The sun rises over the horizon, and a new day of possibilities awaits. For those who have taken on the challenge of yoga teacher training, it is both an exciting and daunting journey that allows you to unlock your potential.
Yoga teacher training will offer challenges and opportunities, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and the practice. Through this transformative experience, anyone can become part of something greater than themselves – the global yoga community.
Are you ready to take on this adventure? If so, let’s explore what you can expect from a yoga teacher training.
What you can expect from a yoga teacher training
From increased self-awareness to gaining knowledge in different styles of yoga, there is a lot to teacher training. In this article we won’t be covering the details about the modules, or what to look for in a teacher training program, there are many other articles talking about the course content, rather we will speak about the inner worlds that one goes through and what opens up in the process.
You may initially feel intimidated by all that’s involved; however, it for me it was the beginning of my journey.
1. Finding Your Voice
Like most things, anxiety is always greater before you begin something. I’ll be honest; I was apprehensive about going into my yoga teacher training. Would I find my voice as a teacher? What would I learn? What if it didn’t work out? But all those worries were quickly put to rest.
Finding your voice, I find, is more about finding who you really are, more than it is about finding your actual ‘vocal’ voice as a teacher. Once we discover who we are, what comes from that is natural.
Finding your voice isn’t something that can be taught necessarily; it is more something you become as the pieces begin to come together.
A course can provide a beautiful container to begin that exploration. We are very easily caught up in the world and its thousands of demands that we never really have the time to fully dive into something. What’s beautiful about a yoga course is that for a month (or longer) you can forget about the outside world and dive inward.
Having a space where we can focus solely on ourselves and our practice for a month is a unique opportunity that we are incredibly fortunate to have.
2. A Yoga Course Is Just The Beginning
A yoga teacher training course is like a gateway. It propels you into a journey of exploration that can be both exciting and daunting. The experience will help you get closer to the practice of what yoga truly is, as well as understand its nuances.
You’ll be exposed to subtle teachings that are hard to find anywhere else, from philosophy to physiology, ayurveda, and mantras. While each module could be a whole course in itself, as these teachings go back thousands of years and were learned by individuals over years, not weeks; however, times have changed and for most, spending 10 years in a cave in the Himalayas to master japa may not be what their future nor their astrological charts have in store.
What a yoga course will do is open up the doors to further potentialities that otherwise would not exist. I find retreat spaces to be a time where you get in touch with possibility, that ground of pre-creative energy that arises before it manifests in the physical world.
This is really only the beginning. The beginning of something new. The first step in embodying what yoga truly is.
3. Changes In Priorities
Many of us came to yoga because of its physical benefits. Little did we know where that simple practice would take us. Taking yoga teacher training is like taking that next step toward a deeper understanding.
When we integrate our awareness of the breath, body, and movement, what was once a purely physical practice becomes much more.
Slowly but surely, the fruits of the practice begin to creep into our lives. We begin to have more space in our lives, our connection with others improves, and we start to become aware of the layers of emotional and psychological patterns that exist in the mind and body – all of which begin to radically change the course of our lives.
But it is not all lollipops and gumdrops.
4. You Will Encounter Fear
Fear is like a dark tunnel, seemingly unending and uncertain. It can take us to places we never thought possible or trap us in the depths of our minds. When I ventured into my journey to be a teacher, fear was one of the unexpected companions that came along with me.
The physical practice of yoga often involves moving through uncomfortable feelings and sensations. When you go deeper into your practice, you begin to encounter your own inner dialogue and mental blocks. This subtle dimension we begin to have access to as we give our energy to self-inquiry.
Life never gives us space to ask fundamental questions. You are never asked to dive deep within yourself and explore what makes you tick—what motivates you, what scares you, and why?
When these questions start coming up, it can be very difficult to deal with. The mind often does not like questions that make it feel uncomfortable.
My initial instinct was to shy away, out of fear; however, I quickly learned that doing so would only continue the cycle of avoidance. This is not a comforting realization – as it means the only way to overcome fear is through it.
5. Embrace The Journey
Signing up for a yoga course takes courage. It requires you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the journey ahead.
It can be hard to know what to expect. With that in mind, here’s the thing – it’s not just about getting certified as a yoga instructor. It’s also about embracing the journey of learning what it means to be human and discovering where your life is going.
You will have the space for self-reflection, contemplation, learning postures, techniques and different ways to perceive what is going on around you.
At its core, yoga is about self-discovery – becoming aware of who you are and what kind of impact you want to make in this world. That’s why embracing the journey is important instead of looking toward the goal.
6. You’ll Feel Unprepared
No matter how much you prepare for a yoga teacher training, it’s likely that you’ll still feel unprepared. This is to be expected. After all, the journey of self-discovery is an ongoing process; no one can ever truly be fully prepared for what lies ahead.
The feeling of being unprepared can manifest itself in different ways. You may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you need to learn, or you may feel like you’re not good enough, that you are an imposter, and the list goes on.
It’s important to remember that they will also pass along with everything else. As difficult as that might be, the key is to stay focused on the present moment, as that is all there truly is.
So Should You do a Yoga Teacher Training?
Yoga teacher training is an amazing opportunity for personal development and self-discovery. Like stepping stones, every step builds upon the last one and leads us closer to ourselves. This path requires courage and patience, but if we embrace the challenge, no matter what obstacles arise, we will end up exactly where we need to be.
