How did I choose my 200 hour yoga teacher training program? Well, I was still working full-time when I decided I wanted to explore the yoga teaching path. My mentor, my teacher for the past 12 years had told me she thought I’d make a good teacher. “Why?” I thought. I’d been practicing for all those years and really enjoyed it and that was pretty obvious. I loved taking that time for myself to just be on my mat. To shut out the rest of the world and breathe and move in ways that made me feel wonderful. But teach? Hmmm. It took some time to ponder that thought and then one day it hit me. I DO want to teach! I want to share my passion with other people! To give them the opportunity to feel what I feel each and every time I get on my mat. Why wouldn’t I want to take this beautiful gift and give back to the universe? Of course I want to teach!! So where do I start?

Since my work schedule and location limited my available hours and distance to travel, I first started looking online at a few places that I thought might work. I wanted an “accredited” Yoga Alliance approved program to be able to provide that credential to potential studios or employers. The Yoga Alliance does not approve online teacher programs, so I began looking at RYS (Registered Yoga School) schools with a 200 hour (first level) teacher program within my chosen proximity.

I found that most 200 hour programs meet one weekend a month for about 8 months and most have Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday hours during that weekend. There are studios who offer “intensive” programs where you meet every day for a month but that was out of the question for me with my schedule.

I was practicing at a chain studio in addition to practicing through the wellness program at work. The studio only offered teacher training at a different location which unfortunately was a lot farther away – at least 45 minutes with smooth traffic. I did go to their open house to get a feel if I thought it would be worth driving the distance each month.  This particular studio had a weekend Saturday and Sunday only format so I did take some time to consider it but ultimately decided it was too far of a distance to drive each time.

In addition to the one weekend a month requirement, the programs I looked into also had a requirement that you must take a specific number of classes during your program at the studio providing the training. And, you paid for each class just as any other student would. I was not particularly fond of this requirement.  I had been practicing yoga mainly at work through our wellness program.  The classes were free to me and taught by a very qualified 500 hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). I attended the open house at the studio that was most convenient (where I could actually make it to trainings on time), and was impressed by the lead trainer.  Soon after I spoke to the studio owner, explained my dilemma with taking classes at the studio (their requirement was about 3 per week – a total of 75 classes!) and asked about waiving the “on-site” class requirement.  She agreed (you never know until you ask)!  So, I was in!  I was going to be a yoga instructor. I was so excited and relieved that I was on my way to explore this new path.  So much to learn!  I really had no idea what I was getting myself into!