Everything You Need to Know Before an Amazing Yoga Teacher Training Experience

If you have ever considered doing a yoga teacher training program this post will give you more insight to decide if it is right for you! 

I have been practicing yoga for about a decade and other than going to my first yoga class, doing a yoga teacher training program was the best decision I have made so far in my yoga journey and was a life-changing experience! 

I remember being so nervous before signing up for the program and I wanted to share with y’all what I have learned since then to hopefully encourage you to take that next step. 

This post will detail everything you need to know about yoga teacher training and will hopefully be the final push for you to register for a program! 

This post is all about exactly what you need to know before yoga teacher training and becoming a certified yoga instructor. 

What I Wish I Knew Before Yoga Teacher Training 

1. You don’t have to teach yoga after your yoga teacher training. You can do it just to improve your own practice

Outside of yoga teacher trainings, there are not a ton of other group classes on learning more about yoga outside of just the physical practice. 

A 200-hour training can be a wonderful space to learn more about the history of yoga and yoga philosophy in a group setting rather than simply doing your own research! 

If you are passionate about yoga and want to learn more then a yoga teacher training is a great place to deepen your personal practice! 

That being said, most teacher trainings are set up in a way to prepare participants for becoming yoga teachers. So you will get to learn a lot about how to organize yoga classes, cue specific poses, market yourself as a teacher and more! 

As they say, “If you want to master something, teach it” -Richard Feynman

2. You don’t have to be super flexible to do a teacher training

It is a huge misconception that in order to be a yogi you have to be flexible! 

When it comes to being a yoga teacher it is of course helpful to have some flexibility to demonstrate the poses but that doesn’t mean you have to be able to get into the fullest expression of each pose. For example, I don’t do handstands but I could cue someone into a handstand. 

Sometimes having a yoga teacher that doesn’t go into the full expression of a pose can be comforting to yoga students since it takes off the pressure to “be like the teacher”.

All in all the purpose of yoga is not to just touch your toes. It is an ancient spiritual practice that helps us to come into union with ourselves and yoga asanas (yoga poses) are just one part of that process. 

I also wanted to note that everyone’s bodies are different! Yoga is for everyone regardless of what our bodies can do. Our bodies change, we age and we need different poses more at different times of our lives. 

So no, doing a headstand with your eyes closed is not a prerequisite for yoga teacher training. 

{RECOMMENDED POST: How to Create a Peaceful Yoga Corner in Your Home}

3. You don’t have to be a pro in Sanskrit before teacher training

There are many different topics that you will cover in your yoga teacher training, one of those being Sanskrit. If you don’t know, Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language that we use in yoga classes to describe the names of the poses. 

It isn’t spoken as much today but out of respect for the originators of yoga, we should try to make our best efforts to use Sanskrit when teaching. 

If you do not know all of the names of yoga poses in Sanskrit you are still able to do a yoga teacher training and keep learning Sanskrit there! 

Learning a new language takes practice and repetition and becomes much easier when you start teaching yoga and are using the words more consistently.

4. There are different course options depending on your needs (online, 3 months, weekends, abroad, nearby etc.) 

If you dream of being a yoga teacher but you are currently working a 9-5 and have other responsibilities, don’t feel like you have to drop everything to move to India to become a yoga teacher. 

There are a lot of different yoga teacher training course options to choose from that can fit into your current lifestyle. Some yoga teacher trainings can be done online, part-time, on the weekends etc. 

One thing to be mindful of is that in a lot of yoga teacher training, aside from being required to come to the meetings, you are required to take a certain number of yoga classes outside of the training. 

Just be mindful of this when deciding on your program because it is a big time commitment! 

5. There are scholarships available for yoga teacher training

There is no denying that yoga teacher trainings are expensive! A program can run you a couple thousand dollars. 

If you want to be a yoga teacher but don’t have the budget for the training don’t let that stop you! Some teacher trainings offer scholarships that cover part of the cost or even all of it! 

I have even seen programs where you can do a work trade. So in exchange for being a student in the teacher training program, you would work at the studio. 

Some yoga clothing brands offer scholarships for yoga teacher trainings so keep an eye out for those as well! 

Again, yoga is for everyone so if you want to teach you deserve a spot in that program regardless of your budget! 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 12 Practical Tips For a Consistent Yoga Practice}

6. You technically don’t have to get a yoga teacher certification to teach yoga but it helps a lot if you are going to teach at a studio 

This may surprise you but if your end goal is to become a yoga teacher at a yoga studio then you technically do not need to go through a yoga teacher training program! There currently isn’t a law requiring a specific license, certificate, or training to teach yoga. 

Despite not having to have one it can be incredibly helpful to improve your teaching skills and will be a foot in the door when going through the interview process to be a yoga teacher at yoga studios. 

*Many yoga studios do like to see that if you did a ytt program it was part of Yoga Alliance.

7. Yoga teacher trainings can be physically demanding 

I was pretty shocked by how physically demanding a yoga teacher training can be! 

Although the training is a mix of the physical practice of yoga, lectures, and teaching it can still be tiring. 

As I mentioned before, aside from doing yoga in the program many times you are asked to complete a certain number of yoga classes outside of your training to get your certificate so you end up doing a lot of yoga (probably more than you are used to!).

Make sure you practice self-care while in your training, get lots of rest, and nourish your body with healthy foods! 

Some programs only allow you to miss a certain number of classes as well so be ready to work hard! 

8. Yoga teacher training can be expensive

Just like other educational paths that prepare you for a job, they tend to be a bit pricey. 

And for good reason! The people leading these training programs deserve a living wage and are experienced yogis who are sharing their gift with you. 

Aside from the upfront cost of the program which can be a couple thousand dollars, you may also be asked to purchase other things to be successful in your program.

What to bring to yoga teacher training: 

• Books and workbooks (your instructors will give you a list) 
• Yoga mat
• Yoga clothes you feel comfortable in
• Transportation and living accommodations (if you will need to travel) 
• Food throughout your program. Depending on the program it can be a full day of class and you need to fuel your body properly! 
• A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated 

Financial stress can impact how we learn so I wanted to be upfront about the added costs of a program so that your time in a program can be focused on yoga and not financial strain. 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 5 Practical Tips For Finding Affordable Yoga Classes} 

9. You will learn more than just how to teach classes but also other parts of yoga

In a typical 60-minute studio yoga class, yoga teachers have time to teach the yoga asana practice but not always enough time to weave in the other parts of yoga. 

Because of this, things like the eight limbs of yoga which are crucial to understanding yoga are left out! That is why yoga in modern times tends to end up being a workout class rather than a spiritual practice. 

In your yoga teacher training, you get to dive deep into the history of yoga, learning Sanskrit, ayurveda, the spiritual side of yoga, and more! 

Some programs will even have guests come in to discuss topics like yoga for kids, Ariel yoga, chanting etc. 

You will get a much deeper understanding of yoga and a complete picture of this amazing practice that you may not have learned about in your typical yoga classes! 

10. You will meet incredible like-minded people in your teacher training group 

One of the best parts of yoga teacher training is the community that you are in! 

You get to learn more about a practice you are passionate about with other people who feel the same! 

Getting to meet like-minded people, practice with them, learn about what got them into yoga, and feel supported in your program by your fellow students is the best feeling. You never know, you may even meet a lifelong yogi friend in your program! 

Aside from making new friends, it can also be a great time for networking because the people in your program are your future colleagues. You may end up teaching at the same yoga studio as them or if they need someone to cover a class they might call you to see if you can fill in for them! 

Keep an open mind and don’t miss out on forming relationships with the other yogis in your program as they could develop into professional or personal connections in the future! 

I hope this post gave you more insight on what a yoga teacher training involves and helped you feel confident signing up for one if you feel ready! No one can tell you if you are ready for a yoga teacher training. You will intuitively know when it is the best time for you to take that leap and if you are doing research like reading this post then you are probably getting close!  

Do you have any other questions about becoming a certified yoga teacher? Please don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below! It can help other yogis as they decide if a yoga teacher training is right for them! 

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you would like sustainability and wellness tips sent directly to your inbox!

Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about how to prepare for yoga teacher training.

Other posts you may like: 

• 5 Comfy Yoga Outfits to Try If You are Bored of Your Usual Yoga Leggings
• 6 Best Sustainable Yoga Brands For Ethically Made Yoga Clothes and Props For Every Budget
• 9 First Steps To Creating an Eco Friendly Yoga Studio 

If you would like to save this post for later-pin it!