Yoga teacher training (or YTT) is a big step for any practitioner, and one that deserves a fair amount of consideration. Here are some of the things I’ve learned and experienced over the past few years as a student and an instructor/student pursuing advanced certifications. For reference, I did my 200 hour training with Maria Toso through Saint Paul College, and have since completed several soma yoga workshops with Yoga North, a vinyasa-focused extension program through CorePower, and more.
Yoga Teacher Training is a Personal Journey
People embark on their YTT journey for a variety of reasons, and it’s important to keep this in the forefront of your mind as meet your fellow YTTrainees. Some people might be there because they honestly want to make this their career. Others are interested in deepening their practice and see it more as a hobby. And others have reasons that fall in between (or outside, all across the spectrum). When you are looking at the different types of training, keep this in mind. Programs that are designed to help you teach can vary from those that function more like a guided study group.
How Do You Practice Yoga
You don’t have to be a yogi with decades of experience to take a teacher training (though some programs may have some prerequisites). Before you pick a teacher training, consider some of the core factors of your own practice. What style do you most enjoy? What aspects of yoga intrigue you the most, and what do you want to learn? For example, if you want to learn more Sanskrit, or maybe more about the yoga sutras, find a training with a focus on those things. If you are looking for a Westernized take, pursue those options.
Choose Your Experience
What time commitment do you have to give to your program? Do you do better when you have time to absorb content slowly and over time, or do you want an intensive week-by-week experience? Considering this upfront, as well as whether you want to travel for your training, narrows things down as well. With coronavirus, more and more programs are creating online options. However, I would strongly recommend doing at least your initial training in person. You’ll be able to get a literal feel for teaching and the community is much stronger in person.
The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.
Jason Crandall
Whether you’ve been practicing yoga for years or months, researching YTTs forever or just heard about one that sounds *right*, I’m confident that there is the perfect situation for you out there. Take the time to evaluate the necessary things like time, budget, and desires, and your eyes will open to the possibilities when they arrive.
Minnesconsin Yoga 
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