Which is the right 200 hour Yoga Training Course for you?
Introduction
“This is it!” you think “Yoga, I love it…. how do I learn to be a yoga instructor (tap tap tap)....let me just see….. What the heck 99.9 trillion results on google!!!”
Yup! While you have fallen in love with the clarity & calm that yoga that brings, the world of capitalism has been busy turning yoga training into its next mega project! Needless to say, not all trainings are created the equal! Some will give you time for your practice, but no teaching strategies; others will give you some a copy-cat class to teach and no creativity; others will demand straight discipline to a guru figure; some a deep dive into yoga philosophy but little asana. Some will be the best experience of your life- but it’s just a certificate for going on holiday for a month! A few will leave you ready to actually teach yoga, or in a good place to start. So have a think which sort will suit you right now.
All in all because yoga is not a well regulated profession, there is plenty of hit & miss when it comes to courses. It is all really down to the expertise of the tutors and the style of the training.
If you are not that bothered about teaching- you want something for you, then you will need to find a different course to the person who really wants to be a competent teacher. Often students return from their tropical paradise to realise- they had a great time- but they have no idea how to teach class or set up in business.
Let’s have a look at the in’s and outs of teaching yoga and what you should be looking for in a training.
If you are confused with all the acronyms and what 200hr YTT even is you might like to start with the paragraph below. If you have identified that what you need is a 200 hour training, ie the foundation level teaching certification then, jump to the next heading below “Let’s look at the bug questions…”
Levels of training
Foundation- some schools offer a foundation to help prepare for the 200hr. We have an online Yoga in Depth course, or also offered in studio.
200hr is considered the foundation level
300hr is an add on which gives you the 500hr qualification
500hrs sometimes a school will offer this as a stand alone longer training
Pre-requisites
These vary from place to place, some 200hr training courses do not require you to have done any yoga beforehand which means the standard of training is inevitably pretty basic.
At BSY studio, we require 2 years of steady practice ie at least once a week either with a teacher, or online. We prefer you to have a real life teacher during the course to support you.
What about a Foundation course?
You do not HAVE to train to be a teacher. There is a Yoga in Depth foundations course for anyone who prefers to understand the yoga philosophy and to try meditation and pranayama, without the pressure of teaching someone else looking on the horizon! As a starting place at least you cannot go wrong!It costs a fraction of a training and can be done in your own time with my support. It can even be taken alongside your 200hr training for some extra reassurance and support.
Let’s look at THE BIG QUESTIONS
What are the considerations and how to find the right 200hr training course for you?
Big question 1. Do you actually want to teach?
If it is more a case of wanting a course for your own deepening understanding then go for whatever really calls to you! But if you want to come out ready and able to teach you need to dive deeper.
Aside note- for those who want to learn a lot more about yoga than possible in a class set up or even through workshops, we have designed the yoga in depth course. At fraction of cost of a training you can study at home with contact with our tutors and either prepare yourself for further training, or satiate yourself with the wonders ir yoga philosophy, breathwork and much more.
Assuming teaching has your heart- you really want to share this incredible practice….then
Here are the questions you most need to consider
Big Question 2. Short or longer course
Short intensives over a month or so or longer course over 6 months-2 years?
Short intensives
Do you need to do it in an Intensive ie a month- where you travel to the destination and do a deep dive?
Benefits
The benefit of this is that it’s done in a short period of time free from other distractions. You can hopefully fully focus on your studies.
It can be a wonderful experience somewhere beautiful, making new friends, perhaps enjoying a tropical setting!
Disadvantages
One -two months is not long enough to be thorough, once you start learning all the different components of a training you will realise you need a much deeper dive than a month or two can give you.
It’s removed from real life- you still need to get home, with all the re-adjustment that brings. Before even thinking about how to set up for your new yoga career.
You are likely to need a second course to get the confidence to teach- which can adobe a good thing!
Great connections can be made in a month retreat- although sometimes harder to sustain once you return to your own lands.
Longer Course over 6 months- 2 years
Advantages
These are often run by yoga studios, hopefully with highly skilled and trained tutors & hopefully with good connections with places of employment as a teacher or a good reputation to support your future work.
You should have more time to process what you are learning and to study from home, depending on your home and work life- if possible keep your study period relatively free.
What we see on our 9 -12 month courses is an incredibly supportive community. One that is there after the course to help each other navigate the world of yoga work and share class-cover when they need a holiday from teaching.
Disadvantages
Real life continues! For our courses at BSY we suggest you leave an evening a week or a weekend day sometime to cover course work & reading which can be demanding. But it is more realistic in terms of feeling confident to teach.
I want it now. It can be hard to wait!
Big question 3- In person or Online
One big consideration is whether you want to teach fully in person or online or a combination of both- it’s worth having the experience of learning that way at least some of the time so you know the realities.
In Person
Advantage
Definite advantages are learning how to share yoga in person, how to talk across a room & when to walk around the room
When & how to offer if adjustments are appropriate.
Creating a close community of peers you can see after the course is invaluable. Teaching yoga can be lonely so for the first level- 200hr training this can be really supportive for your whole teaching career.
Connection with tutors- the teacher student relationship has a lot of emphasis in the yoga tradition. Often considered guru- disciple, nowadays we keep it more egalitarian. But nonetheless it is so reassuring to have connection to those who have walked the walk before us. Personally my first meditation teachers remains a massive influence on me still today, 30 years later.
Disadvantages
Travel can be hard if you have to get up early to get there & it can add to the cost.
Anxiety can be an issue with group situations.
(NB as a very neurodiverse bunch at BSY we tend to navigate this with plenty of space and support)
Online
Advantages
Much to my surprise this actually works well.
Being comfy at home while learning and can help focus.
Feeling safe in one’s own space.
As we see yoga online becoming increasingly popular, it makes sense that online trainings are well suited to creating teachers that understand how to share online classes.
Online courses might also work well for someone who is enjoys social media and is looking to create an online presence.
Disdvatanges
You cannot learn adjustments in the same way, although you can learn to use props/ adapt poses. self- assists
You may not feel part of a group in such connected way
Can feel lonely & harder to know whats expected
Blended learning (in person and online simultaneously)
Relies on the drop & tutors taking care to share with you in a blended learning set up (we offer this at BSY when needed)
Describes some content online- perhaps some of it pre-recorded with some in-person (zoom/ other) or real time learning. This can be a good way to combine some self- study time from home, alongside the community and motivation of the group.
What we do at BSY
At BSY the 200hr is predominantly in person, with some pre-recorded content for home learning to complement and expand on what we explore together. We also have the option to use real-time on zoom if someone is poorly or the kids are ill and at home. It is an occasional option rather than every module. I thought post covid we would have moved away from this but it is so incredible useful that we continue to offer it. To be honest I have been amazing by how powerful and effective online learning can be. But if you are someone who needs and craves more human contact then definitely look for a predominately in-person course.
Big Question 4. Who are the tutors? What are their credentials as a trainer?
Teaching yoga and teaching yoga teachers are two very different things! Most of us have to learn to tutor our trainees on the job.
Here are some sub- questions to consider!
Who the tutors and what quality training do you think they will produce? There is no authority checking they are suitable to teach training, or even checking the quality of the teaching materials.
Do they have the experience required?
Do you like how they teach?
Would you be happy to spend 200 hours with them & in the environment they create?
How long have the tutors been running trainings?
What style of learning suits you best?
Can you chat with the tutor or attend a class online or in person to see if you enjoy their teaching?
My own answer, for these:
This year (2024) is the 15th anniversary of our training courses, each year they become even more professional. I now teach in a trauma aware way, since we do not know when we need that. This does not mean it is all gently-gently. There’s plenty of holding the space for trainees to just go for it and dive in!
The tutors in the course have all been teaching for many years and are complete experts in their field and in supporting our trainees.
A little bio about me. What you cant always see is my fab sense of humour!!!
In fact all our tutors really hold the space for study but also for creativity & we have quite a playful environment.
Here are other ways to get to know us
Visit the Studio- come to class with any of the teachers, they will know us so ask anything!
Open evenings (also check for in-person open days)
Yoga Hub- 5 days free on Laura’s online platform, check if you like the way I teach (stay forever if you do!)
Yoga in Depth- our foundation training has 3 taster videos or go for the full course! Special summer offer COMING SOON
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Big Questions 5 What are people saying?
There are a few places to research this, try to get a feeling of the training from both the school & its’s graduates or students. I link our reviews below but simply google/ check on the social media for any other school you are considering. It takes time I know, but it is such a big investment of time, money & energy and it can be either a life affirming or really devastating experience.
Google reviews- check the business google page and find the review
Yoga Alliance reviews (or their certifying body)
Ask to speak to past graduates- preferably in an open forum e.g. a Facebook group or a whole cohort
Big Question 6 How authoritative is the teaching style
More authoritative or more sensitive?
I know some teachers who have been shocked by how authoritative their trainers were, especially a some of the ashrams. I believe this relates to the traditional guru- student roles. But it is one to check for if discipline is not really your thing!
Our approach at BSY is to (try to) be punctual and organised so that everyone can get the most out of the training. Sometimes we need to ask the chattier folks to leave some space before asking another questions. To hold the space for everyone to be able to participate. But our main focus is on providing a space that feels safe for everyone and one where we can all learn together and from each other. We do expect respect but we also offer respect to each person.
Big Question 7 What is the balance between Traditional Indian & modern or “fitness focussed”
This is a controversial one! Do you want a teaching that “doesn't bother” with the philosophy & gets on with the movement? Or are you in it for the depth of the practices? The problem with trying to be “modern” and “fitness focused” I believe is that you simply lose the essence of the practice which is so valuable, and fail to offer respect to the heritage of yoga in South Asia.
I see a lot of teachers who struggle to feel confident because they feel inauthentic in the absence of an understanding of yoga ideas and history. There are plenty of ways to move dynamically and also respect the traditions of yoga. So if you are looking for a course where you can get your energy out perhaps look at ashtanga or vinyasa flow trainings. Our vinyasa courses allow you to also teach hatha and vice-versa. The Hatha courses allow you to teach vinyasa- it’s just what you feel ready for and confident with. Or what your students need.
Saying that, once you have done a practice & practice teaching poses and studied anatomy for hours a day, it can all feel all consuming anyway!
Big Question 8 Is it Evidence Based?
There are a lot of movement myths in the yoga and pilates worlds- to be totally honest, until the last few year I didn't even know what “evidence based” teaching was. It refers to the practice of looking at what research actually says, rather than assuming what our teachers tell us to be true. There are so many outdated ideas about how the body can be injured, or about pain or about safe movements. But these can actually cause harm by having us believe our bodies are more frail than they really are, upreglauting the pain response and stopping us from moving enough.
If science and facts matter to you, if you would like the confidence of knowing your teaching is based on the latest evidence, then look for an evidence based course. To be honest there are not that many and even a lot of the yoga therapy courses do not often look at the research.
We work with our own research into movement science, plus expertise of physios, (PTs) doctors keep our trainings as relevant and health-giving as possible. I continue this into the 300hour movement science based courses as I believe it is so important.
Big Question 9 How well will the course prepare you for your ongoing teaching role
At BSY we have the unrivalled statistic of 97% of our trainees teaching within 3 months of finishing the 200hr training course. We do have connections in Bristol, Wales and even London, BUT you will not come out of a 200hr course with a degree in marketing as well as yoga! So be realistic, and prepare to work hard or to continue into further study or deep-dive into how to run a small business.
Ask the schools you are looking at how many trainees complete the course and show many continue into teaching within what time frame. Ask around the graduates and see if it rings true.
Wherever you go for your 200hr, I wish you so much joy. Teaching yoga is such a gift. If you are ready to teach with confidence, to chat with us at BSY, we would love to support you.
The 200 hour prospectus is here
Already a teacher or need help with marketing head here (Laura Gilmore Yoga website)