Hi everyone!
Today, I want to share my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training journey with you. I hope it will provide you with some insights on what to expect if you are considering embarking on a yoga teacher training course.
I have included details and salient points which I thought might be informative. These opinions are based on my personal experience. I would like to unequivocally state that the opinions expressed here are my own.
I have included the presentation slides that I did as part of my course at the end of this post. You can have a look, a laugh and even get some ideas if you are enrolled in the same course and need to do a similar presentation.
Let's launch straight into it.
Core Details
Location: I did my yoga teacher's training at Union Yoga in Singapore.
Cost: SGD2,697
Format: Hybrid Learning - In Person and Online
Time to Complete: 10 months
Year: 2020
Overview
The syllabus of this course is divided into Yoga History and Philosophy, Yoga Asanas (poses) and sequencing and Anatomy and Physiology.
The course is taught using a mixture of online and in studio lessons. During this time of Covid restrictions, this is certainly helpful. I was impressed that this was one of the few studios that had quickly pivoted to online teaching. They had also invested in the necessary infrastructure to bring the lessons online.
Once you have registered, you are given 6 months to complete the syllabus and take your exams. You are then given a further 6 months to complete your teaching hours. More on that below.
The lessons are taught across several days in a week. On weekdays, lessons are conducted in the mornings and nights. On weekends, lessons are in the morning and afternoon.
What really appealed to me was the flexibility of it all. The timetable is sent out to students at the start of the month. Thereafter, you are responsible for making sure you attend the lessons you need. It is up to you to plan how quickly or slowly you want to complete the syllabus, within the prescribed time frame. I know of fellow students who prefer to rush through it and get it completed within 2 months. Others, take full advantage of the 6 months given.
This flexible style really appeals to me and caters to adult learners who may be working full time or have other family responsibilities. Needless to say, it also allows you to do your yoga teacher training without taking 2 weeks off work or worry about child care. I know this is an important factor that deters a lot of folks from enrolling in a yoga teacher training course.
I also like the fact that they encouraged students to attend the lessons as many times as we feel is required. This gives you time to absorb the knowledge and allows you time to practice.
Once I completed all the topics in the syllabus, I had to take a theory exam and a practical exam. For those wondering, the theory exam is a written exam and not a multiple choice paper. I had to get used to writing essay style answers again. Admittedly, it has been awhile!
For the practical exam, I had to demonstrate 3 yoga asanas. I also had to answer verbal questions, ranging from Philosophy of Yoga to Meditation and other aspects of yoga. Rest assured, the questions are all based on the syllabus.
After the exams, I had to complete my practical teaching hours. You are required to log a minimum of 30 hours to obtain the Yoga Alliance certification. However, I logged a total of 80 in order to get an additional certificate from the Swami Paramhansa Samsthana Institute (Indian Institute of Patanjali Yoga). It took me 4 months to complete.
Some students do complain that this course requires you to log too many practical teaching hours. However, I think you need to go in with an open mind and heart and learn as much as you can from the experience. On the other hand, I do understand that some students prefer to get certified as quickly as possible in order to be able to get a paid instructing position.
After completing the hours I continued to teach yoga. You can find my current class schedule here. From my perspective, I would encourage you to carry on teaching. That way, you don't lose the momentum and rhythm of teaching. It will only help to build your own teaching confidence.
Too Long Didn't Read?
Here is the breakdown.
Conclusion:
The course that I did really worked for me. It suited me, my lifestyle and my circumstances. I enjoyed the whole process. If you are considering embarking on a yoga teacher training course, my advice would be to do your research. Find out what works for you and for your particular circumstances.
Some final thoughts:
Choose a school that is registered with Yoga Alliance. That way, if you decide to move anywhere else in the world, more than likely, your certifications will be recognised.
Choose a school that has a vibe that resonates with you. If you choose to do a course locally in the city or area where you are living, go for a yoga class there to feel it out. That way you get to check out the facilities and standard of teaching.
It's not sexy to talk about money, but budget is an important factor. That helps you decide if you should study locally or go for a two week yoga teacher training retreat in an exotic location,
Enjoy the presentation slides below.
Until next time.
Peace and Love,
Ai Lin
Let the presentation commence!
Bye For Now!
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