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While a yoga certification is an important process in becoming a yoga teacher there are many other aspects inspirational yoga teacher will adopt. Understanding anatomy thoroughly, getting in touch with yogic philosophy, mastering postures or immersing oneself in meditation are important features too. However, a good yoga teacher is someone who has understood all the functions of yoga in totality and not just in parts and who can then convey the same in totality to yoga students.

Transformation Through Yoga

Once a teacher is transformed through yoga then she is more inspired to bring about a transformation in her students. A yoga teacher who has experienced the healing that yoga can bring will be able to bring the same results to others who are seeking healing. The power of yoga lies within a good teacher and the same power should be transmitted to the students. If a yoga teacher is inspired to live the yogic life and practice yoga with passion then she will find it easier to inspire her students to channel their lives into the right path of self realization too.

True Meaning of Yogic Philosophy

An inspiring teacher will guide students to absorb knowledge and the techniques of yoga in a way that keeps the questioning mind of the students active. When imparting yogic instructions a good yoga teacher will do so in a way that they understand the true meaning of yogic philosophy. There will be many people who will come to a yoga teacher because they feel that yoga will relieve them of stress, they will lose excess weight or be cured of diabetes or blood pressure. Being healed from a disease is a short term effect of yoga. An inspired yoga teacher will be the one who will ensure that through yoga they attain complete healing in body, mind and spirit.

As part of yoga teachers training you will learn all about the satvik diet and how the various foods affect us is all part of the learning process. Food is important as it sustains life but how much food is considered enough? What kinds of food should be eaten to sustain the body and the mind? According to yoga a vegetarian diet preferably consisting of fruit and vegetables is the healthiest diet.

You need to Understand that the Yoga Diet

As a yoga practitioner you need to understand that the yoga diet has proved to be one that builds the body and keeps it healthy. The correct kind of food eaten in the correct quantity nourishes not just the body but the mind and the emotions too. In India it has always been believed that what you eat reflects your personality. This is why in yoga food is an important part of yogic practice as important as asana, pranayam and meditation.

What kinds of food help in Spiritual Development

Yogic food is vegetarian because those are the foods that keep the body light and the mind clear to pursue spiritual growth. The traditional Ayurvedic diet is composed of different diets based on different constitutions. However, the great sages of yoga believed that the yogic practitioner is capable of selecting those foods that are needed by the body. In keeping with the yogic belief of non-violence and also the belief that non-vegetarian food hinders clear thinking, non-vegetarian diet is shunned.

Since all yoga traditions, across the spectrum, believe that food is very much a part of yogic philosophy as a yoga teacher you too must understand what kinds of food help in spiritual development besides keeping both the body and mind healthy. What you eat will impact how well you do at your yoga practice as food feeds the mind as well as the spirit.

The aim of yoga is to show you the path that will lead to self discovery. It is not a hurried process because you need to absorb and assimilate all the aspects of yoga to be fully learned. Only if you follow the teachings with full integrity will you find your pure and true nature. The lifestyle that modern age has forced people to adopt has taken them away from nature and that is the reason that many are unable to find themselves. The life that we lead seems limited and artificial where the spirit seems starved of sustenance.

Yoga teachers have years of practice and experience

Yoga teachers have years of practice and experience and so they are able to guide yoga teacher trainees in a way that leads to an all round growth. They consider each person individually while teaching and never work beyond limitations of the individual. Each aspect of yoga is taught in harmonious surroundings where nature can be seen and appreciated. The yogic community living in a yoga school provides an environment of inquiry which enables students to search out answers that will take them towards self realization. Yoga teaches you to get back in touch with your feelings and to look at all human beings with an attitude of service.

The world today is machine oriented where the personal touch is missing.

The world today is machine oriented where the personal touch is missing. This dehumanization has caused us to lose the very spirit that lives within us all. Spirituality that has been starved of food can once again be revived with regular yogic practice. Yoga taught correctly and practiced correctly opens the mind to new vistas of thought that take you to our innermost spirit. However, the various yoga schools have differing methods of teaching and so you have to look for one that will take you on beautiful spiritual journey.

If you know that your life is spiraling away at a crazy speed then it is time to halt before you veer right out of control. Try out the slower pace by joining a yoga retreat at Rishikesh, India and the Ashram life will put you right back on track. Ashram life, simply put, is a safe haven where peace reigns.

Fixed Times for Yoga Classes, Meditation

Daily life at an ashram is regulated according to the activities. There are fixed times for yoga classes, meditation, meals and even sleep. This regularity builds up an internal clock which helps to get the rhythm back into your routine. The longer you follow this schedule the more peaceful your mind will feel and more rested your body.

The early mornings at Rishikesh are filled with beautiful sounds of bells, conch shells. The bathing ritual at the Ganges and the prayer chants send out the message of spirituality. At the ashram too you can search out your spiritual self. The unhurried routine gives you plenty of time for thinking and reflecting. Here in the peace you can easily hear the inner voice giving you direction about where your life is headed and what you can do about heading it into the right direction.

Yoga School in India

The atmosphere in the ashram is such that it relaxes you. Which can do wonders to ease the tension out of you. Relaxed walks and treks help you to unwind and you feel you could live in a yoga retreat endlessly. However, a yoga retreat experience is just a small glimpse of how yoga can change your life’s rhythm. You need to continue yoga practice as taught in a yoga school in India to get more out of your life than you are getting at present.

What to look for when choosing a quality yoga teacher training program e.g. reputation of yoga instructor, international certification, class size, cost etc. Yoga has caught everyone’s imagination around the world and Yoga teacher training schools and studios are springing up almost everywhere. So how do you know which out of these yoga centers is the best for yoga teacher training? Here are five qualities to look out for that can help you select a yoga school, ashram, yoga centre or studio that best suits your learning needs and which can provide you a good yoga teacher training course.

What style of yoga would you like to learn and teach?

In India most yoga ashrams and schools teach traditional yoga. You have a choice between hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga and vinyasa yoga. Understanding what appeals to you the most, out of the various yoga styles, is the key to better learning outcomes. It follows that you must select a style that you are familiar with or have layman knowledge about as that adds to your comfort level. If you have practiced the kind of yoga you would like to do your yoga teacher training in will help you cope better. You will be more interested in qualifying the teacher training certificate course because it will be something you like to do. So as your first step you need to select your YTTC wisely.

What is your yoga instructor like?

The second most important point is to select a yoga school that has the right kind of yoga instructor or yoga master. The yoga instructor leads the teacher training and so they need to be skilled and knowledgeable and fully conversant with yoga practices. The yoga teacher must be able to bring out your potential and be able to guide you through the course right from beginner level to advanced level. At the beginners level it is very important to have the right yoga instructor because they can influence the direction of your teacher training. It is important to research the teacher online as well as offline as the online research can point you towards a good yoga teacher but it’s the first hand interaction that will actually show you how the teacher is in real time. A teacher must be approachable and friendly but at the same time must be aware of your learning needs and practice and steer you into accomplishing your teacher training goals.

You can read testimonials, reviews, blogs and biographies to understand what kind of yoga they teach, what schools they are attached to and what makes yoga so important in their lives. However, what you really need to do is attend their short term yoga classes if they have impressed you online. A first-hand experience of their yoga class will give you insights about their teaching style, their knowledge and whether or not they can add value to your teacher training through alignment and breathing. You will be able to notice how much attention they are giving to the learners if they offer modifications, corrections, cues throughout class. If you feel inspired by such a yoga instructor or master you can go with your instinct and undertake the yoga teacher training course with them.

What kind of schedule does teacher training course follow?

Unlike a yoga retreat or vacation yoga teacher training is serious business. You have to accomplish a lot during the course as besides asana and pranayama you also have to study yoga philosophy, anatomy, meditation, chanting, learn the Sanskrit names, the sequences and more. You need to be disciplined, follow the yoga food diet and also be prepared for early morning rising. Some yoga teacher training courses begin at around 6:00 am and continue till 9:00pm so be prepared. Before selecting a yoga school or ashram, read their schedules online and see if the duration of their training suits you. Most yoga teacher training courses are run as intensive training of certain duration of weeks. However some yoga schools also offer weekend courses or week-days only courses. The fact is that for teacher training certificate courses you need to complete either the 200 hours, 300 hours or 500 hours yoga teacher training. Most of the yoga teacher training courses run between 6 to 8 hours a day and are residential in nature.

The schedule will enable you to understand how much time is devoted to each segment of the teacher training course like asana practice, philosophy, teaching methodology. It is a good idea to select a yoga school that has a balanced learning schedule so time is equally devoted to each segment of yoga learning so your teacher training is balanced and you develop all the skills to become a good teacher yourself. Some teacher training courses have value additions like cookery classes, gardening, etc. A number of yoga schools also expect you to undertake community services so you need to decide on those too.

What is the cost of yoga teacher training courses?

A 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training course in India would cost about US$1700 which includes course material, yoga mat, single room accommodation with attached bath, 3 meals per day and outdoor activities on Sundays. While the 500 hour teacher training course costs around US$3200. Of course abroad you could find yoga studios that can charge you anywhere between US$3000 to US$10,000. The higher priced ones usually market themselves as luxury or exclusive yoga studios. You have to decide where you want to do your teacher training from, keeping in mind your budget as well as the quality of yoga teaching. It is not necessary that yoga schools that are priced higher are actually doing better teacher training. For yoga teacher training you need to have regular classes and complete your contact training as per Yoga Alliance certification rules. So you need to select a yoga school that will help you accomplish this goal. For undertaking yoga teacher training internationally you must also budget in your airfare, travel, living costs, boarding and lodging. You could also select a school that is willing to take care of your safety, travel needs, airport transfers, and sightseeing requirements. So read up the terms before you sign for any yoga teacher training abroad.

What is the class size of teacher trainees?

As a yoga teacher trainee you would naturally prefer classes where you can receive the personal attention of your yoga instructor. There is usually a limit on the maximum number of teacher trainees in one batch. In case the limit is not given you could find yourself in an over-crowded class where there is no chance that the teacher will be able to focus on individuals. Before you enroll or register for any teacher training, you must find out how many learners the yoga school takes per batch. Smaller batches are naturally better because the teacher can concentrate on building the skills of each individual, answer any questions they have and clarify their doubts. In smaller groups the yoga instructor gets to know the learners strengths and weak points and can help them strengthen those especially when learning the asana.

Finally, that yoga school is best for yoga teacher training that can help you to lay a strong foundation in practice as well as yoga philosophy especially right at the start when you undertake the foundational 200 hour teacher training course. The yoga school should build your first yoga teacher training practice in such a way that the subsequent yoga teacher training courses can improve on your skills and knowledge and you master the advanced levels as well.

Samatva Yogalaya under the leadership of Krishna Sikhwal is emerging as one of the better yoga schools in India. The reasons most yoga learners attribute to this success is that the Yogalaya teaches yoga in small groups of about a dozen students. If you wish to have qualitative yoga teacher training then it is a good idea to go to yoga schools that teach yoga in small group sizes rather than yoga learning mills. As a beginner who is undertaking the 200 hour TTC you can lay a better foundation if you learn yoga in small yoga group sizes where you will get more individual attention from the instructor. The same applies for advanced 300 hour and 500 hour TTC because it is easier to clarify your doubts and perfect your alignments when groups are small, which in the long run prepares you to become a yoga teacher of some stature.

Small Groups Offer a Personal Connect

Yoga is a growing trend as a number of people have a keen interest in improving their overall health and there is always a need for good yoga teachers. If you are interested in teaching the science of yoga to others then you getting to the depths of the science will be better achieved in a small group or class. In small groups the yoga instructors are not overburdened and can give each individual in class their undivided attention, which does not work well in bigger groups. The yoga instructors that have small groups patiently answer any questions you might have as they are feel it is not getting in the way of their completing the yoga TTC curriculum. In small groups teachers are better able to individual instructions so no learner remains in doubt about any aspect of the teaching course. The grounding and detailing, especially in a 200 hour TTC is important if you wish to advance to higher certification courses like the 500 hour TTC.

Small Group Learning Makes You Confident

There is enough research to prove that people who learn in smaller groups show better performance and results. In small peer groups the learner is not hesitant about expressing opinions or viewpoints and so the learning becomes a more enriching experience as each individual interacts better. Yoga instructors are also able to discuss yoga aspects, philosophy, texts, etc. at length which helps learners grasp all aspects of the training course. What this means for you as a yoga teacher trainer is that you become a more confident teacher yourself as you will have been able have a better understanding of yoga. You can teach yoga with more competence and integrity as your teacher training will have prepared you thoroughly and your understanding of yoga will be more complete.

Small Group Learning is Individualised

In a small yoga group the yoga instructors can observe learners better and help them understand their strengths and point to those aspects where you require improvement. Each individual in the small group benefits from this and the yoga training is able to move in the direction that will be most beneficial for the learners. The instructors can also observe how well the small group is responding to the yoga class and can speed up or slow down the training so the yoga teacher training progresses well. Instructors can also observe the yoga learners outside the class as they incorporate yoga into their daily life and help them strengthen their daily practice. In smaller groups the yoga instructors can even advance learning beyond the TTC curriculum if they feel that the learners have been able to respond well to the training and are prepared to take on the challenge of advanced learning.

The Ecosystem of Small Group Learning

The ecosystem of small groups is favourable to learning better and faster. The learners do not waste time and are not distracted or bored. Another advantage of learning yoga in small groups is that you overcome your hesitation sooner and are not awkward or shy in asking about issues that you find troubling or difficult to cope with. The individuals in the group get to know each other better as do the instructors and their understanding of the small group leads to more meaningful teaching with individualised feedback. Keeping these factors in mind Samatva Yogalaya consciously teaches yoga in small groups of not more than 12 students so that they can help yoga learners better their skills and knowledge of yoga. After your yoga teacher training at the Yogalaya you will find you are one among a community of teachers that is confident and capable of conducting yoga classes more effectively.

Small Groups Become Close-knit Communes

Small Groups are like a commune where they live together at the Yogalaya; share their thoughts, achievements and their future plans. You can form connections better in small groups as people are more prone to talk and interact in smaller groups. As the yoga teacher training progresses mutual understanding and respect for each individual in the small group grows which leads to lasting friendships. Connections made in these small group classes also build up a network of yoga teachers in a globalised community. These global networking connections can even be tapped into and can prove useful if you wish to run your own yoga studio or become yoga teachers in different countries of the world.

While there is always a good reason to learn yoga for health benefits but if you really wish to learn more about the yoga as an ancient scientific practice then it’s a great idea to do Yoga Teacher Training. Yoga is not just about the physical asana practice but is an amalgamation of practices that also bring benefits to your emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.

Provides Deep Yoga Learning

Perhaps you are a novice at yoga or even a practitioner of many years but doing Yoga Teacher Training is what will give you a really deep understanding of yoga. From a purely physical point of view yoga teacher training can give you the tools to enhance your asana practice. Since you study anatomy you will have a much broader understanding of asana, adjustments and alignment and will be able to avoid injury. Teacher training will increase your capacity to hold asana and at the same time focus on your breath and remain mindful. However, there is much more to yoga, and yoga teacher training gives you a deep understanding of the true nature of yoga. You will also understand that the various aspects of yoga lead you to self-discovery. Yoga Teacher Training is considered by many to be life-changing experience that can impact you so much that you will find you are much more peaceful and accepting of life.

Affords deep personal practice

Yoga learning is in many ways a good practice to adopt but if you really wish to strengthen your personal practice you need to do yoga teacher training, which allows for more attention to detail. You will be able to grasp your physical, mental and emotional make-up and realise your true potential through the longer practice sessions. Yoga teacher training helps you to understand postures, their true alignment and the anatomy involved in each pose and the benefits a certain pose will have on health and well-being. Each individual has specific asana needs and the training helps you to learn what poses are suitable for which specific disease or organ in the body. So by doing yoga teacher training you not only get a stronger body but better emotional and mental development. In fact you could surprise yourself by mastering poses you thought you were incapable of even trying!

Changes world view

Yoga brings positive changes to the way you view your life. Asana is not enough but it is an important aspect because if the body is still the mind is still and that leaves you more centred. Yoga teacher training allows you to explore yoga from all angles which increase your awareness. Increased awareness allows you to see the negative and positive aspects of certain behaviours, aspects in your life and relationships and this allows you to change. Heightened awareness leads to personal growth also. In fact lengthened yoga practices teacher you discipline, humility and leaves you open and alert to take on what life has to offer with more composure and self-control and these are not small achievements. Yoga teacher training gives you a chance to heal and to train for the change that you seek and which will be joyous for you.

Boosts life-skills

Yoga teacher training can give you skills you can use your entire life. These skills are the tools that can enhance your life like never before. You will be equipped to lead; you learn improved communication skills and gain confidence. You have a deeper sense of compassion and more meaningful relationships because you will have learnt to have empathy for all human beings. Yoga teacher training will provide you with a readymade community that can help you to grow because that is what they are all striving for themselves. This bonding is powerful enough to last you a lifetime and you have people you can reach out to when you need clarity or when things are not too good. Also you have a vast improved knowledge of yoga history, philosophy, breath control, meditation besides asana so you will feel empowered with these skills.

Develops your spirituality

Yoga teacher training also helps you get in touch with your spirituality which is not possible if you touch only on the physical aspect. Studying Yoga Sutras, reciting mantras and practicing meditation allow you to open up yourself to spiritual practices that can transform you. Daily practice of these aspects of yoga, help you in your internal journey, where you connect to yourself more meaningfully. Once you begin these practices you will begin to notice the changes in your thinking pattern too. This change in thought process is your cue to better knowledge and understanding of who you are and you will be able to accept yourself and gain in confidence to lead a more holistic life.

The Chakra Samhita is the ancient text that describes the qualities that a yoga student must possess. In ancient times, a yoga student was expected to already have a majority of these qualities but in modern times these qualities need to be learnt during yoga teacher training. In order for you to become a good yoga teacher you first need to be good yoga student and possess the qualities that can help you master the Yoga Teacher Training Course as well as awaken your consciousness to new possibilities. Following are some of the qualities that can help you to be on the top of your game not just in asana practice but in understanding the complete system of yoga.

An inquisitive and inquiring mind

As a yoga student you must have a deep desire to understand each and every aspect of yoga. An inquisitive mind will enable you to carry out your own research, ask questions to your Yoga Master. Some of the concepts might be really unfamiliar and foreign but unless you inquire about what you don’t understand you will remain out of your depth. The more you inquire the more you will be motivated to understand new concepts, ideas, and philosophies. Your inquiring mind must instil in you a desire to search for truth under the guidance of your yoga teacher.

Patience, perseverance and practice is the key

As a beginner learner it is not easy to learn the asana, balance, memorise the mantra or even understand yoga philosophy. You will over time not only learn the asana, their names but will realise that patience, perseverance and practice can help you attain success. The more patiently you practice the more you will be able to expand your limits. Therefore failing is not a shortcoming but failing to see it as an opportunity to persevere more is. Being outside your comfort zone should not deter you but make you realise that you have it in you to memorise, learn and master all aspects of yoga teacher training.

Open-mindedness to follow instructions of the Yoga Teacher

Your logical brain can on many occasions force you to question your teacher’s instructions or words. But to become a great yoga teacher yourself you need to understand that the yoga master has tremendous yoga experience and knows exactly what you are capable of achieving. Listen with an open mind if you wish to deepen your yoga practice and teacher training. Your yoga teacher is the one who will force you to look inward beyond asana practice and find the real you. Your yoga master is not just your guide in helping you make physical prowess, but you must make use of their vast knowledge and skills to become a true yogi with a higher consciousness`

Do you have compassion and generosity?

Compassion and generosity are powerful qualities that can help you to become a great yoga teacher. These are two words that you will often hear in relation to yoga learning. These two qualities can define you as a human being who can make the world a better place. You not only need to be compassionate and generous with your friends, family and other students you interact with but with all people around you. Compassion in yoga also has greater meaning because you first need to show compassion to yourself. If you don’t understand what this means then your yoga master will help you get there. Once you learn to be compassionate with yourself you will grow from within and kindness and compassion for others will flow easily. Generosity in yoga does not mean just giving money and material goods but giving your time, your love to others. This is why yoga teacher training also calls for participation in community service.

Balance and tranquillity for peace

One of the reasons for you to learn yoga in the first place could be that you wish to find peace and happiness. Balance and tranquillity are two traits that can lead you to a place of real contentment. Balance here does not just mean being able to do an asana without falling but balance here has a broader meaning. It means bringing balance to everything in your life. It means that you will not go to extremes between play and work doing too much of one and too less of the other. You must be able to distinguish how much is too much or too less in all your actions. If you can find that balance then you will also be able to find peace. Tranquillity is becoming somewhat of a rare commodity because there is so much noise in the world that you fail to relax because of the constant use of technology. Stress has become a malaise that almost everyone suffers from it as we have lost the ability to relax. It is therefore important to learn tranquillity through meditation as that can leave your mind peaceful and quietness leads you to your inner self.

These are some of the qualities of a good yoga student but there are of course numerous others like having a good character and being free from addiction and morbidity. You must be free from vanity, irritability, laziness and ego but instead you must be modest, sympathetic and devoted to your yoga studies and practice. All these qualities are also a road map that can help you attain personal growth and achieve higher consciousness, which is the aim of yoga. While every potential yoga teacher trainee might not have all these attributes but practicing yoga as a lifestyle can help you acquire these qualities.

Ayurveda has divided the constitution types into three segments or Dosha called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. While Vata is a combination of space and air elements, Pitta is a combination of water and fire and Kapha earth and water. We all have bits of the three Dosha though one or two could predominate. It is rare for the Dosha to be balanced. If the Doshas are too out of sorts it can result in poor health and disease. Hatha yoga should be practiced according to Dosha which helps to maximize the benefits.

A person with a predominant Vata Dosha needs to be grounded and so standing postures that ground and balance will be more beneficial to a Vata constitution. Asanas that concentrate on the lower body, below the abdomen like Pachimottanasana, Pavanmuktasana and Marjaryasana are also very favourable for people with the Vata Dosha and so are stretching and warming asanas. Meditation that promotes tranquility and peace are good.

Yoga Can Help Balance Your Dosha

Those who have Pitta Dosha will find it beneficial to practice asanas and pranayama that have a cooling, calming and grounding effect. They need to find the balance between the mind and the heart as they can get overly ambitious. Asanas that affect mid abdomen like Ardha Matsyendrasana, backbends like Chakraasana and Ustrasana which calm the mind will benefit them and also restorative asanas like Yoga NIdra. Shitali and Nadi Shodan pranayama will cool them down. During meditation they should practice self inquiry.

Yoga Types to Balance Your Dosha

People with Kapha Dosha are slow and tend to put on weight easily. For them asana practice should stimulate metabolism and increase the fire and air elements. Standing postures like Tikonasana, back bends like Setubandhasana will be energizing. Bhujangasana and Rajakapotasana that concentrate on the upper stomach and chest are beneficial. Pranayama like Bhrastika, Ujjayi and Kapalbhati should be practiced.

Yoga teacher training can be an intensive experience physically, emotionally and mentally but is can also be rewarding. So how do you know that you are ready to step into this challenging arena of becoming a yoga teacher? Well some say it is a gut feeling but others say that you know it is time to move to higher practices when all you do is eat, breathe and love yoga! It does not matter how long you have known and practiced yoga, but what matters is that you have a strong wish to share with others the happiness, contentment and good health yoga has brought you.

A new yoga path

If you have the desire to develop your understanding and awareness of yoga practices and philosophy behind the practices then yoga teacher training is the path for you. Unravelling the subtle nuances of yoga, of which you might not be quite aware of as yet, could see you embarking on a yoga journey that can be interesting and fulfilling. If you feel that you are stagnating in your present level of yoga practice and want to have new insights about yoga then you could think of yoga teacher training as the next stage of yoga learning. You should also be physically and mentally prepared to go into a journey that can than transform you so are you prepared for the changes yoga teacher training will bring?

Touch innermost self

Yoga teacher training can be tough, not only because you have to master the more advanced yoga asana but because you also have to look inside yourself, get in touch with your deepest fears and insecurities of which you might not be aware as yet. Yoga teacher training means that you learn to come to terms with your innermost self. You need to be comfortable with a minimum level of asana practice so you remain dedicated to learning other practices with the grit they might require. You need to have a strong desire to learn new teachings, be prepared to push your physical boundaries, to study philosophy and anatomy, do assignments and complete the yoga teacher training course so you can become a truly amazing yoga teacher.

Understand your motives

Before you embark on the yoga teacher training journey ask yourself your motives for doing the training. Are you doing yoga teacher training because that’s what you want or is it only because you want to improve your personal yoga practice. Are you curious to see how well you fare in yoga teacher training because you have been practicing yoga for many years or are you just following your dream because you always wanted to be a yoga teacher. Based on your motive you must choose the right yoga teacher training school. Every yoga teacher training ashram or yoga school is different and they teach different types of yoga like Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa or a combination of two types of yoga. Whatever, style you wish to learn you must make sure it is truly what appeals to you and that is the style of yoga you wish to teach as a yoga teacher.

Some practical considerations

Yoga teacher training cannot be done on a whim and fancy. You need to be fully conversant with your own skill sets. You must decide on a specific programme only after you have thoroughly researched the country, the yoga school, yoga style and the level of the teacher training course they offer. After all you could have been saving money for the training for some time and you wouldn’t want to throw all that away if you select the wrong yoga teacher training school. If you are not sure, you could get in touch with the yoga school and clarify your doubts. You could speak to others who have already done the training or you could opt for short courses at a yoga school of your choice and see if that experience is in sync with what you truly want.

Concluding thoughts

Remember, that you need to have an open mind and a willingness to take the teacher training in your stride. You would also require long time commitment to continue with the various levels of yoga teacher training right from 100, 200, 300 hours to 500 hours teacher training course. If you have any doubts about yoga teacher training then it is better to clear them first before you begin or you could land up telling yourself that yoga teacher training is a waste of time. If you are not a people’s person and have no desire to connect with others or if you don’t want to change your life or really meet up with other like-minded people from around the globe then you must thing before you jump into yoga teacher training. If you are passionate and ready to meet the challenges of yoga teacher training then you could find the training enlightening. If you consider yoga teacher training carefully then it can be a wonderful experience and at the same time humbling and grounding.