This Yogini.....

Garland Pose, Rashel Fitchett, photo by Thomas Fitchett

Who is this yogini? That is a question I asked about myself recently as I contemplated the idea of how "trained" I am in the school of yoga. What experiences have molded me into who I am in the world of this ancient middle eastern philosophy of mind, body, and universe. 

Included in my own answers were the subjects of home practice, official trainings, workshops, literature, and yoga classes.



Home Practice:
2002-Present: Includes the following

• Yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Restorative, Anusara)
• Pranayama (Ujjayi, Anuloma Viloma)
• Meditation
• Journaling & Blogging

Bird of Paradise, Rashel Fitchett, photo by Thomas Fitchett

Official Training:

Anusara Immersion- 50 hour study of Anusara yoga (Asana, Philosophy, Pranayama, Meditation)

• Detailed Exploration of the Universal Principles of Alignment^™
• Tantric Yoga Philosophy & History of Yoga
• Anatomy Components for a Strong & Safe Practice
• Fundamental Pranayama, Meditation, Journaling & Sanskrit
• All Asana from the Anusara's Level 1 & 2 Syllabus

Workshops:

Melina Meza at Surya Yoga in Yakima, WA

Study and practice of-

• Hatha Yoga
• Ayurveda
• Whole foods nutrition
• Healthy lifestyle promotion into a unique style called Seasonal Vinyasa.

Literature:

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary by Edwin F. Bryant
• The Bhagavad Gita
• The Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain
• Anusara Yoga Immersion Manual by John Friend
• Anusara Yoga Teacher Training Manual by John Friend
• Yoga Journal Magazine
• Yogafit by Beth Shaw

Yoga Classes:

• Kundalini Yoga at the Anacortes Center for Happiness
• Yoga with Dunja at the Anacortes Center for Happiness
• Sun Salutations Yoga with Lashel Church at Surya Yoga
• Yoga with Jennifer McFarland at  Crescent Moon Yoga 
• Yoga with Alexis Britton at Crescent Moon Yoga
• Hatha Yoga at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Center

Favorite Poses:

• Headstand
• Bird of Paradise
• Crane
• Wheel
• Wild Thing
• Side Plank
• Standing Splits
• Full Lotus
• Scorpion ...at the wall ;)

My home practice began in 2002 when I chose to try new methods of handling the stress of being a military wife and mother of three. My home practice remained steady until December of 2011, when I chose to begin the process of teacher training to become a yoga instructor. Since then, I have added to my home practice, visits to local yoga studios where I have enjoyed multiple types of yoga taught by different instructors. My reading list is always full of yoga-based literature and I rely on my Yoga Journal magazine to keep my perspective fresh. Adding workshops, here and there, is a fun way, I've found, to expand my knowledge. 

My ultimate goal is to teach yoga someday. Finding a place to become officially certified by the Yoga Alliance has been difficult, as traveling away from the demands of the family has curtailed those efforts. Until then, I will continue to practice, read, and expose myself to more yoga in ways that further deepen my connection to my mind, body, and this universe. 

Standing Bow Pose, Rashel Fitchett, photo by Thomas Fitchett