Yoga as a Way of Life: Nathalie Goulding’s Path to Teaching

At Ritual, we celebrate the journeys of our Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) graduates—the shifts, the breakthroughs, and the ways they carry the practice into their lives.

Nathalie Goulding came to Ritual’s 200-hour YTT with decades of experience in movement but found herself stepping into something deeper.

What initially drew you to the Yoga Teacher Training course at Ritual?

“I have practiced yoga on and off for many years (30 years) and have always loved attending classes but had never established a consistent practice, let alone a home or Sadhana (personal practice). For the past 15 years, I have taught group fitness classes in gyms and started looking towards programs that were easier on my physical body, which led me to doing my 200 YTT at Ritual. Another yoga teacher did some research for me and recommended Ritual. I looked at the comprehensive curriculum of Ritual’s training and felt inspired to start my yoga journey.”

“Yoga is not only practiced on the mat but is a life practice. For me yoga shifted from just physical exercise to a way of living”

How did the course meet or exceed your expectations?

“I have practiced yoga on and off for many years (30 years) and have always loved attending classes but had never established a consistent practice, let alone a home or Sadhana (personal practice). For the past 15 years, I have taught group fitness classes in gyms and started looking towards programs that were easier on my physical body, which led me to doing my 200 YTT at Ritual. Another yoga teacher did some research for me and recommended Ritual. I looked at the comprehensive curriculum of Ritual’s training and felt inspired to start my yoga journey.”

What was the biggest transformation you experienced, personally or professionally?

“The discovery that Yoga is not only practiced on the mat but is a life practice. For me yoga shifted from just physical exercise to a way of living. It started to influence my thoughts, behaviour and interactions with the world. It became a powerful tool to improve presence, clarity of thought and to live a more conscious life.”

Stepping Into Teaching: How YTT Shaped Her Career

How confident did you feel stepping into teaching after the course?

“Having already been teaching group classes for many years I felt confident with holding space for others. However, Ritual training equipped me with the knowledge and ability to step into the role of guiding a yoga practice for others,  rather than just following an exercise format or teaching choreography.  This course gave me a personal home practice which has become the most valuable and meaningful takeaway”.

What opportunities have opened up for you since completing the training?

“Teaching opportunities have opened up for me and I feel the more I teach the happier I am that I am on this current path. I also completed YIN YOGA Training at Ritual. So I am now teaching regular Yoga and Yin classes at Ritual and at gyms on the Gold Coast. 

Having completed YTT training at ritual has granted me the confidence and the chance to further my studies in India where I completed a further 300 hr.”

Nathalie before teaching at Ritual Palm Beach.

How did Ritual’s approach differ from other teacher trainings you considered?

Ritual’s training was comprehensive and authentic. It was delivered in a way that was easy to follow and understand allowing time for integration between each of the 8 weekend sessions. 

It covered much of the spiritual training alongside the practical physical practices.

Are you teaching full-time now? How has this training impacted your lifestyle?

I am currently teaching 3 Yoga and 4 Yin classes per week. It has taught me to slow down, to take time for my own practice both physically and spiritually. 

The Power of Community & Support

How would you describe the support from the Ritual team and your fellow trainees?

I feel a great connection with the Ritual team and other trainees. I have made great friends along the way and continue to strive to be a part of this special community.

What’s your favorite memory from the course?

The sense of community with like-minded individuals made the training a welcoming place to be. There was no judgment and the feeling of acceptance from whatever direction you were coming from. 

How did the sense of community impact your journey?

Knowing that these individuals walked alongside me on this journey, regardless of the paths they took afterwards, the connection remains. 

Advice for Future YTT Students

What advice would you give someone considering joining this year’s course?

Be open to let it change and shape the rest of your life in an amazing way.  

If you could describe the training in three words, what would they be?

Comprehensive, accessable, transformative.

Why should someone choose Ritual for their teacher training?

Because regardless of whether you want to be a yoga teacher or not. This training contains invaluable knowledge to help you grow, expand and thrive in life.

〰️ Yoga beyond the mat

〰️ A practice for life

〰️ Mind, body, breath

〰️ Yoga beyond the mat 〰️ A practice for life 〰️ Mind, body, breath

Curious about our Yoga Teacher Training?

Download the course guide here.

Whether you’re considering it as a career path or simply to deepen your personal practice, this journey is about more than just learning to teach—it’s about expanding your understanding of yoga, refining your movement, and connecting more deeply to yourself. Our YTT offers a space for growth, transformation, and discovery—both on and off the mat.