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

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Name: Stride & Edge Yoga (Harry Gordon & Madeleine Sidi)
Nationality: British
Age: 32 and 26
TNV training: April 2019
Where do you live? The Lake District in the North of England

With so many yoga teacher trainings to chose from, what made you choose TNV's 200 hour teacher training? TNV's training stood out to us because of the importance they put on building a business and branding. There are a lot of yoga teacher trainings out there that will teach you the fundamentals to teaching yoga but then don't show you how to actually teach in the real world.

TNV looked like a friendly and relaxed style of training that also felt retreat-like. Of course, we wanted to learn to be yoga teachers but we also wanted to enjoy ourselves and have fun.

What was the training like for you and what were some skills and qualities you left with? The training was more than we had hoped for. Lisa and Elin were so friendly and welcoming. They are still to this day the best yoga teachers we have ever had. Our own practice improved hugely, we left stronger and more skilled.

The most important element they taught us was the way to set up a business, we left feeling confident to advertise ourselves and run a fully functioning business.
We managed to create a brand that was unique to our area and us as people and that has only developed over time.

What's your journey been like since the ttc? Since the training we have been teaching non-stop for 4 years. We went straight into teaching weekly classes in a rented studio. We now teach 2 weekly classes in The Lake District in beautiful lake-fronted studios. We have built an online platform on YouTube where we have 100s of free online classes. We host yoga retreats in the UK and in Spain and have two coming up this year. We also teach privately for groups and companies. In 2020 we taught 5 online classes a week to LLoyds Banking Group.

What's your best advice for new yoga teachers wanting to get started teaching? Don't wait. Just start. Try and make it fun and get friends and family to join at first, then word will spread and you'll start to build up your core clients.

Do you teach, if so where? What format? What are your offerings?​ We teach 2 weekly in-person classes in The Lake District, our Saturday Morning yoga by the lake is a favourite! We also teach lots of online classes for our YouTube channel, ranging from 10–60 minutes all on demand.

Anything else you'd like to share? Just a massive thank you to TNV, without them we would not be where we are today.

Instagram: @strideandedge

Website: www.strideandedge.co.uk 

Name: Vera Powles
Nationality: Portuguese & British
Age: 35
Were do you live? Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (North East of England)

With so many yoga teacher trainings to chose from, what made you chose TNV's 200 hour teacher training? I knew I wanted to teach yoga as a part of my professional career so the focus that TNV puts on educating their students on sustainable yoga careers and entrepreneurship alongside key skills required to be of service to my own students was a deciding factor.

Lisa and Elin's careers and fields of expertise, as well as their guest teachers, inspired me and gave me the confidence that I'd be in the best hands during my training. I wanted to feel that I was using every second of my 200hr YTT to build my skills and knowledge and with TNV I've got that and so much more! 

What was the training like for you and what were some skills and qualities you left with?
I loved every second of the training; The location and venue are outstanding - I felt comfortable, well looked after and nourished all the way through.

All the teachers are incredible knowledgeable, approachable and friendly. I didn't feel that we have spent time doing anything that wasn't valuable or productive. Every day was a challenge and I felt out of my comfort zone many times but found my growth through that. Elin and Lisa's message to "not play small" still echoes in my mind and heart whenever I'm struck by impostor syndrome.

TNV has this special way of attracting like-minded people so I fostered friendships for life and gained a network of recent graduates which has been so supportive! I worked hard during the YTT but also don't remember ever having laughed so much.

Overall it was the experience of a lifetime and something I'll never forget. Professionally I gained all the skills I needed to start teaching to a very good level. Personally, I overcame many limiting beliefs and learn so much about myself.
 
What's your journey been like since the ttc? 
I started teaching the month after I completed my training and for the last 9 months have been building my own yoga community. I've launched a new website including an online wellness membership and recently hosted my first day-retreat.

What's your best advice for new yoga teachers wanting to get started teaching? 
Before anything else, take time to sit down and identify your values, your teaching style and class description. These will be your compass for everything that you do and you'll feel more aligned as a teacher. Talk to everyone you know and meet about your passion for yoga and your vision and you'll see unexpected partnerships and opportunities manifest into your life.

Do you teach, if so where? What format? What are your offerings? 
I'm an independent teacher so I host weekly vinyasa classes in a beautiful lifestyle shop called Mascara Studio, which is local to me. I also host monthly Yoga Socials in a really cool brewery, Full Circle Brew Co. where yogis have the change to meet and chat over a coffee or craft beer after the class. Recently I've hosted a day retreat which included yoga, meditation, pranayama, journalling and other mindful activities, a soundbath and lots of yummy healthy food. My biggest project at the moment is my online membership which I create weekly content for.
 
Instagram: manaliving.co.uk

Website: https://manaliving.co.uk