You've been
practicing yoga for a while now and you're ready to take your practice to the
next level. Not only do you want to immerse yourself in the yogic lifestyle,
but you want to share it with others! India being the birthplace of yoga is one
of the most preferred destinations for doing your 200 hrs yoga teacher
training. So it's time to begin researching teacher training in India. But
how do you choose the right one for you?
There are so
many yoga schools in India these days that it's hard to
discern which one is the perfect fit. Here are some common pitfalls you can
avoid when choosing the one for you.
- You Don't Practice the Style that they Offer
If you practice
hatha and decide to do an Ashtanga Vinyasa training, chances are you are in for
a rude awakening! What if you start the program and then decide you don't like
the style of classes? Do you want to teach something you don't like? Unless you
want to study another style intensively and plan on teaching it, you are better
off studying and teaching the style that you enjoy the most. Even in this case,
it would be highly recommended that you prepare yourself by participating in a
few classes of that style to see if it connects with you. So make sure you
really know what style of yoga the training course will be in, and feel free to
take classes in other styles if you think you want to change it before
committing to the training. Many schools also organize multi-style teacher
trainings, where students can learn different styles and choose what suits them
the most.
- You Don't Check the Teachers Backgrounds
It is
important that your instructors are experienced and qualified enough to teach
you properly. Make sure you check out
the information on the website of the training you look into. Is their
background credible or relatable? It may also be useful to check out the lead teacher’s
experience and his journey for more information about them. If what they are
doing interests you and they have made a successful career teaching yoga for at
least 3-5 years, then it will be a good match. You can also call and speak to
the teachers to have a realistic picture about the course.
- You Don't Check the School's Credentials
This is
another big one! Today, Yoga Alliance US and UK is one of the biggest governing
bodies of teaching standards. When you choose a Yoga Alliance accredited 200 hrs yoga teacher training in India,
you can then register with them to become a Registered Yoga Teacher. Many
studios require this standard when hiring teachers. The minimum number of hours
to become a teacher is 200 hours. The advanced level is 500 hours. You must
prefer a school that you train with, should be registered with either of the
Yoga Alliances with 500 hrs level.
- There is No Business of Yoga Class
What are the
graduates of the school doing? Make sure there is evidence of teachers
getting jobs and working in the field of yoga. Don't overlook the business side
of things just because it's yoga. Yoga teachers need to earn a living, too.
Traditionally,
yoga was passed down over many teachers through the guru-student relationship,
which has been watered down by its standardization, which has its
advantages and disadvantages. If this is something that interests you, then you
should participate in yoga teacher training in India. The courses are very
informative and valid ways of becoming a yoga teacher (just be sure to check
out everything mentioned above!)
