Teacher training
Some have spent years in training, while others take just 20 days
Do you love yoga? Have you tried at least one class? You too can train to be a teacher in just two 10-day courses!
Yogis beware: the training options for aspiring yoga teachers are varied — the 20-day course above does exist. But reputable teachers are out there.
So how do yogis know whether their instructor has undergone adequate training or simply taken an express course?
Start with a good studio: most require would-be teachers to have practices for at least one year.
Ask the teacher how long their training was, what style they trained in, where they trained, how many years they’ve been teaching and how long they’ve been practising.
While yoga training isn’t regulated, most studios try to adhere to standards set out by The Yoga Alliance, the largest recognized body in North America.
Instructors usually take 200, 300, or 500 hours of yoga teacher training (YTT), either during a month of intensive training or over the course of several weeks. To receive the organization’s stamp of recognition, teacher training programs must cover a specific teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, yoga philosophy and ethics for teachers. No matter what their background, look out for instructors who:
don’t ask the class whether anyone has previous injuries
don’t have students warm up at beginning tell students pain in poses is OK do not ask before adjusting your form
berate other styles Yogis should also trust their intuition. If it doesn’t feel right after a couple of classes, try another teacher or style.