10 Tips for Selecting a Yoga Teacher Training Course in India
Dreaming of embarking on a transformative yoga teacher training course in India? Excellent! You’re eager to learn from the birthplace of yoga and immerse yourself in Indian culture. Yet, with over 300 registered yoga schools in India, the decision can feel overwhelming. You need clarity on choosing the right program for you. Here are 10 tips to help you navigate and select the best yoga school for your needs.
Tip 1: Yoga Alliance Accreditation.
Yoga Alliance accreditation is the most accepted one globally. There are a few good yoga teacher training courses not accredited by Yoga Alliance; however, the benefits of Yoga Alliance-accredited courses prove helpful down the road. Check the authentic reviews and ratings of the yoga school on the Yoga Alliance website- www.yogaalliance.org. The reviews here are genuine and not misleading—type in the school’s name or ID. You will also get to know the school’s experience and authenticity.
Tip 2: Type of Yoga styles offered.
‘Yang styles’ are those in which the postures are dynamic and held for lower durations with high intensity (more muscle engagement), for example, Ashtanga Vinyasa. ‘Yin styles’ are those where it is opposite; the duration is high, and the intensity is low, for instance, Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga.
It is crucial to choose a course that offers a proper balance of the yin and yang aspects of yoga. If you break the word ‘Hatha”, the ‘Ha’ means the sun or the yang aspect, and the ‘Tha’ means the moon or the yin aspect. Unfortunately, most schools nowadays emphasize only one part and neglect the other. Remember, we need a balance of both to evolve spiritually, mentally, and physically. Ideally, combining Ashtanga Vinyasa/Hatha/Iyengar (predominantly yang styles) Yoga with Yin/Restorative Yoga (especially yin styles) will provide an optimum content mix. Thus, the schools which offer similar combinations should be given priority.
Tip 3: Evaluate the course syllabus and daily schedule
Check the syllabus to see the finer details of the content on offer for different modules. Is the school teaching cleansing techniques, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, anatomy, and postures? Also, Each training program must complete a minimum number of hours, whether 200, 300, or 500. Check the daily schedule and multiply by the number of training days to determine whether the contact and non-contact hours add up to the promised number.
Tip 4: Expertise and the number of instructors
When you are learning to teach yoga, your yoga instructor will become a pivotal role model and source of inspiration. So, take some time to get to know your instructor’s qualifications at the yoga school. Also, check whether the school has multiple specialty teachers for each subject or only 1 or 2 teachers teach all the modules.
Tip 5: Location of the training
Look for a location amidst nature (mountains, rivers, forests, sea, etc.) for a more calm conducive environment to learning yoga. However, accessibility and availability, like transport, health care, daily needs, etc., are equally important. Choose a location that offers a good balance of both.
Tip 6: Look at the infrastructure.
When choosing a yoga school for your training, look at the infrastructure. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the outcome of the program. For a residential program, the room quality where you will stay for 3-4 weeks is vital. The rooms should have windows or balconies apart from the basic amenities like a bed, wardrobe, fan, attached washroom, etc. Also, is there enough open area like, a lawn or a garden, an open terrace, and a patio to laze around in your free time? Pay attention to the yoga hall, dining area, kitchen, lobby, lounge area, etc.
Tip 7: Batch size
Class size is an important consideration when choosing a yoga training course—usually, a batch size of more than twenty starts giving diminishing returns. A smaller group class is better for learning as you receive more attention, tips, and feedback from the instructors/teachers. On the contrary, the teacher may lose interest if only a couple of students participate in the batch.
Tip 8: Other activities
Besides offering the right mix of content and yoga classes, check whether the yoga school offers other activities. A reputed school may offer day excursions, massage sessions, cooking classes, light trekking, tours, and other fun activities to help you unwind. Suppose you are traveling to a different country for yoga teacher training. In that case, these activities also allow you to learn more about the local culture.
Tip 9: Check if they offer continued education.
Research all the training programs offered by the yoga school. What classes, workshops, retreats, and advanced training do they provide? You must know everything before enrolling. A yoga school that offers advanced courses tends to have more experienced teachers and a stronger community. Graduates satisfied with a 200-hour program would want to pursue advanced training. Moreover, Yoga Alliance requires RYT 200 teachers to attend 30 hours of continuing education every three rolling years.
Tip 10: Price
Yoga teacher training is usually a costly undertaking. Yoga teacher training can cost anything between $600- $6000. Paying more does not always means you are getting better quality. There are some gems hidden that provide excellent value for the price charged.
Miscellaneous
Ensure you know what includes in the course fee: accommodation, meals, books, study materials, etc. Also, get more detail about the kind of food served, whether the school caters to different dietary needs, for example, vegan or gluten-free diet. Enquire whether the school offers complimentary pickup and drop.
These tips will help you select a yoga teacher training course in India. However, do your due diligence and decide where and with whom you want to undertake your yoga teacher training course. The road to yoga teacher training will lead to a new career path, better health, greater self-awareness, and a balanced personality.
If you are looking for a reliable and yoga alliance-registered school, then Arohan Yoga is one option that you can consider.
Visit https://arohanyoga.com/ for more information.
