How to know when you are ready to embark

on a teacher training course

B

eginning a yoga teacher training

course requires dedication and

enthusiasm; it also takes time,

effort and money. So how do

you know when you are ready

to embark on a teacher training? Many

courses suggest a number of years regular

practice with an experienced teacher as a

prerequisite, but is that a good indicator of

your readiness to learn to teach?

The answer to this question is as varied

as the different types of hatha yoga that

are now on offer. I wish I could give you a

one-size-fits-all message. I have met many

students who are looking at teacher training

and it is difficult to pick out the specific

indicators of a student’s ‘readiness’ to begin

a teacher training as everyone is unique.

Also, everyone has their own reasons for

wanting to do a course. From my experience,

here are some of the things that give me

a good feeling that a student has reached

that moment to consider embarking on a

yoga teacher training course:

CURIOSITY REPLACES AMBITION.

Observing a true release in a student’s own

practice. When I see students developing a

real curiosity for their practice, taking time

to express a posture through their body and

self adjusting rather than trying to make it

that perfect pose right away. When I observe

that the student’s breath is becoming softer

and their ability to relax becomes clear,

I feel they could be ready to go further.

Questions like ‘Where should I feel this..’

or ‘Is this meant to..’ are no longer part of

their vocabulary - they are practicing at the

speed of their body and breath rather than

their mind.

A WISH TO DELVE DEEPER. This is

probably one of the main reasons students

that I talk to are considering training. They

have discovered that there is more to yoga

than asana practice and have developed

a desire to explore other practices in more

Are you

ready for it?

depth, such as meditation, pranayama, and

have also developed an interest in learning

about yoga philosophy and how the mind

and body work too. Some students express

improvement in their own health and

wellbeing and start to see the possibility of

helping others do the same.

PERSONAL PRACTICE. Students who

want to incorporate what they learn with

a teacher in class and practice at home,

experimenting with poses and other

practices. This indicates to me that yoga

practice has become more than something

a student does in class with a teacher; it has

become an important part of their life.

YOGA OFF THE MAT. I so enjoy when

students tell me about the positive influence

their yoga practice is having in their daily

life. For example, taking a break at their desk

to stretch away stress or breathing first to

pause and consider before responding in

a confrontation.

THE COMPANY OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE.

When I run extended yoga classes, retreats

or short courses I often hear students

commenting about the joy of spending time

talking about yoga with people who want

to listen and talk about yoga too. This is

what yoga teachers love about their work,

sharing their passion and helping others find

joy in yoga.

This is by no means a definitive list.

Personally, I believe a clear desire to share

this life affirming practice with others is a

brilliant starting point to embark on this

special journey of learning to teach. Yet

sometimes it’s hard to express why you want

to do a teacher training, it’s just a feeling,

a knowing. I say follow your heart and

intuition and good luck.

Louise Cashin, Course Director Yoga

Yoga Teacher Training (yoga-yoga.co.uk)

A Year of Self Discovery

These training courses are for everyone, whether

you wish to teach Yoga or simply go deeper

on your Yoga journey.

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