Yoga teacher training is a transformation journey that requires your focus, passion, dedication, and interest in yoga. It is a golden opportunity for you to widen your understanding of the yogic universe and share this wisdom with the world. It is a constant process of evolving and learning so that you concentrate on your overall wellness.
The schedule and syllabus of the yoga teacher training program has regular yoga asana sessions, meditation, pranayama teachings, yogic philosophy, adjustment and alignment, class sequencing, and sessions on teaching methodologies. These different sessions are extremely intensive and allow you to gain insights about every aspect of yoga, especially if you wish to pursue it as a professional career.
The YTT programs need you to be prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally before actually joining the sessions. It is an ever- learning process so you are required to follow a few essential steps which will make you a great yoga instructor. In this article, you will understand the points that you need to follow in order to get prepared for a yoga teacher training program.
Assessing Personal Readiness
The first step before enrolling in a yoga teacher training program is asking yourself the reasons you wish to join it for. Question yourself about the goals and intentions you have in regards to becoming a yoga teacher. Whether you want to pursue yoga as a professional career or just wish to deepen your own practice, questioning yourself about it will provide you clarity with your visions, which will ultimately help you achieve your goals successfully.
Understand the entire curriculum and figure out the type of preparations you require in order to join the yoga teacher training program. If it feels new to you, then take out some time and make your body familiar with the basic movements before diving in for the different aspects of yoga. Always remember that the courses are quite intensive and require you to have a decent stamina, focus, determination, self-awareness, and a hunger to learn new things.
Establishing a Consistent Yoga Practice
Now that you know the importance of having basic awareness regarding yoga before joining the certification course, you need to establish a consistent practice of yoga asanas. Practicing yoga on a regular basis will allow you to get insights about the different yogic aspects with clarity. Make a routine which will encourage you to build flexibility and strength in your body and focus on being consistent with it. This habit of consistency will help you during your yoga teacher training period and you will be able to engage better in the sessions.
Yoga is a huge concept that comprises various different styles. By regular practice of it, you will be able to get familiar with these different yoga styles that benefit your overall wellness. The yoga styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and Restorative yoga are some of the important ones to help you build strength, bring mental clarity, calm the nervous system, and align with your personal goals.
Deepening Knowledge of Philosophy
Yoga teacher training is a transformational journey mainly because of the yogic philosophy taught during the sessions. The ancient texts from Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Upnishads, and Bhagavad Geeta are essential to understand in order to learn the correct way of living your life. These are the foundational teachings of yoga and allow you to understand the concepts of truthfulness, mindfulness, self-awareness, and nonviolence. If you are someone who wishes to learn yoga for teaching it professionally, then learning about the yoga philosophy is the most important step that will bring you closer to your students.
Enhancing Anatomy and Physiology Understanding
Anatomy and Physiology is an essential step in a yoga teacher training program. So before jumping into the actual training sessions, understand the basics of human anatomy and physiology and how asanas are performed for maximum benefits. Remember that you should always be aware about the alignment of different asanas so that the positive effects are maximum and there is no chance of injury. If you wish to teach yoga professionally, it is extremely important for you to learn about anatomy and physiology so that your classes feel supportive and safe to your students.
Practicing Teaching Techniques
Having proper teaching skills is an utmost priority if you wish to become a professional yoga instructor. While learning yoga dynamics on your teacher training journey, you must also focus on improving and refining your teaching skills in order to become a confident and fully trained yoga instructor in the future. Practice your skills of teaching yoga with your friends and family or take part in the mock yoga classes to have immediate feedback and a good experience of how your class is going to be.
Improve your communication skills along with the teaching methods so that your students find it easier to connect and resonate with you. Enhance your verbal cues while you are on your training period and participate in the hands-on teaching practice to get honest feedback. This will help you to take some constructive advice and work on your skills effectively.
Strengthening Breathwork Skills
Strengthen your breathing skills as it is an essential part of any yoga practice. Pranayama is one of the major ways to improve your mental as well as physical well being. It opens your energy chakras and provides you mental clarity for taking better informed decisions in life. It also assists your yoga asanas and helps your body to practice every posture correctly.
Prana in itself means the flow of energy, so when you are said to strengthen your breathing skills, it is for allowing your body to remove any toxins or unnecessary blockage that will prevent you from rejuvenating completely. Learn the skills to synchronize breathing along with performing different asanas and witness the difference it makes in your wellness. Once you have developed this habit, you will be able to teach your students about its benefits clearly.
Developing a Meditation Practice
Meditation is a vital part of a yoga teacher training journey as it teaches you to be more mindful, enlightened, self-aware, and more focused on your goals. Consistent practice of meditation will allow you to learn yoga teaching skills with better efficiency. If you are dealing with frequent burnouts or stress, then meditation is the perfect escape for you. Dedicate a fixed time for your practice and then gradually increase the time once you are comfortable. It will help you channelize your thoughts and have a better vision for yourself.
Building Physical Endurance
Building decent physical endurance is a part of your yoga journey. Yoga teacher training programs are extremely intensive and need you to have good stamina and decent strength to complete the training. If you are not physically fir and still wish to learn the advanced yoga styles, then it is necessary to build good physical endurance beforehand or you won’t be able to perform your best. While on your training program, you must focus on building enough body strength, flexibility, and endurance as well in order to enhance your overall well being. This way you can learn the teaching skills with utmost clarity and become an inspiration for the students learning from you.
Gathering Necessary Materials
Once you are prepared and have joined a yoga teacher training program, make sure to review all the important materials required for the course in order to stay prepared. Take some guides about the program, read about the ancient philosophy of yoga and the basis of its existence to dive deeper into its different aspects. Learn about the teaching methodologies so that you grasp knowledge with clarity during your sessions, which will ultimately make you an effective yoga instructor in the future. Familiarize yourself with the YTT program and make an essential checklist for all the items you need to bring to the program like a first aid kit, comfortable clothes, toiletries, etc.
Connecting with Future Classmates
If you have enrolled in any yoga teacher training program, then you must have been added to an online group that consists of other students like you. Connect with the fellow individuals and form respectful bonds with them so that you have company during your sessions. Approach the like-minded people and share your experiences with them. This will create a sense of purpose and belongingness within you, even before the yoga teacher training begins. Network with your yoga instructors and don’t hesitate to take their guidance whenever needed as it will help you to understand the dynamics of yoga better and will inspire you to become a good yoga instructor yourself.
Preparing Mentally and Emotionally
In addition to the physical endurance, you are also required to prepare yourself mentally as well as emotionally before the yoga teacher training program. Join the sessions with an open-mind and a welcoming approach so that you are able to learn different new things in the sessions. Always be prepared to face various challenges along your journey and have a strong mindset to overcome those. Yoga teacher training is not just a program to showcase your physical endurance but is also a transformative journey of discovering your inner self and enlightening it. This will help you to elevate your overall lifestyle and focus on the better things in the future.
Finalizing Logistics
Before you travel to your destination for the yoga teacher training program, make sure to double check all the essentials needed during your journey. Make a proper checklist of all the necessary documents and booking details, especially if you are going abroad for your program. If you have any dietary concerns or allergies, then make sure to talk to the yoga school authorities in advance regarding this.
Conclusion
This article shows how you can prepare yourself thoroughly before joining a yoga teacher training program. Remember that the entire journey will teach you different aspects of yoga and will allow you to dive deeper into understanding what yogic universe is. Learn about the basic foundation and create a clear and straightforward vision for your yoga teaching journey. Embrace this journey, take minimal stress, forget about your monotonous life for sometime and immerse yourself in the depths of yoga to become an effective yoga instructor in the future.
