So you’ve thought about doing a yoga teacher training. Has there been anything holding you back?
Sometimes it’s the impression of a 200 hour course that’s intimidating. Every once in a while I hear these funny misunderstandings about what yoga teacher training really is. Although the obvious reason is to become a yoga teacher, but is there more to it than that? I’ve put together the top 3 misconceptions I hear about yoga teacher training.
1.) You have to want to be a yoga teacher
There are a lot of students who take yoga teacher training that don’t want to teach public classes. Maybe they’re simply passionate about yoga and want to know the ins-and-outs of the practice. In yoga teacher training you get the opportunity to explore things you normally wouldn’t in a regular class. Delving into philosophy, anatomy, asana (aka the poses), methodology, and history is mind-blowing for any yoga nerds (myself included). There are so many transformational experiences in yoga teacher training. Although you learn a lot about becoming a teacher most people are shocked how much they discover about themselves.
2.) You have to be “good at yoga”
I wrote about this topic itself in a recent blog post but the summary is this: I believe that “sucking at yoga” can actually make you a better teacher in many cases. It can help you be more understanding and empathetic with you students. Having your own struggles will help you relate to your students when they have their own challenges in class. They’ll also appreciate that you’re a real person and will love that you embrace your imperfections.
3.) You have be a “good yogi”
There’s a lot of confusion about what a “good yogi” really is in the first place. It it someone who can rock a handstand for days but will gossip, lie, or steal?
It’s amazing that there are yogis out there who have a gift for asana. It takes a lot of hardwork and dedication to nail some of the poses. It was a treat for me to reach my own milestones that I’d been working towards. However, does that really make me a better yogi? I feel that the biggest shifts in yoga aren’t seen with the naked eye. It’s how we treat others everyday, how we interact with the world, and the choices we make that are the true test of character. Some of the greatest yogis I know do not practice asana. Asana can be a great tool and I definitely do not want to undermine that but remembering to look at the bigger picture rather than the superficial.
Don’t let any of the myths about yoga teacher training get in the way of achieving your goals. Yoga teacher training is the journey of a lifetime that you’ll only wish you did sooner.
Ready to take the next step? Check out my upcoming yoga teacher training schedule!
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