Everyone has a different reason for taking yoga teacher training. Some people want to deepen their personal practice, others want to incorporate the profession into their lives as a side business or as something they can share with their friends and families, still others feel called to become yoga teachers as the fulfilment of something deeper inside of them.
Whatever the reason, selecting the right yoga teacher training program requires some deep consideration and research. There is a lot of information to wade through and a wide spectrum of options out there. So here is some helpful advice and important questions to ask yourself so you can decide which Yoga Teacher Training Program is right for you.
The best place to start is always at the beginning. Why do you want to dedicate your time and money toward a yoga teacher training program? Everyone is going to have a different answer, and the ones listed above are but a few in a sea of possibilities. But having this fundamental question answered is the first step in narrowing down your search.
Next, it’s important to decide what type of yoga you want to pursue. Ashtanga? Iyengar? Acro? Hatha? Rocket? Goat? Or one of many other avenues, or a combination of several? The possibilities are endless these days. Deciding on this factor will narrow the range further.
The next step will be deciding on where and when you want to do your teacher training — in the city you live or somewhere else in the world. Perhaps there is a teacher you want to learn from and they are holding a course in Bali or Belize. Well, that makes it easy.
Some people want to tie their yoga teacher training into an excursion to India or somewhere tropical and warm. It’s not uncommon to want to focus solely on the training, to be disciplined away from the distractions of everyday life. Therefore destination teacher training programs are an appealing option for this reason.
But dropping everything and flying to Nicaragua for a month is not a possibility for everyone. Maybe, instead you want to fit your training in around your full-time job and take the course in the evening and on the weekends. Then you will have to research programs that are offered nearby and see what is available. If you live in a larger city, there’s a good chance you will be able to find something that suits your needs.
These considerations should help you narrow down your search, but before you commit with a deposit or book your flights, it’s a good idea to dig a little deeper. Look up reviews online and ask around. See if you can find the school’s social media page so that you connect with people who have been through the program themselves. A school that offers quality yoga teaching and mentorship should be confident enough to answer your questions or connect you with past students. If they’re not, you might want to ask yourself why.
Asking questions is important, and getting honest reviews and hearing people’s experience can help you decide if you are making the right commitment for your unique wants and needs. Yoga teacher training programs are not free — they require a serious financial and time commitment, as well as an understanding that the experience could very well alter the fabric of your life.
So take your time, do your research, ask around, and most importantly, follow your heart.
