Choosing the Right 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

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Choosing the right 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training can be daunting. This article will help you navigate the many options available and find a program that aligns with your needs, goals and budget.

Having only one lead trainer can be a red flag. It may mean that you will not receive much individual guidance and support in your practice.

Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy is the study of structure of living things - bodies, tissues, organs and organ systems. In contrast, physiology is the study of how living structures work at the organism level to maintain life and health.

Understanding anatomy and biomechanics is essential to teaching yoga in a safe, effective way. A quality 200 hour YTT will extensively explore these core subjects.

This includes both the physical anatomy of the body (bodily systems, muscles and bones) as well as the esoteric concepts of energy anatomy - chakras, nadis and mudras. It will also cover the practical aspects of guiding students through their practice with verbal cueing, visual demonstration and hands on adjustments. It will also explore the use of voice and language as well as learning styles and the impact of the teacher's own energetic body on students.

Yoga Philosophy

Yoga philosophy covers the spiritual and philosophic traditions that inform yoga. This is where you will dive into subjects such as the chakras, ayurveda, sutras, myths and mantras.

This section also looks at the yogic concept of moksha, or spiritual liberation. It explores the yamas and niyamas, the ethical guidelines for living a yogic life (such as abstaining from harming others, stealing, lying or sexual misdeeds) and the observances (purity, contentment, austerity, self-study and devotion to God).

One of the core concepts of yoga philosophy is that you are not your body or your mind. This might sound a bit scary or strange at first but it is actually very comforting. It means that your experiences are unique to you but they may not be the truth of what is actually happening. This is a good reminder that your mind is malleable and you are empowered to change the way it works. This is a key part of yoga philosophy and can be applied in daily life.

Teaching Methodology

Training isn’t just about learning the theory of yoga but also learning how to teach. Most 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training have a large portion of their curriculum dedicated to yoga teaching methods. This includes learning how students learn, the process of demonstration, observation, assisting and instruction. There are also lessons on teaching styles, qualities of a teacher and the business aspects of yoga.

These lessons can be done in a group setting with an experienced teacher or one-on-one with a mentor. These are a great way to get experience and build confidence in your skills.

This section of the yoga teacher training also covers things like chanting, mantras, kriyas and meditating. Be careful when choosing a yoga teacher training that does not include substantial amounts of time doing these things as this could be an indication that it is not focused on developing your teaching skills. Also be wary of schools that have only one lead teacher as this can put a lot of stress on the trainer.

Teaching Skills

During 200 hour yoga teacher training, students learn the basic teaching skills needed to start a yoga class. This includes how to instruct physical postures, use clear and efficient lesson planning, and provide one-on-one tutorials with students.

Anatomy will be included in the course as well, giving you an understanding of the human body and how it relates to yoga poses. You may also be introduced to the subtle energy anatomy of the koshas, nadis and chakras.

The training will help you develop an understanding of yoga history and philosophy, plus the ten yamas and niyamas that govern yoga practice. This is important so that you can pass this knowledge on to your students in the future. You’ll also learn about the different lineages of yoga and how they developed over time. Lastly, you’ll get instruction on the general progression of student learning and how to work with the group dynamics that come with any teacher training group.

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