What to Know About Yoga Teacher Training Before You Start

Many of those who love the practice of yoga think about sharing the joys and benefits with others. In other words, becoming a yoga teacher!

You might think you just offer to teach yoga classes to a local studio, but it’s much more than that.

Teaching yoga effectively (and safely) is both an art and a science. The journey is exciting, challenging, and will deepen your own personal practice along the way.

The Mindful Purpose Institute has been training yoga teachers for years, through comprehensive and convenient online yoga teacher training and exceptional support. We’re here for some real talk on the ups and downs of teacher training, so you can make an informed decision about taking this next step on your path.

Important Things to Consider Before Starting Yoga Teacher Training

• Your purpose. Why do you want to teach? Having a clear idea provides a touchpoint as you go through the process. Think about any specialties, like helping those with limited mobility, pregnant students, or those with PTSD.
• Time commitment. Quality studios require at least a 200-hour yoga teacher training to lead a class. To really build successful courses, you need to commit to as many as 500 hours of advanced training.
• Investment. Like any continuing education, yoga teacher training costs money. What kind of financial investment is realistic for you?

How to Prepare for Yoga Teacher Training

 Preparing Your Body for the Journey

• You need to have a consistent yoga practice. This doesn’t mean you have to be highly advanced, but you do need to be practicing regularly as an indication of your commitment.
•  If you don’t practice daily, step up your routine. 
• Embrace discomfort by breathing through difficult positions.

Building Mental Strength and Focus

• Build your focus by practicing meditation for 10-15 minutes a day.
• Incorporate journaling to explore your own feelings as you practice and train. This will help you better understand the challenges of your students.
• Don’t compare your journey to that of fellow students.

Making Necessary Lifestyle Changes

• Prioritize adequate rest, both for your body and mind.
• Focus on healthy, high-energy meals that are easy to digest. 
• Increase hydration.

Emotional and Spiritual Preparation - An Often Overlooked Element

Taking the next step on your yoga journey often brings up some unexpected feelings.

You may struggle with certain aspects of the training, physically or emotionally. You may feel you’re not doing as well as you should, or moving along fast enough.

Some postures may bring up uncomfortable feelings. Moments like this are all part of the yoga journey. Embrace meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, and even therapy if needed to address these unique challenges.

At the Mindful Purpose Institute, our online coursework lets you work at your own pace, building your confidence along the way. 

Plus, our experienced instructors are particularly sensitive to these kinds of challenges and are there to help you deal with them.

10 Important Realities of Yoga Teacher Training

1. You Don’t Need to Be an Advanced Yogi

To train to be a teacher, you don’t need to be advanced. However, you should have a consistent personal practice. Not only is this physically necessary, it also demonstrates your commitment to training.

2. You May Form Deep, Lifelong Connections

This is a unique journey, and it’s gratifying to meet others on the same path. The Mindful Purpose Institute has a supportive yoga community online where members exchange ideas, insights, and more. 

3. Expect Extended Periods of Sitting and Study

Besides learning and working through physical postures and techniques, teacher training also involves learning about yoga philosophy and history, yoga sutras, breathing techniques, teaching methodology, and more.

4. Your Purpose for Joining May Shift Over Time

Like any journey, your initial goal may change as you learn and experience new things. Embrace the changes and be open to where they’re taking you.

5. Physical Challenges Are Part of the Experience

Yoga instructor training necessarily takes your own physical practice to a new level. Breathe through the difficult physical parts and don’t compare yourself to others.

6. The Journey Is Deeply Self-Reflective

Learning new things and challenging yourself brings up insights, feelings, and even some fears. Handle them through meditation, breathwork, and journaling. Accept that this self-discovery is making you more empathetic, so you not only understand yourself better, but also future students.

7. Emotional Releases Are Common

Navigating any challenging journey brings up emotions, from frustration to pride. Allow yourself to feel what you feel. It’s all part of the process.

8. Prioritizing Self-Care Is Crucial

YTT pushes you, both physically and mentally, so taking care of yourself is essential. Prioritize rest, hydration, a healthy diet, and mental health breaks. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

9. You’ll Navigate Diverse Personalities

As a teacher, you’ll be working with all kinds of people. They’ll have different ways of dealing with yoga challenges, so be prepared to listen, be patient, and to keep things in perspective.

10. Releasing Expectations Enhances Growth

A YTT journey is uniquely yours, so it's important not to saddle yourself with “expectations.” When they arise, learning to release them helps with any physical challenges, but also benefits your own spiritual growth.

How Mindful Purpose Institute Supports Your Teacher Training Journey

Having the right program for your YTT makes the process much simpler. A structured approach provides clear goals and an appropriate timeline to achieve them. That keeps you learning and building your education consistently and steadily.

Of course, every student needs instructors who will give them the personal attention they need. Not everything is in the coursework, so having someone who’s “been there, done that” is an invaluable resource.

The Mindful Purpose Institute has curated a highly effective online YTT that provides clear modules to work through at your own pace. There are still target deadlines, but we’ve built in “wiggle room” to accommodate what happens in real life.

Our instructors are also there to help you, ensuring your training keeps moving forward to completion. Plus, our online community brings new friends and supports students with insights and encouragement.

Conclusion - Begin With Awareness, Not Just Excitement

Embarking on a journey to become a qualified yoga teacher is a transformative experience. It can be a new career with unlimited opportunities. You can help others in myriad ways. Your own yoga practice and growth deepen in dramatic and beautiful ways.

However, approach this goal realistically. A yoga teacher training program takes time, money, and commitment. It will challenge you in unexpected ways. At the same time, the particular challenges of yoga teacher training will help you grow.

What’s helpful is that you can achieve your yoga teaching certification in a way that best suits your schedule and lifestyle. The Mindful Purpose Institute has highly rated online yoga training courses that helps you work consistently, steadily build your knowledge without losing steam, and get the support to best navigate the inevitable ups and downs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Advanced Yoga Experience Required to Enroll?

No. However, you should have some prior yoga experience and be doing a consistent practice of your own.

Why Does Learning From Experienced Instructors Matter?

They’ve been where you’ve been. Besides helping with postures and various adjustments, they’ll help navigate other challenges or frustrations that come up during your training.

How Physically Intense Is Yoga Teacher Training?

You’re probably practicing more than what might be normal for you, so it’s a good idea to up your sessions on the mat. You’re also studying other things, like history and philosophy, so pace yourself and make sure you make room for proper rest.

Will I Receive a Certification After Completion?

After successfully completing the yoga teacher training course, a registered yoga school will provide a certificate to become a yoga instructor.

Most yoga studios require a minimum of 200 hours of training to teach classes. You can also get advanced certification after 300 and 500 hours of training. The yoga certification from Mindful Purpose Institute is from the Yoga Alliance, a professional organization recognized the world over.

How Do I Choose the Right Yoga Style for Training?

It depends on your own goals. There are a variety of yoga styles to explore, from methods that strengthen and energize to those that are more restorative. Being familiar with more than one offers you more options as a teacher.