1 month or 10 months for teachers training?

Hi all,

I am in two minds now…whether to do one month intensive course in Chennai my home town or to do 10 months here in Doha? If i do in India, i get a months no disturbance from family chores and get to stay with my parents, cheaper but highly intensive as the classes are day long 8 hours. But if i do it here, i am a lot more relaxed, spread out over 10 months can be more effective in the sense i can do my practices at home and over a period of time, maybe learn a lot more and stay with my family ofcourse. but here its a lot more expensive…Any ideas?

thanks

Well if I were just responding to your subject title I would say “a lifetime” but that’s not your question.

I personally get “full” when there is too much new information packed into a short period of time. The cup can hold only so much liquid before it runs over the lip and spills on the table. If you have a greater aptitude to learn and can absorb all that is offered in an 8-hour day and do so for thirty consecutive days then good for you.

To me an immersion has value(s) (several of which you’ve already outlined) but it has to be repeated over and over like a good movie in order to catch all the scenes. I’ve taken a week-long training, several month-long trainings, and of course my two-year program and yet I still think this comes down to what the individual wants from the training.Time away may provide you some deep healing and allow you to get at some things you’ve left unaddressed at home. But will it make you a complete teacher? Not likely that either term will do that.

thanks so much :slight_smile:

I totally understand what you mean…i am not sure i will become a teacher either. I learnt yoga when i was 13 in grade 8 from a guru who visited school in India. I loved it and practiced it only for personal health and that too on and off. Only for the past 10-12 yrs i wanted to go deeper and for some reason started practicing more and reading more. I attended workshops and classes and the more i did the more i wanted to share. I started teaching my friends, my son’s friends and then my mother in law’s friends…then i started helping some handicapped children in an orphanage when i was living in Bali and teaching gr12 kids to relieve stress before exams. Ofcourse all for no money…but now i am in a place where yoga is not so popular so thought why not use this oppurtunity to go a step higher in my own personal practice. Doing teachers training will also help me help others more efficiently i think. So, i am not in a hurry to finish it or anything…but what you said that a months time away from family can be a good healing time sounds great…wish i am able to do the course…a little positive energy this way would help ha ha

thanks once again :slight_smile:

As mentioned, I think they both have value. What I love about the month long is the immersion. Doing literally nothing else but yoga, eating, sleeping, drinking yoga is quite amazing and gives you a taste of what to strive for. But yes, it is difficult to absorb everything. So ideally, I think both multiple intensives, as well as a long term training are undertaken for serious teachers.

What is calling you at the moment? Go with your gut.

Which month long class in Chennai is it?

Not decided yet…i am looking into Asana andiappan…looks organised maybe in the month of Aug

As many hours and YEARS of training you can get/afford/commit to.

I vote India. Visit your parents honour them and share your progress with them and your hometown.
Save a bit of cash.
Emerse yourself into your study and practice.

Let’s face it India will add instant credibility. We can argue about that but it wont change the fact.
In the countless times you will be asked where you studied. I doubt you will ever regret answering India.

Best of luck in owning your decision.

thanks all of you…its such a blessing to be on this forum…

[QUOTE=yogamudra;49865]Hi all,

I am in two minds now…whether to do one month intensive course in Chennai my home town or to do 10 months here in Doha? If i do in India, i get a months no disturbance from family chores and get to stay with my parents, cheaper but highly intensive as the classes are day long 8 hours. But if i do it here, i am a lot more relaxed, spread out over 10 months can be more effective in the sense i can do my practices at home and over a period of time, maybe learn a lot more and stay with my family ofcourse. but here its a lot more expensive…Any ideas?

thanks[/QUOTE]

Dear yogamudra, I’d take any of these… only you can chose what works better for you.

Just keep in mind that even if you take two of them there are always more to learn, read and try:)

I started my training with a month long immersion in India, which has its advantages. One of my teachers has described an immersion as a yoga inoculation. It can help you develop a habit of getting up early, practicing yoga, eating healthfully and pursuing your day mindfully, because basically that’s what you’ll be doing every day in an intensive. My experience was that the intense focus on yoga helped to instill discipline and dedication to living a yogic lifestyle day to day. That’s easier when your attention is not divided by other things of the world.

Now I’m doing an advanced training that it spread over a year. After the intensive showed me a bit of what I was aiming for, now I can just reflect back to that aim if I get off track. With advanced training and the intention to become a professional teacher, I think it’s beneficial to give yourself the time to build your knowledge carefully and compliment it with the development of a long-term practice.

My view is that an intensive can plant the seed, but a strong plant grows slowly and with much attention and pruning. :wink:

thanks so much citymonk and trinley,

I am going to India for my YTT :slight_smile:

finally i asked my dad to go ahead and pay the advance :slight_smile:

It was a hard decision but i think i made a wise choice. Like Trinley says, its like an inoculation…i am so much hoping for a focussed training and i hope to move on to the next level…

thanks guys for your support and views…it really really helps

btw, since i have like 5 months more, apart from my usual sadhana…what other preparations would be helpful? any advice on that? Do we get a lot of study material? I am an avid reader and plan on reading a little bit of “light on yoga” and “light on pranayama” every day…

thanks

You might already know this but Krishnamacharya taught Iyengar as well as Pattabhis Jois. He also taught his own son, Desikachar, who studied with him the longest. His style of teaching was tailored toward the student rather than mold the student to yoga.

Anyway, Desikachar’s book [I]The Heart of Yoga[/I] is a classic text. I would highly recommend that book if you’ve not read it.

If you are from India I would suggest you check the yoga institute at santacruz Mumbai they have 1/3 months Teachers training course.

And yes as suggested one should try and practice yoga for a lifetime!!
as said here they also have a blog!!

Melvin…