Selecting a Yoga Teacher Training: Things to Consider

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Photo of my Frog Lotus Yoga 200h YTT family

Photo of my Frog Lotus Yoga 200h YTT family

Whether you want to take a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) to deepen your own practice + knowledge or to teach, it is a life changing experience you will never forget.

The first step in becoming a certified yoga instructor is receiving your 200h certification. This is the base for all other certifications - meaning, without your 200hrs, you can not complete other trainings and have them count towards your certification.

This initial training will cost you between $2000 - $3000 USD - without including any accommodation, books, etc. The expense is quite significant, therefore, you want to be wise in selecting the who, what, where, when and why for your training.

Here are some questions to explore before taking the leap:

Questions to ask yourself:

  1. What is your goal in taking the training?
    • Have a goal when going into your training, but also approach it with an open mind. Step outside of your comfort zone and you will take home way more than just asana and philosophy knowledge.
  2. What style of yoga do you want to be certified in?
    • Try different styles of yoga and see which one you connect with the most.
  3. How do you best learn: intensive or over time?
    • Different schools offer different options for their trainings - choose what works best for you and the time you have available.
  4. Do you want to join the Yoga Alliance?
    • Not all schools are Yoga Alliance Certified. If you wish to one day join the Yoga Alliance, be sure to select a school that is certified. Otherwise, you will need to retake your YTT with a certified school.
  5. What budget do you have available?
    • Consider all expenses when reviewing your budget. If choosing an intensive training, you will also need to pay for flights, accommodation, food, etc. If you are choosing to study over x amount of months, how much time off work will you need to take? Will you need to pay for parking? Oh, and don't forget about your books which will cost you over $100 - easy.
  6. How is your health: mentally and physically?
    • Training can be exhausting at times as it is long days and frequent asana practices. But don't worry about not being able to do specific asanas, you will not be graded on your strength and flexibility.

Questions to ask schools/teachers:

  1. How many teachers will be included in the training?
    • Research the teachers of the selected training to learn more about their backgrounds and personalities. Ideally you want to study with teachers you feel a connection to and are inspired to learn from.
  2. How many students will be participating in the training?
    • Certain trainings limit the number of students, where others do not. 
  3. What will I be certified to teach once graduated?
  4. Is the training Yoga Alliance certified?
  5. What should happen in case of an emergency?
    • Understand what policies are in place should you need to abort the training due to an emergency. 
  6. Will the business of yoga be covered?
    •  This is an important component to learn, especially if you want to teach yoga after graduating.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when deciding to take your YTT. Do your research by browsing online and talking with friends who have graduated about their experience. Let go of any fears and enjoy the ride.

All the best on your journey!

xx