From Japan to Copenhagen: Nanako’s YTT Journey at yum

Some people choose a yoga teacher training because it is close to home. Some choose it because it fits their calendar. And some choose it because something inside them whispers, this is the one.

In the summer of 2025, Nanako flew all the way from Japan to Copenhagen to join yum’s 200H Vinyasa YTT. She had never been to yum before. In fact, she had not even heard of it. Still, she followed a quiet inner pull that told her this training would be different.

Today, Nanako is a certified yoga teacher, teaching in her hometown of Kyoto. When she looks back, she describes her time at yum as life changing, not only in how she teaches yoga, but in how she meets herself and the world.

Choosing yum by feeling, not logic

For Nanako, choosing a YTT was never about convenience or trends. She was searching for a place where she could feel genuinely inspired and deeply connected.

“I wanted to choose a studio where I could feel inspired and connected,” she says.
A place where she could fully commit to the training, rather than simply choosing what felt obvious or popular.

She was also drawn to the idea of learning from teachers with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. For her, that combination existed at yum.

“For me, that was yum. So I followed my heart and decided to fly to Copenhagen.”

Even without prior knowledge of the studio, she sensed that something meaningful was waiting for her there. 

“I somehow sensed that this training would change my life, open doors to new possibilities, and help me grow as a person.”

Showing up when it felt hard

Like any honest journey of growth, the training was not always easy. Nanako experienced moments of physical and mental challenge that pushed her outside her comfort zone.

“During the training, I had many difficult moments, both mentally and physically,” she shares.

There were days when everything felt overwhelming and moments when she questioned whether she could even make it to class. What carried her through was not willpower alone, but the environment around her.

She describes a sense of being supported and accepted exactly as she was. That steady presence allowed her to keep showing up, even on the days when it felt hardest. Their kindness became a quiet anchor, reminding her that growth does not mean doing everything alone.

Trusting the process and finding her voice

One of Nanako’s biggest challenges during the training was not seeing immediate progress. There were moments when she felt stuck and struggled to express her true self through her practice and teaching.

Rather than forcing confidence, she chose to immerse herself fully. She attended as many teachers’ classes as possible, learning through observation and experience, noticing how differently each teacher embodied the practice. Over time, this diversity helped her shape her own understanding of teaching.

One sentence from anatomy teacher Marianne stayed with her throughout the training and still guides her today.

“Trust the process, even when you are not seeing your progress.”

She also returned again and again to a question posed on the very first day of the training.

“Why am I here?”

When self doubt became loud, Lead Teacher Kostis offered advice that helped her reconnect with herself.

“Pour your Japanese personality and spirit into your teaching.”

That permission changed something. Slowly, Nanako began to trust her own presence. Her voice returned, not by copying others, but by allowing herself to be fully who she is.

Letting go of perfection

Nanako entered the YTT wanting to deepen her understanding of yoga. What she did not expect was how profoundly her perception of yoga and herself would shift.

From the beginning to the end of the training, her ideas about yoga, teaching, and progress evolved. She realized that yoga is not about shapes looking a certain way, nor about pushing the body beyond its limits.

“Listening to your body’s voice is what truly matters.”

She learned that bodies are different and that asanas are meant to adapt to the individual, not the other way around. This understanding extended beyond the physical practice.

Before the training, Nanako felt she had to be hard on herself and strive for perfection. Through the process, she discovered a gentler truth.

“Taking care of myself is not selfish.”

She learned that it is okay not to be perfect and that openness and self kindness are strengths, not weaknesses. This shift changed how she relates to herself and how she meets others.

Bringing Copenhagen home to Kyoto

After completing her certification, Nanako returned to Japan and began the search for her first teaching job. Without existing connections in Kyoto, she focused on building relationships by attending classes, getting to know studios, and understanding their atmospheres from the inside.

She openly shared her wish to teach, even when studios were not actively hiring. After several months of consistent effort, a teacher she had taken class with shared a job opportunity. Nanako taught a trial class for the studio manager and soon after was offered her first teaching position in Kyoto.

She was prepared for the process to take time, something her yum teachers had been honest about from the start. When setbacks appeared, what kept her motivated was the continued support from her fellow trainees and teachers, even after the training had ended.

Her experience in Copenhagen proved especially valuable. Teaching in English, holding space for people from different cultures, and having international teaching experience aligned perfectly with what her current studio was looking for.

A moment that still lives on

When asked about the most unforgettable moment of her YTT, Nanako immediately thinks of the final test day. She remembers feeling disappointed about herself, believing she had not shown and presented herself as she wanted to.

Her classmates noticed and came to support her. Her teachers acknowledged her journey and offered words that stayed with her long after the day ended.

“It is just the start. You do not need to be perfect. Be kind to yourself.”

They also said something that continues to support her today.

“We need someone like you.”

Those words still guide her, both as a teacher and as a person. Every experience from the training remains part of her, shaping how she teaches and how she walks through the world.

Thinking about YTT?

Nanako is honest about the experience. The training is intensive and asks you to put in the work needed. But she believes deeply in what it offers beyond certification.

“It is truly life changing,” she says, not only for those who want to teach yoga, but for anyone ready to meet themselves more honestly.

Her advice is simple and heartfelt.

Trust the process, even if your pace feels slow. Be kind to yourself.

And if you feel even a small pull toward the training, she encourages you to listen.

Sometimes, opening one door really does open a whole new life.

Read about yum’s upcoming yoga teacher training here.