teacher training | shopping guide | know your goals

First, be clear on why you want to become a yoga teacher. Consider the fact that being a yoga teacher is no small thing—it carries with it huge responsibility. With that said, let’s assume you’ve considered this, and determined that teaching yoga is indeed your calling. Ask yourself the following questions, and begin to formulate a checklist to help you select the best program for you:

• What does being a yoga teacher mean to me?
• Am I interested in teaching yoga as an authentically transformative spiritual practice or simply yoga-based exercise?
• Am I doing this as job training or for my spiritual evolution or both?
• What is it about yoga that has had the most profound influence on my life?
• Do I feel drawn toward a particular style or aspect of the practice?
• What are my expectations for yoga teacher training?
• What course content do I feel is important?
• What kind of relationship do I want with the teaching staff?

Another very important consideration is the depth of training you are seeking. Some training programs seem to value quick time to graduation over a thorough curriculum. Ask yourself this—If there was no recognized teaching credential awarded at the end of the program, would it still be worth my while?