You’re interested in completing your 200hr yoga teacher training, but you aren’t sure where to start? Read my guide on how to choose the right yoga teacher training for YOU.
So, you’ve decided that you want to do your 200-hour yoga teacher training – amazing! That is all kinds of exciting. But, there’s one thing getting in the way: you aren’t sure how to choose the right yoga teacher training for you.
This is something I get asked about A LOT. With endless options out there, I totally get why choosing your yoga teacher training can feel like a bit of a minefield.
Luckily, there are some (important!) questions you can ask yourself to start figuring out the right yoga teacher training route for you. Let’s break it down; maybe these questions will provide you with some clarity!
You might like: 8 signs you’re ready for yoga teacher training
And: Should I get my 200 hour yoga teacher training?
1. Who are the instructors on the yoga teacher training?
First thing’s first – who will be teaching you? It might sound obvious, but you really need to work well with them. After all, you’ll be spending at least 200 hours in their company!
Ideally, you’ll have practised with the teacher before, or at least have a strong awareness of their lineage and teaching style. Some teacher training will bring in additional teachers to truly enrich your learning, so this is something that’s worth checking in on. For example, the Laura Green Teacher Training Yoga School 200-hour teacher training has specific teachers for anatomy, meditation, mental health, and marketing alongside the overall bulk of the course.
If you don’t know the instructor (or know someone who can vouch for them), check:
- How long have they been teaching?
- How long have they been training teachers?
- What is their teaching style?
- Where did they do their training (and how many different ones have they done)?
And before you make a decision – have a chat with them! Teachers should offer initial conversations with potential students. This is a great way to see whether you feel comfortable with them and excited by the idea of studying with them.
2. Will you do your yoga teacher training home or away?
This is a big one – will you do your yoga teacher training at home or abroad?
There are many elements that come into this decision. Some long for adventure and travel, so the prospect of escaping the everyday in an overseas training is incredibly appealing. For others, commitments at home mean that they can’t take a month ‘off’ for a yoga teacher training in another country. Likewise, taking your training abroad can mean that those deep connections you gain on your course won’t actually necessarily live in the same country as you. This doesn’t have to be a problem, but if you are hoping to build life-long relationships on your YTT (which you absolutely can and will) then it’s going to be a bit trickier if you aren’t studying in your home country.
Plus, you need to take into account your personal learning style (something I’ll dig into in the next point). An ‘away’ YTT is typically immersive, meaning you’ll be learning every single day until you reach your 200 hours. If this doesn’t suit you, then it might be worth looking closer to home.
3. Do you want an intensive or long-term YTT?
All yoga teacher training delivers their hours in a different way. If you need to learn free from distractions and in a fully immersive environment, then you may want to opt for an intensive YTT – this is most commonly spread over the period of 30 days.
Alternatively, long-term YTTs mean that you can naturally embed your studies into your everyday life (and vice versa). They come in many different forms. I’ve seen training spread over three months (with a mixture of long weekend and week intensives), 18 month flexible programmes, 12 weeks part-time and everything in between. Here at Laura Green Teacher Training Yoga School, our 200-hour YTT runs across 9 months with one weekend per month and a week long intensive to close the training.
Ultimately, it’s about finding what works for your lifestyle and learning.
4. What’s your learning style?
This is when you need to start drilling down into what you want out of your yoga teacher training.
If you are a hands-on learner, then it’s likely that a fully online YTT won’t support your needs. Likewise, if you are a visual learner, you want to look for training that has options catering to this; for example, video lectures, practical demonstrations etc. Or if you learn by doing, you want to check that your YTT has plentiful opportunities to teach, practice hands on assists, lead meditations and work through anatomy assessments in person.
It’s a lot to consider – I know. But, by speaking to the course leader, you can quickly determine whether the programme will help you to flourish and reach your training goals.
5. What are you interested in?
If yoga philosophy is the beating heart of your yoga practice, yet your YTT covers next to nothing on it – well, you don’t need me to tell you that probably isn’t the training for you!
Certain schools will specialise in particular areas, so if there is one you feel really passionately about, make sure that your YTT has a syllabus that represents that. In addition, if you know you want to be a vinyasa teacher but this school only teaches Ashtanga, you’ll likely end the course feeling unfulfilled and in need of additional training.
6. Is the syllabus varied?
Off the back of this, while it’s crucial that the yoga teacher training covers areas you love, it’s also important that it covers areas you are lacking.
A high quality yoga teacher training syllabus should include:
- Asana and lesson planning
- Meditation
- Anatomy
- Variety of yoga styles
- Teaching methodology
- Culture and yoga roots
- Yoga philosophy
- Business methodology and marketing
- Pranayama and energy practices
Even if you shudder at the idea of one of these topics, they are ALL vital parts of being a yoga teacher – your teacher training needs to deliver them.
7. Is the yoga teacher training certified?
Is the yoga teacher training school accredited? If yes, who by? Look into the standards set by that accreditation and whether this contributes to your confidence in the course.
The Laura Green Teacher Training Yoga School is accredited by the Independent Yoga Network. I chose this network as it aligns with my values as a yoga teacher and teachers have to follow a stringent process in order to be accepted within the network.
You can find out more about IYN here.
8. What is expected of you?
Are you emotionally, physically and mentally ready for what the yoga teacher training programme requires of you?
There are certain elements that are fairly consistent across most schools, but there will also be huge differences in expectations. You need to be sure that you are ready for them. For example, will you be asked to do homework in between sessions? Do you have time for that? Will you be required to teach outside of your class? Will you need to maintain a certain level of yoga practice?
Ask the questions and process the answers in the context of your life – right here, right now. YTT is an enormous commitment, whatever way you look at it. Find a training school where you can fulfill what is needed of you.
9. Can you speak to past students?
One of the best ways to find out whether something is the right yoga teacher training for you is to talk to people who’ve actually done it!
An honest, open conversation will tell you far more about the training than any piece of marketing material can. What did they like about it? What did they find challenging? Would they recommend it? Why?
Gain as much information as you can before making that big, life changing decision. You won’t regret it.
You might like: 10 things to know before yoga teacher training.
Apply for the Laura Green Teacher Training Yoga School.
You can now apply for the 2023 Laura Green Teacher Training Yoga School 200-hour programme.
Learn how to become a professional, confident, and passionate yoga teacher with our 200 YTT 9-month training course. Find out more and apply for a place here. I can’t wait to hear from you.
Laura x
