The Significance of the Moon to Yoga  Close
If you are familiar with ashtanga yoga, you've probably been cautioned against practicing yoga at the time of a full or new moon.

This has little to do with the popular notion of higher incidences of accidents and birthings during full moons, but more to do with our internal energies at these times.

A full moon is the product of the sun and moon at opposite ends of each other, and the earth fixed between. This positioning causes both the sun and moon to gravitate to the earth, resulting in the pulling of tides in bodies of water. Alternately, a new moon occurs when both the sun and moon are in conjunction.

More about the significance of the Moon to Yoga
 

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How to Choose a Yoga Teacher Training Class
Rebecca Ffrench on 11 April, 2010 |

Choosing a yoga teacher training can be a daunting task. The abundance of training programs on offer can easily change an inspired search into spiral of despair. Who should your train with? Does it matter who the training course is accredited with? Fast-track intensive program or long-term evolutionary journey? Above all, how can you even begin to compare all the teacher trainings that vary in so many of the details?

What's important to remember is that most teacher training out offer quality tuition. You actually have an abundance of choice, and it really boils down to what you personally are looking for. Here are a list of questions to ask yourself before you begin your search.

What Style of Yoga do I enjoy?

You may have a particular style of yoga that you've been training in so far. Perhaps this is one of the traditional styles such as Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga or Sivananda yoga. Or perhaps you simply know you like a dynamic yoga style (Power Yoga or Vinyasa Flow) or prefer a restorative or introverted method (Hatha Yoga or Yin Yoga). It's important to remember that there's no right or wrong style - there's simply the style that suits you now.

It is imperative that your yoga teacher training programme suits your tastes. This is the style you will be spending hundreds of hours working in and if you don't enjoy the style of yoga you wont enjoy the training. Spend time testing out a few different classes in your area. If you find a yoga teacher who's style you enjoy why not ask them who they trained with.
If you have an affinity to a traditional yoga method then research how to become an official teacher in that style. This isn't always as simple as you might think. To become a certified Ashtanga teacher you need to spend many months over the course of a few years studying in Mysore, India. Similarly, for official Bikram yoga instructor status you must train with Bikram Choudry himself.

How Much Time Do I Have To Train?

This is probably the second most important question to ask yourself. Are you going to take time out and spend a month training intensively or do you need the training to fit around your existing commitments? There are definitely pros and cons to both methods of training. A longer course allows you to assimilate the information more easily, developing your teaching and personal practice over time. A fast-track method works as an immersion into yoga, diving into the subject and breathing it night and day. One method offers an evolution into teaching, the other a revolution. In the end you need to pick the one that suits your lifestyle and needs.

How Far Am I Willing To Travel?

Don't think that the training needs to be in your hometown. There are some amazing yoga courses all over the UK and with transport links as good as they are you can definitely look further a field to find your perfect training. If you're looking at doing a one month training then the world is your oyster. Retreat centres all over the globe offer intensive training inclusive of accommodation and food - You could be doing your training in the tropics or at the foot of the Himalayas. Only your imagination and your wallet can limit where you do your training programme.

Do I Want To Teach Yoga?

This may sound like a daft question but not everyone who does a yoga teacher training programme wants to teach. Many simply want to develop their understanding of the subject and teaching comes as an after thought. Perhaps you simply want to teach a community class once a week, or are you planning yoga teaching as a career change? You should take this into account when choosing your course.

Schools are free to distribute their 200 hours of training between different topics as they see fit (within guidelines). This means that while some courses may value Sanskrit and Yogic Philosophy others will focus on physical development, and others on actual teaching skills and the business of yoga. This is what makes the enormous variety of training courses that there are out there today. So check the syllabus carefully to make sure it meets your needs. Make sure that the subjects that interest you are included, and if you're interested in teaching as a full time career ensure plenty of time is given to teaching practice.

You may also search for a teacher training programme that is affiliated to a studio. Some studios offer teaching positions to graduates of their courses, but remember - A job is never guaranteed.

How Much Can You Afford to Invest in Your Training?

For most students out there money is a major factor when choosing a training programme. You can expect to pay anywhere between 1,500 and 7,500 on you course, and the more you invest in it the more the pressure is felt to have chosen "the right one". A residential programme will cost more as it includes food and board, and don't forget to factor in travel costs if your planning to train in an exotic location.

Remember to allow extra money for essential texts, first aid courses, registry to yoga associations and insurance if you would like to teach.

Write down your answers to the questions above before searching through the mass of programmes available. Look out for courses that really do fit your needs. And above all remember, this is just the start of your training journey.
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