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If you’re a yoga teacher, I’m sure you
can relate to this story. It’s a common
scenario. There is so much to learn, and
in the early days of a teaching career,
doubts about our skill level (and feeling
like we’ll never know enough) can lead
us down the path of diving into training
after training, spending countless
dollars on courses and workshops. Don’t
panic - this is all perfectly normal! As
yoga teachers we knowingly commit
ourselves to a path of continual learning,
so that we can serve our students to the
best of our ability.
With years of experience of my own
training and growth as a yoga teacher,
combined with over a decade of training
teachers, I offer this guide to help you
navigate the vast landscape of teacher
training courses with discernment and a
bigger vision of how you want to grow as
a teacher.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING
TRAINING
Some twenty years ago, US-based
organisation Yoga Alliance set out
training standards that they determined
were the minimum requirements for
yoga teachers. In order to meet Yoga
Alliance Registry Standards, a teacher is
required to train with a school that
adheres to these standards. The 200-
hour Teacher Training was born. There
has been much debate in the yoga world
lately as to whether these standards are
adequate, and recently Yoga Alliance
conducted a survey of its members to get
some feedback. Interestingly, only 40
percent of surveyed yoga schools believe
that the current 200-hour standard is
the appropriate minimum required to
become a yoga teacher.
The yoga industry is self-regulated,
and our own industry association, Yoga
Australia, recognises that 200-hour
courses have become the normal
starting point for fi rst-time trainees.
Their guidelines state that once
200-hour qualifi ed, a yoga teacher
needs to accrue a further 150 hours of
training in order to meet their Level 1
requirements to become a full member
of Yoga Australia.
A 200-hour training taught by an
experienced and knowledgeable teacher
trainer can provide a strong foundation
from which to begin your teaching
journey. Most yoga teachers will and
should continue their education andkeep developing their knowledge and
skills. Where to take that next step is the
question.DON’T DO IT FOR THE HOURS
Being a good teacher means being a
good student. Do some deep thinking
about who you want to teach, and
how you want to serve. What is your
passion, and what gives you a sense
of purpose? Choose trainings that
will enhance your career path in the
direction you want to go in. Many
courses focus primarily on the content
being delivered, while some are also
geared towards giving trainees the skills
they need to actually teach. Figure out
what you need most and talk to other
teachers about their experiences.
Choose quality trainings that will
advance your learning rather than
build up hours.BE DISCERNING
Choose courses that allow you to
become more specialised, rather
than a ‘jack of all trades’. Do trainings
that allow you to build on your skills
in a thoughtful, relevant way, with
consistency and continuation from