Are you interested in becoming a yoga instructor? We explore how to prepare for yoga teacher training with a list of tips to get you started on the right foot on your potential new career.

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Becoming a yoga teacher is one of the most in-demand skills you can have right now. With yoga becoming increasingly popular around the world, more and more people are interested in becoming yoga teachers or trainers.

According to a study done in 2018, over 300 million people actively practise yoga around the world. In the United State alone, it’s estimated that 36 million people practised yoga in 2018, the figures are expected to increase in 2019 and beyond.

So what do these figures mean? What these numbers reveal is that there’s an overwhelming demand for Yoga services and products globally. More and more people are using yoga for exercise and meditation. Naturally, these numbers also hint that’s there a huge demand for yoga training.

Because as more people want to get into yoga, they need the services of yoga teachers.If you’ve already decided you want to become a yoga teacher or Instructor, congratulations! You are entering into an occupation that can be quite rewarding both financially, physically, mentally and spiritually. Once you’ve decided to become a yoga instructor, the next step is to get into yoga training.

Of course, the first thing is to find a recognized yoga school where you’ll undertake your studies. But before you join the actual training course, you’ll have to prepare adequately to cope with the demands of the yoga instructor program. Most yoga instructor programs are quite intensive, both physically and mentally. And this makes it hard to become a certified yoga teacher if you are not dedicated and passionate about the practice.

Remember, it’s one thing to want to become a yoga instructor, and it’s another thing to persevere through training until you graduate.

Why you need to prepare for Yoga Teacher Training

Preparing for yoga training school is essential. Before you are certified to become a yoga teacher, you’re required to undergo intensive yoga training(at least 3 hours a day) that’s certain to strain your body beyond the limits.

For instance, most training programs will require you to practice Yoga 3 to 4 hours a day for the entire week.

Your physical limits will surely be tested as a result, but that’s just a small part of the training. In a reputable yoga training course, you also learn a lot about yoga philosophy, anatomy, teaching methodology, meditation, pranayama, asana, physiology and many more concepts in a couple of months

Ultimately, proper preparations can help you transition into a yoga instructor program without any problems. Besides being prepared reduces anxiety and sleeplessness you may be having every time you think about the instructor’s program

Are you planning to become a yoga instructor and wondering how you can prepare yourself for the life-altering experience? Here are 13 essential tips to help you prepare for yoga teacher’s training

Tips to help you prepare for yoga teacher training

Study yoga literature

Even though most of the Yoga practised in the United States, is based around asana and other modifications. Yoga is much deeper than that

That’s why it was crucial to study the history of Yoga from its humble beginnings in India about 5000 years ago. In addition, you’ll need to read a lot of books about yoga to understand how the practice works and how it has evolved to date.

The last thing you want is to teach a practice you know little about or not being able to answer one of the questions your student may have. So studying the history of Yoga is exceptionally critical if you are looking to get into yoga teacher’s training.

Be clear with your intentions

People get into yoga training for a variety of reasons. Some just want to have more in-depth knowledge about Yoga, while others do it for the sole purpose of obtaining certification.

Whatever your reason, just know that you’ll be tested to the limits and this can cause many people to quit before completing the training.

When you want to quit, just remember what got you started in the first place so as to remain focused on the training.

Have realistic expectations

Yes, there is a demand for yoga training around the world. However, you should have realistic expectations when enrolling for a yoga teacher’ training program..

If you are only attracted to yoga training because of the potential financial rewards, then you’re bound to be disappointed. Because becoming a yoga trainer requires grit, determination, hard work and passion.

If you quit midway through the training, you’ll not qualify to become a yoga instructor. Perhaps, this why you should have realistic expectations when you join a yoga instructor training program.

Choose your style

The great thing about Yoga is that you have freedom of choice when it comes to choosing your style. Fundamentally, Yoga can be practised in forms such as Hatha, Astanga, Yin Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa.

Practising all the mentioned styles can help you pick a style that fits you. Ultimately, you need to choose a style that suits you because you’ll be required to practice 3 hours a day for the entire week. Imagine working with the wrong style for three hours.So it makes sense to sample all the yoga methods available if you want to find one that works for you

Plus, If you are passionate about Yoga and you want to absorb as much knowledge as you can, then you can practice up to two yoga styles at once.

Practise yoga consistently

Before signing up for a yoga teacher’s program, it’s essential to get your body in peak shape physically. Most yoga instructor training program requires that you train three hours per day for 6 days. Which means you should exercise as much as possible to build intensity and resilience before you enter the actual training program.

To sum it up, there are no shortcuts to becoming a yoga instructor, you need to exercise more in preparation for the actual training. If you don’t, you’ll struggle to keep up with those who have put in the time and work.

Attend different yoga classes

Attending various yoga classes can help you become a better yoga instructor. By getting taught by different instructors, you’ll be exposed to different ways of teaching yoga. Don’t listen to one teacher if you’re planning to become a yoga instructor. Allow yourself to experience the teachings of different teachers. From this knowledge, you can then work to create your teaching style.

Keep a journal

A majority of yoga instructor programs require you to journal often. Journaling can help you maintain your focus and manage your time correctly. More crucially, journaling can be a great source of insight and a tool for evaluating your yoga journey.

By documenting the experiences and emotions, you go through each day; you be well prepared to handle what’s ahead of you. In this case, you will be ready to handle the actual yoga instructor’s program.

Dedicate your time

Managing your time is highly advised if you’re considering becoming a yoga teacher. Once you get into the training, you’ll have to juggle a lot of things are working out, reading and handling personal commitments. So you need to become a better manager of your time.

In the end, becoming a competent yoga instructor requires time, hard work and dedication. Most programs can stretch up to six months, so it’s good to start organizing your schedule in preparation for the course.

Having a well -thought schedule can help you prepare better for instructors’ training. Some of the things you can do to prepare to yoga instructor program include:

Journaling at least three times a week

Reading several yoga tests and books.

Practising asana, pranayama and meditation both at home and in the classroom environment

Testing yourself on anatomy knowledge

Creating yoga classes

Community service, etc.

Get rid of your insecurities

To become a successful trainer, you’ll need to get rid of your insecurities. Otherwise, your insecurities could come back to haunt you when yoga training gets tough. It’s therefore advised that you deal with whatever insecurities you have before enrolling into a yoga instructor program.

Remember, no one is perfect. The fact is you’ll always come across people that are better than you in certain areas. This does not, however, mean that you cannot achieve your goals. You are capable of attaining any goal you set your mind to so long as you are ready to fight and persevere.

Let go of your ego

Your ego could ruin your chances of becoming a world-class yoga trainer. As a result, you’ll prepare better for yoga instructor training if you leave your ego aside.

Just because you’ve been practising yoga doesn’t mean you know everything about the practice. Allow yourself to be corrected and also listen to your body. Sometimes, all you need do is to focus on your health rather than trying to prove that you are the most advanced yoga instructor around. Ultimately, you should accept that learning is a continuous process and strive to be a better learner.

Seek Support

In preparation for yoga training, it’s highly recommended that you seek support from fellow yogis planning to become instructors. Sharing your experiences with other students can open you to the world on new possibilities. Becoming a yoga trainer is not for the faint-hearted thus having a support network is crucial to preparing for the instructor program.

Be vulnerable

Most people don’t get anywhere in life because they continuously hide and block their emotions, especially if it’s anything related to pain. During your yoga instructor training, you’ll experience all sorts of emotions from sadness, happiness, frustration, love, hate and more.

Therefore, you should your emotions flow naturally as it’s vital for your overall well being. If you cannot deal with your feelings as soon as you can, then you’ll have difficulty becoming a yoga teacher.

Be ready to be transformed

In your path to becoming a yoga instructor, you’ll come into contact with yogis of all walks of life. Also, your body is going to be tested to the limit, and all these experiences can be life-altering so prepare to be transformed..

Research yoga schools

Finding the right yoga school is not an easy task. While there are plenty of yoga schools to choose from, you have to be careful with what you settle for. Ideally, before you choose any school, it’s crucial to access their trainers, yoga styles, online reviews, fee structure, the school’s vision and plenty of other factors.

Only after conducting due diligence can you find a school that fits your goals and vision. It’s advised that you choose a yoga school that employ university-educated teachers. Because such teachers follow a strict curriculum and their conduct is professional.

Ways to Get the Most out of Your Yoga Workout

There’s no end to how much you are set to gain just from practising yoga training. Unbeknownst to many, however, you can be an avid yoga trainee but fail to benefit from it. Yoga is a physically intensive practice but your mind is where you set your intentions. These intentions are what lead to you getting as much out of your workout as possible.

Assuming you are doing yoga for fitness, you will only achieve the best results if you are disciplined, focused, and have realistic goals and expectations. So what can you do to maximize your yoga exercises? Read on to find out.

Focus On the Reward

Whenever you set foot inside the class, ask yourself, ‘what do I expect from this?’ The answer could be that you expect to feel better about yourself, you expect to inch closer to your ideal weight or you simply want to stay active. There are a ton of reasons why people do yoga teacher training. But when it narrows down to the reward, everyone is aiming for something different.

How many people book and pay for yoga classes that they will never attend? Plenty ha? When you are certain of what the reward is, you will always feel like you did get your money’s worth of yoga training. Ultimately, it will not be hard to schedule time and take yoga seriously.

Refrain From Setting Expectations

Different yoga instructors have different ways of teaching. Don’t come to class ready to tell the instructor how to do his/her job. This only means that you have a set expectation that may not be in line with what your yoga instructor has planned for the class.

It’s funny how small issues can turn your yoga experience into a disaster. You may expect to train on the same spot every day or expect the same instructor for all your classes. You can’t expect to hold a sideways crow pose successfully yet you’ve been up all night because your kid was unwell.

Best word of advice, go into yoga completely free and with an open mind. Instead of wrestling with thoughts of what things should be, open yourself up for each new experience. You can’t control everything. Being free of expectations allows you a fighting chance even when your body seems off on some days.

How Do you Feel?

Yoga may be an intensively physical practice but emotions are a part of it too. Most people haven’t a clue about how they feel. How often do you pause in the middle of your coffee break or dog walk in the park and ask yourself, ‘how I’m I feeling today?’ Yoga gives you a chance to connect not only with your body but also with your feelings and emotions.

To maximize on how much you can benefit from yoga, don’t be too absorbed into the athletics and aesthetics of the poses. Instead, balance that out with taking random checks with yourself often to find out how you feel. If you feel tense, take deep breaths in and out. Monitor your mental state too. Keep track of the sensations running through your body whether you are doing passive or active poses.

Make this a habit and you’ll be ready to conquer the world with each new day. You’ll feel much better and adopt a positive attitude towards everything that life throws your way.

Avoid Distractions

Without focus, you may as well take a nap instead of going to class. You must be able to silence the chatter in your head to absorb what the instructor is teaching during yoga class. Assuming you are being asked to grab a block for the triangle pose, you cannot be asking for a toilet break or fiddle with your hair or uncomfortable top.

In yoga, the slightest distraction can backtrack the whole point of coming to class in the first place. If you are distracted, you will be less motivated and ultimately find yoga less rewarding. Avoid minor annoyances and aim to always be present.

Come Clean with your Trainer

Did you undergo surgery a few months ago? Do you have lower back or joint issues? Do you suffer some form of disability? Whichever one it is for you, start by making your instructor aware of your limitations. You’d be surprised at how many people keep from talking to their instructor, out of shyness, ego, or ignorance.

Coming clean with your instructor is, by no means, a trick to make the instructor go easy on you. Forfeiting crucial information allows the instructor to design training tailored around working on these limitations. It also allows your yoga teacher to know what to do should you injure yourself or suffer a hurdle during class.

Listen to your Body

What would you choose? To look good or feel good about yourself? Most people go to yoga to brag and look good. This is wrong. When you are focused more on the outer part of you, the inner part of you stands neglected. Which, to say the least, sets you up for failure.

The human body is incredibly intricate. There’s a yearning in you to be good to yourself. Don’t silence it, embrace it, even in yoga. That inner teacher that tells you, ‘you can do it, hang on, don’t you dare give up.’ This is what finally gets you to successfully make that pose you’ve been struggling with all year.

And if you still aren’t there yet, you can be kind enough to understand that yoga is a work in progress for you. Allow yourself to work your way up to being your best self. It won’t happen in a day, but you’ll certainly get there if you listen to your body.

Breathe

It may seem quite basic, but if you master the art of simple breathing in yoga, you’ll be great at everything you set your mind on. Inhale and exhale whether you are on the mat or off. The goal is to use breathing to stay balanced and grounded. Breathing also allows you to fully appreciate the experience and practice only what’s within your capacity. Some poses can be too intense for you, a fact that can easily be confirmed if your breathing seems off during the pose.

Wrapping up

If you’re considering becoming a yoga teacher, it’s essential to prepare for the yoga instructor training program adequately.

Most yoga instructor programs are physically and mentally tasking and that’ the reason you are advised to prepare before the actual training commences.

Eventually, becoming a yoga teacher is not only financially rewarding, but it also can help you grow physically, mentally and spiritually.

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