Being “nomadic” - the idea of traveling the world, bouncing from place to place doing as you’d like, exploring culture, exploring untapped parts of the world, and most importantly, better exploring yourself is quite a popular trend these days.
Often I get asked “how do you do it? How do you travel the world so much? What are you doing for work?” When my answer to them is: "I teach yoga", most people question how I do it.
After all, teaching yoga isn't a job that is known to make you rich, nor fund you the needs to travel long-term. One part of the shorter answer in how I travel and teach yoga, is finding jobs on Yogatrade, which is one of several platforms that allow people to find teaching jobs all over the world.
But to be honest, it takes a lot more than just finding a job to take a risk, leave your friends and family, and move across the world. If you've been playing with the idea of teaching yoga abroad, here are a few small steps to mentally prepare yourself:
1. Start Practicing Being Fearless
Being brave is like a muscle that you can strengthen. Start a new hobby that scares you, ask that cute guy out, and start the practice of moving into fear. Fear is just the unknown.
What we don’t know, scares us. But the only way we can expand is by doing what scares us, (ironic, isn't it?). Start with the small stuff — then the big scarier stuff becomes easier.
2. Follow the Smallest Sign
If your mind doesn’t know where to go, your soul already does. There’s probably a place, or an opportunity that has been calling your name. If you want to take off to some part of the world, but you don’t know where — then follow the first and smallest sign. I’m talking about overhearing a conversation on the subway - or seeing an Instagram post of a location that makes you feel excited. Follow the whispers of your heart. It always knows what your mind doesn't.
3. Don’t Travel - “just to travel”
Don’t travel ‘just to travel’ - this will get boring. Wherever you go, go with a purpose. Trust me on this one —- sipping cocktails on beaches and partying at hostels can only amuse you for so long before you start to feel purposeless and unfulfilled. Go to India for that yoga teacher training you've been wanting to do, or go volunteer at a school in Vietnam. Go somewhere for a calling that is deeper than selfies and checklists -- here you will find your purpose.
4. Work / Trade your Skills Abroad
As a yoga teacher, the internet has become my best friend in helping me find opportunities to live and work all over the world. I've been able to teach yoga at a cool surf hostel in Sri Lanka, a boutique hotel on the east coast of Bali, and at a permaculture farm in the south of Costa Rica.
Not a yoga teacher? Check out sites like workaway for opportunities in any work field, from nannying, to gardening, to construction. If you think that money is the only thing holding you back from traveling, then this is your solution to traveling without spending a single dime.
5. Get your Shit Together
Finally, the adult stuff. Just because I'm nomadic doesn't mean I don't have responsibilities and cares in the world. If you're seriously thinking about moving towards a nomadic life, make sure you cross your T's and dot your I's. I still invest in important items like travel insurance, identity theft insurance, and of course, an international phone plan so I can phone home to ensure my parents I am still alive.
My last piece of advice for you is simply to go for it! Quit the job, dump the toxic boyfriend, change up your life if you’re not currently satisfied, and make the leap of faith into the unknown. If people think you’re crazy, then you know you’re on the right track.
By Brooke Nally
Brooke is a freelance writer who has been traveling the world for about two years, teaching yoga everywhere she lands.
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