CHOOSING A YOGA TEACHER TRAINING (YTT) PROGRAM

'I’ve looked at nearly all the studios in Alexandria that offer Yoga Teacher training.  Having taken several classes at 532 Yoga already, I’m convinced that you will find no better yoga studio to take your 200hr Yoga Alliance Certification than 532 Yoga.  I’ll be taking their Yoga Teacher Training myself this November, and I’m very excited to have the opportunity and privilege to learn from such masterful teachers like Suzanne and Ginny.'
Paul Roberts, Personal Trainer, Alexandria VA

Whether you have just started with yoga or have been practicing for some time, if you love the way it makes you feel there is a natural progression towards wanting to practice more and learn more. My own experience (see ‘parachuting yoga’ blog below if interested) had me falling in love with one pose at my first ever yoga class and seeking out a training program the very next day.
The amount of YTT Programs has grown exponentially and it is wonderful that there are so many programs out there, but if you are ready to step forward on this journey, how do you choose the ‘right’ one?
Factors such as location, timing, and cost of course need to be considered. Intuition will certainly play a part in helping you make your decision, but don’t forget to ask questions!  Ask lots of questions! Attend classes at different studios with different teachers so you can get a feel for where you might like to spend your time and with whom. In the average (short) 6 months of training, what is your primary goal and what is it that you want to learn? What about the School itself? How long has it been around and what is the experience of the teachers that are going to teach you?
Different schools will have a different emphasis on their training. What will that be and does it gel with what ‘you’ want? Yoga is much more than asana, and a good program should certainly introduce you to certain fundamental and foundational concepts, but it’s impossible to cover everything in 6 months of training, so what do you want to focus on, and does that school meet your requirements? This will be a commitment of your time and perhaps also the time of your family members, so does the program fit into your life?
If you have concerns as to whether you should, let me alleviate your doubt… Your practice ‘is’ good enough, you do not need to be able to stand on your head, you are not too old nor do you need to lose weight. If you have a passion to pursue this journey, then you are ready.
Most schools will hold information sessions before the start of a YTT. This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered and get a feeling (or otherwise) of whether ‘this’ is the program for you. If you can’t make a session then arrange to speak with someone who can give you the information you are looking for.
The 532Yoga teacher training program is now in its 18th year, and has a 5-Star rating with Yoga Alliance. We are committed to guiding you through a training that will open doors of opportunity for personal transformation and growth. This is a program that will transform your practice, and it will give you the professional knowledge, confidence and skill, to become an exceptional yoga instructor. This is an incredible journey which combines coursework and a teacher training curriculum led by a deeply experienced faculty of expert instructors!  You’ll be supported by teachers with decades of experience in teaching, leading, helping, and healing. Our programs are designed to be very user-friendly; fitting easily into your work and family life. We offer you practical teaching skills; hands on teaching right from the start, which will build your confidence and ability to conduct a well-informed and well-sequenced class using Sanskrit and English. You will have the knowledge of alignment for key poses which will enable you to understand how to address the ‘building blocks’ of each pose without causing undue stress to the joints, and you will be able to assist those that need your help in order to work their own body optimally in a pose.
200-hour Professional Yoga Teacher Training since 2000. Next Program: 23 Sept. 2018
Introducing 100-hour Personal Practice and Development Program in September 2018
Introducing 300-hour Advanced Level Teacher Training in November 2018
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