5 Most Important Questions to Ask yourself Before Joining a Yoga Teacher Training

I get what you mean. You are so into yoga. It has altered not just your physical form but also your mental state, and very likely the course of your life. You’ve recently thought about the possibility of launching a career as a yoga teacher. It sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to pursue your interest in leading a healthy lifestyle while also earning a living in a way that is beneficial to other people and the planet as a whole. Maybe you’ve reached a point in your current profession when you feel like you’ve hit a wall and are ready for a change. Or perhaps you are seeking a side hustle that will not only be profitable but will also be enjoyable. There is a possibility that you are already engaged in a profession, such as massage therapy, in which yoga might be viewed as a supplementary service. But ask yourself this: are you truly prepared to take the leap, commit to practicing yoga for at least 200 hours (or more), and spend money on a yoga teacher training course?

Over the course of the last decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of people who are interested in becoming yoga teachers or who are just beginning their careers in the field. During this time, I’ve observed some characteristics that are shared by those who participate in yoga teacher training and go on to have successful careers in the field, as opposed to those who never teach after completing their training. On the basis of my own experience in the field of yoga teacher training, I have developed this list of vital questions that you should consider BEFORE enrolling in a yoga teacher training program.

Your Journey to a Fulfilling Yoga Career Starts Here! Get Free Demo Classes Here!

5 questions to ask yourself before signing up for a yoga teacher training.

1. Is your body ready?

The physical component of yoga teacher training is extensive and challenging. A proper teacher training will be a great experience of humility, revelation, and eventually empowerment for you if you are in good physical shape. If you are in good physical condition, read on. On the other hand, if you have substantial injuries or if you have spent the most of your life ignoring your physical body, you can benefit from taking some time to heal and/or get stronger before moving on.This in no way implies that those with physical disabilities are unable to or should not pursue a career in teaching. It is very dependent on the individual, the training, and the circumstances that are present. I have seen many people succeed despite having physical restrictions such as missing limbs, Parkinson’s disease, spinal fusions, and other conditions in order to complete the challenge of finishing a yoga teacher program.

On the other side, for example a lady decided not to continue with the teacher training she had started after only two sessions since she realized that it was too much for her body to take at this time. She was a hyperactive mother of five children, and for the past two decades, she had not placed the same priority on taking care of her body as she had placed on taking care of her children. At first, she believed that the teacher training would serve as the impetus to make a commitment to improving her physical health. However, in addition to the physical agony she was experiencing as a result of moving her body in new ways, she began going through severe emotional releases. She explained to me that she had finally realized why she had been ignoring her body for so long and that it was because she was trying to avoid these feelings. She ultimately came to the conclusion that she needed to take a measured and deliberate approach to her physical reawakening, and she intends to finish the training at a later time.

2. How is your mental health?

If your mental health is already fragile, the intensive mental and physical exercise that is involved in teacher training might trigger a crisis in your mental health, which is another typical reason why individuals drop out of the program. I remember another trainee who was battling anorexia at the time that she entered a teacher training program. The narrative is very similar to the one about my acquaintance who found the physical work involved in the training to be too much for her. She had high hopes that the training would play some role in the healing process that she was undergoing. The vast majority of teacher trainings, on the other hand, are not led by individuals who have qualifications in the field of mental health, and they are not designed specifically as therapeutic for mental health disorders. She ultimately decided to withdraw from the program a few months after consulting with her therapist because she found that the pressure and intensity of the training were more distressing to her than healing.

It is essential to have a solid understanding of the restrictions that yoga teachers operate within as well as the scope of their practice, despite the fact that many people believe yoga to be an effective supplemental therapy for their mental health difficulties. If you have a mental health illness that has been identified, please contact your qualified and licensed care providers to decide whether or not the atmosphere of yoga teacher training is appropriate for you.

If you have a moderate case of depression that you observe getting better with yoga practice, it is unlikely that you will have any issues with the teacher training that you participate in. However, if you are currently under the care of a mental health professional for any reason, it is vital to properly evaluate the prospective obstacles and benefits with your support team as you choose a training, and before you sign up for one in any case, it is strongly recommended that you do this.

Yoga Teacher Training – Learn from Experienced Instructors! Get Free Demo Here!

3. How stable is your life?

The yoga teacher training is a rigorous period of physical and emotional transformation, and regardless of the status of your mental health, it is essential to make certain that you have mechanisms in place to support you through whatever obstacles may arise throughout the course of your training. While you are in training, you should make every effort to avoid planning any other major life changes, such as moving, changing jobs, or having a kid. Naturally, life will throw you a few curveballs, but you owe it to yourself to give yourself the gift of being able to fully immerse yourself in the life-altering experience that is yoga teacher training.

You will have a limited number of training alternatives to choose from if you wish to become certified in Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini, or Bikram yoga, amongst others. Be aware that if you choose a training that is based on a certain asana style, it is possible that you will need to complete further rudimentary training as you adapt and develop as a teacher in the future. However, provided that alignment remains the primary focus of the training, it is likely that you will still obtain a sound foundation. Just be sure that the program gives you room to build your own voice while allowing you to maintain your individuality. Attending a general “hatha yoga” based course, on the other hand, may provide a more comprehensive overview as well as a better sense of where to go with your continuing education once you have finished your initial 200 hours of training.

4. Do you have grit?

The words “courage, resolve, or strength of character” are what make up the definition of “grit.” In spite of the fact that some individuals enroll in teacher training with rosy visions in their heads depicting hours upon hours of blissful meditation, the reality of teacher training is significantly more… gritty. There is the difficulty presented by moving your body more frequently than the majority of people are accustomed to doing. The mind is forced to adapt to not just one, but frequently two whole new languages (Sanskrit and anatomy, respectively).

And then there’s the process of coming to terms with oneself, which can be enlightening at times but can also be excruciating. There is no denying the fact that becoming a yoga instructor is not for the faint of heart. And the results are undeniably commensurate with the work put in. The training should thoroughly cover alignment for all of the basic poses, relevant anatomy for those poses, different types of sequencing, a philosophy that is passed down accurately in accordance with the school’s chosen philosophical tradition (Vedic, Tantric, etc.), breathing techniques, the art of teaching lessons, and some chanting. The training should also include some chanting.

If you have a history of beginning projects only to abandon them when the going gets tough, you might benefit from seeking out additional assistance both before and while you are completing your teacher training. Counseling, mentoring, or coaching are all possible forms that this support could take. If you already have a relationship with a counselor, mentor, or life coach, you can ask them for their advice on how to get through the process of getting certified as a teacher.

In the event that you do not, you may want to look for a yoga instructor with greater expertise or a life coach who specializes in working with yoga teachers. You might also ask a few close friends who you know you can count on to be there for you whenever you need them to act as a support system for you in the event that you cannot afford to pay for professional assistance on top of the cost of your teacher preparation. In either case, the best approach to ensure your success is to organize your support team in advance so that they are prepared to assist you in the event that you run into difficulties in the middle of the process.

5. What is your financial situation?

A teacher training program will cost you at least several thousand dollars, regardless of whether or not you intend to become a teacher. You are in an excellent position to participate in a teacher training program if you are able to afford the tuition by using money from your savings, soliciting financial assistance from members of your family, or simply reducing the amount of money you spend each month. If, on the other hand, you must pay for it by charging it to a credit card, taking out a loan, or working a second job, you should give careful consideration to the long-term implications of these payment options.

Ask about any training programs that you are thinking about attending about scholarships, as well as your chances of being awarded one, in order to get an accurate image of how much the program will actually cost you. Inquire further about any additional costs, such as those associated with purchasing books or other supplies, as well as whether or not yoga courses are included in the price of the program. In order to provide the least dogmatic learning environment possible, it is important to have a faculty that is both experienced and diverse, with a range of different specialization backgrounds.

It is preferable to have at least one member of the teaching staff who specializes in teaching lessons for elders and novices, as well as one who specializes in teaching classes for intermediate students, restoratives, and so on. The only way to improve as a teacher is to never stop learning new things yourself. Repeat, repeat, and more repetitions! Trainees who regularly participate in public sessions taught by members of the program’s faculty are better able to explain alignment cues in a seamless manner and will develop ideas for creative, safe sequencing and theming.

Get Certified, Get Confident! Join Our Yoga Teacher Training Course!

Related Articles