Which Yoga Teacher Training Is Right for Me? A Guide (Part 2)

Does the path of yoga resonate with you?

Feel like you’re ready to take the next step and become a certified yoga teacher?

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Most yoga teachers will tell you their 200hr yoga teacher training was one of the most inspiring and illuminating experiences of their lives. I attended a 200hr yoga immersion, which was a great format for me — I loved getting away from the stress of my daily routine, heading to a yoga retreat in a stunning place, and fully living the path of yoga. So how do you choose the program that’s right for you?

John Reimer has compiled 6 Key Questions you’ve got to ask before you place that yoga teacher training deposit. (If you haven’t already, check out the first two questions in Part 1 of our Guide.

#3. Is the Yoga Teacher Training Comprehensive and Well Organized?

The study of yoga is vast. A good training program will be able to give you a detailed overview of the material and tradition(s) that will be covered.

Before committing to a program, talk to the lead teacher. A well established yoga school will be able to show you a clear and comprehensive course outline. Here’s what we suggest you look for when evaluating a yoga school’s curriculum:

~ What is the balance between philosophy (the ancient writings, particularly the Yoga Sutras) and asana (the physical postures)?

~ Does the yoga teacher training include pranayama (breathing techniques), anatomy, sequencing, ayurveda (the health science of yoga, often called yoga’s sister science), and the business of yoga?

~ Is the course taught in sessions to a common group, or is it taught in a series of self-paced modules where students can drop in as needed?

In interactive education, the sense of community within a common group can have a substantial impact on our growth not just as a yoga teacher, but as a yoga practitioner as well. Your yoga tribe also creates lasting friendships and strong personal bonds that last well beyond graduation.  

#4. Who Are the Teachers, and What Are Their Qualifications?

Yoga Alliance requires that teachers of teacher training programs are at an “experienced” level: this essentially means that they have been teaching yoga for at least two years since graduating from a registered yoga school (RYS), and have taught at least 1,000 hours of yoga since that time. This is noted with the letter “E” in an individual’s certification designation. For example, I’m an E-RYT 200, which means an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200hr level.

Keep in mind, 200 hours is a lot of time to spend with a single teacher. Because it is difficult to be an expert in all the various aspects of yoga, well-rounded programs often have dedicated teachers for specialized areas like anatomy, pranayama, ayurveda, etc. However, it’s also important to have consistent lead teachers along your journey, to be there to support and guide you from the beginning to graduation. Those who come in to offer specialty areas should possess expertise in those areas. Put simply: Do you homework.

It's also important to remember this: There is a big difference between teaching an hour-long yoga class and guiding a 200 hour yoga teacher training course. If someone is a great yoga teacher, it doesn’t automatically mean they will be great at teaching you how to teach.

What Makes a Great Yoga Teacher?

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Being a yoga teacher requires the ability to listen, to be open, and to respond to your students. It requires humility, compassion, and presence.

Just because someone can flip upside down or post lots of Instagram photos doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be a good teacher. A yoga teacher should have a strong personal practice, but that practice should involve the 8 limbs of yoga, from practicing the Yamas (a code of external ethics, such as non-harming and non-stealing) to asana (postures) to dharana (meditation).

For all of us here at The Lotus Pond Center for Yoga & Health and The Art of Living Retreat Center, we hope you discover the path that leads you to happiness.

We would love for you to join us this August in beautiful North Carolina. We’ll wake up to the sun glowing over the Blue Ridge Mountains, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and discover the teacher within. We’ll laugh, open up, and be transformed. We’ve been offering our Yoga Alliance certified programs for more than 10 years, combining the alignment and intelligent movement of Iyengar yoga with the heart of Kripalu yoga.

You can check out the details here to learn more and hear what some of our wonderful yoga graduates have to say.

Feel free to call Val, the program director, at any time at (813) 956-3506. We can tell you more about our trainings and answer any questions you have.

Check out the third blog post in our series, diving deeper into two more questions to ask when choosing the yoga teacher training that is right for you.