Play to learn more about Jeanne Chung:

I began practicing yoga only because there was a studio super close to my house. When I lived in San Francisco, I used to drive by a Bikram studio every day on the way to work. Somehow it kept “calling” me. I finally went and did a class, thought it was *totally* weird, I left bewildered, two hours later I realized that I never ever felt so good. So I went back the very next day. And so on and so on. Got addicted and it shifted the direction of my life.

I practice yoga now because it keeps the energy flowing in my body, mind, and heart. It balances out the rest of my life which is work. And frankly, I feel that it’s helping me age much more gracefully!

The most reward thing for me as a teacher is to witness the “aha!” moments in students. Whether big (significant spiritual awakening and opening) or small (figuring out the right foot from the left foot) these are the moments in savor.

As a teacher trainer, being able to be a part of the next level of transformation and growth is most rewarding – to see passionate students’ breakthrough their doubt and fears and become a brighter version of themselves and charge fearlessly ahead into the world of teaching.

The biggest challenge as a yoga teacher happens in the beginning – going through the intense process to discover your own voice.

What I hope will happen in the world of yoga is already happening – which is more and more people doing yoga! So, I guess, I just hope it will continue!

Yoga is becoming accepted by so many different types of people in so many different places (e.g., not just long-haired barefoot hippies wandering around India … or California). And while it is certainly controversial, I think the evolution of so many “styles” of yoga is wonderful because it gets more and more people to do it. The essence of yoga in its practices will prevail no matter what you call it. And that is all very good for humanity.

For those students who are considering teaching, I say: go for it! For students who want to deepen their practice, I say: keep practicing & broaden your practice … don’t just increase the frequency you go to your favorite class/teacher but try other styles, other teachers, incorporate meditation, pranayama, go study with some amazing scholars …

It seems like a lot … and who has the time, right? Don’t worry … Patanjali was very upfront about this. He said (and this is a gross paraphrasing!) that in your yoga practice you gotta stay super dedicated and earnest and … it is gonna take a long time. One step at a time, one day at a time. Just stay the course & practice.