Each year thousands of people from all corners of the world train to be yoga teachers. Yoga teacher training (YTT), is more popular than ever. But what is it that makes so many people want to learn from great teachers and one day be teachers? It could be that we are inherently confident and will succeed beyond any doubt. It’s not my belief. That’s the interesting thing about yoga teacher training.
Most of us live our lives through a series of well-informed decisions. From a young age, we are taught to plan our lives and work hard. Then, we need to find a job in the field we choose so we can have a stable income and long-term security. Our society encourages us all to find our strengths and to stick with them. Are you good at maths? Try a commerce degree. Are you good with politics? You would make a great lawyer. When we choose our profession, we tend to stay put for the long-term. Our self-identity is often tied to what we are ‘good at’. Many people settle down in their comfort zones. We’re missing out the many benefits of challenging ourselves, taking chances, and being out there.
This is part of the beauty and charm of yoga teacher training. Only a few YTT students will be able to teach complex philosophy, asana and physical cues to a group. The journey from yoga-loving student into a confident yoga teacher is an enormous personal transformation that will last well beyond your first teacher training. You will be astonished at how much you know about yoga during your YTT. It’s possible to wonder what you thought you were doing by traveling halfway around the world, only to realize how little you really know about yoga. This is a normal part, but it can also be a valuable opportunity to grow. When we are doubtful of ourselves, there are two options – but they all spell “FEAR” to the untrained eye.
The ideal environment for self-doubt reduction is yoga teacher training. Your teachers and peers will all have been in the exact same situation and can help you on your journey to self-empowerment. Self-doubt is a good way to start to understand yourself. This allows us to recognize our strengths and weaknesses and helps us build self-confidence, balance, empathy, and compassion for ourselves and others. We are more than our individual parts. We are so much more than our jobs, our homes, our cars and our wardrobes. We are a collective of human beings who are on a quest to find peace and self-knowledge.
Yoga teacher training is more than a qualification. It’s a step towards a deeper sense of purpose and balance, no matter where you are in your life. Your YTT training will help you become more resilient, adaptable, and capable to weather all seasons. The magic starts at the edge of your comfort zone. What are you waiting to do?