Nichol Araya
Why did you start yoga?
I felt lost behind the title of mom and wife after just giving birth to my second child. Post-partum depression had silently hit me after my first child was born and I wanted some tools to help cope with the possibility of its return. Additionally, I found myself craving for time where I was able to let go of my never-ending to-do list and just focus on my own selfcare. At that time, my image of yoga was a physical practice that helped quiet your mind. After my first few classes, I realized that yoga gave me a safe space to be present, heal and grow.
Why did you sign up for yoga teacher training at Muddy Waters?
Commitment to myself was my main reason for signing up for the training. I was at a point in my life that I was striving to reclaim who I am as a women; finding that my self-worth is not based on my achievements or my children. When I signed up, my hope for the program was to have a deeper appreciation for myself and to find strength, self-compassion, peace, and gratitude along the journey. My goals aligned with my experiences at Muddy Waters. During the few months that I attended Muddy Waters I felt a depth to my practice that I didn’t feel at other yoga classes. Muddy Waters had given me the safe space to grow and explore.
How it has changed your life?
Before YTT, my life was overstimulated, unbalanced, and overindulgent; I saw exhaustion as a status symbol. Now, most days, I feel peace, ease, kindness, balance, gratitude, and presences.
I find myself enjoying the experiences of life and even cherishing the mundane moments.
I’ve started enjoying parenting more and expanded the ways I teach my children.
I’ve found empowerment in what my physical body can accomplish.
My internal dialogue has quieted, and my thoughts have become more compassionate and curious.
For the first time in my life, I’ve fallen in love with my body and reconnected with my soul.
This training hasn’t taken away any of the negative parts of life, it has simply given me the physical, mental and spiritual tools to find gratitude every day, especially on the hard days. In many ways, it has freed me.
Scholarship deadline is August 15 and recipients will be notified on August 31.
Terry Erickson Scholarship (1)
One scholarships offered to yoga students interested in deepening his or her practice. Currently this scholarship is for $500 towards tuition.
BIPOC Scholarships (1)
One scholarship offered to students that identify among the BIPOC community. Inclusivity, diversity and representation should be the standard throughout the Yoga community, not just the ideal. This scholarship is for $500 towards tuition.
Our core values are connection, experience, and education.
Our commitment will always be to carry out these values in everything that we do.
Muddy Waters Yoga School is a private career school through the state of Minnesota and a registered yoga school with Yoga Alliance.