Ever wondered what it might be like to undertake the process of a 200-hour yoga teacher training program? You've been practicing yoga for a while and have developed a stronger physical practice and begin to wonder, "how can I begin to learn a bit more about this ancient practice?" Many people who undertake a teacher training do so for a variety of reasons: some to become teachers, some to simply learn more and others...well, who knows?
I posed this question recently to the graduates of my past two 200-hour teacher training programs asking them what benefits they received from the training. Below are some of their responses...check it out, there might just be something that resonates deeply within you. The following are quotes from the graduates:
1. You will learn about asanas (postures).
" We did work much on asanas, the proper way to teach and the importance of both alignment and anatomy."
"Jayne's immense knowledge of the body helped me to understand and appreciate all that is going on and what to pay particular attention to while practicing asanas."
"Greatly deepened my own practice from learning basic anatomy (skeletal and muscular) and in a way I now visualize my body from the inside out while doing asanas."
"Jayne provides a strong foundation for a safe, logically-sequenced and anatomically correct physical practice."
2. It will open you to a wider meaning of what yoga is.
"It broadened my knowledge of the fuller practice of yoga by learning more about yogic philosophy, chakra energy, meditation - and, most importantly, then bringing that knowledge/practice into a real world daily setting in regards to managing stress, communicating with others, relaxation and self-care."
"Teacher training really opened my eyes to the vast world of yoga. Moving from the specific details of a pose; to the muscles, bones and joints involved; to the energy streams that feed or are released by a pose; to the way those energies feed body and mind; to the notion that poses are only the beginning of what there is to learn; to the various ways yoga is interpreted; and finally the release of all of these concerns in order to simply be in the moment, savoring that one breath."
3. It will deepen your personal practice.
"However, if teaching is not your goal, that's okay because the training goes so much deeper into the philosophy of yoga- the Yamas and Niyamas, the practice of meditation, breath work, mantra, chakras and much more. A student can take any one or all of those topics and delve deeper into their own practice."
"The main reason I took teacher training was to deepen my own practice-and it worked!!!"
"Jayne focuses on what yoga truly is. Not just the physical practice but the lifestyle. Through reflection of all Eight Limbs and listening to others peoples' life experiences, I was more able to examine my life and spirituality and to treasure how truly blessed I am. It also gave me a roadmap to set a path to achieving a truly yogic lifestyle myself."
"The course was like a journey to self discovery - through body awareness and alignment, knowledge and learning, reflection and testing out ideas, absorbing and integrating what resonated with my beliefs and prior knowledge. I learned to listen to my body and to honor its wisdom. This course opened up my curiosity and awareness of the connection and alignment between body, mind and soul. It was a magical journey toward wholeness."
"Teacher training helped me become a better teacher to myself, which was my goal, and to practice the focused serenity of yoga with more confidence and ease."
"I fell in love with yoga from my first class. I was 58 and did not expect to find a consuming passion, much less one that was very physical. This was thrilling to me. The mental and emotional challenges drove me even further into a quest for knowledge of all things yogic."
4. You'll re-ignite the beauty of being a student.
"I also realized how much I enjoyed "learning" again - to challenge my body and brain were an extra unanticipated bonus."
"I really loved taking the training because it melted medical (knowledge of the body/anatomy/precautions), yoga and personal growth all in one."
5. You'll be part of a like-minded community.
"It was fun to meet so many different people and to be exposed to their life and what has made them the way they are. Through all the illnesses, problems, meltdowns and moments...it was so worth it."
"I met new people that have become good friends and opened me to a new "yogic" family."
"The teacher training also brings you into a new community of like-minded, supportive, loving people."
6. Self-transformation. You might let go of some baggage!
"Jayne sets up a space that is safe, secure and embodies trust. In this environment I was able, not just to be myself, but to find, discover, evaluate, absorb or discard aspects of myself."
"The learned aspects of living a yogic lifestyle and the application of simple philosophies when facing life's challenges have been positively effective and beneficial to me in my life and to the people I come in contact with."
"The class without us knowing it, gave us the opportunity to deal with things that may have been baggage that was holding us back, healing areas that were wounded and opening areas that may have been closed due to trauma. It made me really think about how I am living the best I can and being truly honest in how I care for myself."
7. It might reveal to you the joy in teaching others.
"I can teach yoga more effectively knowing more details about alignment, effective adjustments and benefits of postures."
"I continue to learn and expand on the knowledge gained in YTT. I am a yoga teacher and am excited to share yoga with other people!"
"I am now a yoga teacher that is teaching without fear. I can further my practice while at the same time helping those who have cancer go through their journey, forming their own practice."
"Now that I have begun to teach, I realize how much I actually learned at teacher training. It seems that Jayne was able to infuse all this knowledge in me and I wasn't fully aware how much until I began to teach. Alignment, needs and wants of my students, compassion, focus and, most importantly, wanting to give back all that yoga has given to me!"
"The intense time and study involved helped me to strengthen my own practice immensely, which makes me feel more comfortable when I step onto my mat as a teacher."
8. It will help you give to others.
"In order for me to be able to support others in my life, such as my husband, children, friends and co-workers, I need to take care of and be supported myself. I had always seen yoga as "me-time". However, I had come to believe that it was time for me to be able to share it with others, too."
"I have always known that I was meant to give back to the world. I always thought it would need to be through some large organization or a charity. I was way off. The most important gift I could give was small but just as important as any large scale project. I could give compassion, love and kindness through teaching. Sharing what I truly believe, what I learned in teacher training. That we are all connected by the spirit residing in our hearts."
At the beginning of each training session whether it be the 200-hour yoga teacher training or a workshop, I share my basic belief as to what we might be able to expect through such a process. Whether or not you teach in a more formal setting of a yoga studio,within a country or health club, at the local community center or to a group of friends you've gathered at your house, one thing will always shine through. How you are in the world influences everyone you come into contact with. Your actions "teach" others whether they be fee paying yoga students or your children and family.
What we undertake in the process of teacher training is the building of a foundation that can translate to many styles of yoga and into how we live our everyday lives. It sets the framework to function from a conscious perspective and it's an amazing journey to experience. If you're curious, speak to me and I'll see if a YTT is right for you!
On my bucket list - next year.
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