Choosing The Right Yoga Teacher Training Course For You

If you’re considering becoming a yoga teacher, congratulations! Yoga is a beautiful and transformative practice, and teaching it can be incredibly rewarding. But, with so many different yoga teacher training (YTT) courses available it can be tough to know where to start your search.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a yoga teacher training course:

What is your intention for training?

Do you want to teach yoga full-time? Part-time? Just for fun? Once you know your intention, you can start to narrow down your options.

If you’re serious about teaching yoga full-time, you’ll want to choose a training that’s registered with Yoga Alliance (YA). This will give you the certification you need to teach at most yoga studios.

Even if the studios in your area don’t currently require YA certification or you choose not to register with YA immediately, YA certification is a good thing to have if you ever need it. You can always sign up for it later.

If you’re interested in taking a training to deepen your own practice or to teach just for fun, there are many other great options available. You may want to consider a shorter training (one with under 200 hours – like a week-long or weekend course). Or, take a course that focuses on a specific style of yoga or topic you are interested in. This type of course is great to see if a full 200 or 300 hour training is right for you at this point in your journey, or for Continuing Education (CE) credits after your TT. 

What style of yoga do you want to teach?

There are many different styles of yoga, from the sweatiest of Power Vinyasa flows to the chillest of Yin classes. Consider which style of yoga you enjoy practicing the most and which style you’re most interested in teaching. What type of class lights you up inside? If you have a style you love and are passionate about, focus on that. 

Not sure? That’s fine too, some YTT courses focus on just one style of yoga, and others offer more general overviews of several styles. If you’re not sure which style you want to teach, go for a school that offers variety. Nothing wrong with a buffet approach. 

What is the length and intensity of the training?

YTT courses range in length from 200 to 500 hours or more. The length of the training will affect the depth of your learning and the amount of time you have to practice teaching.

If you’re new to yoga or to yoga teaching, you may want to start with the shorter training option. If you’re already an experienced yogi or have experience teaching, the 500 hour course is a great way to deepen your knowledge and practice.

What is the curriculum of the training?

When choosing a YTT course, it’s important to look at the curriculum to make sure it covers the topics that are important to you. Most YTT courses cover the following topics:

• Yoga philosophy
• Anatomy and physiology
• Teaching methodology
• Sequencing
• Assisting and adjusting
• Practice teaching

However, some YTT courses offer additional topics, such as meditation, pranayama, or Ayurveda. Consider which topics are important to you and choose a training that covers those topics.

Any prospective school you are looking to attend should be able to give you a rough idea of the topics they will be covering and an estimate on how much time they dedicate to each.

For example, the 200 hour training I did taught many more hands-on, philosophy and anatomy hours than required to be an accredited YA teaching course. To me, this type of in-depth teaching was important. You may want to focus on maximizing asana styles or have a meditation-heavy course. There is a YTT out there for every yogi. 

Also good to consider is your learning style. Some yoga teacher training courses are more traditional and lecture-based, while others are more hands-on and experiential. Think about how you learn best and choose a course that matches your learning style. Your prospective school should also be able to tell you what kind of instruction they go for. Everyone learns differently. 

What is the experience of the teachers?

The experience of the teachers is another important factor to consider when choosing a YTT course. If you’re going in cold (i.e. this is not a training offered by your favorite teacher or favorite studio), look for teachers who have extensive experience teaching yoga and teaching yoga teachers. Look at the school and teachers’ social media accounts. Do you like their style?

You may also want to read reviews from past graduates to get a sense of the quality of the teaching.

For my training, it was important to me that the course I took focused on anatomy, functional movement and injury prevention so I looked for a school that was run by a physiotherapist.

It was also important to me that I vibe with whomever was teaching the philosophy components. Luckily, I happened to know one of the instructors who could vouch for the others where vibe and expertise was considered. For me personally, the stars had to align just right to make taking a YTT even probable, let alone possible. I had done a ton of research in the past on yoga schools but felt that none I was finding was the right fit for me.

Do not hesitate to reach out to your community for guidance. Friends that have gone on trainings, your favorite teachers – ask everyone you can think of.

Once you narrow your list down, searching the schools’ hashtags on Instagram should give you a good picture of the teaching vibe.

What is the cost of the training?

YTT courses can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It’s important to set a budget before you start shopping for a training.

When comparing the cost of different trainings, be sure to factor in the length of the training, the curriculum, what is included (i.e. room and board, meals, materials, etc.) and the experience of the teachers. Are the teachers International Yoga Stars? The teaching may be a bit more expensive. Is the training somewhere exotic (like Bali, in my case)? Factor in the flight cost. Are your materials included? Course guides and books can add up. What about where you’ll be staying? Transportation to and from class + room and board can get expensive. 

What is the schedule and format of the training?

Some YTT courses are offered in-person, while others are offered online. Consider which format works best for you.

If you’re choosing an in-person training, consider the location of the training. Will you be able to travel to the training? Is the training close to home or work? Does this training fit into your schedule?

Some courses are intensive and require a full-time commitment to the schedule for several weeks (mine was 28 days full time, 12 hours a day). Some courses have a bit more flexibility built into the schedule (my home studio has a training that has 1 week of intensive study + intensive weekends for about a month).

If you’re choosing an online training, consider the quality of the online platform. Can you easily access the training materials? Is there a way to interact with the teachers and other students?

Make sure the course you choose includes plenty of practice teaching opportunities. This is the best way to prepare for teaching yoga in a real-world setting. (for example: my school had us teaching small snippets of a class in week 1, and we had taught 2 full hour-long classes by the end of the course).

What is the overall vibe of the training?

We spoke a bit about teacher vibe earlier, but it’s important to choose a YTT course that has an overall vibe that resonates with you. Visit the website of the training school and read reviews from past students to get a sense of the atmosphere. Do you like the materials they have chosen to post? Ask yourself if this space they have created resonates with you.

Do you want a more modern vibe, or are you more of a traditionalist? As one of my teachers put it: do you want to learn by fire (he was speaking of the teaching style he has experienced on trainings in India), or do you want to learn by water (he structured his course to be gentler and more flexible – near the beach in Bali)? Do you need a pressure cooker of an experience to affect the change you want in your life, or do you go for a more relaxed approach? This is highly subjective and personal, and there is no right or wrong answer here. 

What’s important to you? Some YTT courses are more focused on spirituality, while others are more focused on fitness. Consider what kind of environment you want to learn in and choose a training that has a vibe that matches your needs.

Here are a few additional tips for choosing a yoga teacher training course:

• Visit the studio or school. This will give you a chance to meet the instructors and see the space where the training will be held. If the training is abroad, schedule a chat with the lead trainer(s) or ask for pictures. I had a phone consultation with the lead trainer of my school and it was instrumental in determining if I vibed with his teaching methodology. Plus, I got a great preview of the training location!
• Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask the school or studio any questions you have about the training, such as the curriculum, the instructors, and the schedule.
• Get feedback from past graduates. Talk to past graduates of the training to get their feedback. What did they like and dislike about the training? Would they recommend it to others?

Ultimately, the best way to choose a yoga teacher training course is to trust your intuition. If you feel good about the training, the instructors, and the school, then it’s likely a good fit for you.

Once you’ve chosen a yoga teacher training course, be prepared to work hard and dedicate yourself to your learning. Yoga teacher training is a challenging but rewarding experience that will prepare you to teach yoga safely and effectively. And … if you let it … your YTT just might change your life.