Comments from students who have taken part in classes at the Shanti Yoga School.

From the Yoga Teachers Training course--2010. At the half way point in September.

This first comment comes from  Neisha Betts.

"have gotten much more from the course than i realised possible, not least the opportunity to explore the more spiritual aspects of yoga, and indeed life in general. All the teachers promote a very accepting and supportive environment and enable all students to see their own strengths and teaching potential. I believe all that i have learned so far will stay with me and serve me well for the rest of my life, physically, mentally and spiritually. Many thanks. neisha. " x

The next comment from Tony Kemmer

"One the subject of witnessing, I have to say that it has been such a fantastic experience.  I loved the course last year and so to have the privilege of doing it all over again and being able to participate and mentor to a certain degree has been the icing on the cake.

Watching this years students blossom and grow has been such a verification of everything that I experienced myself last year.  It is such a lovely thing to see.

Even though the last few months have been difficult, I know deep down that without the benefit of the knowledge and wisdom I acquired whilst studying last year it would have been an awful lot worse."
Julie MIlls

"I am learning more than I expected on the TTC course. I expected to learn about yoga practices, but didn't expect to learn so much about myself and others. It is great to learn from people who have been in your shoes once and also great to learn with people who feel the same as you. It is a very supportive, warm, encouraging approach and when you find things hard, which they are at times, their is always someone who has or is feeling just the same to help you along the way."
Jennie Dod

"By the way, just loving the course. Love all the philosophy...you put things over so well. Thanks.
Debbie

" Beyond the academic, I have found it personally challenging in the area of self-understanding and an increased awareness of the way I operate and the need to challenge some of those habitual patterns . It has been a journey into the unknown..."
Mike

"I had no idea what I was letting myself in for when I started. At times it was hard, always enjoyable and very enlightening. I learned more about myself than I could have imagined was possible."
Penny Wilson

"Thank you all for the great efforts that you have put in to make this yoga course a success. It was stretching in so many ways. I am not the same person I was a year ago. I hope the next years course is just as satisfying for the new intake."
Myrtle Dean

From the Advanced Remedial course

"...it epitomised the last class with the student/patient being at the beginning of her journey and us helping her. The second group of people is all the lovely Shanti students and you, the teachers who are our mentors. Another fantastic day of learning-thanks.
Ros

“ We asked all students to comment upon their reasons for joining –we did this quite formally by email , something we had never done before. These were the questions asked:

--What was it that first initiated your interest or decision to become a Shanti student? Was it—

a.    A greater understanding and application of postures for personal practise?
b.    A greater understanding of all aspects of yoga, pranayama, asana,
       meditation, for personal  observation and application
c.    Personal transformation
d.    You wanted to become a yoga teacher
e.    Other

Here are the replies!!

"When I became a Shanti student, becoming a teacher was at the back of my mind but the main reason I wanted to attend the course was to learn about the whole of yoga and why it made me feel so much better. I was also keen to learn more about the philosophy and spiritual side of yoga. While on the course, and developing myself personally I felt I had to teach what I had learned and continue spreading the knowledge of yoga."
Garry.

"For me it was the first two-did  not think I would want to teach—now I am teaching!!"
Jennie

"My interest was drawn  by a wish to have a greater insight into the “ anatomy of yoga” and from this the natural progression of using postures to assist people in overcoming physical and other problems. Theres no doubt that your detailed knowledge and experience was key in my gravitation   towards Shanti. Having taught yoga for 13 years finding teachers who could add to your existing knowledge is hard—hence my travelling all that way.!!
I also like the open and friendly nature of the school, finding a group of “ free spitits” unbound by unnecessary rules is refreshing and inspirational."
Anne.

"It has proved to be a fantastic way to learn about yoga - and me!!"
Catherine

"What I really wanted was a deeper anatomical understanding and knowledge so that I could practice and teach form a “ deep learning “ perspective—I knew it was with you!!!"
Julie

"I came to Shanti by personal contact with one of the teachers. She took me to a class and I was really impressed by the students and their enthusiasm and brightness. Their confidence and no fear were attractive.!"
Fiona

But here is one from one of Andy Thomas's patients;

Andy

Sorry for the delay but I have revised the quote I sent some 3 weeks ago below which you are welcome to use I have been to many osteopaths’, phsyios’ and chiropractors with varying degrees of success and have spent many, many years of my life coping with the lower back problems by NOT bending my back and in general not being encouraged to take up exercises like stretching or yoga to help myself.

On recommendation to you, when I attended the first session with you some

2/3

years ago straight away I was told that bending my back and doing plenty of exercises was the way to restore flexibility and to introduce as much movement as possible and also to get away from the dreaded western disease of sitting. Your biggest recommendation was to learn the art of yoga as this covered just about every main muscle in the body and was the ideal way to move forward.

I recently attended some sessions with you as my knee was giving me serious problems. Your attention to the many muscles in my leg and explanations of what each ones role played and the treatment given was thorough and the work

centred on my calves, hamstrings which you considered to be of the

consistency of concrete through years of never employing stretching after the many years of exercise in my younger days and of countless years sat behind a desk (although your thumbs kneading my muscles made my eyes water).

The treatment was a major benefit to me although I now on your recommendation do plenty of daily stretching and exercising.

What a breath of fresh air.

Kind regards

Jeff

The Shanti yoga course has been a journey I would encourage anyone interested in developing their own yoga practice to go for, whether or not teaching is initially the main motivation. The guidance and inspiration given by the teachers has revealed all kinds of exciting paths to explore, and the benefits experienced by myself and others on the course has taken away the fear and replaced it with a desire to share what I have learnt. A life enhancing course, I have loved it - thank you all!
 

 
Rach

As you may deduce these are all uneditted and untouched quotations-- we even leave in the grammatical and spelling errors!!

There will be more from the current group of 2010 students--soon! This is July 2010.