n Talk to people who have been through
the programme and the teachers themselves
if you can. Was the response to your email
a generic one or was it answered directly by
the teacher? Is there a personal touch or are
you only able to chat once you meet? If this
is important to you – seek it out.
n What is your trainer’s philosophy and
mission for their school? What are they
trying to share, what kind of skills would they
want their teachers to develop and leave the
course with?
n Does your training give you an
opportunity to put practice to the theory
you are learning? Do you get to observe and
teach an actual class – to actual adults,
children, teens etc?
n Will your course qualify you for
insurance, as we need this to practice in
public venues?
n What size is the training – is it intimate
or vast (12 students who get personal
attention or 35 students whose names
never get learnt)?
n Does your training provider require that
you have been practicing yoga for a while?
Whilst there is no need to be an expert when
you arrive on a teacher training, if you are
looking to teach yoga it is imperative that
you have a solid regular practice when you
arrive – we must practice what we teach!
n Do you want to be a part of a franchise
or would you like to start your own career?
What are you signing yourself up for?
And finally, online trainings can be a good
addition to what you have already learnt but
being in the presence of a qualified teacher
is very important as you start your journey
of teaching yoga. It is so important to
observe teachings and be observed
whilst you are teaching. Be supported by
an actual human being rather than a screen
if at all possible.
Connect with the teacher
A connection with the teacher is
fundamental in determining how much you
will gain from the course. Training as a yoga
teacher can be physically, emotionally and
mentally challenging so it is good to be sure
that your teacher is able to support you
through this process with sensitivity.
n Have you researched who your trainer
has been studying with and are you familiar
with them? Would you like to know more
about their teachings?
n Do you share a similar philosophy
of teaching?
n Does their website, personal journey,
teaching intentions, articles and
programmes inspire you?
n How long have they been teaching and
running these trainings?
n And most importantly – will your teacher
continue to support you after your training
is complete? Does your training school have
a sangha/group of teachers who connect
with each other? Are there WhatsApp groups,
private Facebook groups, newsletters or
website forums? It can feel quite isolating
being a yoga teacher, especially when you
start out, so community is paramount –
whether it’s face-to-face or online, make
sure this is something that is offered.The practicalities:
dates, location and investment
Never overlook the practical bits that will
play a huge role in your decision.n Choose a price that suits your budget- many teacher trainings have payment
options and early bird discounts, so it’s
worth asking about this.
n Find a date that works for you. If you are
a school teacher, is your training offered
during school holidays? If you are in a full-
time job you might need to find a training
that is offered on weekends.
n Would you prefer to do a full, intensive
training and integrate all the information
post-training or would you prefer to have it
running over a longer period of time taking
time to integrate and practice all you are
learning along the way?
n When choosing a location think
realistically about what you can commit to,
given your current responsibilities – family,
work etc. It’s important not to overstretch
yourself so think about how you could
manage less travel time at the end of each
training day.
As you can see there is quite a bit to
consider. Don’t be afraid to get online or on
the phone with the person you want to train
with. Feel supported as you move through
your application process. This is a big step
to take, an investment in many areas of your
life ... find the right course for you and enjoy
each step of this journey!Bryony Duckitt is the founder of YogaBeez
Children’s Yoga. Merging her passions of
yoga and Montessori, she runs teacher
trainings around the globe (yogabeez.com)