My Yoga Journey
Namaste! I am Olivia Schnur: 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher. I want to share my path to becoming a yoga teacher with you.
There is no right or wrong path towards becoming a yoga teacher. However, it may help you to decide whether I am the right teacher to assist you on your yoga journey.
My Home Yoga Practice
Yoga has been my lifelong passion since I first discovered it in 8th grade. Admittedly, I started because Jennifer Aniston was doing it. However, it did not take long for me to realize it is much more than a form of exercise.
I first started practicing at home with CDs and DVDs. I did not discover community yoga classes until years later. To this day, I maintain a regular home practice.
My home practice provides the solitude I desire to explore the spiritual aspects of yoga. It also allows me to explore postures that are not always integrated into studio sequences. At home I enjoy the freedom to burn incense, use crystals and oracle cards, and to set the mood while I flow.
I practice all styles of yoga. Some of my favorites include Yin, Hatha, Vinyassa, Kundalini, and Yoga Nidra. If none of those words made sense to you, don’t worry. With time and practice, you will be exposed to all of these and more.
My Yoga Teacher Qualifications
I completed a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in June of 2017. The primary style of yoga taught was Vinyassa, which translates to “breath to movement.” Vinyassa is a flow style class.
After my yoga training, I began teaching hatha yoga classes. Hatha yoga allows for more time spent in poses to explore the depth of each pose, while accessing the breath. I also incorporate restorative poses into my classes, which rely on props to support the muscles so the body may fully relax.
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
I am also trained in trauma sensitive yoga. Additionally, in my work as a mental health counselor I specialize in the treatment of trauma. The combination of body work to eliminate the effects of trauma along with breath work to restore the body to a state of calm are game-changers for many. Both my mental health and yoga clients alike have found healing from trauma through yoga.
To learn more about trauma-informed care, please read my blog post: Trauma-Informed Care is More than a Buzzword.
Reiki Healing
In 2019, I began my training in reiki healing. Reiki is a form of subtle body energy healing. Reiki is sometimes utilized as a hands-on form of healing. However, it is also effective as a hands-off tool for energy work and reiki sessions can be facilitated over a great distance! If you would like to know more about reiki, explore my blog post: Everything You Need to Know About Reiki Healing.
Consultation for Professionals
I also provide training to mental health professionals seeking to add yoga to their clinical practice. As a clinical mental health counselor I integrate breath work, poses, and mindfulness into my clinical practice. I also integrate yoga with Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
I have presented on the integration of yoga and mental health at professional conferences, colleges, and within clinical workshops.
For more information on integrating yoga and psychotherapy, review this article I wrote for Yogi Times: Posture, Yoga and Trauma/Stress Recovery – Blending Psychology and Spirituality.
Ready to Start Your Yoga Journey?
I can assist you at any phase of your yoga journey. I am currently offering online consultation, reiki healing, and yoga classes through secure video conferencing services. Everyone will begin with a consultation to set attainable and relevant goals to meet their unique needs.
Please explore the Yoga page on my website if you are interested in learning more about my services, fees, or qualifications. If you are ready to book a service, please use the Contact Me page of my website.
Before you go, check out the Guided Meditation page of my website. I have uploaded samples of my meditation classes for FREE!
I hope it is clear how deeply passionate I am about the healing power of yoga! Trust me when I say this practice can change your life. Whether your goal is physical, spiritual, emotional or mental — yoga has so many amazing gifts to offer!
Disclaimer:
This blog post and additional information posted on oliviaschnur.com represent Olivia Schnur’s personal views and should not be treated as professional guidance. The views in this blog post do not represent clinical treatment guidelines or recommendations and should not be treated as medical or mental health guidance. Furthermore, the views expressed on this blog and website do not reflect the views of any professional companies by which Olivia Schnur is employed.
Note to current and former mental health clients: Any contact made via oliviaschnur.com is not considered a confidential means of communication. Furthermore, as a result of ethical and legal requirements, Olivia is unable to respond to current and former clients who attempt to make contact via social media, personal email, or website. Posting comments on blog posts or other web pages can compromise your confidentiality. It is recommended that former or current mental health clients avoid interacting with, commenting on, or making contact via this blog or website.
This article or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher.
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