6 Vital Things to Look for in a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

by Prasad Krishna Swaastik Yoga

Many yoga enthusiasts tend to stay confused when it comes to taking a 200-hour yoga teacher training. Are you one of those confused people? Yes, you should opt for the training course even if you don't wish to be a yoga teacher. A 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training course gives you the perfect opportunity to learn yoga and better understand its history, anatomy, physiology, and philosophical underpinnings.

You may find the most skilled teachers but they won't be able to teach you the complications of yoga in a class of 60 to 90 minutes. However, a well-designed 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program can help you in understanding and experience the richness of yoga. Thus, you should always go for a high-quality program to get the best experience.

With the availability of so many yoga training programs, choosing the right option gets tricky. One of the easiest ways to start is to connect with a known teacher. However, you should look for a few factors in terms of teaching methodologies and curriculum. Do you want to enroll in a high-quality 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program? Here are the six vital things that you should look for to make the right choice:

1. Safe and Updated Asana Practice

Yoga can be a wonderful practice when performed safely. It can be extremely beneficial for your health. Many people have experienced severe injuries when doing yoga. Thus, the best training schools have changed the ways to sequence vinyasa yoga classes to reduce repetitive stress. Some teachers and co-teachers don't teach asana alignment traditionally only because it's traditional. They believe that there should be instances to re-examine traditional asana for increasing safety in practices.

You should find a yoga teacher who understands all types of bodies and poses so well that they can adapt to the person's pose rather than try to mold the person in the pose. Find a trainer who teaches that yoga positions are not one-size-fits-all. The best 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training will teach safe alignment and balanced sequencing, which relieves repetitive stress.

2. Detailed Knowledge of Yoga Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy learning is a crucial element of foundational yoga training. Once you learn more about your body, it increases your awareness of yoga. Your experience in different poses will get richer and proprioception will grow. You will learn how the breath influences your physiology. All enthusiasts should know that yoga anatomy is both science and art. Due to this reason, you should find a teacher who is open to critical discussion.

Certain outdated cues and instructions have been included in yoga culture. People who have spent decades working with experts across various modalities, including physical therapists, surgeons, and doctors of sports medicine, can teach an evidence-centric anatomy curriculum. The best trainer tries hard to deal with all possible challenges and answer all types of questions. Ensure you know the person who is teaching the yoga anatomy hours of your 200-Hour Teacher Training. Find out who trained them. Email them your queries if you are in doubt. They should take the required time to answer your queries.

3. Detailed Understanding of the Foundational Yoga Texts

A rich yoga philosophy training program will include aspects of yoga that you can't study in a general class. You will get to understand the evolution of asana practice if you delve into Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, and unpack vital verses and the eight limbs. Maybe, you will get experiential knowledge of how to implement the teachings in your own life.

Go for a yoga teacher training program that includes foundational texts, such as Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

4. A Skilled and Intelligent Approach to Hands-On Adjustments

Nowadays, many modern teachers have been reassessed on how to deliver safe manual adjustments to trainees. The best yoga trainers don't do depth adjustments. Rather, they offer stabilizing adjustments. You can learn about such an approach by reading stuff online that depicts ideas to hone your hands-on adjustments. You can also listen to podcasts that talk all about how adjustments are made.

Long gone are the days of lying over students' bodies to get them to go deeper. Look for a yoga trainer who follows a skilled and intelligent approach to hands-on adjustments.

5. Teaching Practice as a Part of the Course Curriculum

Learning to teach standing in front of a big group is an exceptionally valuable skill to possess even if you don't want to teach ever. The aim of practice teaching is not to be impeccable out of the gate.

Practicing teaching in the perfect setting is an opportunity to overcome fears in a community full of supportive peers. Over time, you will learn how to take compassionate and constructive feedback. Always look for an experienced 200-Hour Teacher who will try to create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable and supported as they get trained to teach others in the future.

6. The Capability of Holding Space So Students Can Acquire Life Skills

Undergoing thorough 200 hours of training in a mind-body discipline, like yoga, can get extremely intense and transformative. Once you finish your training program, you would feel like getting an insight into yourself and the tools to live a balanced life.

Comprehensive yoga teacher training will give you the required tools to observe your tendencies and behavioral patterns. You will learn why you suffer and react the way you do to certain situations. Look for a trainer who is capable of honing your skills to show up and handle all critical situations healthily.

The Bottom Line

A 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program can be a life-changing experience. Ensure you do it from a good yoga training school. Consider the six vital things specified above to choose the right trainer. All the best!