Eligibility for being a Yoga teacher

Yoga Teacher Training
#1

I have always had a passion for teaching. My interests to be a yoga teacher is going through the roof.

I have been practicing some yoga asanas and pranayamas for over a year but not regular as well. I have been practicing it very regular since last 1 1/2 month. I would like to be a yoga teacher but not sure if I am ready.

What accordingly to you one should know, capable of before one can pursue to be a yoga teacher? I am also wondering if the yoga teachers training has any eligibility requirement?

#2

You definitely need to practice more. 1 1/2 months of steady practice is not enough time to get a through understanding of all 8 limbs of yoga.

#3

[QUOTE=lashannasmall;19976]You definitely need to practice more. 1 1/2 months of steady practice is not enough time to get a through understanding of all 8 limbs of yoga.[/QUOTE]

Dear Shanna

Thanks for your post. How much “more”? Also I strongly believe that everybody has a different capacity and style in the learning process. Some people learn very fast, some people take time through the initial stage and then speed up very fast. I don’t know where I stand.

You said 1 1/2 month is not enough. What’s you basis?

Thanking You.

Regards
Yalgaar

#4

It might take a moment or it might take a life time or yet again it might take cycles of births. so what… go forward with all the positiveness you feel.:slight_smile:

#5

[QUOTE=Prascina;20008]It might take a moment or it might take a life time or yet again it might take cycles of births. so what… go forward with all the positiveness you feel.:)[/QUOTE]
thanks for the nice post :slight_smile:

#6

I really can’t say that. You ultimately are going to do what you want. I don’t know you personally but I have yet to meet a person who is prepared mentally to teach a yoga class after 1 1/2 months. You may have a body that physically can do yoga poses but have you read the Yoga Sutras? The Pradapika? The Gita? Do you understand how to explain poses to advanced and beginner students? Do you know how to sequence the class? Do you know anatomy? Do you know how to help people who are ill, weak and with injuries? Do you know pranayama, breath, Dristi? Do you know how to assist and do adjustments safely?

At least take a yoga teacher training before embarking. I am not saying that qualifies you either but at least you will have a good foundation.

#7

[QUOTE=yalgaar;19952]I have always had a passion for teaching. My interests to be a yoga teacher is going through the roof.

I have been practicing some yoga asanas and pranayamas for over a year but not regular as well. I have been practicing it very regular since last 1 1/2 month. I would like to be a yoga teacher but not sure if I am ready.

What accordingly to you one should know, capable of before one can pursue to be a yoga teacher? I am also wondering if the yoga teachers training has any eligibility requirement?[/QUOTE]

It is wonderful to have a deep seated interest or passion for the path of yoga. Of course you are aware it is a very vast ocean of wisdom and asana or poses are only a tiny, tiny sliver.

There is no one “rule” for being a teacher. However I personally feel that several years of practice and study really prepares a moved student to be a moving teacher. A monkey can choreograph poses. It takes a well trained and thoroughly steeped person to impart yoga.

While I have no regrets of my own path I did go far too soon to teacher training. Hopefully I did not harm any students in the early days of my teaching and I was, so clearly, only teaching asana. And while there’s nothing wrong with only teaching asana it is quite lacking to call it “yoga”.

There are other threads about teaching here and on other forums. Also I’d suggest broaching the topic with your current teacher - assuming you’ve found one that lives what they teach and will advise you without coloring the advice with their own ego.

A few more years though of bringing yoga into your body please.

#8

[QUOTE=lashannasmall;20024]I really can’t say that. You ultimately are going to do what you want. I don’t know you personally but I have yet to meet a person who is prepared mentally to teach a yoga class after 1 1/2 months. You may have a body that physically can do yoga poses but have you read the Yoga Sutras? The Pradapika? The Gita? Do you understand how to explain poses to advanced and beginner students? Do you know how to sequence the class? Do you know anatomy? Do you know how to help people who are ill, weak and with injuries? Do you know pranayama, breath, Dristi? Do you know how to assist and do adjustments safely?

At least take a yoga teacher training before embarking. I am not saying that qualifies you either but at least you will have a good foundation.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your reply again. To answer your questions, yes and no. Some of them yes to some degree and some of them the answer is “no” But it seems you have listed what one learns in a teachers training program rather then the eligibility to take a teachers training program.

#9

Eligibility for taking a teacher training program is a different question from eligibility to teach yoga. Just because you take a teacher training program, does not mean you should teach yoga in my opinion.

Also, 99.9% of teacher training programs are about money. It is a lucrative way for studios and teachers to make money. A lot of them will allow anyone to take it as long as they dish out $2500. To find out your eligibility for a teacher training program, find out what programs are available in your area and talk to the person who is administering the program. They will let you know your eligibility.

I am not saying that teacher trainings are bad in the least bit. I did one myself so I could get that nifty RYT behind my name but I had been practicing regularly for 6-7 years, 3-6 times a week with a group of amazing teachers before I did. I learned tons from my teacher training program.

There is not a time limit. It is about dedication, experience and understanding the heart of yoga . I don’t think that 1 1/2 months is enough to show dedication. I know some good teachers who have only practiced a year but they were consistent and really took the time to study all aspects of yoga and immersed themselves in the culture.

What is the hurry? Trust me, teaching yoga is not the big money maker that people think it is. There is a small percentage who actually go out there and make middle class or higher pay.

If you are only concerned about helping people then you will be more effective to your students if you wait and really consistently practice with a teacher first.

#10

I am of the old school who still belief that your current teacher must tell you when you are eligible to go for training and ultimately to teach one day. Mine gave me permission only after 9 years of intense and dedicated training. I would also like to know your age. I think there is a universal resistence and perception that wisdom and teaching resides in a more mature person.

I strongly belief as well that yoga asana (if that is what you teach) have a profound spiritual impact on the soul of the person no matter if the teacher did intend that or not. As a teacher you are also responsible for the spiritual advancement of the people who come to you for training and this is something few people realise and are prepared for when they think they are eligble for training. Can you handle the karma of being responsible for this aspect of a person’s development?

Another aspect you have to keep in mind is that you are working with people, some of them will have tremendous problems like being bipolar or being in a unhappay marriage etc. and one day one of them will attend the class on a low. Do you know how to handle that person, what to do for them at that moment apart from presenting another yoga class?

Please think of all these things before you deem yourself eligible for training and then only consider it. :slight_smile:

#11

I know when I enrolled to become a yoga instructor/teacher, I was gob smacked when I saw what the course entailed. It was biology and all theory. I kept thinking what has biology got to do with Yoga. The course was a 6 month course. I passed with flying colours, but to this day I am still baffled.

What really got me thinking was the fact that yoga is such a sacred practice, who taught the first Yogi the Asanas, did he have to sit through papers and exams. Kala I suppose that is another topic for another time.

#12

I am not totally positive how the firs yogi’s learned but I do know there is a tradition that you have to live and study directly with the teacher until they think you are ready.

#13

lashannasmall > I agree with you that to be a yoga teacher, it is more than just physical. And it’s certainly more than just a few years of practise to make someone a true Yogi. I’ve done yoga for 2 years now, I love it totally and I see myself becoming a yoga instructor one day. ANd I know I 've got to wait, something in my body tells me that I need a longer time to master some poses, understand some yogic teachings before i can impart that knowledge to my students.

#14

I had a great professor and friend who used to quote nonstop, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear’.

Start studying on your own and immerse yourself in philosophy and styles, find not only what style works the best for you, but what style you can immerse yourself in and be able to communicate from. Once you have found it and are confident in your ability to use it to help others, train with who your teacher recommends, or who you think think can best impart that knowledge to you. When you’re ready, this will find you.

#15

Go for it!

As kishnmacharya or iyengar would say- ‘Teach!’.

You will know when you are ready. so patience as well as passion, and an open mind.

start off with hatha yoga( which has it’s own clear delineation within the vast tree but it is usually the most accessible). by all means do an authorised training,especially if you’re teaching asana where safety is a priority.(and you can make adjustments and provide mindful instruction etc)

I don’t know about aynyone else’s joourney but there can be obstacles waiting to trip you up . desiring to be a yoga teacher is probably one of them as it can be an ego thing.
.
if you have tons of bhakti, passion for yoga,which is love of God, which you have, then you would make a great teacher.

so keep that (9000yr old)flame burning bright.

ssometimes someone else just implanting this thought( seed) in another yoga aspirant’s head can be very powerful. and i hope i’ve done that here. oonce you’ve deduced you don’t need to be a rock star then good.

but at least 10 years can allow for some obstacles that might lurk in the shadows waiting to trip you up potentially ( maybe not)) along the way.

you’ve got the desire-so you’ve got the seed. just keep on nurturing and watering it -try to daily
you’ve definitely got what it takes-passion.

When the said ‘teacher appears’ that teacher has got there via a process of metamorphosis but will continue ebing a student as long as their own flame continues burning bright. You see there really is no destination. But if you can share a passion and make a living out of it, enough to support yourself,then good for you. so don’t get too obssessed in becoming a teacher -it can be another distraction on the path. sharing what yo have learnt is great,but becoming a ‘yoga teacher’ just for the kudos,status or role-playing can be misguided.

The main thing is that the flame continues burning…

You are RIGHT on track, yalgaar…

So keep on moving along,just as you’re doing, with your own practices,learning, penetrating your true self ,deeper. So you can truly realize God & the infinite…

The tree of yoga is vast- but all the branches inteconnect somewhere, so keep an open mind. The deeper you go, the deeper your perspective becomes ,but there is a great deal to be said working with a great teacher,master,guru,school,toolbox etc.

#16

Core 789, you make a statement in the beginning of your post about Krishnamacharya and Iyengar, I thought that being certified by Iyengar took 10 years. Also I am an Ashtangi and Pattabhi Jois learned directly from Krisnamacharya and it is hard to get certified to teach Ashtanga as well. Pattabhi Jois(who has passed) or his grandson Sharath will only give you a blessing after studying directly with them in Mysore India.

#17

Core 789, you make a statement in the beginning of your post about Krishnamacharya and Iyengar, I thought that being certified by Iyengar took 10 years.
Yeah, you are probably right.The training and the numerous life-long visits to Pune,India never stop.Certified in 'iyengar yoga' course,certified by iyengar - two distinct. a 'senior ' iyengar teacher might have then 20 yrs experience teaching and half a dozen visits to pune to study at his centre. still i would'nt put anyone on any enormous pedestal they could'nt manage.as great as he is, many others did come before him. he is attributed as contributing significantly to making asana the modern technical discipline it is today with attention to alignment and detail. you can be then confident that an 'iyengar' training( typically 2 years training course in this style here in uk) is more technically reigorous than others, and thus the teacher who have had this, in their belt.. the asana standards typically higher,course duration longer.

Also I am an Ashtangi and Pattabhi Jois learned directly from Krisnamacharya and it is hard to get certified to teach Ashtanga as well. Pattabhi Jois(who has passed) or his grandson Sharath will only give you a blessing after studying directly with them in Mysore India.
I've heard something similar too regarding 'certified to teach Ashtanga'.Must be a way of maintaining standards. if you look under ashtanga.com ( worldwide list of certified to teach ashtanga by pattabhi jois) you will see under my country UK, only 9 teachers listed.so then they might have studied with the guru-PJ- for months on end certainly , or perhaps years. I remember reading something somewhere recently which had suggested they'd begun to take a broader brush by toning down the big emphasis on asana.
i also remember reading iyengar saying in a tiny jibe against 'ashtanga' as if it was some bastardisation or their own sibling-rivalry, that iyengar was more ashtanga than 'ashtanga'-PJ, a purer expression of it.

i don't pretend to know authoritatively about the real facts concerning the above,requirements related to 'certified to teach' such as the blessings of the originator of that style ( and/or guru) so take what i say here with a pinch of salt.

i am aware that iyengar and pattabhi jois were yoga children of krishnmacharya, the father of hatha in the modern age.he seemed to have furthered the development of yoga therapy as a field in itself(something this forum has a dedicated forum section on, being the brainchild of one of mukunda stiles students as i understand it,mukunda stiles being the orginator of a 'structural yoga therapy' in some develpmental form in the 70's) in it's modern re-interpretation.

what you say PJ learned from krishnmacharya. i also heard somehere that his 'ashtanga' hatha system was uncovered mainly from some text previously unknown or imagined extant - ( i look up here) - the 'yoga korunta'

http://www.ashtanga.com/html/background.html

check out the links on ashtanga vinyasa & the reference to the 'Yoga Korunta' quote- 'said to be a lost manuscript of uncertain origins', handed down then orally from Krishnmachaya to Pattabhis jois.

'Esoteric' spiritual knowledge in times gone by was possibly more closely guarded and kept secret for whatever reasons, but in the age of the internet this then looks likely to change. That can only be a good thing.

:eek:-check out my drishti- good eh?

thanks for the information lashannasmall.

#18

You could easily say with all the right reasons that I was not ready to start with a teacher program 3 years ago. But I was lucky enough to meet my teacher who took me generously and with an open heart under his roof. I gave all what I was able to give into my study and tommorow is my final exam. So probably I will receive my diploma on Sunday. That doesn’t mean that I will run Monday morning to the office to register myself as a teacher. But I know surely that I will continue this path, and I’m most grateful that I can do so. You see, in my humble opinion our only task is to stay in touch and close to our own truth.

And all the advices that you hear from others can resonate with you only when they are close enough to your own truth…

[FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#000000][I]“I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.”
[B]-Golda Meir (1898-1978)[/B][/I][/COLOR][/FONT]

#19

You start where you stopped, that is the basic principle of karma.Refer Bhagawad Gita from VI-37 onwards!! So again…the knowledge is illumined, for some its split of a moment, for some it might take years,yet for some others it might be cycles of birth… so what?..

#20

Hi Yalgaar ,

I think is more important for u to think what is the whole intention of you wanting to be a teacher.

I did not like yoga that much when i first started joining some yoga classes at the gym 5 years ago. However, i met some nice teacher along the way and i fell in love with yoga. By then , i have never thought i want to be a teacher as i just love doing it for health purpose.

Till a day , i just thought how nice if i am a yoga teacher and i could make an extra income and be glamour as a yoga teacher ( most teacher has nice figure and the flexibility , i thought )That was my first intention back then. I guess, i was not that mature and did not know what exactly i want and it was just ego.

But , i did not take that thought so seriously and continue practising. 2 years ago , when i am more mature by the age of 25 , i start thinking again of being a yoga teacher. This time , i am more clear of my aims and intention. I transform physically and mentally doing yoga and i knew i want to be able to teach and share my love through yoga with the whole world.

I have been searching for the right school and spoke to many teachers. Things that i discussed with them not only the limitation of my physical body ( i think i am over weight , not so flexible , weak on arms strength ), also the style and their intention of taking students. I have come across many school which are all money minded and the teacher it self is also try to show off by telling me how good he is and he had almost 100% graduate students with flying colours result. Choosing a good school and teacher that u think u will be able to share the entire journey is important.

Yoga is a journey. You need to find your way and plan for the journey mentally and physically. If u think u are ready at this stage , so what is stopping u ? I believe if you are ready to start of the journey , u are also ready to work through it no matters what comes along the way.

I am doing my TTC now and i never felt better. My teacher spend lots of time with me , discussing on anatomy ,philosophy , sutra , sharing yoga wisdom for everyday living , and of course train me on my asana. I eat yoga , sleep yoga , live yoga , and i love yoga more than ever :slight_smile:

Just to share another real story , there was a guy from the last batch with 0 years of yoga experience , except that he learn meditation from a tibet monk. He joined TTC last year struggling in the first place , but he did not give up.He worked very hard and spent hours working on one single pose , he meditate , he study and do his own research , he even quit his job just to concentrate on doing his TTC. Guess what , he is the star student form the last batch. I know him personally know , and i can tell u he is just another great teacher that comes on my list!

Be prepared for your journey and have faith on what u choose to do. It is never a time frame or limitation on becoming a yoga teacher. U can try enrolling to TTC and if u are not teaching in the future or u choose not too , there is nothing to loose. It is just another knowledge that u learn and perhaps it might just bring light to your life :slight_smile:

Love and peace
cass