It has been 10 years since my first introduction to yoga, and I have been practicing regularly for 5 years. Teaching yoga has been an integral part of my life and I am happy to finally be able to fulfill my calling.
I was unsure what I could expect from my 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher training with All Yoga. I read so many reviews and articles online about how to prepare for the training. Although I have a few yoga teacher friends, the course structure of each course is different. I wish I had more direction on what I should do in order to prepare for these 3.5 weeks. These are the 9 things that I believe you should prepare for the course based on my own experiences and those of my peers.
- Your Expectations
I am terrified of the word “intensive”. My asana practice was so inconsistent 2 weeks before I started my yoga teacher training, that I felt ashamed of my self. I felt unworthy to teach yoga and doubted my abilities. I thought the course would be 80% asana practice and 20% theory. I was wrong. Yoga was more than just asana. It also includes the history, philosophy, and anatomy. Yoga is open to everyone, and that’s what I found most important.
- Your fitness level
It’s not a good idea to struggle in every asana practice. You’ll get injured. Consistent asana practice can help you better understand your body and allow you to modify poses to suit your needs.
- Your Medication
Many yoga teacher trainings are held abroad, where medicine might not be readily available. It is important to have basic medication for the flu, diarrhea, and inflammation. Courses are usually held over 6 days with 1 day off. Classes typically start at 7.30am and finish at 6pm. It won’t take you long to see the location where your training is held. You don’t want to fall ill during your final week of training, which could impact your final exam.
- Your laundry budget
It is a good idea to budget for laundry if you are doing an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher training, especially in a tropical area. You should expect to change your clothes at least twice daily and send your laundry for cleaning 2-3x per week, depending on how many you bring.
- Modifications
You may already know how to modify certain poses, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned asana practitioner. You could have modifications because of weakness, while others may be because you’ve been injured. Six days of asana practice consecutively could exhaust your body, which could cause injuries or old injuries to surface. It is therefore important to get to know your body so you can adjust to your needs.
- Your insecurities
Your physical appearance, background, abilities, etc. could all be factors. Your so-called flaws will start feeding you negative thoughts when the yoga teacher training becomes more difficult and you are away from your family and friends. They will haunt you every day and remind you why it is impossible to achieve a goal. The truth is that no one is perfect. While there will always be people better than you at certain things, that shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals. Everybody can achieve what they want in life. You just have to believe in it, and work hard for it. You will do anything to get what you want if you really believe in it.
- Your Ego
You may think that you know everything about yoga even though you have been practicing it for a while. The course doesn’t only cover the physical aspects of yoga. It’s about discipline, community, and concentration. It could be that you are able to perform a pose, but your body is unable to allow you to because of injury. You need to be mindful of your health and not prove yourself to others as an expert in asana.
- Your Emotions
We all have a tendency to avoid our emotions, particularly negative ones, in this fast-paced world. Our emotions are often pushed to the side because we don’t have time or energy. We need to take a look at ourselves every once in awhile to reduce stress. There are also times when we don’t want or can’t handle the stress. You will be able to meditate a lot during the yoga teacher training. Sometimes, your deepest emotions may rise to the surface.
- Your intentions
Let’s not forget to ask, why did you decide to enroll in the training? You could want to know more about yourself or yoga, deepen your practice, or just receive certification. You may face difficulties during the course that make it difficult to believe in yourself or make you want give up. This is when you need to remember the reasons for this course and remind yourself of its purpose.