Where to Start when Choosing a Yoga Teacher Training Programme
It is Very Exciting … so have Fun Choosing
It can be very exciting and a little nerve racking to be at the point of choosing a Yoga Teacher Training Programme. Often we have lots of ideas and dreams, but may not be sure what is realistic, or if we even want to teach. A simple google search will give hundreds of options, varying in price, location, duration and they all sound so good. So whether you're giving yourself the gift of the training, simply diving deeper into your yoga, or if you have a very clear career changing path in mind, here are a few questions which may help you choose.
Is the training certified? Where can you teach with it?
Not all training offers certification. A foundation level training should be at least 200 hours long and are generally recognised by Yoga Alliance (US), Yoga Alliance Professional (UK & Ireland) or Yoga Alliance International (India). All of these organizations are internationally recognised.
Insurance
Don't forget your insurance. At a practical level this may be a more important question. Ensure on completion of the training you will have access to professional indemnity insurance. Note that most European insurances do not cover the US or Canada.
How Long Will The Training Take
For me this is the first real filter. If you're looking for an ‘EAT PRAY LOVE’ experience, then traveling (post Corona) to some exotic place for 3 weeks, and coming home with not only a fantastic experience, but also a qualification may be just what the doctor orders. The intensity of the experience is likely to be life changing. It may catapult you into a different path. However don't expect to have the integration, the depth of knowledge or teaching skills that you would achieve if you took a year to complete it.
On the other extreme, there are options that take up to four years. This will definitely give you depth of experience, and integration into your life. However if you would like to make a career change, this option may be a little slow for you.
Where I have settled is on a 12 month programme, with a little bit every week and a full day every month, which would allow a balance of integration into your daily life, and support to begin teaching while still in the training course. A 200 hour programme gives you the foundations. Then the following year depending on what you plan on doing:
you can continue to the second level, and get support deepening your experience and building your business (considering a full time teaching career),
you can go off and teach at that level for a few years before potentially doing your 300 hour training some time in the future (hobbyist or part time yoga teacher)
you could stop at this point (hobbyist teacher or not interested in teaching at this point).
Either way it gives a balance of taking your time, and yet getting to start teaching with support and feedback within about 6 months.
How, Where and When is it Delivered
The way Teacher Training is delivered has completely changed. Up until last year it was all in person. During lockdown it all went online. And so now you have the option. I have given and attended many training courses online at this stage, and here is what I have learned.
It’s not all bad! And it's not all good!
There are many advantages to having theory offered online, including bite-sized chunks and the ability to replay them as often as you want.
Live zoom classes certainly work for groups when there is enough time to use breakout rooms and to get real and meaningful interaction. So good for tutorials or partner work. As a yoga teacher, zoom is also useful for learning how to teach online.
In-person however still can't be beaten for seeing and teaching poses to trainees. The subtilties of alignment and adjustment, teaching the experience of reading a room, or seeing what your students need all greatly benefit from in-person training. It is possible to learn to be an ok teacher online, however to be a great teacher, in person experience is invaluable.
So in short every modularity has its advantages and disadvantages. Which is why as an educationalist, we integrate them all. My advice, find a course that uses the modality in a way that works for you.
What Modules are Included
This is again an area where different trainings appear the same on the outside, but once you lift the lid, there will be vast differences, just like every yoga teacher differs. It is also difficult to know what you want at this stage. It's like a 6th year student picking college courses, thinking about what they may like to study, or may like to do in the future. I've given you just some ideas to get you thinking, or places to ask questions.
Teaching the Teacher
Every course MUST include teaching practice. So how can they differ? How much does the trainer know about pedagogy? What is their education paradigm?
This has two impacts. Firstly the depth of skill and experience available in the teaching aspect of the training, but secondly and potentially more importantly, the underlying approach talent to the training delivery, and your role as a learner. For example: Do they have a guru and strict lineage or form that they follow? Is this what you want? Would this support you? Or are you the type of learner, the type of person who thrives in an environment where you are empowered to explore and make your own decisions. The top down structure can feel safe in the beginning, defined poses, sequences, wording. However it can be difficult to move away from as you learn more. The alternative approach, where student and teacher engage in a joint learning experience definitely requires a deeper understanding, more skill and confidence. However in the long run may lead to a more embodied and integrated experience. Bikram and Ashtanga are one end of the spectrum, I am the other. This is an important decision. How much do you like to explore, and want to be responsible for your learning or where you prefer to be directly instructed in want to do.
The Business of Yoga
This is not a standard part of Yoga Teacher Training. So is it something you would like to have included? As always, look at the experience of the trainer, and see if how they do their business resonates with you.
What do they mean by Philosophy?
Of all the areas, this must be one of the most exciting and random aspects to Teacher training. It is totally open as to what is covered and how it is covered. I love philosophy. Over the last 25 years or so I have been actively studying it across many different traditions. When I began my deep dive into ‘Yoga’ philosophy I was mesmerised by the circular flow, the images, the colours and mostly by the depth and breath available. So during the recent lockdown I was so excited to be able to study with ‘famous names’ in the yoga philosophy scene. While sometimes I was thrilled, other times I was also surprised and disappointed. I can speak nerd with the best of them, but on occasion the level of inaccessible nonsense talked, in an attempt to support us connect with the simplicity of our own inner wisdom was breathtaking. All I can say is talk to the trainer and see if you're a match. There is so much wisdom and fun to be had in this subject, please don't let anyone leave you feeling bored, or believing it is inaccessible.
How much Meditation training is Included?
Many yoga Teacher Trainings focus only on Asana and Pranayama (breath). However in today's society, Meditation is so vital. The first step to reaching mediation is having your own practice to teach from. Having the confidence and skills to begin teaching mediation is of service not only to you and your students, but also everyone you or they come into contact with. It can feel a little scary to start with, because it is so simple.
Who is teaching Anatomy and from what perspective?
Another compulsory subject for any yoga teacher training, although I have heard about some trainings that don't offer any. At this beginner stage I suggest you need to have a reasonable biomechanical understanding of the body; An awareness of the different systems and how they are affected by yoga; awareness of common illnesses and problems that present in a public yoga class; main counter indicators for poses and simple safe adjustments and most importantly the confidence to say I don't know. One would hope that is covered in any 200 hour foundation training. However, here again the underlying training paradigm will have an effect. Traditional teaching of anatomy using biomechanical models may or may not be thought by a teacher who knows about yoga. A functional, integrated approach looks to first take it all apart so you can see it in terms of parts, but the second more important step is to put it back together. Current research shows that no muscle acts in isolation. For example to lift a weight with your right arm, your right thigh and even left foot and shoulder are probably involved. Because yoga is an integrated movement, this step of reintegrating is critical to being a safe and effective yoga teacher. Find an anatomy teacher that is both informed and passionate about anatomy and yoga. (And watch for them using the word stretch - that's an out of date model, Fascia- current trendy word, other good word are embodied, integrated or functional )
But at the end of the day - it's a gut thing
Do all your due diligence and then take the leap -
But to be totally honest, what do I know? I have done many, many training, and particularly for the main 3 long courses, my initial 500 hour yoga therapy teacher training, a second 500 hour advanced teacher training and the 4 year iRest certification (ongoing) … Not once did I do my due diligence, I liked the trainer, I felt they had something to teach me and I just booked it ….. And I never regretted them for a moment. So like I said ... What do I know?