How do you choose a yoga teacher training?
In a world of so many 200 hour yoga teacher trainings, it can be challenging to know where to start. How do you choose the one that’s right for you?
To answer this, it’s first important to consider what you want from your yoga teacher training (YTT):
- Do I actually want to teach? (Or at least, have the option to teach?)
- Am I excited by the idea of an “adventure away?”
- Am I the type of person who benefits from lots of integration time or do I like an intense, immersion experience?
- Am I self-directed learning or do I like more structure?
- What am I hoping to gain or learn from my YTT?
Let’s consider each question in turn.
Do I want to teach? (Or at least, have the option to teach?)
Many folks taking a yoga teacher training don’t actually have a firm desire to teach yoga professionally. Rather, the YTT is a way to learn more about something that they love. If this is you, you are in good company! Not being interested in teaching gives you more flexibility in choosing a school: since you don’t really need to learn how to teach, you can explore any yoga training that focuses on your area of interest (asana, anatomy, philosophy, pranayama).
However, if you are pretty certain that you want to teach after your YTT, then it’s best to make sure that your chosen YTT has a solid teaching methodology. This means that your training will provide you clear process for cuing safely and sequencing smart classes. While many yoga teacher trainings out there provide an amazing “experience” and may feel personally transformational, they may not be equipping you with the practical skills you need to teach confidently once you graduate. Here are some questions to ask (and yes! Any YTT worth their salt will be happy to answer your questions about their program):
- How do you break down and teaching cuing skills?
- What kind of sequencing methodology will I learn?
- What kinds of classes will I be equipped to teach after the program?
- When do we start practice teaching, and how much practice teaching is there in the program?
- How do you evaluate my teaching skills at the end of the program?
A reputable yoga teacher training should be able to cogently answer these questions to your satisfaction.
More tips:
- If you want to teach professionally, consider taking a 200 hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance or another professional organization. Though you can certainly get certified through programs that are not registered with Yoga Alliance, if you take a 200 hour program that is already registered, then you have the option to join that organization as a “registered yoga teacher,” which could be beneficial.
- If you have a local studio with whom you want to teach, you may look into their yoga teacher training to see if it fits your needs. Studios often prefer to hire their own graduates.
And a caveat! In every yoga teacher training that I have led, there have been a few students who came to the training certain that it was just be for fun – but who wound up wanting to teach afterwards. When in doubt, keep your options open!
So I want an “adventure away?”
If you are excited by the idea of an adventure away, consider a destination yoga teacher training. Find a great teacher who leads retreats in exotic locations (Costa Rica, Bali, Italy), or check out online websites such as BookYogaRetreats or All Yoga Training that can hook you up with trainings around the world. While it can be super fun to combine a fabulous destination with your yoga training, here are a couple of caveats:
- A 200 hour training is no joke. Even though you may be in a fabulous location, you will likely not have much time off, particularly because that 200 hours may be condensed into three weeks. Make sure to book time before or after your retreat to explore the area.
- Make sure your hours are accounted for. If your training is only 2 weeks long, you may not be getting your full 200 hours. Do your due diligence to make sure you’re getting the experience you want.
- See “Do I want to teach?” If you are seeking adventure and personal growth, then many retreats can fit the bill. However, if you want to teach after your YTT, make sure your chosen retreat has the skilled faculty and methodology to support your growth.
Do I like lots of integration or do I like an immersion experience?
Roughly speaking, most YTT’s are offered in two forms: month-long intensive or weekend long form.
If you prefer taking your time with learning, then you may wish to investigate a local weekend format. These trainings generally run over 3-6 months on weekends (designed for week workers) and give you more time to absorb the content. Conversely, an immersion usually takes 3-4 full-time weeks and is often run over the summer. Both formats can be excellent (I’ve taught them both and seen great results both ways), so it comes down to you personal preference and schedule. Studios will often include free classes in their YTT’s, so the longer form structure can sometimes have the added perk of granting you classes for the duration.
Again, if you know that you want to teach a particular local studio, I’d recommend doing your YTT there if it fits the bill. Being a part of a teacher training is a great way to foster deeper ties with your chosen community.
Am I a self-directed learner or do I like more structure?
For the self-directed learners out there, online learning (or a hybrid program) could be a great option if you want more flexibility. My own 200-hour yoga teacher training is offered with DoYogaWithMe, where we strive to combine a flexible learning experience with robust faculty interaction and feedback to give you the best of both worlds. But if you have a hard time carving out time for self-directed course work, it can be great to have the structure of an in-person experience where your studio time creates a solid boundary for your learning.
What am I hoping to gain or learn from my YTT?
Take some to journal or mull on this question. What do you hope to gain or learn from your YTT?
Each 200 hour is different and will give you a different lens for the practice.
While some programs focus on philosophy, others will have a greater focus on pranayama, anatomy, or asana. Some trainings will focus on a specific yoga style (such as ashtanga, hot, hatha, or flow), while some will try to expose you to a variety of styles. If you love pranayama and meditation, then a rigorous power flow training may not be for you! But if you love getting a good sweat on, it may be perfect. Before you book your training, investigate! Again: any training worth its salt will be happy to meet with you to answer your questions.
Final Thoughts
Though a 200 hour is a big investment and can be deeply transformational, remember that it is only the beginning! Your yoga journey will extend far beyond your first 200-hour, and may include additional 200 hour programs, 300-hour programs, and continuing education. You won’t cover everything in one training. Do your due diligence, ask some good questions ~ and then follow your heart.
