Name: Jesse Laila Banovic
Nationality: British
Age: 32
TNV training: April 2019
Where do you live? Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK

With so many yoga teacher trainings to chose from, what made you chose TNV's 200 hour teacher training?
Straight away the website appealed to me, it just resonated on so many levels so then I started to explore each page a little more to find out about True North Vinyasa and very quickly felt drawn to talk with Lisa and Elin about how I could get involved. I submitted my application and was accepted onto the training - it was the best decision I have made for my personal and professional journey with yoga.

The course had such a great balance of theory and practical, knowledge and guidance, practice and marketing. Lisa and Elin pay attention to every detail and it doesn't go unnoticed, from the moment we arrived in our rooms to find a beautiful bracelet and training manual placed on our pillows - I knew I was in the right place with the right people. They offer such unique and inspiring classes - I just wish I was closer so I could take classes with them both on a weekly basis!

What was the training like for you and what were some skills and qualities you left with? 
I'll never forget Elin saying 'it's about having a beginner's mind' - applying this to my teaching has been invaluable, always assuming a student doesn't know how to do something so your teaching and ques are super thorough and clear.

Also the guidance with setting up a business and having a style - this really inspired me to go back home and start building my yoga and wellness business 

What's your journey been like since the ttc? 
I co-hosted a retreat in Portugal with my mother and was a guest teacher (it was quite daunting but a great experience to put my new skills to the test!). I then came back to the UK and was so inspired after the training that I got straight into setting up my business in May 2019, I set up regular classes at my local village hall and then developed some pop up events in the summer with a local PT. The following year we went into lockdown so a lot of my business was put on hold but it allowed me to find the headspace and creative capacity to launch my website which has been one of the best choices for my business. 

What's your best advice for new yoga teachers wanting to get started teaching? 
Continue your own practice and prioritise it in your week, remember you need to be the best version of yourself for your students and local community. You owe it to yourself to receive as well as offer. I hear so many teachers say 'oh I can't remember the last time I got to a class as a student'. 

Do you teach, if so where? What format? What are your offerings?
I teach at Warrior and Wild studio in Nailsworth, Stroud (Gloucestershire, England), I currently hire the space and it just feels like a second home everytime I step inside the space. It is cosy and has lots of plants, a great homely feeling and lots of candles! My students love it too.

​I teach a range of things and specialise in pop-up events from 'curious and creative movement' to moon and meditation circles - something I am currently developing as a business idea to offer to men and women. I currently teach Dynamic Flow on Tuesday evenings, and run Sunday Special 90 minute classes that include my somatic training - a complete wind down for the nervous system! 

I also run day and residential retreats which include art and fitness combined with yoga.

Anything else you'd like to share? 
I am just grateful to have discovered True North Vinyasa and look forward to one day joining one of their graduate offerings. Thank you Lise and Elin for all of your support during the training.

Instagram: @jesselailayoga
Website: www.retreatmewellness.com

Want to join a 200 hour vinyasa teacher training like Jesse? Read here ››
More TNV Graduate stories ››

Every day life as a yoga teacher can feel lonely. You might even feel like other yoga teachers in your community are competition, fighting for the same students.

With that mindset – I'm lonely and I have competition – it might become a struggle to build a personal and strong yoga brand. Instead, rise up and change 180 degrees. You are not alone. You don't have to feel lonely. Yoga teachers around you are colleagues, working towards the same thing; more people doing yoga.

We need each other for many reasons:

• Growth within the profession. Other yoga teachers have skills that can inspire you to up your game. Learn from them. 
• Moral support. As in any creative job, you'll go through your ups and downs. It's highly valuable to have someone around who will understand this and encourage you through your dips.
• Collaborations. Working with others will give tenfold back. It also means you don't have to do EVERYTHING by yourself. Play your strengths. 
• Referrals. What? Yes. Shift from feeling like you're not enough, into serving those who most benefit from your classes. Refer other students to local teachers who might suit their needs even better. Niche yourself with a clear target group.
• Exchange of services. As in, why not help each other with non-teaching skills, such as pricing, marketing, social media, photography etcetera? It's too much for one person to be good at!  
• Attending classes. Keep going to classes. In each class, you will find a little something that expands your horizon. An expression, a transition, a pose variation or a theme. Find someone to exchange class attendance with.

At True North Vinyasa, we always try to encourage continued growth and community after our 200hr yoga teacher training. Check out our 50hr immersion for yoga teachers ››