The perfect “next step” in understanding the philosophy of yoga, is a yoga training course. Progressing beyond a purely physical practice requires a greater understanding of its chronology. To teach yoga as a profession, a recognised qualification is essential in order to get insurance and gain employment.
Good courses provide a syllabus of learning, pre-set texts, live and home study, assignments and practical assessment resulting in certification, giving you the confidence to go out and teach others what you have learned.
Yoga has many roots that date back centuries and cross continents. Its history can be traced back to four key periods of innovation and development. The original purpose of yoga was spiritual growth. Founders adopted a regular practice to train the body and mind in order to cultivate discernment, awareness, self-regulation and higher consciousness. Studying the lineage of Yoga will help you to provide authentic information to your students.
The 8 limbs of yoga form a template of attitudes that guide modern yogis through life. The ultimate goal being Samadhi a state of total integration and bliss. Other more populist limbs include postures, breathing and meditation which will form the content of your yoga classes.
When choosing a yoga training course, it is important to look for a balance of historical content with an objective view of the evolution of yoga. Technology means that online courses are now popular but for those wanting to physically teach it is important to experience face to face contact with active teaching practice.
Your training course is just the beginning and an essential first step towards becoming a yoga teacher therefor it is wise to study yoga general and then find your niche as you advance.
If you are looking for a “fast track” yoga teacher training, take a look at our online course. The learning journey is consolidated into a short time span for example, one week, one month of consecutive teaching days.
Your absolute goal is to teach professional yoga classes. It is important that the course you choose fits into your existing lifestyle. In order for you to complete it successfully, it must not cause too much disruption to your work life balance. You may have to forsake your next holiday in order to live your dream but it will be worth it once you are a fully qualified yoga teacher.
The perfect intensive course is set in an appropriate venue with a pre-set timetable covering all aspects of practical teaching. You want yoga “on tap” with extra curricula classes that you can immerse yourself in experiencing as many different styles and teaching methods as possible.
Most modern YTT courses provide blended learning options utilising online and home study. This allows you to take your time on the academic parts of your course. Ultimately you will have “the best of both worlds” making your training both time efficient and cost effective.
It is wise to really consider the speed in which you want to complete your yoga teacher training before you commit. Intensive courses are often best suited to people who are confident with some previous experience of teaching and a lot of yoga hours under their belt. The learning curve is shorter than the more immersive courses and the less experienced may require more long-term support.
Make sure that you can make contact, ask questions and ideally have a chat with a selection of course training providers before you make your booking. This experience will be the first step in your professional yoga journey and needs to fulfil all of your formative needs.
Are you in love with yoga? If you are considering yoga instructor training, your answer must be yes. Having a passion for yoga is super important, however now is the time to lay the foundations for a successful relationship.
What style of yoga is your style of yoga? Make sure that you are compatible with the type of yoga, the course tutors and the content of your training course. Every element of your learning journey (no matter how tough) should feed the aspiring yoga instructor in you.
Look to the future Not everyone training to be a yoga instructor wants to teach professional classes. Yoga can have a profound effect on those committed to it and instructor training may simply be an avenue to learn more. It is wise to have a long-term view when looking at course content, timings, cost and learning outcomes. If making a career out of teaching is your objective then be sure that there is dedicated time spent teaching your peers in a simulated learning environment.
The importance of accreditation If practical teaching is your goal then your course must be accredited. Every operator from large chains to boutique studios have specific criteria for taking on instructors. Awarding and governing bodies provide the guidelines needed for professional teaching standards. OFQUAL, CIMSPA, REPs, Yoga Alliance, British Wheel of Yoga will all provide recognised endorsement of your course.
Course content Thorough training should include an equal balance of academia and practical content. Anatomy and physiology, the history and philosophy of yoga, an objective education in all types of yoga and professional mentoring from a senior tutor.
The evolution of yoga Although the roots of yoga span several decades and many people perceive authentic yoga to follow a traditional practice, it is important to be mindful of its evolution. A modern audience may be reticent to throw themselves into the more esoteric aspects of yoga preferring a purely physical practice. A good instructor provides a gateway into yoga for everyone and anyone with interest.
If you are looking for a “fast track” yoga teacher training, you will benefit from an intensive course. The learning journey is consolidated into a short time span for example, one week, one month of consecutive teaching days.
Your absolute goal is to teach professional yoga classes. It is important that the course you choose fits into your existing lifestyle. In order for you to complete it successfully, it must not cause too much disruption to your work life balance. You may have to forsake your next holiday in order to live your dream but it will be worth it once you are a fully qualified yoga teacher.
The perfect intensive course is set in an appropriate venue with a pre-set timetable covering all aspects of practical teaching. You want yoga “on tap” with extra curricula classes that you can immerse yourself in experiencing as many different styles and teaching methods as possible.
Most modern YTT courses provide blended learning options utilising online and home study. This allows you to take your time on the academic parts of your course. Ultimately you will have “the best of both worlds” making your training both time efficient and cost effective.
It is wise to really consider the speed in which you want to complete your yoga teacher training before you commit. Intensive courses are often best suited to people who are confident with some previous experience of teaching and a lot of yoga hours under their belt. The learning curve is shorter than the more immersive courses and the less experienced may require more long-term support.
Make sure that you can make contact, ask questions and ideally have a chat with a selection of course training providers before you make your booking. This experience will be the first step in your professional yoga journey and needs to fulfil all of your formative needs.
Sometimes we all need ergogenic aids to help us fit in or segway into areas that are new and different. We live in a society where possessions are #1, most people have their own mats, sports watches to count steps, calories and tell us how we sleep, the list is endless. As teachers we also need tools to give us a boost and make our job easier.
Here are a few of the things that have made my life easier this year.
Insight timer – learning how to differentiate between meditation and mindfulness is hard, learning how to put both into our lifestyle requires massive change but learning to teach these things authentically is huge. I am not a fan of nidra practices, they don’t sit well with me. I feel that if I am going to teach meditative or mind based exercise, I want to relate to the people in front of me in a specific and useful way rather than a generic journey based approach. The insight timer app simply sets a time, using a gong to start and finish. It is an external aid that sends a signal and this simple noise allows me to be silent, still and focus on a shared intention.
Automated options – I have talked a lot about time spent on social platforms. All of these allow us to plan and draft posts and emails, we can set aside dedicated time to create a weeks journey of communication. This enables us to not get side tracked by our own fluctuating moods, confidence and experience, in essence we can stay on track and remain purposeful.
Tina Turner – Allow Tina to do the work for you. There is not one person from any age group that has not come across Tina Turner. She is a strong successful woman who has overcome so many (well publicised) obstacles and has chosen a better personal journey. Here BEYOND albums and collaborations provide mantras and meditations along with beautiful music to put into any of your sessions. Have a listen. The more you play it, the more it resonates. My advice is to let people breath and relax in time with the ever changing pace of the piece. Here is the story – wise to watch this as well as listen.
These are small things, mostly free and so very simple. i have taken Tina Turner every where with me this year and our relationship has blossomed. Those albums just keep on giving. She incentivises me.
If I have 1 regret from my years of teaching, it is that I did not cancel enough classes. My loyalty to the people who came was personal not professional and they would have continued to come, even and perhaps especially if I had been more business like in my class planning. My loyalty to the clubs where I taught was never reciprocated or rewarded, it was expected and that is a massive ask! Sometimes we have nothing to give and at these times we should be able to recoup and relax. You may throw in the need to earn money at this point, but in all honesty, if you do this job well, with planning and some percentage of a business mind, your days away from teaching should not impact your overall income.
So many people think that I hate Les Mills, they are a constant reference on my courses, so let me add a little clarity to this mis-conception. As a company I have 100% admiration for what they have done and how they have done it. They have given group x global standardisation and recognition , upping our professional awareness in a way that no one else has, or will ever do again. They are a constant reference in my dialogue because their mass approach, their (and other 3rd party providers) dumbing down of what is potentially the most amazing model with such massive potential has generated so much success for them and for the operators BUT the instructor while so smitten with the tribe, large class numbers, new content on tap is no better off (perhaps even worse off) in terms of money, respect and personal recognition. It is all about the brand. If 100% of your income and time is dedicated to 3rd parties – when and if they stop or are taken away you will be left with nothing – the time, effort and energy needed to get back in the free thinking game will seem way too much and others will have left you behind. I want more for all of you. I know for a fact that the people who come to you will continue to come to you, I know that there is so much opportunity when you break away and reclaim even a small percentage of your own creative potential and I know that your investment into their brand would pay you dividends if invested into the progression of your own talent.
In FFY I cultivate this basic algorithm – LOOK – SEE – THINK – SPEAK, our fitness world is the same as our realtime world in that we are now fed the very same formulas via the TV, media, we know what is going to happen on Strictly… and X Factor before it happens and yet we keep watching. In class we generally walk in with a plan and it runs smoothly because people like it or there is a red flag because someone cannot do it or does not enjoy it.
None of these things should be important. We should have a plan for goals and objectives that is determined by you and controlled by you. If someone does well we move them on, if not they stick until they improve. They are not meant to be able to do it – it should be difficult – it is a skill that needs building up and they , only they can dedicate the amount of effort needed to see a reward. This is not your problem.
And so we look but we do not see, we do not think and we speak. In order to be a better version of yourself, to gain more respect, more job satisfaction and ultimately build a better income YOU MUST
Look at everyone as an individual – although we follow similar traits we all have different formations that naturally allow us to do some things well and some things badly or not at all. No modification or teaching point will change this. If you look you will notice these things and you will formulate answers for example – “this does not suit you – here is something else”. When you know this and can see it, you advance as a teacher.
See what is actually happening, not what you expect to be happening – when you think of all of the tiny comments we put into class that are not necessary, repetitive and boring, that overlook the eagerness and anticipation of the people in front of you it is mind boggling. They should be waiting for what you might potentially give them NOT waiting for you to deliver a formula that they possible know as well as you.
Think about what you are going to say – this will be based upon what you see, when you look and it will be new, fresh and informative. This will make them have to listen to you, your words, your thoughts, your information.
Speak when you have something to say – so many words come out of our mouths every time we teach. Making people listen to them, respond to them and improve as a result of them is the skill I am talking about.
To do this and do it well takes time. First you have to acknowledge that formatted classes are letting you all down intellectually, you need to accept that you have everything in place to do and be better, you need to devote time to thinking about what you are doing and why. You need to be prepared to cut your current script by 75% and you need to have the confidence to try new things, say new things and make more mistakes. Welcome to the rollercoaster ride of free and critical thinking.
Tomorrow we will have a word about them , what they say and the mess they have gotten us into.
Everything needs an outcome and this is it. We are on the cusp of another change in the industry. The large operators are severely challenged by both budget and boutiques. The blanket approach is not pulling in people any more as the end user is tired of mass produced concepts and can afford to be more selective and daring in their exercise choices. They can run for free in the park and pay up to £20 for hot yoga, join a cross fit box, exercise on line – ultimately they have so much more choice.
This is good news for us as we can pick up and run with any and all changes. I think so many instructors are tired of paying out and getting low renumeration. Please know – there is always a better way.
So this year I joined up with CIMSPA – why? They are a chartered institute and to be honest my dad was always a member of his CI as an engineer and my brother as a metallurgist, I wanted to be a member of an organisation that endorses my qualifications and skill level. Is it worth it? Interestingly enough this year I have asked CIMSPA for support and an objective opinion in a situation where I could not be anything other than subjective and personal. They were everything I could ask for and supported my issue. They have made steps to improve my professional standards and they have sat down with me to discuss future plans. I can ask for no more than that. At last.
I have made the bold move to change awarding bodies and now provide Focus Awards Qualifications. This allows me to update quickly and often so that I can provide training that work in the here and now. Our level 4 yoga diploma and level 3 children’s yoga are a direct result of this switch and would not have been possible previously. So many more changes to come in 2019.
I have joined forces with Virgin Active, providing yoga teacher training for their group and developed my own brands that are growing in popularity due to investment in my online platform.
Life is good as a small operator
I encourage you all to tell your story. When you share your history, your hopes and your intentions to a wider audience there is so much more chance of positive change.
Rachel and I continue to machinate behind the scenes and if even 1 of our plans comes to fruition, next year will be great. Know that you are all in the forefront of our plans. Whatever we do, we share with you, this has been a constant for over 20 years.
If you need anything – you know where I am – see you tomorrow.
