How To Choose The Right Yoga Teacher Training For You

1. How To Choose The Right Yoga Teacher Training For You

2. Introduction According to UN news, there are over two billion people around the world doing yoga. The statistic was collected in 2016, and I can only imagine the number has increased tremendously since then. For many people, yoga is a hobby for relaxation and body conditioning; for others, yoga is a way of life. Perhaps right now, you are considering turning your yoga hobby into something more serious. Maybe you’re thinking of quitting your 9 to 5 job and becoming a yoga teacher. Does the thought of ditching your pantsuit and heels, fly away to a secluded island doing yoga and drinking matcha excite you? If so, I think you’re ready to execute your dream plan. How To Choose The Right Yoga Teacher Training For You 2

3. Introduction Personally having taught and assisted over twenty yoga teacher trainings around the world (and attended well over ten teaching programs), I am here to offer some tips on how to choose the right yoga teacher training for YOU. Keep in mind that these are just opinions I’ve gathered from years of experiences. I am now dispensing them in hopes that you will not spend your money in vain and best yet to sign up for the program you’d hope for. How To Choose The Right Yoga Teacher Training For You 3

4. 10 tips on how to choose the best yoga teacher training for you:

5. 1. Identify your objective This may sound like a no-brainer. But trust me, identifying why you’re attending a yoga teacher training in the first place will help you, in the long run, to stay on task and keep your eye on the prize when things get hard or foggy. Ask yourself whether you want to become a yoga teacher or simply to advance your yoga knowledge but not necessarily go on teaching afterward. Once you’ve identified your objective, it will make your search for the perfect yoga teacher training a lot smoother.

6. 2. Style of Yoga Nowadays, there are many forms of yoga ranging from Hot yoga to Acro yoga (not to mention Beer Yoga and Goat Yoga, seriously people). Obviously, not all styles of yoga are suitable for you. For the physically-inclined bunch, Ashtanga, Power, and Vinyasa yoga are great choices; for the less physical individuals, Yin and Restorative might be a better fit. There are also yoga styles that focus more physically like Acro and less energetically like Kundalini. So if you’re at the beginning of your practice, go and explore many styles of yoga and see what works for you.

7. 3. How Experienced Is The School? When you’re choosing a course, remember that a training organisation is like a waterfall – everything you’ll learn will flow down from the top. It’s important to choose a school that’s reputable, and one that is experienced in offering courses. Nowadays there are thousands of new schools offering trainings every year, and in the yoga industry the only pre-requisite to register a training course is an E-RYT200 – that’s just two years of teaching! A teacher training is a significant investment, both in terms of your money and time.

8. 4. How Experienced Are The Teachers? When you’re learning to teach, it goes without saying that your own teachers will become a pivotal role model and source of inspiration. The teaching team at a training school should be the schools’ biggest asset, and it’s good to look for schools that offer a co-teaching approach – you’ll benefit hugely from the differing points of view that different teachers will offer. Ideally, each teacher on your training will be an internationally recognized expert in their particular yogic discipline, and will work with the other teachers to provide you with a well- rounded yoga education.

9. 5. Budget This is a big one. Yoga teacher training is a heavy investment ranging from USD 2000-5000 depending on the location and school. Remember that amount is just tuition exclusive of accommodation, travel cost, and food. In the past, I have paid up to USD 10,000 for a teacher training in New York City (it was worth every dollar, but again- it’s a matter of perspective). Here’s the thing, not all low tuition schools are subpar compared to their expensive counterparts. Schools price their tuition based on various factors such as geography (India vs. London), business structure, taxes, so on and so forth.

10. 6. How Many Students Will Be In The Course? Just like a school classroom, you’ll receive more individual attention, tips, and feedback in a smaller group size. A group of 25-30 students or less is perfect – this means enough minds and bodies to create interesting discussions and practice teaching asana, but not so many that your individual voice can’t be heard, or your questions go unanswered. Ideally you’ll be looking for a medium-sized class, enabling you to form close relationships with your peers in a hands-on, intensive learning environment. However, ideally the class size will be large enough to provide examples of many different body types.

11. 7. Duration Normally a 200hr yoga teacher training ranges from 24-28 weeks. However, I have seen many yoga studios packing these hours into different formats. Some studios divide the training over six months to a year, and students come only on the weekends. Other studios would shorten the training into two weeks top, but you’ll be in the studio 12-15 hours straight. None of these program styles are more superior than the other. You have to find the schedule that works for you. For people who can only take two weeks off work, the intense 15-hour day program sounds like a match made in heaven.

12. 8. Where Does The Training Take Place? It may seem trivial, but the actual location of your training has a big influence on your ability to absorb new things. After all, our external environment often dictates our internal environment, so it makes sense to give yourself a head start on your learning journey by removing as many distractions as possible! If you’ve decided to choose an intensive training, take a look at the location and work out if it’s a place you’d like to visit. Some training courses feature beautiful beachside shalas, others are situated high up in tropical rainforests with views of the surrounding rainforest.

13. 9. Training Credentials So far, Yoga Alliance (YA) is one of the most recognized yoga institutions around the world. Many great yoga schools are Yoga Alliance accredited, but likewise, many great yoga schools aren’t. Whether or not you should pick a registered school goes back to point number one (identifying your objective). If your goal is to become a yoga teacher, I suggest you go with a school that is accredited. Many yoga studios request their teachers to be Yoga Alliance certified, mainly for credential and insurance purposes.

14. 10. A Well-Rounded Training Curriculum Although Yoga Alliance sets a standard for what should be included in a training curriculum, some schools emphasize certain areas over another. For example, when I did my first 200hr training, I did not have any anatomy lectures and very minimal philosophy lectures. That training focused a lot on practice teaching and techniques. My biceps definitely gotten a lot more defined, but I’d appreciate the missing knowledge. So when you’re searching for a school, ask for their curriculum, see the daily sample schedule, and read the testimonials online.

15. The Bottom Line • At the end of the day, your first yoga teacher training adventure is an individual journey that will be unique to you, and when it comes to choosing a course, you’ll ultimately end up going with your gut and trusting your intuition. • Remember to take your time when making a decision about where and with whom you’ll undertake your first yoga teacher training – and most importantly, once your training is booked, start getting excited! • The road to yoga teacher training will lead you to greater self-awareness, better health, and a world of self-discovery – so congratulations, you’ve already taken the first step! How To Choose The Right Yoga Teacher Training For You 15