Finding the right teacher training course for you. Key things to consider,

by Bryony Duckitt

W

hen I chose to specialise

in children’s yoga 12

years ago, there were

only three courses to

choose from. One was

in the UK and the others abroad, so the

decision was fairly easy for me. Today in the

UK alone there are probably 20 children’s

yoga teacher training courses being offered,

about half of which have surfaced in the

past two years. There are so many options

for trainings, how do you even begin to

decide which is right for you?

It can be a minefield out there and

deciding to embark on a teacher training is

a big decision. Many factors contribute to

finding the perfect match. Every decision

is personal, with different priorities and

considerations for each of us, however there

are some fundamental questions that could

steer you in the right direction.

Here are a few key factors to consider

when setting out on this exciting new venture:

Which course is right for you?

Understanding your intention will

determine what kind of training is

right for you

Ask yourself these questions before looking

for the training that best suits your needs.

n Are you looking for a career change or

would you just like to add a class to your

usual work week, for a bit of change in your

everyday schedule?

n Are you hoping to bring some yoga

into your work space (i.e. yoga and mindful

techniques in your classroom or to offer

to work colleagues a class at the end of

their day)?

n Have you been on maternity leave or

are a full-time mum wanting to get back into

work but not in the same capacity as before?

n Are you looking to teach adults or

specialise in children, teenagers, family yoga,

babies or prenatal etc?

n Are you merely looking for ways to

deepen your own practice?

Research training

courses thoroughly

Yoga trainings can vary hugely in terms of

curriculum content, theory versus practical,

philosophies, attention to anatomy, practical

business advice and so forth – making it

important to research as best as you can.

Evaluate the course syllabus/training outline

for the balance of subjects taught. Most

trainings are required to cover a minimum

number of hours dedicated to things like

poses, anatomy, breath work, history of

yoga and Vedanta, so choose a programme

that speaks your language and excites you.

What speaks to you most about the yoga

teacher training you are researching?

n Ensure your training is accredited, as this

will certainly reflect the quality of the training

you are getting. There are various governing

bodies for yoga, which have set the standard

for what a properly constructed teacher

training should contain.