200 Hour Yoga
The 200 hour yoga teacher training is the first step to becoming a certified yoga instructor. It provides a deep dive into both the yoga practice and yogic philosophy to support personal growth, build an intimate community and cultivate a strong foundation for teaching. The program is offered at local studios or as online courses. The 200 hour teacher training can be completed in person or through a virtual course with online instruction.
While there are many ways to take a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, it is important to choose one that is accredited with Yoga Alliance and follows their standards. It is also beneficial to find a 200 hour yoga teacher training that will provide you with a comprehensive training experience that includes a combination of in-studio weekends and a retreat.
Most Yoga Alliance approved 200 hour yoga teacher trainings will offer a mix of asana, anatomy and physiology, teaching methodology and yogic philosophy and ethics. The asana component will focus on alignment, sequencing, hands-on assisting, and exploring different styles of yoga including restorative, accessible, and vinyasa. The anatomy and physiology components will include learning about the skeletal system, muscular system, organ systems, and the nervous system.
What is 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training?
Additionally, the yoga philosophy and ethics components will explore ancient yogic texts like the Eight Limbs coming from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Bhagavad Gita. This will help you learn how to live your life as a yogi/yogini with a focus on ahimsa (non violence), karma, and dharma.
Yoga teacher trainings will also include practice teaching sessions where you will have the opportunity to teach and receive feedback from your trainer(s). It is important that your teacher training offers these sessions so you can learn how to navigate the complexities of teaching yoga to students of all levels.
The size of the yoga teacher training group is another thing to consider. It is recommended that the maximum number of students in a 200 hour teacher training is around 15. A teacher training with too many students can be challenging as it may feel more like a classroom setting with less individual attention and time to ask questions.
Some 200 hour teacher trainings are designed to be completed in four weeks in an intensive format. Others are designed to be taken over a four month period by meeting two weekends per month. Each training has its benefits and challenges. It is important to weigh your options and decide what would be best for you and your family.