returned.

I grabbed my luggage that was 30 lbs. overweight and met my driver outside the Liberia airport. We drove through the dirt roads of the jungle and headed down to Nosara.

I was one step closer to making it to the other side of the unknown.

I was proud of myself in that moment. I stared out the window, observing everything in sight and taking it all in.

Two and a half hours later, I arrived at the Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort. I had an hour to check in and make it to the opening ceremony. My breath was taken away by the beauty of nature that surrounded me.

As I approached the yoga shala where the ceremony was being held, I saw the teachers setting up. I could smell sage and hear lovely meditative music playing. All of us made our way to the entrance. I noticed the diverse group of students, of all ages and ethnicities, approaching. The teachers welcomed us warmly and provided an overview of the program, setting the stage for the next three weeks. We went around the circle introducing ourselves. I was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement. Everyone was full of positive energy, love, and light.

Surrounded by like-minded individuals who felt a similar call to this quest reassured me I was on the right path. I felt a surge of gratitude for arriving and excitement for where the next three weeks would lead.

Training Overview

Classroom sessions were held in a variety of the beautiful shalas. Each day consisted of a morning practice, mid-day lecture, practical application, evening discussions, small group presentations, and peer teaching sessions. Most days began with a morning Vinyasa practice, followed by a lecture, practicum, and practice-teach elements.

In addition to the core teachings, this training also covered yogic elements, meditation, the flow of breath and body through Vinyasa, relaxation techniques, class sequencing, chanting, the business of yoga, and communication practices.

Embracing Transformation

I was challenged in ways I didn’t expect to be, leading me to become the person I didn’t expect I could become. There were the physical challenges of holding postures in yoga — and then there was yoga philosophy, which guides you to your inner truth. The challenge? Recognizing the version of myself that everyone wanted me to be vs. trusting the part of myself that’s buried deep down inside.

Thanks to my wonderful teachers and fellow trainees, I learned this was not a place I needed to mold myself. They wanted the real me.

Dharma

In yogic teaching, dharma is your duty or purpose — the unique path life takes us on, aligning us with our true nature and values.

Exploring my dharma has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey. Journaling became a mirror for my soul — a space where I could express myself honestly and notice the synchronicities between who I was and who I wanted to become. Much like the practice of yoga itself, it offered a space to explore both my mind and body, free of judgment and full of curiosity.

I’ve come to believe that my dharma lives in the dance between deep personal exploration and the desire to share what I’ve learned with others. It feels like helping people reconnect with themselves — guiding them toward a renewed sense of being through movement, mindfulness, and honest expression. Whether it's through writing, teaching, or someday creating immersive experiences, I feel called to use my voice and presence as a way to connect and inspire.

And yet, I also know dharma isn’t fixed. It’s a living, evolving thing. As we move through different life cycles, as we grow and shift, so too does our purpose. My dharma today may look different tomorrow. And that’s okay.

To discover one’s dharma is to accept that it may transform — again and again — and to honor that evolution as part of the path.

Cultural Environment

I am extremely grateful to have had a backdrop like Costa Rica during my training. Surrounded by lush rainforests, beaches, and mountains provided an inspiring environment. The open-air shalas allowed me to connect with nature while I practiced.

The country embraces the “Pura Vida” philosophy, which promotes mindfulness, balance, and gratitude. One of the first things I noticed while spending a month in Nosara was how unimportant screens were. Not one TV in sight, and not one person looking down at their phone. Human connection was the dopamine hit.

We had access to fresh, organic, and locally sourced food supporting a nourishing diet during the training. The slower pace and intentional setting allowed for deeper self-reflection and connection with myself and others.

Deepened Practice

Active listening and intentional communication.

Each day, we were given a different partner along with a topic question and five minutes each to speak. We sat shoulder to shoulder without making eye contact. The first day doing this, I was extremely uncomfortable.

Subconsciously, much of the conversations I have with people are typically directed in whatever way I feel the person is engaging in.

Being aware of the space you take up is a great skill to have, but it shouldn’t be more important than what you feel called to bring to the space.

The barriers of validation, judgment, and feedback were removed.

This simple exercise revealed the power of speaking from my truth - and the deep sense of peace that comes with simply being heard. It also showed me how meaningful it is to be on the other side. Holding space for someone else is equally profound and beautiful.

Through stretching and breathwork, I had many deep releases in different areas of my body — some, by surprise, were emotional. It was a turning point where I realized I had been holding onto fears and doubts that had no place in my life anymore.

Meditation Although I struggled at first to quiet my racing thoughts and retain my mind, meditation slowly became one of my favorite practices of the day. I realized I do have control over my thoughts and the power to choose where I place my focus. Sitting tall with relaxed shoulders, I began to feel a deep sense of connection to myself and inner world. In those still moments, I truly began to understand the depth of the mind-body-soul. I became stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Connections

Everyone brought such a unique personality and perspective to the collective group. We shared many meals, local adventures, laughs, and tears together. I felt seen, heard, and cherished like I’d never experienced. We trusted each other, supported one another through hard moments, and celebrated every victory along the way.

We formed a lasting bond that goes beyond our three-week training together.

Every Sunday we were off and free to explore, rest, or do whatever we needed. As a group, we decided to utilize Saturday nights and have some fun. We left the resort and went to dinners, told stories, laughed, and danced together.

On Sunday mornings, I would allow myself to sleep in — but not too long, because I wanted to take every opportunity to explore this magical country. Farmers markets took place in town where we walked to grab some goodies and hit the local boutique shops. If the sun was out, we would take any opportunity to go to the beach and watch the surfers.

At this point, I had entirely forgotten about my phone. It was the best thing to ever happen to me. Disconnect to reconnect.

Instead, I used a digital watch to keep track of time and took my camera with me to capture memories. Although, I would reach out to my loved ones every so often, so they knew I was safe and doing great.

The Teacher Within

In the blink of an eye, our training was coming to an end. Before graduation, we were to teach a demo class to a small group of fellow students. I felt unprepared to step into this role yet — imposter syndrome was taking over.

Teaching is no small feat. The best teachers put their heart and time into creating these beautiful sixty-minute experiences.

Finding my teacher voice was something I learned through Pilates, but finding my true inner teacher was something I was just discovering. The class went well, and in that moment of relief, I realized all my anxiety was just a mix of ego and the silly stories my mind likes to tell me when I fear my own potential.

Graduation came and before I knew it, I was holding the certificate of completion with my name on it. I was overjoyed, grateful, and proud of my accomplishment.

However, I was also filled with sadness. This was a challenging and transformative three weeks — but it was the best experience of my life. I was surely going to miss my routine here.

Greeting the monkeys outside my room every morning, walking with Adina to classroom sessions each day, the expansive energy of my mentors, feeling the powerful OM as we started and ended our sessions together— and, of course, the beautiful Costa Rica.

Takeaway and Final Thoughts

If I learned anything, it’s this:

I CAN do scary things.

What’s on the other side of comfortability and the unknown is this sense of aliveness that comes with trusting yourself.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. It can be a little bit of everything.

Nothing is permanent. We are constantly evolving, shifting, and rearranging.

Life is a constant dance between student and teacher.

Be curious. Be present.

Conclusion

Yoga teacher training was more than just a program. What I came home with was so much more than a certification — it was a transformative experience that left me with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to myself and my practice.

I believe I felt called to this journey for a reason I couldn’t make sense of before arriving. I know now: the heart is the compass.

It will guide you to your truth. When you trust yourself and follow your inner compass, that’s when the shift happens. That’s when the real magic happens.

Special Thanks
To these amazing humans — Bridget, Dakota, Julian, and Melany — for their teachings and wisdom. And to the entire Bodhi Tree staff for an unforgettable stay.

https://bodhitreeyogaresort.com/bodhi-tree-yoga-teacher-training-in-partnership-with-ila-yoga

Have you ever felt an inner calling and chosen to follow it?
I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Yoga Teacher Training in Costa Rica: A Life-Changing Month in Paradise