Last month I had the honour of completing my 50hour Yin Yoga Teacher training with an amazing Yoga Teacher I found through Instagram, Celine Buergi, aka @_yoga_vida_celine. The dates of her training magically aligned with the time that we were travelling through Yeppoon, so I just couldn’t resist, and what a wonderful decision it ended up being. I immersed myself in to the world of Yin Yoga, alongside a beautiful group of men and women. It was transformational, insightful, nourishing and a whole lot of fun.
Hearing more of Celine’s journey throughout that training, I became so intrigued in to what it is like to teach Yoga around the world. Celine is originally from Switzerland, however has spent several years travelling the world, deepening her own yoga practice and passing on her wisdom whenever possible.
I recently caught up with Celine to delve a little deeper in to her background as an international Yoga Teacher.
When and where did you first discover Yoga?
I first tried Yoga 9 years ago back home in Switzerland. I initially went to Yoga because I wanted to try something new. I was quite a gym junkie (background PT) and thought that Yoga might be a different way to move the body. Like most yogis who begin practicing Yoga, I really liked the physical aspect of a class. Until I discovered that there is so much more behind the Asana practice.
How far in to your journey did you decide to become a Yoga teacher, and where did you receive your initial teacher training?
After a few months I was curious about what Yoga really was, and I started to do some selfstudy. I went to satsangs and workshops and read a few books which would help me to understand the essence of Yoga. But it took me almost 4 years to sign up for my first Teacher Training in Thailand, Koh Phangan. The main reason to do this training was to deepen my asana practice and gain more knowledge about philosophy etc. I never thought that I would start to teach after that.
What life experiences led you to Australia, and how long have you been here for?
I always loved to travel and have been lucky enough to travel the world a couple of times. Sometimes I was gone for 1 month, 3 months, for 6 months or over a year. Fortunately my job as a Nurse allowed me to quit my job at home, and then find another Nurse job after my travels quite easily. After coming back from the 200hr Teacher Training in Thailand, I pretty much started full time teaching back in Switzerland in two studios for a couple of years.
Meanwhile my mother got very sick. And after she passed away, which broke my heart, I decided to leave Switzerland for an unknown time to travel, to heal, teach yoga and do more trainings.
I quit my jobs, broke up with my partner of 7 years, sold all my stuff and left. It was not an easy decision but I felt it was time for a big change.
I travelled to India where I completed my 300hr Teacher Training. Then Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand and back to India for more travel and teaching jobs. I was honestly living my best yogi life for almost 3 years.
Most of the time I was teaching in Yoga Schools or Hostels in exchange for free food and accommodation (Karma yoga) and I loved it.
Ubud, Bali was the last place that I lived for a long time and I was lucky enough to be teaching in a well known Yoga School in Ubud too. I was happily living in a cute house up in the ricefields.
And then Covid hit.
Naively I thought it was a good idea to escape back to India to see some friends and stay with them. How wrong I was….after India went into lockdown, the seriousness of the situation became reality. So I took the first rescue flight I could get to Australia with Ben (my Australian partner whom I had met previously in India).
Did you find it hard to find work as an international Yoga teacher here in Australia, and where did you land your first yoga teacher job?
I believe that no matter where in the world you want to teach, it’s always easier to start to teach somewhere new by going in to the Studio’s to say hello, and to practice and to socialise with the other teachers and the owner.
I started to teach regular classes in Yeppoon, Central Queensland at Rosslyn Bay Wellness Center. I was lucky enough to also hold a Yin Yoga Teacher Training at this place as well which I really enjoyed.
Ben is from Cabarita Beach NSW, and every time we went down there to see family and friends, I was practicing in a Yoga Studio at Cabarita and Kingscliff and fell in love with the community there. And not long after that, they were asking me if I was willing to teach at their Studio’s as well. I was very keen, and we recently moved to Cabarita.
In your personal opinion, how does the Yoga Industry in Australia compare to other country’s you have taught in?
I feel that even within Australia, the Yoga Industry is thriving in some areas and non-existent in others. So it is hard to speak of the Australian Yoga Industry as a whole. But if we speak of famous Yoga places like Byron Bay, there are so many amazing, world-class Yoga Studios, Trainings and Workshops, with some of the best Yoga teachers in the southern hemisphere, it is jaw-dropping.
I personally only experienced a Yoga Industry similar to Byron Bay in Bali.
What are your biggest challenges about teaching Yoga in a different country?
When I first taught Yoga in country’s other than Switzerland, I found it challenging to teach in English. After 2 years teaching in Swiss German it was difficult to switch language. But now after 3 years teaching only in English, I cannot even imagine teaching a class in Swiss German again.
Out of all the country’s you have travelled and taught Yoga, which has been your favourite place to teach and why?
With the places I’ve been so far, I really loved working for Yoga Schools in India & Bali, in particular teaching the 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings.
Mostly because I spent 4 intense weeks with the same group of people who were going through a life changing experience and I was able to help them on their Yoga Journey.
Watching the transformation of each Student was always such a beautiful experience for me as their Teacher and it made me humble to stay a student and learn from this too.
What are your plans for the next 12 months?
Haha that is really hard to say. I stopped with making plans a long time ago. Even making plans for the next 4 weeks is something that I cannot do anymore. I have learned to float and to let the universe provide what happens next. Sounds like a stereotype yogi thing to say but it is the truth for me.
I do however have a few upcoming events which are set in stone. I am hosting Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings in Mackay Qld and in Exmouth WA, and also a Yoga Retreat in Byfield National Park, Yeppoon.
And I know that someday, hopefully next year, I can pack my backpack and my Yoga mat again and I will be back travelling around the globe.
