Teacher certification

Yoga Teacher Training
#1

Hi all,
I am currently shopping for a good certification program on the East Coast of the US… I am seriously considering Dharma Mittra’s “Life of a Yogi” program and have already applied. I was looking into a few others - namely Yoga Sutra for Life (because it’s Ashtanga, which I’m a fan of, and the teacher is a disciple of Dharma Mittra, who I am a HUGE fan of… clearly), and also YogaWorks.

I know somebody who was certified through YogaWorks and loved the process, but they seem to be quite a bit more commercial than the others and I don’t really like how they call it “the YogaWorks approach”. It’s not that I have a problem with them being commercial; I just want to know that I’m going to be getting the fullest experience and learning about all eight limbs of yoga, not just the asanas.

Does anybody have any information about any of these programs? Any and all advice/tidbits would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!

#2

Have you examined the respective teacher training curriculum being offered?
I’m assuming you’re discussing a 200-hour training. Finding a full one is a sound idea but the learning of Patanjali’s eight limbs comes AFTER the training. What can happen in 200 hours is but a taste. Eight thousand years of wisdom cannot be packed into 12 weekends.

It is not appropriate for me to get into discourse on this training or that training. If you’ve found something that speaks to you, that you are passionate about, AND you’ve taken classes in that style (and it’s spoken deeply to you) then the rest likely is minutia.

#3

My question is also about teacher certification too. I learn and practice yoga over 10 years, and teach for 4 years. I have my training program done in another country (of course school is not registered with yoga alliance.)

Absence of regular 200hr certification limits my ability to teach in different places. The curriculum of any 200hr program would give me very little if any knowledge.
Another problem is an insurance that most places require.

Is there any way to “skip” the 200hr basics and pass some sort of examination and get into more advanced program (according to the examination results)?

Or I will have to take 200hr just for the piece of paper?

Thank you all for your replies:)

#4

I wouldn’t say there is any “skipping” but I suppose some 500-hour trainings might take your unregistered 200 hours as a prerequisite for entry. It would depend on the program. I’ve found that alignment-based teachers can transition into our 500-hour program, while others are overwhelmed. While they have 200 hours it is, in those cases, often a hodge-podge which inhibits a clarity of conveyance to students - for lack of a better word they know many bits but the assembly is muddled.

I don’t know your training or background - only you would know that, so it is only possible for me to speak generally.

#5

Om Namah Sivaya,

Have you checked out International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta?
They have a teacher’s training course starting April 17, in Woodbourne, NY.

Best of luck,
siva

#6

siva,
Thanks for the suggestion!! I will look into it.

InnerAthlete, sorry I wasn’t more specific… I was kind of just hoping for feedback from people that had maybe attended the programs I mentioned, or had friends that had gone. I understand that a 200-hour program will not make me a guru by any standards, but I [I]am[/I] looking for a program that is going to acknowledge the fact that yoga is not just about the physical postures. Sometimes just taking class with the organization or reading about their curriculum doesn’t give you an accurate idea of the vibe of the teacher training program. A lot of places really talk up their programs and make them sound like they cover a lot of principles besides physical practice, but I have heard a few horror stories from friends, so I just wanted to see what the YogaForums community had to say about these institutions.

Any other tidbits of info??? All is appreciated!