Which yoga teacher training is right for me (Part 3)

Feeling the pull to dive deeper into your yoga journey?

With so many options out there, choosing the best yoga teacher training can be daunting. Luckily, 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 parts of our Guide—don’t worry, we’ll be right here when you get back.)

#5. Are All Costs Up Front?

Nobody likes buying something only to find out that it costs more than you originally thought. Make sure you understand all costs of tuition, payment options, and any required books.

If you choose a yoga teacher training immersion, get clear info not just on the room and board, but also what you should expect of the food and accommodations. Retreat style yoga certifications should especially have all the costs laid out for you. Find out if payment plans are available, and know the cancellation policy.

#6. Where Is the Yoga Teacher Training Held?

Is It a Good Learning Environment for the Study of Yoga?

If you can visit the yoga school in person, that’s great (ideally when you’re meeting with the yoga training program director). However, if you’re planning a destination yoga teacher training immersion, chances are you won’t be able to see the place beforehand. A good program will be able to give you full details, including transportation information, and lots of photos from past trainings. Check out the yoga retreat website and any social media presence they have to get a good feel for the experience.

You will be spending a lot of time at the yoga training center you choose. Aside from the obvious questions of feeling safe in a location, ask yourself, “Does this place feel right?” Trust your gut.

Yoga is a practice of introspection, and the answers to your questions are likely very personal. For example, traffic whizzing by or noise from nearby businesses may not only create distractions, but may not feel quite right energetically as well.

A place is so much more than just a backdrop, and you should choose a location that will enhance your yoga training experience.

For me, being able to connect to nature is so important. When I can absorb the teachings of yoga amidst the beauty and rhythms of nature, I feel that much more anchored to the present moment. Val Spies, owner of The Lotus Pond and Yoga Training Director, says, “That brief glimpse of oneness with nature is our teacher. It’s our guide, and it leads us to the bliss that we seek through the practice of yoga.”

​​

Last August I attended a reunion for all graduates from the Lotus Pond’s 10 years of yoga teacher training. We went to the top of Heavenly Mountain in Boone, North Carolina at The Art of Living Center— we kept laughing because it really was a heavenly place.

Even though many of us had not met before, the group quickly bonded. We spent lunch times eating delicious, healthy food while gazing out over an endless vista of blue mountains. We talked about life, yoga, and the quest for meaning. One night a few of us grabbed blankets and stretched out on a field, watching the Perseid meteor shower put on a spectacular show in the night sky. I will never forget these moments, and the friendships I made during that reunion are still some of my most cherished connections.

This is what we wish for you: a life filled with gratitude, contentment, and love.

For myself, getting my advanced yoga teacher training at The Lotus Pond, and co-teaching with Val in our Tampa and Mountain Yoga Teacher Trainings, has opened me up to the wisdom of yoga — the process has truly changed my life, which is why it is so meaningful and joyful for us to share these profound teachings with you.  

If you want to become a yoga teacher, we are heading to the beautiful Art of Living Retreat Center this August. We would love to share this journey with you atop Heavenly Mountain in Boone, 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, connect, 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 soulful trainings and answer any questions you have.