So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and dive into the wonderful world of yoga teacher training? I’m sure you’re wondering what you should be doing to prepare for your training.
Well, you’re in luck. As someone who has stood where you’re standing now – I’m here to share with you my personal journey and give you some practical tips on how to prepare for your upcoming yoga teacher training.
My Personal Journey Through Yoga Teacher Training
I was always interested in yoga and when I finally had the opportunity to do my training, I didn’t hesitate. Before I signed up and paid for my training, I committed to doing 1 hour of Hot Power Yoga at a local studio near me.
My rationale was that if I was able to commit to this challenge, I would be able to survive the humid weather of India and stay dedicated to the 10-hour long days of training. I’m very happy I did this, since it made me physically stronger. However, there are other more important factors that helped me prepare for my training:
1. Setting my Intentions
Before I even signed up for my yoga teacher training, I had to get real with myself. Why the heck did I want to do this in the first place? Was I just chasing a fancy certificate to show off, or did I genuinely want to deepen my practice and share the magic of yoga with others?
After some soul-searching (and maybe a few too many chai lattes), I found my why – to connect with my true self, grow as a yogi, and hopefully inspire others along the way. I also just really wanted to have fun and learn how to do some cool poses!
2. Researching My Options
Let me tell you, there are more yoga teacher training programs out there than there are starry nights in the sky. It’s overwhelming! So, I poured myself a big cup of tea, fired up my laptop, and started my research journey.
I checked out reviews, talked to fellow yogis, and stalked yoga school websites like a ninja. It took some time, but eventually, I found the one that resonated with me. Don’t think about it too much – the right school will stand out and you’ll know whether it’s the one.
3. Preparing My Body and Mind
Yoga teacher training is like running a marathon, except with lots of meditation and way fewer sweaty strangers. So, to get my body and mind ready for this yogi boot camp, I started practicing daily. I rolled out my mat every day, twisted and bent like a pretzel, and sometimes even face-planted during crow pose. But you know what? It was all part of the fun.
Don’t wait until you get to your training to start implementing a daily practice. It’s going to be too tough on your body. Get your strength up while you can.
4. Embracing My Inner Student
If there’s one thing that helped me prepare for my yoga teacher training, it was going to frequent classes. When you’re training to become a yoga teacher, you’ll have many moments where you feel that you’re not good enough.
The teachers will be able to do incredible poses, and some students will be more natural than you at nailing the different asanas. Remember that you’re not there to be perfect. You’re there to learn. So, put your ego aside, and go to regular classes so that you can become a great student.
5. Don’t Have Expectations
I usually try to gather as much information about everything in order to gain some sense of control over situations. But for some reason, I didn’t resort to my micromanaging tendencies while preparing for my yoga teacher training. And I can safely say that this was the best thing I could’ve done!
You see, nothing can prepare you for what you’ll experience. There are so many variables that can influence how your journey plays out. So, just flow and see what happens.
Preparing for Your Own Journey
Now that you’ve heard about my personal journey, here are some practical tips to get you ready for your yoga teacher training:
Connect with Your Intentions
Take a moment to connect with your why. Why do you want to become a yoga teacher? What are your intentions for this journey? An intention is simply the reason behind why you’re doing what you’re doing.
There are no right or wrong answers here. If you want to show off some cool poses to your friends, then write that down. If you want to add another gold star to your resume, then embrace it! Be honest with yourself and go for it.
Research, Research, Research
There are truly so many schools to choose from. Make sure that you do thorough research on the quality of education that the schools offer, as well as details about the premises and location of the school.
If you’re traveling to a yoga school, make sure that you know where the school is in proximity to the airport, town, restaurants, etc. If you want to, for example, go for hikes, don’t choose a school that’s nowhere near mountains.
Show Up on Your Mat Daily
Don’t skip the importance of a daily practice. Sure, you can wait until you start training to develop a daily routine, but you’ll make your life much easier if you just start right now.
Develop that discipline and willpower. It will take you far in life (and not just in yoga).
Don’t Be Afraid to Look Stupid
Ask questions, fall on your face, and be the one who tries a pose 10 times before you get it right. At the end of the day, those of us who achieve anything, are those who are willing to look stupid in the process of becoming a master.
You won’t get it right the first time and that’s okay. You’re not there to compete with anyone or prove anything. You can start preparing now by doing something every day that pushes you out of your comfort zone. The more you’re willing to embrace discomfort, the faster you’ll grow.
Get Your Shit Together
Excuse me being blunt, but this should be taken seriously. Be prepared. Make sure that you have the right type of clothes, mat, props, and notebook and pen. Keep everything together, neat and tidy, so that you don’t have to scramble to get your things together every time you need to go to class. Take the time to really look at how you can simplify your life.
Get a flip file for loose papers, get a bag for your props, get a pen with enough ink, and make sure your phone is on silent and faaaaar away during class. The easier you make the nitty-gritty details of your life, the better your experience will be.
Embrace the Yoga Community
You’ll be surrounded by many like-minded individuals during your training. Embrace the community and comradery while you’re training to become a teacher. In preparation, you can opt for regular yoga classes.
The more often you go, the more your teacher will notice you and the more time and attention they will spend on helping you get into those difficult poses. Learn from those around you and accept that, in most cases, we are better together.
In Summary
Yoga teacher training is an incredible opportunity to deepen your practice, connect with like-minded souls, and embrace the magic of yoga. So, trust yourself, stay open, and get ready for the most transformative experience of your yogi life.
Remember, it’s not just about the certification; it’s about the journey, the growth, and the beautiful souls you’ll meet along the way. I wish you all the best as you embark on this extraordinary path. May your yoga teacher training be filled with joy, learning, and lots of “OM.” Namaste!
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect from a Yoga Teacher Training
You can expect that you will be busy! It’s hard to put into words what to expect, because each training can be so different from another. If you combine that with the fact that each training is in a different location, with different teachers and practicing different styles of yoga, it’s almost impossible to say that a yoga teacher training will be – fill in the blank.
Yoga is such an inner journey and much of your experience will be more about how that inner world gets touched and cultivated rather than what you do physically. Sometimes an experience is not so much what we are doing outwardly, but how we feel when we are doing it.
With that said, what you can expect is that:
- you will be on a tight schedule 10 hours a day (if its in person)
- You will be on the mat 2x a day (get used to it)
- You will be learning loads about other yoga techniques (shatkarmas, kriyas, pranayama)
- You will learn the art of adjustments and anatomy (so get studious, it can be tricky)
Why Take a Teacher Training?
There really no one real answer to this. However, here are some things that come to mind as WHY.
1. Deepen Your Practice: Go deep and refine your understanding of yoga. Often times we can reach plateaus in our understanding and practice without even knowing it. Being exposed to other inputs can help to break through self imposed barriers.
2. Gain a Deeper Understanding: Yoga is about exploration. Going deeper into the theory and practice can allow you to get more out of the practice.
3. Learn Anatomy and Alignment: Most of us are pretty ignorant of anatomy and alignment. There really is no other way to learn about these things but through a teacher.
4. Develop Teaching Skills: While not everyone who joins a course becomes a teacher, it is one of the best ways to begin that journey.5. Join a Supportive Community: Connecting with like-minded people who share the same passion is super rewarding. If you are like me and feel constantly like a fish out of water, then you will cherish the connections you make with like minded people.
