Graduate case study - Katie Malley
Wondering what training to be a Yoga Teacher involves?
In our next series of blogs we will be interviewing our graduates to provide you with an honest insight into our courses and the post-graduate landscape.
It’s a brave step to begin Yoga Teacher Training…
Will it fit around your existing commitments?
Will you be able to sustain an income once qualified?
The first of our graduate interviews features Katie Malley, who attended our 200-hour Online Hatha & our 40-hour Restorative Yoga Teacher Training courses.
What is your role and why did you decide to train to teach Yoga?
I’m a Safeguarding & Therapeutic Education Consultant. Previous to this I was Assistant Principal at a school in the North West. I decided to train to teach Yoga as a way to support the children and adults I worked with, as well as to try and share the joy of Yoga to others in my community who may not think Yoga is for them.
I have always loved Yoga and I used Yoga to regain my mobility and confidence following a spinal cord operation a few years ago.
Where do you work and who do you teach Yoga to?
Since training, I have become self employed and I offer Yoga sessions, workshops and classes to nurseries, schools and colleges in my area, for both children and the professionals that care for them.
Why did you decide to train at the Academy for Yoga Teacher Training?
A friend and colleague trained with Diane and recommended the Academy for Yoga Training.
After meeting Diane, I knew the Academy was the place for me to do my training. Diane was extremely supportive and knowledgeable and dispelled any anxieties I had around not being good enough to teach others Yoga.
What has your training with the Academy for Yoga Training been like? Did it fit around your existing career for example?
The training was extremely flexible, but with very robust assessments.
Being able to access the classes online and work on my postures at home in the privacy of my own space, meant I could really concentrate and perfect my practice.
When it came to assessments, Diane’s feedback was accurate, useful and descriptive, which meant I knew what I needed to do to improve.
Has it deepened your love of Yoga? What have you discovered?
For sure! As I learnt more about Yoga, including the history and physical anatomy, my love for it grew. I discovered my body can do things I never thought it could, it developed my self confidence and love for myself as a person.
How has the course impacted upon your personal and your work life?
The course supported me to grow in confidence, understand what I enjoy in life and ultimately led me to develop a better work life balance. As a person I feel confident, calm and in control.
“I’m so pleased I did this course, it’s one of my greatest achievements. ”
How did you manage your full-time job alongside your training?
This was tricky at first as I was working in school when I trained, working long hours and spending lots of my weekends prepping for the week ahead. However, once I got my head around the portal and the deadlines, I wrote myself a timetable and found slots of time over the week that I ring-fenced as “my time”.
The course, and the work for it, didn’t feel like work. I enjoyed every minute of it, and the more I did, the more I wanted to do.
The online portal provides loads of flexibility so you can work on it when you want to. The recorded classes, were great too, as I could re-watch them to consolidate my learning.
Do you think the course offers flexibility for anyone else seeking to train alongside their existing commitments?
Yes! I would highly recommend this way of completing the course if you work full time. There is no compromise on quality.
If Diane had not offered this course, I might never have been able to become a qualified Yoga teacher because of my busy work week.
What benefits do you think Yoga offers young people?
There are so many. Yoga allows children the chance to connect with their mind, body and spirit. It’s an opportunity to relax and destress. It supports children to develop their confidence and build their self esteem, as well as helping them to learn to focus and understand what their bodies can do.
Have you noticed an increased need for mental health and wellbeing support in your current role?
Absolutely! Mental health support has never been more needed, particularly due to Covid 19 and all the extra stressors that lockdown brought.
How has the pandemic impacted young people’s wellbeing?
For many children, the pandemic shook their belief in the world as being a safe and welcoming place. This resulted in an increase in anxiety for many of the young people I work with.
What role can Yoga play in helping young people?
Yoga can support young people to find some quiet time in their very hectic days, it can sooth their stress response system, reduce anxiety, help them to develop healthy ways to deal with stress and find joy in mindful activity.
It’s also a great way for children to have fun with their friends, you can be so creative with Yoga!
Will you be teaching Yoga to colleagues also?
Yes! Schools and colleges can be extremely stressful environments to work in. Many teachers and school staff work long hours and are always giving their best to the children they work with.
They need time for themselves too, and Yoga can provide them with a safe space to relax and nourish themselves.
Would you recommend the course to other organisations that work with young people?
Yes, particularly those that work with teenagers.
Will you be seeking to continue training at the Academy to teach other styles of Yoga?
I’ve done the Restorative Yoga training and find this particularly useful for myself and the clients I work with to support de-stressing and anxiety reduction.
Will you use your training to teach people outside of your day to day job?
Yes, I like to run workshops and classes for members of my community. I’m currently training as a psychotherapist and I intend to use Yoga with my clients.
Would you recommend this course to other colleagues or friends?
Without a doubt!