How to Choose the Best Yoga Teacher Training For YOU
A couple years ago, a friend reached out to me, asking for advice about choosing the right yoga teacher training program. She wasn’t the first person who’d asked me for my input, and definitely not the last, and I understand why: there are so many options, and a seemingly eternal carousel of varieties, styles, and niches in the yoga world that it can feel overwhelming trying to choose one—especially if you’re new to the industry.
That’s why I’ve decided to share the letter I sent to my friend when she asked for guidance in how to choose the right yoga teacher training for her. Two years later, she is a successful yoga teacher, and she says her yoga teacher training was one the most transformational and positive experiences of her life. While I know better than to take credit for her success, I also know these tips helped her get where she wanted to go.
You’re next!
Source: Antonika Chanel
Letter to a Young Yogi: How to Choose the Best Yoga Teacher Training For YOU
Hi friend,
So you want to talk about yoga teacher trainings.
Obviously, the industry is saturated, which, on the bright side means you have a lot of options.
The down side, however, is that there are a lot of options.
Having said that, here's are some suggestions:
Narrow down your options to only highly reputable and positively reviewed studios/programs.
I completed my first 200 hr training through YogaWorks, and overall, it was a very positive and professional experience. YogaWorks tends to be one of the most respected YTTs, but there are A LOT of other studios out there, so it's definitely worth shopping around.
Decide how you want to do it.
Do you want to split your training into modules? Over three to six months? Or do you want full on immersion? Get it all done in a month? Do you want to stay close to home, or travel? I've done it both ways. My first YTT was split up over 8 months, every other weekend. For my second YTT, I flew to New York and slept on friends' couches for five weeks, lugging my mat around the city every. single. day. Both experiences were rich, but in very different ways. For myself, the full immersion was more dramatic, but the long-term training felt more sustainable.
Choose your teacher wisely.
For real, I truly believe this is the only thing that really matters. Find a teacher who resonates with you, someone you trust, and feel comfortable with. Someone who inspires you. Remember: your teacher will be your guide through a beautiful but tricky transformation. Make sure it's someone you're willing to follow for the long haul.
Ok. So that's all the stuff I'm supposed to say, and I hope it helps. Now, here's what I want to say:
Trust your gut. Follow your instincts.
You have this idea: "yoga teacher training," and it's exciting to you.
It lights your fire.
It might be the first thing that's done that for you in a long time.
Trust that feeling.
Don't overthink it.
For now, just say "yes."
You have to commit to "yes."
The rest will work itself out.
Start practicing yoga, every day, even if you can only be on your mat for a few minutes. The point is, you have to commit to it, if you really want it to do something for you.
So, practice.
Practice at different studios, with different teachers, and explore until you find a teacher who you really connect with. And when you find that teacher, stick to them. Like super glue.
I never researched anything.
I had no idea what I was doing.
I never planned on teaching yoga.
I signed up for my first training because when my teacher announced that he was leading it, my heart leapt into my throat, and I thought, "I must do that."
I didn't want to teach.
It didn't matter.
For the first time in a long time, I was inspired by something.
I had to do it.
If you get really quiet, and close your eyes, and connect to that little voice that's telling you to "do it, do it, do it," you'll probably be able to imagine how it will look, where it will be, how it will feel.
That might turn out to be much more informative than a lot of research.
In summary:
Say yes, and commit to yes.
Prove to the universe (and yourself) that you mean it: practice, girl, practice.
Start getting in touch with that little voice, and follow the feelings as they pop up. Trust your gut.
Honestly, I could keep going, but I just want you to know that I know.
I know the feeling of desolation, emptiness, exhaustion.
And I know the mixed feelings that come when you're contemplating a way out or through or up. It's like you're looking at an idea thinking, it's either a last resort or a ray of hope.
Let it be a ray of hope.
Let it be fun and playful and exciting.
I'll promise you this:
You'll never regret committing yourself to something that excites you, as scary or challenging as it might seem, but you might regret letting the idea pass you by.
So just say yes.
And figure it out later.
Good luck, and keep me posted!!
Love.
Jamie