I was so happy to met Tonia during the Yoga Teacher Training with Power Living in Bali in 2018.

We got along well during this hard but wonderful time of growth that we had together. And I cherish the fact that she also grew in interest for me in Chakradance! Can’t wait to know more about it this year! It may be a topic for the next articles! Need to do some more studies about it…Anyway, enjoy the interview of this beautiful friend 😀

Can you introduce yourself quickly?

My name is Tonia and I describe myself as a bag of mixed lollies! I’m a reiki practitioner, Chakradance facilitator, Yoga Teacher trained and also work in the Real Estate industry.

 

When did you start practicing yoga?

I first started practicing yoga about 6 years ago at a gym with a friend of mine.

 

When did you decide to take the leap with your Yoga Teacher Training?

In January 2018, I started to hear the “call” to do my yoga teaching training. This was quite unusual because I hadn’t even practiced yoga for about 12 months! I sat with it, but the call kept coming through. I joined a local studio on their 28 day unlimited trial and I WENT EVERY DAY plus another 80+! I was hooked!

I remember there was one day though that had been particularly frantic. I felt wound up, frustrated and anxious. I dragged myself to an evening class and as I rolled out and stepped onto my mat – I let out a deep sigh and said in my head “ahhh, I’m home.” It was in that moment that I knew I needed to do my Teacher Training.

 

Tell us about your yoga teacher training journey?

The yoga teacher training journey was one giant rollercoaster.

It started out as a really personal experience for me. I didn’t tell anybody (except my mum and brother) that I was embarking on it, because I felt like it was something I needed to experience without any external judgement, advice or validation.

I was prepared for the physical, academic and even personal development challenge but not to the extent that it was felt. We dove deep into our souls and let go of emotional baggage we’d been lugging around for years! It was empowering, heart-breaking, confronting, hard, fun, exciting and exhausting and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

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What is yoga for you?

For me, yoga is a way of life. It’s an ongoing lesson and constant opportunity for grow.

 

What did you do after the teacher training course?

I completely stopped going to yoga… for about 2 months!!! I didn’t want a bar of it. It was like my body was processing everything and while practicing asana was the last thing I wanted to, it allowed me to process the entirety of what yoga is about.

… I am now back on the mat!!

What did you implement from the YTT in your life? Do you see your job, things or people differently?

I see lots of things differently now but one of the things that I’ve really noticed is that I now have a greater tolerance, am less judgmental and more accepting of people and where they are at.

 

And finally, what’s next?

I am excited to step into my heart space and grow my business “Empowered Self” Empowering people from the inside out is something I am really passionate about and over the last few months, while I’ve personally gone through this “gowth spurt” my business has taken a back seat. With a clear vision and fresh creativity, I’m looking forward to ramping things up to bring to the surface, some yoga, chakradance, manifesting, toxfree skincare & makeup, healthy living and reiki workshops and retreats.

 

Did you like it? Do you have questions for Tonia? Tell me in the comments!

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