If you have been practicing yoga for quite some time now and you want to take it to the next level, then you should go for a yoga teacher training program. You can still take it even though you do not want to teach. There are plenty of options to choose from and you need to choose the one that suits you best. Since you will be investing time, effort, and money in the training program, you need to make sure that it is going to be worth it. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best yoga teacher training program for you.
1. Choose A Program That Is Certified By The Yoga Alliance
The Yoga Alliance is an international body that has set standards for what a proper yoga teacher training program should be like. There are other programs that are not certified by the Yoga Alliance and there is no harm in taking those, but your chances of teaching yoga are very low after the completion of such programs. The completion of non-Yoga Alliance certified courses does not qualify you for insurance as well.
2. Make Sure The Program Teaches Anatomy
It is important to have a proper idea about the human anatomy if you want to teach yoga. The program you choose should have a very good anatomy section incorporated into their course. It may take some extra effort understanding the human anatomy when you already have so many Sanskrit names and complicated poses to figure out, but the knowledge is going to go a long way. You will be able to modify your practice so that it suits your body well, and you will be able to teach better and more safely too.
3. Make Sure The Timings Of The Program Are Convenient For You
When you enroll for a yoga teacher training program, you have to make sure that you can commit to it. You should make it a point to attend every class so that you don’t miss out on anything important. So, choose hours that are convenient for you. Completing an entire course in one shot may be too overwhelming as you need some time to practice on your own and to understand the concepts better. You can take some time off between sessions so that you don’t get exhausted.
4. Study The Program And Its Instructors
Whenever you plan to make an investment on a course, you need to study the history of the program well. Some yoga centers may have a long and successful history of offering top-quality programs and some may not. Just because a program is Yoga Alliance-certified, it does not mean that it is of the best quality. While you are at it, read up on the instructors too. Look up how long they have been teaching yoga, where they have done their training, and who have trained them. Sometimes, new trainers are very good too. You can talk to them, or you can take public classes with them and see if you can make a good connection with them. You should be comfortable enough to be able to reach out to them for help without hesitation.
5. Make Sure The Program Has A Balance Of All The Subjects
Yoga is not only about learning different postures. You have to understand other topics like history, anatomy, and philosophy too. If you are more into spirituality, then an anatomy-focused program may not be right for you and if you are into the Yoga Sutras, then a spirituality-focused program may feel less interesting to you. So carefully understand what topics are offered by the program and how many hours are dedicated to each one of them. You will be more interested in taking a program that suits your yoga style.
Always take your time to understand what each program has to offer you. Do not take the word of someone else as their yoga style and point of view may be completely different from yours. In the end, you should enjoy learning what a program has to offer, or you will have difficulty completing the program.
