I went to India to learn yoga. From the source. I intended on taking all sorts of yoga classes from local yogis. I intended on reading a plethora of books on this ancient science. I had so many intentions on how I would learn “real” yoga. But I had no intention of signing up for a Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC). Like, at all.

I always thought TTC was for serious yogis. The ones who have been practicing yoga for many, many years and only wanted to teach for a living. You know, the really skinny flexible ones that can stand on their heads and contort their bodies in unimaginable ways. I always thought it was not for me.

So when I started traveling around India I was shocked to meet so many people from all walks of life enrolled in a TTC. Yogis of all ages, of all levels, from all over the world. And most of them were simply enrolled to improve their personal practice, to dive deeper into the world of yoga. You’re telling me I don’t even have to be a yoga teacher afterwards?! I can do this just for me??

Yes. I’m also telling you that you can be a complete beginner and still sign up for TTC. Because this course is not so much about becoming a teacher for others as it is about becoming your own teacher. And it’s definitely not so much about having a flexible strong body as it is about having a flexible strong mind.

But I can't guarantee you won't want to teach yoga when you're done. Because this isn't so much about teaching as it is about sharing. Sharing what is meant to be shared. Sharing the light. Sharing the love.

And so the call began.

I didn’t go crazy searching for the perfect school. Like most things on this journey, I simply put the intention out there and then I let it come to me. And I found the perfect school, or really, like I said, it found me. Small, intimate, in tropical South India, walking distance to the beach, hatha style, and just overall perfect.

I walked into the shala overlooking the Indian Ocean on Day 1 thinking I was there for me. And without even knowing it I was about to take one giant leap into the next leg of my spiritual path.

Service.

I went from living in complete solitude and silence, happily traveling solo, meditating for hours on end in an ashram, wanting to live my simple little hermit life in this sacred land, cringing at the thought of going back to the West...in a matter of weeks I went from that to having no greater desire than to serve, even if that means going back home, because that’s exactly what was coming next.

Yes, I learned how to properly perform asanas, I dove deep into the 8 limbs of yoga, I practiced enough pranayama to detoxify years of build-up, I got strong, I got flexible, I got exhausted, I spent hours studying and discussing yoga philosophy, I wanted to leave, I wanted to stay forever, I taught a yoga class, I taught a few yoga classes, I embraced my new passion wholeheartedly, and at the end of it all, I realized why I was there.

Service.

“You now have the knowledge. It is your responsibility to share this knowledge. It is your duty to serve others by sharing what you learned here. The most transformative step in the spiritual path is selfless service of humanity. Go. Spread the message. Go. Serve.” Sweet sweet parting words at our graduation.

If I had to narrow down the greatest lesson I learned during my yoga teacher training course, it would be this.

The spiritual path is not about your personal journey. It’s not about finding solace in the silence and solitude of the Himalayas. It’s not about renouncing the world and running away to the furthest quietest corner of the universe. It’s not about you.

When you’re ready, you’ll realize what it’s about.

Service.

It’s about receiving your messages, learning your lessons, and then sharing them with others. It’s about getting to shore while pulling others along. It’s about wrapping up all of your magical, perfect gifts in the most dazzling package and then giving it away. It’s about service.