VIKASA GRADUATE STORIES
Every year at Vikasa we certify around 200 yoga teachers, either in our Foundation 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, or in our 300hr Advanced Yoga teacher Training. Our graduates continue to inspire us as they bundle up all the wisdom, lessons and practices they gained through their time at Vikasa, and take yoga out into the world in their own unique way. Our graduates are running yoga studios, offering retreats and workshops, teaching at global events and festivals, providing private yoga classes or have their own digital yoga studio platforms.
Each month we are excited to feature one of our graduates in a ‘where are they now’ series so that you too can witness their ongoing transformation and get an idea of where a Vikasa Yoga Training can take you.
This month we introduce you to Rawan. Scroll down to read more about Rawan’s journey and how yoga continues to shape her daily life.
When did you do your Vikasa Yoga teacher Training?
I did my first training in January 2022, 2 months after I quit my 6 years corporate Job at one of the most toxic and materialistic environments/fields in Egypt. I had no intention whatsoever to teach and was actually applying to New York Film Academy to embark on my photography journey but I felt a calling to dive deeper into my practice. I was after the wisdom of yoga and the after effects of the physical practice. It was Vikasa’s 1st YTT after the pandemic and I had to quarantine for two weeks strictly in a room in Thailand before the training started and that’s when I got to experience the pause. Sitting with all my thoughts, my identity crisis of who I am if I’m not a real estate manager, my fears, feeling each one of them, breathing through the slow days and literally surrendering to what is “cause i didn’t have any other option or distraction”.
What drew you to Vikasa in the first place? And how did the experience of being here shape you personally or professionally?
It’s funny I found Vikasa on google search. Was never following on IG. Like many many beginners, when I asked my teacher in Egypt about a “Place” to take my teacher training and I had Bali or India in mind, she laughed and said “Honey it’s not about the place, it’s all about the teacher. I can’t suggest a place, you have to do your own research, read about the teachers and you will resonate.”
And in doing so, I was blessed with the best teachers out there.
My first experience blew my mind literally. It transformed my life. From a person who suffered from panic attacks and constant stress and never satisfied with any “life achievement” to a much wiser human full of acceptance. It shaped me into a much more aware human being. Peeling off so many layers with Michael and Niki, learning the most about the human body and how to teach from Mikey, studying the yoga philosophy with Alex that literally blew my mind from how similar all spiritual messages are, and being very inspired by Kosta’s creations took me back the same year to dive even more into the practice and i did my 300hrs course same year in November.. and that’s when I felt it in my heart that I found my purpose. Help people find ease through acceptance.
What does a dedicated yoga practice mean to you—on and off the mat?
A dedicated yoga practice to me is to keep showing up with presence whoever I am, however I am. In 2023 and after one year of teaching yoga on and off the mat, I went back to Vikasa twice in July and November to assist in the 200&300 YTTs. It resonated more to serve people what I was once served. Love and understanding. To share my heart and how I view this practice and how to take it back home where all the triggers are.
The more people I dealt with, the more I believed in oneness.
We’re all driven by two feelings. Love and Fear.
Can you share how your practice supports you during challenging times—how you still show up, even when it’s hard?
Years of practicing non attachment, of loving more and fearing less, were only preparing me for the biggest loss of my life. It started with my Love, my father. A sudden death while I was at Vikasa, to know a week after that my Mother had stage 4 cancer and after 4 months of surviving the treatments, she too passed away. During those 4 months, I practiced presence, trust, gratitude, acceptance and surrendering to God’s will like never before. In the most advanced ways. Accepting that I can’t bring my father back to life nor want to think of what’s going to happen with my ill mother, I had to live with all its different beautiful and heavy emotions . One breath at a time. I believe I would’ve never survived a day after their loss if I hadn’t been to Vikasa four times already learning and doing exactly what I’m doing.
My practice grounds me and allows me to check in with my soul. Feel what’s there to be felt without any judgement. I learned to observe my mind, feel its effects on my body. I actually learned to feel my heart instead of suppressing it which helped me be less reactive and much more compassionate.
And that’s what makes me show up, especially when I don’t feel like it.
Do you have any daily rituals or habits that keep you grounded?
My daily rituals that keep me grounded are praying/meditating 5 times a day “Dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night time” as well as reading the Quran and getting a daily message from it to keep me going.
What are you up to now? Whether it’s teaching, creating, traveling, or something else entirely!
Right now I teach at Onati yoga studio in Gouna by the red sea on the weekends and weekdays. I’m in Cairo having a workshop on Friday for mental awareness month. The plan in June is to pop up to different yoga studios in Cairo and educate people on what yoga really is and how it’s a work in not a workout. I teach in July and August at the North Coast, another part of Egypt by the Mediterranean. I started promoting my upcoming Releasing Resilience retreat in April at Vikasa. Working on Podcasts as well about yoga, psychology and spirituality “Life”.
I’m writing my storybook “This too shall pass”
Selling my parents house then moving to Koh Samui!
Inspired to take the next step of your yoga journey?
If you’re ready to take the leap from student to teacher, or deepen your existing yoga practice and teaching skills, join us at Vikasa for a Yoga Teacher Training. We offer our 200hr and 300hr training several times a year. You can also join us for a shorter 100hr Yin Yoga training, or 100hr Refresh Yoga training once per year.
Check our training page here for all upcoming dates and details.
If becoming a successful yoga teacher is a goal or dream of yours- we’re here to support you to ensure that becomes a reality.