“ …it was nice to disconnect for the 3-week intensive. To fully submerge in learning, being in a beautiful space, with individuals who are there for the same reason and feel the ability to consistently focus on the teacher training. I’m so glad I did it.” -Alysa Romano
This month on the YTT blog we’re featuring Alysa Romano who joined us for the first time on a retreat in Greece in 2018. She has since completed both her 200 + 300 hour certifications thru the Rise + Vibe School of Yoga intensively in the Dominican Republic. We caught up with Alysa recently for Who Are They Today?
When did you complete your YTT certifications with Rise + Vibe school of yoga? 200 + 300?
Both in the Dominican Republic, 2019 & 2022!
What motivated you to first enroll in teacher training?
I had an interest in yoga throughout my teen years and would always go back to it. In 2018, after a necessary major life shift, I happened to see a retreat hosted in Sarti Greece with Chrissy. I had this feeling that I needed to go on a solo trip to get away and start on a path of some new life experiences for myself. I met Chrissy as well as a bunch of other incredible women. That yoga trip and after some things I had gone through in my personal life was incredibly healing for me. Chrissy’s teaching style and personality was so warm. So when I found out she did teacher trainings, it was something I was interested in quite some time to deepen my own practice and I knew I had to make it work. I'm so thankful I did and that universe aligned us at just the right time.
Can you reflect a bit on the format of your trainings and why it worked for you? And maybe also why/if it challenged you?
I did the intensive both times with Chrissy and while I know that doesn't work for everyone's schedule I was very grateful she has it as a option. Even though it took quite a bit of planning to take a month's time, I'm so glad I did. She is incredibly flexible with people who want to aquire their hours. With what I do for work it was nice to disconnect for the intensive. To fully submerge in learning, being in a beautiful space, being around individuals who are their for the same reason and feel the ability to consistently focus on the teacher training. Regardless of how someone achieves their hours with Chrissy she makes it incredibly accessible and is a wealth of knowledge.
Tell a little about having guest teachers during the YTT program
Having the guest teachers was always nice to see different teaching styles as you are trying to come into your own. To hear the other teachers journeys and why they chose a path of teaching as well. We are all so connected and yoga has this beautiful way of reminding us that.
PC: @moraima_cp
Where has your life taken you since the last YTT?
When time allows I've been teaching in really beautiful studios. I have created more of a work life balance as yoga helped me see here there was imbalances. It has connected me with a community of people I may not have otherwise in my local community as well as all over. Which I will cherish for a lifetime. I've been able to do private classes and classes for different groups of people to help spark the fire of self love, care and acceptance. I've even been able to take some of my yoga practice into my business and how I'm able to help others harness those things in their every day life while actively doing things to embody it myself in my every day.
What do you remember most from YTT?
What I remember most for each of my yoga teacher trainings as well as doing a retreat with Chrissy is how much work she puts into making sure everyone has the best experience. It never went unnoticed! She does so much to plan everything from the location, board, food, the classes/course itself and she even has so many options for people to do on our down days. She pours so much into the teacher trainings, retreats and I'm so thankful for the experience. The people that I've met through each experience is a direct reflection of the environment she creates no matter where we are. Every experience I have connected so much with the groups and still keep in touch. Chrissy has made it such a safe space for otherwise strangers to all come together to learn and grow collectively. That is not as easy of a task as she makes it look.
What does an average day in your life look like currently?
I make it a point to do my meditation daily that has become the single most important thing I accomplish day to day. I've found more of a work life balance through my yoga practice and it's really just shifted most everything in my life for the better. The way I veiw the world around me including myself.
Are you teaching yoga or meditation? If yes, tell more!
At the moment I cut back as I started to notice I was being pulled in many direction. As we are in winter here in the Adirondacks, I really wanted to take some time to slow down with the seasons and spend more time harnessing my creative side. I have been wanting to post some guided meditations and gentle flow classes on Youtube while I'm in my period of rest. Looking forward to setting up some in-person classes again come spring/summer.
Are you practicing yoga or meditation? If yes, tell more!
My yoga practice these winter months have been more geared towards slowing down. Have been doing more restorative and yin. Focusing a lot on my daily meditation has been and will always be something so incredibly important to me.
What does yoga add to your life? Or what does it take away?!
I'll start with what it takes away. It takes away unnecessary feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. I used to battle with those things a lot and although those "bad" feelings never truly go away yoga has always given me the tools to either bypass or move through them with more ease. Participating in YTT was really just to deepen my own personal practice originally. It was such a wonderful feeling when it clicked and turned into wanting to share that with others. That's what it's added to my life. A way of giving others the tools, taught to me, to aid in their own journey of self love, acceptance and overall care.
Would you recommend this training to others? Why?
I think regardless of whether someone thinks they want to teach or not it truly is a great way to deepen ones own personal practice. You just might be surprised like I was and feel called to share what you've learned with others.
What's next? Any plans for 2024?
I've been just trying to "grow with the flow" so no wild plans as of yet and that's been probably the best feeling. As well as something I've learned through yoga... releasing control. Just enjoy what comes. I would hope that I catch Chrissy in Bali if all works out
Follow Alysa on INSTAGRAM: @earthmamamagicandyoga @alysakromano
PC: @moraima_cp