From learning postures, the anatomy, to exploring traditions, masters and yogic principles, there’s an abundance of trainings to choose from across the world – where to start with so many options can seem a daunting task, so we have compiled here a go-to checklist for you to run through your criteria and questions, to help guide you in your search to find that ultimate life-changing experience.
With the myriad of options available to us yogis interested in deepening our practice or teaching yoga to others, here’s a list of the most important things to consider and ask in your search to find which training to attend.
It’s important that the structure of the training meshes with your overall interests. A study will include a balance of hours in anatomy, asana, philosophy of yoga, and teaching practice.
And teachers will spend time focusing on additional subject matters. This creates the focus of the course. If, for example, you know for sure that you’re particularly interested in a subject area like yoga therapy, Ayurveda, meditation or anatomy, then look for the schools that offer the speciality.
And there is the yoga style to consider. A good idea is to start by observing what classes you are drawn to and what interests you about them. Is it the teacher, the style, the teaching philosophy or what else?
Most people select their first teacher training in the style that they are practicing the most in and are most comfortable with at the time. But it doesn’t have to always be this way. Exploration can be very rewarding here.
If you enjoy the flow then Vinyasa and/or Ashtanga could be your choice, or if you enjoy the relaxation in your practice then maybe explore Restorative, Yin or Nidra.
It’s a great idea to explore all the options of styles by attending different studios, classes and teachers, to give you a good feel of all the different types and approaches out there. As there is usually more than one style and can be many styles mixed into the practice classes.
Always stay true to yourself and what you’re passionate about. Choose a the style(s) that you love and truly speaks to your yoga heart.
If you are interested in teaching afterwards and are attracted by the idea of teaching abroad then possibly participate there as a student too. The coming together of a tribe on a training and attachment to the school and instructors could possibly lead you on a journey of joining them as a teacher.
If teaching abroad is your calling, spreading your gift to others for them to learn, practice and qualify, and go on to spread their gift to others too, this could be an amazing path for you. There really is so much reward and joy in being a teacher on a training.
Or it could be you have something specific in mind for your future teaching journey. For instance if you want to explore healing and anatomy then it could be that Yoga Therapy is something for you to explore, or Iyengar Yoga for technical instruction and alignment.
If a future life of teaching is the aim then your competence and opportunities will vastly benefit from completing the RYT 500 pathway, there are two routes to do this – the first involves completing the 200-hour intensive then following up with the 300-hour advanced training afterwards sometime.
So it is worth checking if the school you are thinking of attending the first stage with offers advanced courses, because it is often the case that graduates create a strong bond with the trainers, their content focus and teaching philosophy.
Qualifying in both levels with the same school will make your whole journey consistent and comfortable for you. Otherwise you will have to complete the second stage at a different school that could feel like starting all over again.
It’s worth noting too that to be a teacher on these certification courses you need the 500 RYT level which the required Yoga Alliance program certification. And so it could become a consideration for you in the future. These are always important questions to explore before investing the time and energy into this adventure in the first place.
If teaching isn’t on the cards for you, or at least for the time being, and you are just looking to have an awesome time, meet new people and make an adventure of hitting the mat all the time, then it’s probably best just to go with your most comfortable yoga style(s), that way you just get heaps of great practice in and deepen your understanding and technique.
If you are short on time then the idea of a 100-hour is a good option, either as a short introduction to the experience, or as a way to learn more about a particular school and teachers, with a view to then committing to a more intensive retreat with them afterwards.
How long have they been teaching yoga? How long have they been an instructor for trainings? What are their personalities like? What is their teaching philosophy? And style of teaching practice?
Maybe attend some of their classes or workshops, if you can, to get a feel for their teaching style and the energy they bring to their students to make sure it’s a good fit for you. Also past graduate reviews are of great benefit here.
The cost for most teacher trainings start at around $3000 although you can find them cheaper in India.
Before committing you’ll need to know what the cost includes. Accommodation? Shared or Private? Food? Excursions? What textbooks do you need and how much do they cost? Will there be any workshops or retreats where your attendance is required?
Then there is the travel cost and this can change significantly based on the time of year too.
Do you want to deepen your practice on a training near home? Maybe in New York? If you are on the west coast or wouldn’t mind travelling or could be interested to certify online you could check out the many studio schools in and around the bay area and elsewhere in San Francisco, or down the coast in vibrant Los Angeles. Or does the thought of getting out of your everyday environment attract?, travelling to an exotic location for an intensive yoga teacher training retreat experience. Here you will find all the options which are endless and you can check out all the different curriculum content and requirements, including for the options in United States.
You will find programs run by professional schools in Costa Rica, the biggest destination for these in the whole of the Americas. Then in Central America there is popular Mexico.
Many say the place with the most diverse range of courses and experience is India, the true home of yoga and where you can seemingly immerse yourself in a spiritual journey of your practice and deep learning.
Here you have many choices too, beachside in Goa, best visited outside of the monsoon season (June to September is when the heaviest rains come through), or in the north in the foothills of the Himalayas, in enchanting and unforgettable Rishikesh, which has comfortable weather all of the year.
Then there is Dharamsala which can be visited all year round too, due to it’s altitude it can be colder in winter (which is October-May).
India can be more affordable with lots of other attractions like Ayurveda, diverse meditation workshops, ashrams, gurus, and with amazing vegetarian food. And the immense spirituality of the land and place. The downside is that it is not easy to travel inside the country and sometimes it can feel like nothing is easy, it can be an assault on the senses too.
If you are looking for a tropical resort style training this may not be your best first choice, especially if you have never been there before, there are many other options open to you though.
In South East Asia you have Bali, a yoga hub with studios and retreat centers everywhere, and a wide array of health food shops and practitioners in everything you may be interested in.
It is easy to travel and is full of comfortable retreat centers with all the amenities you can imagine. There are two main options here, near to the surfing beach of Canggu, or in Ubud, the green heart of Bali, in the middle of rainforest and terraced paddy fields.
The beauty and the calmness of the people and environment will shine through here. Their hinduism pervades everything and can make a stay near idyllic. The driest times of year are May to September, but a good tip, it can be very busy in July and August for moving around the island and costs.
Or if you fancy rustic beauty in a beach hut then Thailand could be your go-to destination. With centers with yoga shalas on cliff-tops with panoramic views, or directly beachside under coconut trees.
In Thailand the yoga trail leads directly to the islands in the south, mainly Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand. There is a monsoon but the reality is that the weather is mostly good all year long; so get yourself on a scooter too and feel the freedom of exploring a tropical island. And bonus, it’s cheaper than most other options, except for India.
Based in Europe and don’t really fancy traveling too far? Well that’s no problem either as the yoga world has you covered. There are trainings in all the different countries offering you the opportunity of convenience and ease in travel, accommodation, and a culture you may well be comfortable with already.
Think the rugged coastline and picturesque towns of Portugal, the vibrancy of Spain, the different regions in France, the countryside and cities like London in the United Kingdom.
Or maybe you would like to visit the beautiful rolling hills of Italy, even the idyllic islands of Greece. There is so much to consider here.
Still not sure? To make the decision easier for you we have compiled the best programs into a super easy comparison platform on yovada.com that covers many different destinations worldwide (abroad and nearby to your home).
Wherever you decide on, be mindful that while intensive retreats held in far-flung places offer a beautiful backdrop, most of your time will be taken up with group classes, workshops, teaching practice, study and then practical and theoretical exams. Usually there is one day off a week.
Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization that represents the international standards for all yoga teachers and certifications. In order to become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), students must participate in a teacher training with a school that is registered with the organization. This ensures your training and teaching experience meet the Yoga Alliance standards and establishes your credibility.
To get the right amount of teaching attention and to also be part of a vibrant tribe that comes together for this one amazing purpose, it is worth finding out what the student numbers will be.
Best would be medium-sized, say 25 students or less is about right. Up to 30 absolute maximum. This way you get all the advantages of group teaching opportunities and enough people to create interesting and informative input and energy in the your classes and workshops.
Trainings can range from one-month intensives where you’re meeting everyday nearly all day, to being spaced out over 6-months or a year of weekends.
It’s important to consider your current commitments and work out what’s best for you, dedicate the time and focus you can to absorb all there is to learn, to allow you to enjoy your experience.
Most of us benefit from choosing a well-rounded training program balanced between classes, workshops and reading up; it does depend on the yoga style too as something like Yoga therapy requires a lot of study. Find a course that strikes a balance and gives you what you are looking for, a good amount of time on the mat for teaching practice is always good.
A. The length of time the school has been offering teacher training courses.
This is such an important experience that offers you so much there is little point in taking the risk of attending a school that is new and only just starting up when there are many established and experienced teachers out there who will offer you your expected teaching experience.
Teachers grow as well as students, practice and learning is something that evolves over the years. Find out how long they have been organizing trainings and how many students they have certified. How long has the course content been taught?
A school could impress with their full faculty but if it is one of the larger teacher training partners of Yoga Alliance their teachers may vary greatly between courses, locations and even dates of the year. Ask for a definitive list of lead trainers and teachers on the dates you are interested in. Also, just one teacher is not a good sign, best for you would be a ranged of experienced teachers.
The level of personalized teaching and the benefits of this to you can vary greatly depending on how many students attend the course. So it is important to know exactly how large the training group will be to give you confidence you will receive the attention and support you require.
These teacher training courses have become intensive yoga practice holidays, and that’s all well and good, however at the same time you most probably want to develop your practice and knowledge and absorb everything that is on offer. Plus achieve the certification you need to go on to teach yourself.
So beware a course of two weeks offering you a foundational 200 hour certification, it’s really too short, the shortest time would be 3 weeks in our opinion. Also beware a course that offers two days off a week, there is a lot of learning and background reading to b completed, one day off a week over 3 weeks seems to be the most intensive approach possible to a 200-hour program.
A training is a group of people coming together to share a significant emotional and physical journey. Not only will you be together practicing and leaning all day but most will also share accommodation. Plus the school and teachers will have a philosophy and approach unique to them.
So expect the admission process to be interested in who you are, your interest and experience in the yoga styles taught and other course content, plus your suitability for the group as a whole. You should expect them to be interested in your current level of fitness, experience in the yoga styles and your level of commitment to the course.
There’s no point being on a course that focuses on meditation and Ayurveda if your main goal afterwards is to teach Vinyasa flow. So be aware that they are interactive and informed about yourself. If not, consider looking elsewhere.
The best schools and courses may not have the best websites. It is easy these days to think a great website means a great experience, same as a great venue too. This is not always true. So please do read and research and spend time watching testimonials to understand if the school offers what you are looking for.
If there are not enough reviews for the school, including video reviews and testimonials then it’s a big red flag. This is such an inspirational journey of self-development and growth nearly every graduate wishes to share their experience online. So if there are very few reviews it is probably easier and more reliable to review other schools and courses with a wealth of recommendations from past students.
A lot of people can make incorrect assumptions about the courses and people on them.
You do not have to be super fit, have been practicing yoga for many years, and able to hold a handstand for 60 seconds. None of this is true. Yoga is inclusive and the educational journey set out by Yoga Alliance focuses on equity in yoga. There are all personality and body types in the classes, plus a whole range of different experience levels.
Generally you only need 3-6 months of yoga practice beforehand and there is no expectation of you living a yogic lifestyle to attend, or being knowledgeable about the history or philosophy of yoga, the classes are made up of all types of people. All are welcome.
Inclusivity is key to spreading yoga and meditation amongst us all. A good school will understand and accommodate this. More specific experience in specialisms only becomes relevant further along the pathway of yoga education in the advanced 300 hour programs.
This is probably the best thing you can do in your research – read real graduate reviews, watch video testimonials and even speak to past students, maybe go by referrals from yogi friends at your local studio, at least for your research stage.
The reputation of the school is important and you will be looking for an established school that has taught many trainings, certified hundreds of students, and is immersed in the world of yoga alliance certification.
What do you hope to get out of attending your training? Are you interested in becoming a yoga teacher, to deepen your own practice, or simply having the most awesome yoga-focused holiday ever?
Ask all the questions you have, and ask as many as you like, in all the different locations that could interest you.
It’s a big adventure for you and so don’t be afraid to ask away and research all the possible trainings that could be potentially right for you. Just from the conversation you have with them you may well feel their vibe and approach. That alone could say a lot.
The best way to compare all the courses on offer is to use one of the booking platforms like us here at yovada.com. What the platforms offer is a great way to search the programs based on your preferred location, dates, yoga style, course content, cost etc. This does not mean you have to book through a platform, you can always then approach the school directly. In fact this is probably your best and safest route.
The platforms offer you a convenient way to identify the most likely teacher trainings that will suit your requirements.
If you review this article well it will give you a strong foundation in what to look for when you are reviewing the school and course you have found so that you can discuss your potential attendance with them in confidence.
If you do decide to book through a platform then there is only one you should consider – bookretreats. There is also BYR another large platform but they do not entertain refunds under any circumstances, even if the school cancels your course, you can read up on Trustpilot for Bookyogaretreats verified guest reviews and be well informed to make your own decision, and you may be wise to also check out the parent company reviews of Tripaneer.
There is also an invaluable source of information in the Yoga Alliance Directory of Yoga Schools. Yoga Alliance is the not for profit organisation that registers and administers the yoga schools, courses and educational pathway for all yoga teachers. The organisation uses social credentialing to create numerous reviews for every training by asking all graduates to complete a course review as part of their registration with them as a certified yoga teacher. The reviews are genuine and informative and there is no commercial element to it, so you may find it very helpful help in making a decision on which yoga school to attend your training with.
We wish you well on what could be the biggest adventure of your yoga life.
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