In the military, every meeting and event is followed by some sort of debrief, post-op, or after action evaluation of aforementioned affair.  Thus, in Marine Chick fashion, I shall present to you an After Action Report of sorts of my Yoga Teacher Training.  Ok, it’s not going to follow the military format (at all!) but the idea is share some thought pieces about what I learned during my two weeks of intensive Yoga Teacher Training in Nosara, Costa Rica.

The first after action post is a re-clustering of quotes, concepts, and messages I gathered from Marianne Wells, teachers she quoted, my fellow students, and my own observations.  If I know specifically where credit is due, it’s been given; otherwise assume it came from one of the above or some combo thereof.  Forgive me, but I put these together after sifting through pages of multicolored notes scribbled on sweaty pages. I will post other pieces about specific days of training later this week.  For now, enjoy a few golden nuggets shared below:

on YOGA…

If we learn to engage every muscle possible in every pose, and remember to link our breath with the movements, then we’ll begin to get more of the meditative qualities from our practice.

Yoga makes you learn about yourself.  Yoga teaches you about you.

The purpose of yoga is: discipline, self-study, and surrender. (Marianne Wells’ heading for Chapter 2 of the Sutras in our training manual)

You can only teach what you know, and you only know what you practice.

Every pose is both tadasana and Shavasana.  BKS Iyengar

Kundalini rocks! (Just my two cents ;-p)

Philosophy without practice is not considered to be true philosophy.  David Swensen

Before you’ve practiced, the theory is useless.  After you’ve practiced, the theory is obvious.  David Williams

Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all, nor for him who is addicted to too much sleep, nor for him who is ever wakeful.  The Bhagavad Ghita

You become what you eat and how you live.

Happiness is courage and understanding.

Make yourself so happy that when others look at you they become happy too.

To learn, read.  To know, write.  To master, teach.

In order to be truthful, you must embrace your total being.  Rumi

For yogis, the nose is for breathing.  The mouth is for eating and talking.

on LIFE…

Put your heart, mind, intellect, and soul into your smallest acts.  This is the secret of success.  Swami Sivananda

Act like the person you want to be.

Change yourself and you’ll change the world around you.

Learning how to love is the good purpose of Spiritual Life.  Not learning how to develop psychic powers; not learning how to bow, chant, do yoga, or even meditate, but knowing how to love.  Love is Truth.  Love is light.  Lama Surga Das

Before we can see to learn, we must first learn to see.  Marianne Wells

Just BE.  That’s why we’re human Beings, not human doers.

Matthew 6:27-34  – live in the present moment.

Simplicity is beautiful and leads to purity.

GOOD THOUGHTS are crucial!   Sutra Chapter 2:33 – Unwholesome thoughts can be neutralized by cultivating wholesome ones – corresponds to Phil 4:8 – Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Act like the person you want to be.  (Marianne Wells’ heading for Sutras Chapter 3 in our training manuals)

I take action in accordance to the wisdom of my heart. (IRT Anahata Chakra)

One of many gorgeous sunsets over the Pacific, as seen from Nosara

We are as attracted to love as we are intimidated by it.  Each of life’s challenges is some aspect of love.  (I think I heard this in the documentary, Yoga Unveiled).

I trust my intuition to guide my decisions.  (IRT Ajna Chakra)

I gracefully accept what the Universe/God presents to me, trusting that I am exactly where I am meant to be.  All things are connected. (IRT Sahasrara Chakra)

No one is wise by birth.  Wisdom results from one’s own efforts.  Krishnamacharya

Truth is one; paths are many. Yogaville

If you want to know your mind, then meditate on your heart.

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.