When you’re looking for a 200 hour yoga teacher training (YTT), the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. There are so many choices out there and it can sometimes be hard to differentiate the great from the mediocre.
So many questions come up: How do you know which course is good? What should your YTT cover? How many hours in the training should be dedicated to this or to that?
There are a lot of things to consider when you choose your 200 hour yoga teacher training, but there are certain things that should be non-negotiable, like the topics that are covered in your course.
While every teacher training will explore certain topics in varying depth, there are at least eight topics that are essential to any yoga teacher training that should be covered extensively.
Not sure where to start on your search? Look for These 8 Crucial Things When You Choose a YTT
When you’re choosing which 200 hour YTT to take, pick a curriculum that extensively explores and teaches these critical subjects.
Both anatomy and biomechanics are critical topics for any yoga teacher training to cover. It is so important for a yoga teacher to understand the way the human body works so that they can modify and adjust the practice to teach the population in front of them.
Understandings the basics of anatomy and biomechanics also allows you to sequence intelligently and to prevent injury in your students.
Because so much of what is taught in modern-day yoga classes is asana (or physical postures), yoga teachers need to understand how the physical body works and responds to loads and demands to be able to effectively and efficiently teach the practice.
Your yoga teacher training should extensively study the muscular and skeletal systems of the body to explore how physical anatomy applies to the physical practice and how to modify and adapt your teachings to keep your students safe and aware.
You should walk away from your training with an understanding of the amazing capabilities of the human body as well as its inherent limitations.
Again, because so much of what is taught in a modern yoga practice is physical, yoga teachers need to be able to break down the physical postures and understand all of their intricate parts.
A good yoga teacher should know what is being targeted in a specific posture so that they are then able to adapt and modify the pose as needed for students with injuries, pregnancy, conditions, or limitations.
Your yoga teacher training should study asana in great depth so that you leave feeling confident and able to teach a wide range of practitioners—from complete beginners to advanced yogis.
A really solid YTT will explore refinement and precision within your own personal practice and then investigate how to share that detailed approach with your students.
Teaching methodology and teaching language are crucial topics in a yoga teacher training. This is because the way in which you speak and teach should be empowering for your students.
Whether they deserve it or not, yoga teachers are admired and given a certain amount of power and that should always be treated with the utmost care. Your YTT should teach you how to teach effectively and efficiently with language, sequencing, theming, and more.
A really good YTT will explore the ideas of what makes a good yoga teacher, how to skillfully use language when teaching, how to concisely cue poses, and much, much more.
Sequencing is a crucial skill for any yoga teacher so a good YTT should explore this topic in-depth. You should learn how to effectively warm-up the body as you prepare to build your sequence toward some sort of peak before then cooling the body down.
You should learn different styles of yoga sequences to create intelligent and safe practices for students of varying abilities. You also should sequence multiple practices on your own throughout your training so that when you graduate, you feel confident to write your own classes.
Ultimately, you should graduate from your yoga teacher training with an understanding of how to effectively and carefully plan and sequence yoga classes. And you should know the different elements that are essential to a well-structured class, how to safely link postures, and overall how to sequence intelligently.
Yoga is far more than just asana. And while modern practices typically focus on asana, your yoga classes don’t have to be constrained to this one small aspect of the vast yoga practice.
A good YTT should introduce you to the many aspects and branches of yoga that exist, including meditation and pranayama (breathwork).
You should experiment with and explore the many intricate practices of yoga in your training and also walk away being able to effectively teach these practices as well.
Curious to learn more about pranayama? Learn all about breathwork in the in-depth course Pranayama: Control Your Breath to Calm Your Mind
Again, yoga is much bigger than just asana. And if you miss out on exploring the vast history and philosophy of the yoga practice, then you miss out on the pure essence of what yoga truly is.
A good yoga teacher training should extensively explore yoga's roots, uncovering the birth of yoga as well as its evolution and growth throughout the years.
You should graduate with a clear understanding of the philosophical side of the practice and how its teaching can be applied to your everyday life.
Want to dive deeper into yoga philosophy? Learn all about the yogic code of conduct in the in-depth course Uncover the Everyday Wisdom of the Yamas and Niyamas
Of course, you’ll want your yoga teacher training to uncover the intricacies of the business side of teaching as well.
Ideally, you want to walk away from your YTT with an understanding of the growing industry of the yoga profession and how to make yourself stand out in an oversaturated market.
You’ll want to explore the many different possible outlets to offer your teachings and how to start up your new career path, market yourself, and ultimately, find work doing what you love.
It should go without saying that you want to spend ample time in your yoga teacher training actually practicing teaching yoga.
As a safe space for you to explore and grow as a teacher, you’ll want to spend many hours actually teaching to your peers.
Look for a course that spends lots of time on the art of teaching itself with a lead trainer that offers helpful and constructive feedback for you to continue growing as a teacher.
Choosing the perfect yoga teacher training can be really overwhelming. There seem to be infinite options nowadays and it’s hard to know the best course to choose.
But if you keep in mind the essential topics that you’d like to learn, then you can narrow down your options significantly.
A good YTT should extensively cover all of these topics and more, so find a course that speaks to your heart and covers everything that you need to learn in order to be the best yoga teacher possible.
Join Nomad Yoga for a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, and Yin Yoga in a magical paradise location.
All Nomad Yoga teacher trainings dive heavily into anatomy and biomechanics, asana variations and modifications, teaching methodology and language, sequencing, yoga history and philosophy, and the business of teaching yoga.
And all of our trainings offer extensive practice teaching time so that you graduate feeling confident and ready to teach.
