So you're thinking of enrolling in a yoga teacher training program?! I'm so excited for you! It's one heck of a journey and worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears (yes, literally all of that).
My intention for this post is to help you narrow down your search by identifying your criteria and hopefully make a selection!
Let's jump right in... I only have 3 main questions for you to think about when considering a YTT program:
What is the style of yoga you're passionate about or curious about?
What is your budget and schedule like?
Are you familiar with the community/ teachers of the studio or online platform?
I'll go through each of these questions and discuss the major elements and trends of YTT programs that I explored.
Now I do want to point out that exploring YTT does not mean that you have to WANT to be a yoga teacher. YTT programs will deepen your personal practice on a level you would never expect. You could never teach a yoga class after completing your training and THAT'S OKAY! It's an amazing journey of self-discovery regardless.
** I also want to acknowledge that this post is more specifically tailored to selecting a 200 HR YTT.
Identify Your Style of Yoga
This may sound super easy, but maybe the style of yoga you personally practice is not what you would necessarily like to teach (or know more about). If teaching is your end goal, then most places will require you to obtain a 200 Hour YTT Certificate. While most of these are generalized and cover many different styles of yoga, there are some specialized 200 hour trainings out there. If you're open to teaching a few different styles of yoga, then finding a (mostly) generalized 200 hour program is the best way to go.
Usually, these programs cover vinyasa, hatha, yin, restorative, and yoga nidra - probably at the minimum.
There are also some studios/ facilities that have very specific teaching styles (think YogaSix and Core Power Yoga) and therefore offer their own teaching program.
My personal opinion would be to get a general 200 hour training done to cover the basics and then explore specific certifications for things like... trauma informed yoga, yoga for seniors or kids, aerial yoga, pre or post natal yoga, etc.
Your Budget & Schedule
To me, these were the main ticket items in my search for a YTT program. Now, even though I'm including these in one category (they feel most logistical to me) I am still going to separate them here to talk about individually.
Let's start with budget first!
This can be pretty overwhelming because truly the 200 HR YTT programs can range from about $100 to about $5000!!! That's crazy! So why the huge range? The biggest range in price comes from the delivery platform. Trainings with the lowest prices are usually offered online - and this could look like many things from live Zoom classes to pre-recorded offerings. Trainings with the highest prices are usually international and may also depend on length.
The format is really a personal preference of yours to consider, but I would HIGHLY ENCOURAGE and in person training because I feel that you'll get so much more out of it! It's also better for learning precise alignment, receiving real time feedback, and practice teaching.
Another things to note about budget is that what you pay for the training itself is not the only thing you'll be paying for. While some studios or online trainings will give manuals and books included in the cost of training, not all do. So if your training doesn't include the cost of books (yes, there is lots a reading but it's all amazing!), then be sure to budget an extra $50 or so for books - the manual is usually included. You may also want more props for yourself for your home practice the deeper you get into your training if you don't already have that sort of stuff.
One last thing on budget! A lot of trainings will offer scholarships or work/study programs if the cost is just completely out of your budget but you REALLY want to do the training. So reach out to the studio to ask and apply. :)
Now for schedule...
Again, this kind of depends on the delivery platform. Most online trainings will be self paced so you are able to work your training into your existing schedule. Some will be a hybrid of live Zoom classes and self paced modules. This is definitely the most flexible option, but will most likely feel less personal and interactive.
In my research for in person trainings, I consistently saw 2 kinds of formats: blast/ intensive formats or weekend formats.
The blast/ intensive schedules are quite literally how they sound. They are usually done in about a month because the trainings are done almost every day from about 10am-5pm. So think "full time job" but YTT! This format is amazing if you have the flexibility in your work schedule to go to trainings during the work week because you're fully immersed in yoga for a whole month! But it does leave less time to read more books and let content sink in.
The weekend formats have a little variation in terms of how spread out over the course of the year the weekends are. They may be every other weekend which would mean less time over the course of a year or they may be 1-2 times per month which spreads the training out to about 9 months. Most weekend format trainings also include a week night (for my 300 hour it's been Wednesday nights, but I've also seen some trainings do Friday nights). This week night training could happen more frequently than the weekends depending on the studio's schedule.
Again, this is totally a personal preference! And may not even be a preference but rather just what you are simply ABLE to do - and that's okay!
Familiarity with the Community (Online or In person)
Think about this like looking at dating profiles. Seriously! You're investing a lot of your time and money into this incredible journey and you should be satisfied by your selection!
This is one of the last things I want you to consider when making your selection since I feel the first two questions get the logistical stuff out of the way. BUT that doesn't mean that this isn't any less important - if anything it's probably the MOST important! You've spent countless hours doing research and fine-tuning your budget, so you want to be sure that the training you select will match your vibes and expectations.
If you already regularly attend a studio or gym that you love, then think about considering their training first if you feel that it suits your needs. If not, then buy a drop in class or attend a workshop to get a vibe for the setting and people. Introduce yourself to the teachers and let someone know you're interesting in YTT to get the conversation started!
Whichever path(s) you choose to take towards your yoga teacher training, I'm so excited for you! If you have any questions about my own selection process or other questions in general, drop them in the comments! :)
It quite truly is a life changing journey and one I would recommend to anyone invested in their yoga practice.
"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." - The Bhagavad Gita
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