What to look for in a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course
With so many 200 hour yoga teacher training programmes available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
I’m in no doubt that the best way to learn to teach yoga is to practise and study with a teacher you respect and admire, consistently over a long period of time. Slowly, you’ll learn to share what you’ve learned while being supported and guided by someone you trust. Your students will learn to trust you, knowing that everything you offer them comes from your own practice and the relationship you share with your own teacher.
I’ve had the great good fortune to study and practise with Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor. They became teachers the old fashioned way, by studying for years with a mentor. Mary Taylor says:
“You had to really want to learn. You used to have time to mature in the practice and the opportunity to cultivate compassion through the process.”
The prevalent model we have just now is a 200 hour structured yoga teacher training course that can be delivered in as little as a few weeks by anyone who’s completed a 200 hour course themselves.
By comparison an apprenticeship to become a hairdresser is usually 18 months here in the UK and to become a qualified electrician the apprenticeship is about three years. Both involve a combination of structured learning and on the job training.
I remember during my 200 hour training with our Course Director, June Mitchell, thinking that we were covering SO MUCH during our time together. But by the end of the course I was very much aware of how vast yoga is and HOW LITTLE I knew.
Teacher trainees learning posture dynamics & hands-on assists
And my experience since then in teaching our 200 hour yoga teacher training course here at MCY is that we can barely scratch the surface in the time available to us.
Yoga is a lifelong practice, an ongoing process of enquiry that comes both from our own practice and the practice of teaching itself.
However, the 200 hour model is the one we have to work with just now so what should you look for to be sure the training is effective and right for you?
Here’s some questions to ask and things to consider:
What do the students & graduates say?
Try to speak in person to some of the current year students and past graduates.
Current students are in the midst of their training and can tell you how they’re managing to fit everything in, how they’re finding the course & tutors and what it’s like to be part of that particular course. The graduates can tell you how well the course prepared them for teaching and what they’re up to now.
Speaking to current and past students will also help you get a feel for the course and if it’s what you’re looking for.
If you’re not able to speak to the students and graduates you’ve got to wonder why.
Who are the tutors?
Choose the right teachers – it’s a lot of hours to spend together! Try to take some classes with them before making up your mind.
How long have they been practising? Do they have a regular practice? Who are their teachers?
Are they invested in continuing to learn and grow? How openminded are they to information and ideas?
How long have they been teaching yoga? How long have they been training teachers?
Principal Tutor Judi Farrell demonstrating Parshvottanasana
Practice and teaching are inextricably linked, and all of their teaching will come from their own practice and experience so you want to be training with someone with a wealth of each.
Also, a 200 hour yoga teacher training course can be overwhelming as you’re introduced to loads of concepts, ideas and new ways of thinking. You want to know you’ll be supported as well as challenged throughout the course so look for tutors who will try to meet you with patience, empathy and understanding.
The bottom line is humility and honesty are much more important than how popular the course or teachers are on social media.
What’s covered in the yoga teacher training?
Is the curriculum well rounded and comprehensive? Many training courses focus solely on learning to practice and teach the postures (asana).
Does the training include some history of yoga and classical yoga philosophy? Are you encouraged to recognise the cultural context these teachings were born out of as well as how they can be relevant for our modern times?
Look for a course that includes how anatomy can be applied to our yoga practice and be a helpful and relevant lens to view the practice through as well as more conventional anatomy and physiology teaching. This will support your work with different bodies and help you offer individualised advice to your students.
Anatomy & physiology session with osteopath Gareth Magee
Does it offer guest tutors who are experts in their own fields of practice and study?
Are yoga teacher mentoring hours included in the course? The hours spent observing and assisting an experienced and trusted teacher are invaluable in helping you transition from teacher training student to yoga teacher, guiding and supporting your own students.
By it’s very nature a 200 hour yoga teacher training programme is limited – it sounds like a lot of time until you consider the demands of being a yoga teacher.
It’s important to understand that if you want to grow and develop your skill as a yoga practitioner and teacher you’ll have to pursue further study beyond your chosen 200 hour programme. If you’re planning to build a robust business around your teaching you’ll likely have to seek out specialised support and training to help you do that too.
A 200 hour programme which offers breadth and depth can help you develop your understanding of yoga and build your yoga practice as well as support you as you begin to learn to share the treasure that is yoga. It also lays the foundations for further study in whatever area or style you’re passionate about.
Are you encouraged to explore and question or are you simply told what to say and do?
I strongly encourage you to find a yoga teacher training course where you’ll be guided and supported as you figure out how your practice can best serve you rather than teaching you in a rigid, dogmatic way. One where you’re taught as an individual.
Does the training help you develop an understanding of your practice and the postures so that you can begin to really understand the cues you give to your students and why one size doesn’t fit all?
Alexander Technique with guest teacher Sue Barclay
Does the course invite you to reflect on what yoga is beyond the many styles out there?
Are you encouraged to enquire what it is to be a practitioner of yoga and what it means to be a yoga teacher? And where the limits of being a yoga teacher lie?
Are you given the space to develop the self awareness that is an important part of becoming a yoga teacher?
Is the course structured in such a way as to develop your own understanding and practice before encouraging you to share it with others?
Is critical thinking encouraged?
Or does the course just teach a sequence or postures with set cues based on the students making particular shapes?
How long is the course? What’s the schedule?
Yoga is both a huge topic and an individual undertaking. Yoga teacher training courses last from a few weeks to a few years.
Does the duration of the course give you time to practice, to reflect and explore; to complete assignments with adequate research and consideration; to do additional reading; to discuss and question?
Will it allow you the time and space to try and put into practice what you’re learning?
Does it fit with your other commitments?
Remember it’s not just the in class hours, it’s the hours of personal practice, teaching practice and other homework assignments too.
How many students are on the course with you?
There are benefits to both bigger and smaller groups. For me you want the group big enough that there’s a good mix of students from a variety of backgrounds but not so big that you get lost. You’re looking for a personal relationship with the tutors as well as a great fun group.
How much will your yoga teacher training cost?
Yoga teacher training isn’t cheap. Nor should it be.
You’re paying for tutors who have been practising and teaching yoga for a long time. They’re sharing from their years of practice and their years of teaching too. You’re paying for their expertise and commitment to sharing the practice of yoga in a meaningful and practical way. You’re paying for their guidance and support of you as an individual.
And remember it’s not just the course fees. Check about any hidden costs such as course materials or special workshops. You’ll also need to factor in other costs such as accommodation, travel, meals.
Is the course accredited? Does it matter?
Many studios and other organisations require that you receive your qualification from a recognised accreditation organisation. Although there are smaller, less well recognised organisations, I’d suggest there are two principal ones for courses here in the UK: Yoga Alliance and Yoga Professionals UK.
Teacher trainees studying together on a course weekend
On the plus side both organisations provide a framework for every yoga school registered with them to deliver a 200 hour programme.
However, standards vary widely between courses and it’s up to you to do your homework. Don’t assume that because the course is accredited it has quality content and high standards of teaching and professionalism.
Whether it matters for you depends on what you’re hoping to achieve with your qualification.
If it’s teaching at a recognised sports centre or yoga studio then it’s likely they’ll look for an accredited qualification because they don’t know any better and believe it guarantees a high standard of teaching.
If you’re looking to deepen your practice with a teacher you respect and admire, and possibly share that at some point in the future in the same way that you learned, it’s not nearly so important.
I think most people who practise yoga consistently reach a point where they naturally want to share what they’ve found, whether that’s informally with friends and family or more formally as a yoga teacher.
There’s an overwhelming choice of 200 hour yoga teacher training programmes available and choosing the right one for you can be really daunting. It’s a huge investment in terms of energy and emotion as well as money and time.
While 200 hours just isn’t enough time to cover everything, you should feel comfortable and confident by the end of your training to stand in front of some students and guide them through a practice based on what you know and practice. You should also feel equipped to be discerning when choosing who to practise and train with in the future.
So look beyond the adverts, popular IG account and catchy tag lines and find out about the important stuff before signing up.
And if the course promises you immeasurable success and infinite teaching opportunities run away fast!
Judi x
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