Imsouane, Morocco
“Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for the perfect timing or match. Those things don’t really exist…Be open. To give as much as to receive. Begin anyway.”
I recently completed my second YTT in the little Brazilian town I call home. Training for me is reset. I need challenge and value dedicated time with my body and mind, understanding what feels good and restoring what I’ve neglected. After 21 days with The Soulful Kind, I’m stronger and more grounded.
It’s interesting to witness yourself in an entirely vulnerable environment. The needs, patterns and thoughts that surface in the absence of distraction. A mirror of how decisions materialize into people, places and situations. How nothing is random and everything responds to frequency.
Letizia is proof of the connections formed when living in alignment. She read an article I’d written and reached out. A yoga teacher from Bologna, also navigating an experimental life of teaching and travel. We’ve never met, but shared stories across the distance. That’s what this series and Yoga Trade is for.
Naturally, I was curious about her first teaching trade in Morocco. Her story follows below.
Hi, I’m Letizia, from Italy, and I’m currently living in Bologna.
I’m certified to teach Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. I completed my 200-hour YTT in Bali in February 2024. That was also my first solo travel experience, and I’d say it was one of the most transformative moments of my life. I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and prove to myself that I’m capable of more than I thought… and long story short, that’s what I did. I flew to the other side of the world alone, stayed in the middle of rice fields surrounded by all kinds of animals and insects, jumped off waterfalls, hiked an active volcano, hitchhiked in the north of Bali, dealt with food poisoning, I became a yoga teacher and so much more.
Fresh out of the course and rinsed by mama Bali, I started teaching as soon as I came back to Italy. Right now I offer mainly Vinyasa classes in person in Bologna, and I also teach private 1:1 classes online.
Growing as a yoga teacher in Italy can be a slow and challenging journey, especially at the beginning. That’s why I started looking for alternative ways to share yoga, alongside the more traditional paths like studios or gyms, and also ways that feel a bit less focused on the business side of things, which can sometimes feel like pressure.
I’ve also always been drawn to the idea of combining yoga and travel, so when the opportunity came up to volunteer at a yoga & surf guesthouse in Imsouane, Morocco, I decided to go for it.
What inspired you to start teaching yoga? How has your practice evolved?
Personally, yoga has been such a powerful tool for personal growth. When I discovered new ways to listen to myself and stay present, everything started to change.
I’m naturally quite introverted, even a bit shy, so I was honestly surprised to find that I enjoy teaching, even in front of larger groups. When I teach, I feel confident and grounded, and my voice doesn’t shake at all. Showing up for myself consistently on the mat really helped me build self-confidence, which is something I had struggled with for a long time.
In the past, I went through some challenging periods that led to a lot of anxiety, to the point where it started affecting my daily life. Yoga taught me how to “surf” the waves of my thoughts. Sometimes to unravel them, and other times to simply accept that not everything has to be a certain way.
I also come from a dance background, so I’ve always needed a physical way to process things, to really stay in my body and move through emotions. That’s something I’ve carried with me since I was very young, but yoga helped me do it in a more mindful and gentle way. The dance environment can be quite rigid and sometimes even toxic, and yoga really helped me heal my relationship with my body. It even brought me back to dancing after many years.
All of these experiences have been so meaningful to me that it didn’t feel right to keep them just for myself. That’s what inspired me to start teaching.
How have your travels influenced the way you teach, practice, and see the world?
When someone enters a class, most of the time I know nothing about them. I don’t know their background, whether they had a good or a bad day, or if they’re going through something difficult. I always keep this in mind and try to create a space where they can find what they need, even if they don’t fully know it yet. It’s like guiding someone toward an answer without knowing the question. I believe everyone carries something inside (doubts, insecurities, past experiences…). In Italy we say everyone has their own “luggage.” Sometimes it’s light, sometimes it can feel very heavy.
Traveling, and especially my experience in Morocco, really deepened this awareness. Morocco is a beautiful country, with a rich and diverse culture. What touched me the most was the people, their openness, their way of slowing down (there’s no point in rushing opposed to what I was used to back in Europe), their willingness to share, whether it’s food or stories from their traditions.
I was lucky to be in Imsouane at the end of Ramadan, and my Moroccan colleagues invited me and the other guests to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with them. They prepared an incredible breakfast with traditional sweets, and even borrowed and dressed me in ceremonial clothes and jewelry. It was such a genuine and generous gesture, I felt truly welcomed.
This experience made me even more respectful and open toward others. It strengthened my trust in people, not in systems or institutions, but in everyday human connections which can be hard today.
At the same time, I don’t take traveling for granted. I feel very privileged to have the time and the opportunity to explore the world through yoga, and I carry that awareness with me in everything I do.
What do you currently offer as a yoga teacher?
At the moment, my offering is still quite simple and evolving. I’m not a highly structured teacher with many different programs or a large client base yet. Right now, I mainly teach in-person classes in the city where I live, and I offer private 1:1 sessions online, tailored to each person’s needs.
I actually appreciate growing this way, slowly and authentically, taking the time to build real connections and gain trust step by step.
Looking ahead, I would truly love to host retreats, both locally and internationally. It’s something that feels very aligned with me… but I also believe that good things take time, and I’m allowing that vision to unfold naturally.
What challenges have you faced while traveling or teaching and what have they taught you?
One of the main challenges I faced was a moment of self-doubt when I first arrived in Imsouane on the Atlantic coast. There was a strong wind all the time and loud ocean waves even at night, and I struggled to sleep. In a way, that constant wind stirred something inside me too, creating a sense of inner restlessness. I started questioning myself: am I able to guide a class rooted in presence, even when I don’t feel fully grounded?
That experience pushed me to reconnect with a deeper understanding of yoga; not as something dependent on my mood, but as a practice of integrity and service. I began to see it more clearly as a kind of dharma, a purpose that exists beyond the fluctuations of the mind and emotions.
Another challenge was teaching such a diverse group of people. Not only in terms of levels, but also in their intentions: some were looking for deep relaxation, others for movement, others for connection. Finding a balance between stillness and energy, between softness and strength, was something I had to learn in a very real and practical way.
And then there was the language. Even though I speak English quite fluently, teaching in English felt different. At first, it felt a bit unnatural, and I wondered if I was being too mechanical, just guiding the sequence without really transmitting what I care about. I questioned whether I could truly share my passion and my values in a language that isn’t my own.
But something shifted. After classes, people would come up to me, simply to say “thank you, that phrase you said really stuck with me” or “that was exactly what I needed.” And that’s when I relaxed. I realized that perfection in language doesn’t matter as much as presence. People don’t come to class to hear perfect English; they come to feel, to move, to reconnect, to pause, to listen to themselves.
That understanding allowed me to let go, trust myself more, and truly enjoy teaching (mistakes and all.)
How did you find Yoga Trade and choose your experience? What advice would you give to someone who wants to do a wellness work trade and teach in other countries?
I first discovered YogaTrade during my YTT in Bali. At the end of the training, we had a class about “what comes after”, explaining how to share yoga and also make a living from it. One of my teachers, Naia, introduced us to this beautiful platform. From that moment, I felt it was something I wanted to experience. Two years later… Here I am.
I chose my experience at Flooka Guesthouse in Imsouane for many reasons. It was in a country I had never visited but deeply wanted to explore. Morocco is relatively close to Italy and affordable, which was important since this wasn’t a paid experience. The duration also felt right: three weeks was the perfect balance for my life at that moment.
The environment seemed warm and welcoming, and it truly was. In exchange for accommodation and food, I taught up to two classes a day, depending on guests’ needs, and helped a bit with social media; nothing too demanding. It felt like a fair and natural exchange on both sides.
My advice is: don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for the perfect timing or the perfect match. Those things don’t really exist. If you feel the desire to share yoga from a genuine and authentic place, just start and allow things to unfold.
Be open. Be open to give as much as to receive. The name says it all: it’s a trade. It’s about sharing, teaching and learning at the same time, not only yoga, but life. You’ll realize it’s deeply about human connection, about cultures, about stories. Yoga is just the starting point, but it can create something much bigger: a community.
Take risks. Be yourself. There’s no right or wrong way in simply being who you are. I know the process can feel long: sending applications, emails, waiting for answers. It can be exhausting. But trust it. Present yourself honestly, without trying to “inflate” your experience; it’s useless. And don’t let fear stop you. Thoughts like “there are so many other candidates, they’ll never choose me”, this is living projected in fear. Like, literally, how could you know? Is a thought so powerful to keep you away from trying? To separate you from one of the best, most enriching and fulfilling experiences in your life? You already know the answer.
And if at some point you feel alone in the process, join the Yoga Trade online gatherings. They’re such a beautiful space, full of inspiration, connection, and support. Even after years, I still join them, because they remind me why I started in the first place.
Connect with Letizia on Instagram @youryogigal
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