In this Modo Yoga Journal Entry, Modo Yoga co-founder Jess Robertson shares insights into what you can expect to learn at the Modo Yoga Teacher Training—aside from how to teach yoga postures. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Jess reflects on how the training has continued to inspire and deepen her own practice. Through conversations with countless participants, Jess has found that what truly resonates is how the training goes far beyond learning about the physical postures. Read on if you’re curious about committing to a depth of self care that awakens transformation.
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I guess I should expose my bias first! I’ve been teaching at the Modo Yoga teacher training since our inception over 20 years ago. It has been, and continues to be, a source of inspiration for me in my life. So it’s close to my heart and that’s the perspective I’ll take here.
Somehow the teacher training always seems fresh. I always leave having learned something new, and even though I attend or teach a lecture with a bunch of other people, I end up feeling closer and more grounded to myself and who I truly am. In 2017 I started talking to participants about their experiences and sharing them here in the Modo Journal in a series called Modo Voices. What resounds, and what I’ll share here, is that at the Modo Yoga Teacher Training we all learn infinitely more than the physical yoga postures and how to teach them!
How The Modo Yoga Teacher Training Transforms Your Life—And Your Practice
I don’t use the word transform lightly. Yoga in and of itself is transformative. Notice how you can have the worst day ever, walk into a yoga class, and leave feeling at peace. Now imagine expanding that to doing two classes a day and devoting yourself to diving deep into the teachings behind the postures themselves.
Embarking on Modo Yoga Teacher Training is more than just a physical practice; it’s an invitation to embark on a journey of personal transformation. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your connection to yoga or exploring teaching as a new career path, this program is designed to lovingly push the boundaries of what you thought was possible in yourself. What you learn goes far beyond alignment cues and sequencing; it’s about changing the way we move through the world every day, cultivating mindfulness, and tapping into a greater sense of purpose.
Beyond the Poses: The Heart of Modo Yoga
Many people associate yoga with physical postures, and that’s totally ok. After all, most of the time we spend doing yoga is spent doing the postures. During the Modo Yoga Teacher Training, however, our approach is to examine the depth of learning behind the rest of what you might call Capital Y, yoga. Yes, you’ll explore the mechanics of poses and learn the anatomy behind them, but you’ll also delve into the rich philosophy, history, and spiritual roots of yoga. The training is grounded in a holistic understanding that yoga isn’t just about “getting the pose right”—it’s about integrating the mind, body, and spirit so that a pose becomes right for you.
You’ll explore classical texts, learn about the ethical principles that guide yoga, and discover how these ancient teachings are just as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago. This deeper exploration of yoga is, here’s that word again—transformative—and is such an incredible aid in helping everyone with a greater sense of balance, clarity, and purpose.
Experience the Power of Community
Community is not just a buzzword at Modo—it’s a foundational principle, and one of our 6 Pillars.
One of the most powerful aspects of the Modo Yoga Teacher Training is the community it fosters. In a world that often feels fragmented and disconnected, you’ll find yourself by contrast, surrounded by like-minded individuals who share a commitment to self-inquiry and personal growth. Without any effort, or a need for you to ‘socialize’ or show up in any prescribed way. The people that go through this training become an incredible support system. It always happens.
I know people that met at their training that keep in touch and visit each other regularly—even after 10 years. And somehow there is nothing forced about these relationships. They just happen.
Reclaiming Your Body: A Newfound Appreciation
The Modo Yoga Teacher Training offers a transformative shift in how you view and relate to your own body. Through anatomy lessons and hands-on practice, participants gain a profound appreciation for the incredible capabilities of the physical self and how deeply it connects to all aspects of being. At the teacher training, we teach you how to honor your own limits, while also recognizing your vast potential for strength and resilience.
In addition to understanding the body more deeply, the training offers the tools to guide others towards this profound and important connection. Teaching yoga very quickly becomes a reciprocal process—while you help others explore their practice, you’ll find that it deepens your understanding of yoga and enhances your own self-awareness.
Vulnerability as a Path to Growth
One of the most striking aspects of the Modo Yoga Teacher Training is the space it creates for vulnerability. Yoga has the power to open us up in unexpected ways, and throughout the training, you’ll begin to really feel welcome to share fears, insecurities, and personal challenges. The idea is that in order to let something go, you have to feel it first. If sharing openly like this is not your jam, you are also invited to journal about what is happening for you during the training. This vulnerability is not a weakness—it’s a superpower.
In the process of feeling vulnerability as a growing strength, you’ll learn that self-care isn’t a luxury—but an integral part of the examined life. Prioritizing your physical, mental, and emotional well-being doesn’t make you selfish; it makes you more grounded, and better able to serve others, and live your full potential.
Alignment: More Than Just Postures
Warning: taking the Modo Yoga Teacher Training may make you become a person that relates almost everything to yoga. On that note… alignment isn’t just something you practice in the postures—it’s a principle that extends to all areas of life. In the Modo Yoga Teacher Training, you’ll learn how alignment shapes both your physical practice and your approach to life. Proper alignment in yoga has a ton of physical benefits, like: better digestion, sleep and postures. But alignment with your own integrity and vision for life is a veritable super power.
You’ll learn how to stay centered even in moments of chaos, how to approach challenges with clarity, and how to maintain yourself in everything that you do. The practices of mindfulness, conscious breathing, and meditation will become tools that support your journey both on and off the mat.
A Global Movement: Yoga for a Better World
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Modo Yoga Teacher Training is the opportunity to be part of something larger than yourself. The Modo Yoga community extends far beyond the studio, connecting you to a global movement of people committed to creating a more conscious, connected and compassionate world.
This shared mission is at the heart of the Modo Yoga experience. Through your training, you’ll deepen your understanding of the ways in which yoga can contribute to personal and social change.
The Life-Changing Journey of Yoga Teacher Training
By the end of your Modo Yoga Teacher Training, you won’t just be able to teach yoga—you’ll have integrated yoga into your every day sense of self. You’ll carry with you a greater understanding of yourself, a deeper connection to the world around you, and a heightened sense of purpose in all that you do.
This journey will challenge you, stretch you, and, yes—it may even transform the part of yourself that you’d like to transform.
Live to Learn – Clearing A Path to Continued Growth
If you ask most Modo teachers what their favourite Modo Pillar is, many will say it’s a tie between Live to Learn and Be Community. Taking the Modo Teacher Training is just the beginning—once you’re certified, you gain access to exclusive continuing education opportunities designed just for Modo Yoga teachers. I love this aspect of the training because, just like the Foundational Teacher Training fosters lasting connections, advanced trainings like Flow and Yin bring together a diverse community of teachers, from seasoned pros to fresh graduates.
I’m sure you can tell by now, but I could go on. To me, the Modo training is a course that you can take as an aspiring teacher, an existing teacher, or as someone interested in exploring who it is you want to be to yourself, to your community, your family and the world.
Hope to see you at a training soon!
Jess
@jessrobertsonyoga
Jess Robertson is Modo Yoga’s Co Founder, Senior Advisor, and Community Documentarian. She is also a writer, musician, yoga teacher and Co Founder of the New Leaf Foundation. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her 2 kids.