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Though newly established Samatva Yogalaya under the leadership of Krishna Sikhwal is fast emerging as one of the best yoga schools in India. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this distinction is that the Samatva Yogalaya teaches yoga only in small class sizes of about 10 students. There are a number of yoga schools that churn out yoga teachers in large numbers but if you really wish to have a qualitative teacher training then you must go in for small class size. Whether you are doing the 200 hour TTC or the 500 hour advanced TTC the small class sized class prepares you better to become a yoga teacher.

Personal Connection

There is a definite rise in people taking an interest in yoga learning and yoga teacher training is now a growing trend. However, if your interest in learning yoga is to teach the science to others then a small class provides you the opportunity to get to the very depths of yoga learning. In small class sizes the yoga instructor will be able to give you their full attention and will patiently answer any questions you might have, which does not quite work in big classes. Since the teacher is able to individualise instruction to a great extent, no learner gets left behind or goes away without having their doubts clarified. This grounding and detailing is important especially at the beginning when you are studying for your 200 hour certification course. You will be able to get through the course material with more understanding, its history, philosophy and daily asana and breathing practice.

You`ll Gain Confidence

There is enough research to prove that the smaller classes do better and perform better when taking exams. This is because as a learner you are able to express your own opinion and your perspective and have a more enriching and meaningful learning experience when interacting with small number of peers. The yoga learners also get the undivided attention of the yoga instructor and can be helped to grasp any aspect that is posing to be difficult. As a Yoga Teacher Trainer this means you get the opportunity to become a better and a more confident teacher who will in turn be able to teach your own yoga students with more competence as you will have complete understanding of all aspects of yoga.

In a small yoga class the yoga instructor is able to better observe the students and gauge their strengths and get to know them individually. This helps to steer the class in the direction that will benefit the learners the most. The instructor can also observe how well the participants are incorporating yoga into their daily life. This strengthens yoga learning and the teacher trainees will be able to enhance their own yoga teaching and practice. Also in small classes the yoga teacher can even advance the learning to go beyond the curriculum especially if the learners are ready for advanced learning.

The Small Class Environment

The small class environment is conducive to learning better and faster as learners are not distracted. Neither do they feel shy and awkward when speaking on any issue troubling them. The yoga teacher also can teach in a more meaningful way as they have a better understanding of the students. The teachers have time to provide individualised feedback so that each student gets to understand each and every aspect of yoga. Since the classes at Samatva Yogalaya have just about 12 students it becomes easy for the learners to apply their knowledge of yoga practically and become better skilled as yoga teachers and conduct yoga classes with more confidence.

Moreover Small Classes are like a Community

Moreover small classes are like a community where all live together in the yogalaya; share your thoughts, opinions and aspirations which helps you to connect more closely with your peers. This connection leads to lasting friendships, as there is mutual understanding and respect among peers. The connections you make inside the classroom also lead to formulation of a good network no matter which part of the world you come from. Networking is an important aspect as the world is becoming a more globalised community and the connections you make in the class can prove to be fruitful if you wish to run your own yoga school.

Without a yoga teacher a yoga learner cannot even cross the first step in understanding the true meaning of yoga leave aside master yoga teacher training courses. An exemplary yoga teacher can help their students reach levels that the learners themselves are not even aware of. As a yoga teacher you must be able to offer students class experiences that empower them and which enhance their contentment and happiness in their yoga practice.

Experience and love for Yoga

The foremost quality is love for yoga. Unless you love something you can hardly extol its qualities to other learners. Love here also means a deep respect and understanding of the various facets that make up yoga and not just the asana part. As a yoga teacher you must not only have your yoga teacher training certifications but should also have a long established practice. Along with love for yoga, a yoga teacher must have the appropriate experience which will enable them to confidently take the class in the right direction. Also without experience it is very difficult to inspire others to learn this magical life science and imbibe it into their lifestyle.

There’s no Room for Ego

If you wish to be considered an amazing yoga teacher you will have to leave your ego someplace it cannot be found. The yoga class is not about your own practice but it is all about instilling true yoga into your students. There is no room for showing off your own skills but you must teach poses to your students that are suitable for their level be it beginner or advanced level. As a yoga teacher you must be happy to share all your knowledge of yoga quite freely which will help build confidence in the leaners and take forward their practice. Adjustments and alignments are part of the learning and they must be attended to in a positive light. As a yoga teacher you must not forget that you are the medium that will transform your learners’ lives and take them to a happier and more peaceful place.

Desire to help People Grow

As an experienced yoga practitioner you are way ahead of your students be it philosophy, anatomy, meditation and the virtues of veganism and sattvic foods. You might also know your mantras and rattle them off in chaste Sanskrit but these will be useful for your students only if you pass on to your students in a manner they can understand. Many times yoga students feel out of their depth and are over-whelmed by traditional yoga practices. As a teacher you must have a strong desire to help your struggling students. You must develop an attitude of compassion and understanding so that your students feel safe enough and inspired enough to develop their yoga practices and bring it to higher levels. As a yoga teacher you must be able to effectively lead even a large class and yet feel connected to each individual learner and know their strengths and weaknesses.

Good Communication Skills

The voice is a powerful tool that can be used to bring direction and learning to the entire group. A teacher that can maintain the rhythm and flow of the class just by their voice can be considered to be an exemplary teacher. Yoga can be daunting for some learners but a yoga teacher must have the skills to be able to communicate a feeling of support for their leaners with the right choice of words. Your tone of voice should be so modulated that it does not intimidate any of your students. Having said that, it is equally important for yoga teachers to allow for moments of silence as silence is equally important in yoga learning and allows an opportunity to the learners to reflect and focus on their individual practice.

Sensitivity to Student Needs

A yoga teacher might have all the expertise and knowledge but if they are not sensitive to what their yoga students are experiencing in the class they cannot be considered great. As a yoga teacher you need to have your fingers on the pulse of your students and know exactly what feelings they are experiencing in the classroom. Are they happy or are there some that are having low esteem and self- doubt? Are they bored or disinterested in your teaching? If you understand the individuals in your class you can tailor the class in a way that will be all inclusive yet touch on bringing about a change in those who are experiencing some negativity on any particular day.

Authentic to the Core

An authentic yoga teacher can be compared to the light which shines equally for all students. All yoga students should be able to see the same personality in their teacher especially as they will be striving for those themselves. When the yoga teacher displays warmth and compassion towards the students the learners will be able to uplift themselves to the same level. The teacher’s personality must be able to convey those very traits which they say that yoga can help learners acquire. In other words the teacher must lay open their heart to the students to create something beautiful, special and lasting.

Be able to Gain the Students’ Trust

Trust does not happen overnight it comes from the learners’ experience as they interact with the yoga teacher. You gain their trust when you are able to engage with them and able to address their questions knowledgeably and they understand that you know your yoga inside out. Whether you talk about the medical benefits of yoga, anatomy or the best ways to mediate, they should know it is all credible and entirely believable. Gaining trust is important because only then will they follow your instructions and believe that they are safe and will not suffer any injury or be told something out of context to yoga. They will allow you to lead them to the next point and will even go beyond their limitations if they have faith in you. A teacher who is trustworthy can take the learners practice to whole new level and transform them mentally, physically and spiritually to reach a higher level of consciousness

So you have decided to go for yoga teacher training? Well before you do anything else congratulate yourself on making a choice that will help you in your personal and professional journey. After that, begin to prepare yourself for yoga teacher training and don’t be surprised by how far it will take you and how much you progress. If you have any doubts on how to go about doing yoga teacher training then read through these useful tips as they could help you through the training.

Be informed about your selected programme

Read up the available literature about your course on the website or other websites that offer a similar programme. Get in touch with those who are undergoing your selected YTTC and find out more about it from them first-hand. This will enable you to have an idea about how many hours you will be in class, how much break time you can expect or holidays. If it’s a residential yoga teacher training course, get details about the boarding and lodging so you know what to expect. Clear your doubts about the programme by asking questions of those who have already completed the training. This way you will be well prepared to handle what is coming your way and will not be taken aback by any kind of issues like the strict discipline required to undergo the training including early morning waking, Homework and vegetarian food. Once you have some idea about how the programme runs you can plan out how you will manage your time so don’t feel bogged down during the tight course scheduling and find adequate time for everything in the day.

Continue with your asana practice

Since you have decided to go in for yoga teacher training you obviously have some knowledge and practice of yoga asana. This is good because you must continue to work on your asana so you are physically equipped to handle longer asana practice sessions and enhance your endurance. It is also a good idea to try to familiarise yourself with the names of the asana you have not yet learnt and have a fair inkling of what expressing them would entail. However, don’t try to practice them without the right guidance from someone who knows. Any case there is really no need to learn up everything hastily because you will get the guidance during yoga teacher training. While practicing asana is good; remember to also take time to rest so you can conserve your energy for the vigorous training schedule ahead.

Your Inward Journey Begins

Working closely with learned and experienced yoga instructors and even masters and meeting the challenges of the training is in itself a life-changing experience. However, also be prepared for some kind of personal transformation as well. Once you begin the training you will also begin an inward journey, which could demonstrate to you some troubled or painful emotional and mental aspects you were not aware of. Be prepared to have your eyes opened and to the possibility that this yoga teacher training could transform you internally. You might even begin to see things in your life that you could have missed or even learn of fears and doubts that you have not yet confronted.

Intellectual Challenges

If you are going in for traditional yoga teacher training, you would be required to learn Sanskrit names of asana, other yoga practices and mantras. You have to learn yoga sutras and philosophy and anatomy. From time to time you will have to undertake assessment tests which always cause anxiety. However, don’t be afraid because passing the YTTC is not just assessment based but entails other criteria like asana, Home-work, class participation, attitude, community work etc. Find out what criteria you will be marked on besides test assessments so you don’t feel anxious about failing the yoga teacher training. If you do have a bit of a rough time learning about tough texts, it is possible that you would be assigned a mentor so you can progress well.

Have Clarity in Your Intention

Before you embark on your yoga teacher training understand your reasons for undertaking the intense programme. Is it because you want to teach yoga or because that’s the next step in the progression of your yoga journey? Do you want to deepen your practice and get in touch with your inner self or do you just want a new experience? Whatever, the reason for your yoga teacher training, you need to have clarity in your intention to undertake YTT. You also need to have the right intention if you wish to successfully complete the yoga teacher training. Once your intention, your goal is clear you will just focus on getting there and will not be overwhelmed by rough patches during the training. Also be prepared for the possibility, that as the yoga teacher training progresses, you could have new insights, which could bring about a change to your original intention. Don’t let that worry you for yoga is a journey that is bound to bring in some kind of change. If your intention changes then just go with the flow and your answer to what is it you want to do with your yoga teacher training, could come to you eventually.

Many of us suffer from lower back pain for many reasons and this can be debilitating. Lack of exercise due to work pressures, sedentary lifestyle, furniture that is not ergonomic and long hours of sitting in the same position either in front of a TV or computer are some of the reasons for backache. Sometimes we land up doing the wrong exercise and all these can contract the muscles leading to back pain. Contracted hamstrings pull the pelvis which in turn can puts pressure on the spine due to wrong alignment of the muscles in these areas.

Yoga has many asanas that can help you to lengthen muscles, soothe the pain and even get the spine to align correctly. However, if you suffer from severe pain then do not attempt these asanas on your own or without asking your doctor.

How to do Uttanasana?

Uttanasana is a standing forward bend that will stretch the whole of the back including the hamstrings, lower back and shoulders. You can also try out Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog.

How to do Supta Hasta Padangusthasana?

Supta Hasta Padangushtasan or Supine Hand to Toe Pose as it is considered the best spinal asana. If you are in a sedentary job then this transverse twist is the best asana for your spinal needs. It soothes the spinal nerves, tones your legs, and helps to align the posture. It induces better metabolism and emotionally strengthens you.

How to do Trikonasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana?

Trikonasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana are side bending poses and the slight twist of the latter loosens the back muscles, strengthen legs including hamstrings and improves balance.

How to do Bhujanasanas or Cobra Pose?

Bhujanasanas or Cobra Pose helps to relieve pain immediately as it stretches the spine particularly at the pelvis. Paschimottanasana is a seated bend forward bend which has the same effect. Cat-Cow Posture and Child’s Pose relax back muscles.

In Indian philosophy they say there is a right time for everything. You will know it is the right time to do yoga teacher training when you think you are ready to teach yoga to others. You also know the time is right for doing yoga teacher training when you want to improve your personal yoga practice and not necessarily because you want to teach yoga. Just remember, before you step into formal yoga teacher training you should have established some kind of foundation in your personal yoga practice and be familiar with the basic tenets of yoga philosophy, practices and yoga asana. A good foundation in yoga practices will hold you in good stead during you yoga teacher training.

Style of yoga

You know you want to further your yoga experience when you have already selected a style of yoga that you have come to like. This could be Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar yoga or Vinyasa, traditional yoga as taught in India or the more modern styles of yoga that have become popular in other parts of the world. If you are serious about yoga teacher training then you must select a style that is approved by Yoga Alliance and for which there is a certified teacher training course. If you are not sure about the style then you need to research and even explore to find out more about yoga styles so you know which style will work best for you. Without knowing what style to practice, study or teach your yoga teacher training cannot be successful.

Leaning towards teaching

Have you discovered the hidden yoga teacher in you? It could be that you enjoy teaching yoga to your friends and colleagues. Did you enjoy teaching yoga when your yoga teacher asked you to conduct a class or help others in your yoga class because they were struggling. Have other people liked the way you were able to teach yoga? Has your yoga teacher ever suggested to you take-up yoga teacher training because she can see your leaning in that direction? Ask yourself if you enjoying teaching yoga and if you would like to improve on your yoga teaching skills because you wish to teach yoga more knowledgeably and effectively.

Resources

Do you have the financial resources to be able to travel and to attend a yoga teacher training programme? You might want to do the course desperately but without the financial resources it might not be possible. However, there are some yoga schools that do offer you a yoga scholarship so you could look for a yoga teacher training school that provides a scholarship or allows you to complete the course in two sessions. Besides having adequate financial resources, you should also be free from family commitments and pressures so you can study with a free mind. You should also have the available time needed to complete the full length of the course, be it a week long, month long or a couple of months long yoga teacher training.

Leaning towards teaching

If you decide to go in for yoga teacher training, then make sure that the yoga school you opt for is recognised by a yoga body like Yoga Alliance and the yoga teacher training curriculum is certified so you and receive your certification. There are a number of yoga schools that offer other yoga programmes which might be recognised but not certified, so select wisely because a qualification recognised globally has more value. Besides researching the yoga school, also find out who the yoga instructors are and their reputation as senior yoga teachers. How old or how new the yoga school is and how many batches of yoga teacher training the yoga school has done. The yoga school must also impart an effective yoga teaching methodology and guide you in setting up a yoga school or studio of your own. All these should all be deciding factors on choosing your yoga teacher training school.

Yoga can be completely transforming and a good yoga teacher training programme must train you so well that you are able to bring out transformation in your own students. They should benefit from the yoga training as much as you have so that a healthy mind, body and spirit can be the prerogative of all yoga learners and practitioners.