Guest Post- The Truth About Yoga Teacher Trainings

This week's post comes from fellow Yogi Sergio Diazgranados and the website http://yogatrainingguide.com/. As the director of Yoga Training Guide, Sergio Diazgranados supports students interested in taking their practice to the next level. For the past twelve years he has practiced many styles of yoga and used to publish Gaiam’s yoga and wellness magazine GAIA.

The Truth About Yoga Teacher Trainings

Chances are if you have been practicing yoga for a while now, you have seen yoga teacher training programs being advertised. As a yoga student you probably assume that these courses are for those that have been studying for years. Or you might assume it’s for yogis interested in teaching yoga professionally. But did you know that only 15 – 20% of students who enroll into a yoga certification course actually go on to teach?

What Is A Yoga Teacher Training?

The truth is that a yoga teacher training is more about guiding students who are interested in deepening their practice. While some do go on to teach as a profession, many people who take a course are going because they want to learn more about yoga, health, and themselves.

When you really dissect what yoga is, it is when each of us accepts full responsibility for our own well-being. It is a conscious choice where we decide that we want to become more aware of how our mind, body, and soul function as a holistic being. By taking a yoga teacher training it allows you to go much deeper then what a regular yoga class can offer and teaches you the tools to be your own healer.

Yoga Classes Can Hold You Back

In a regular yoga class the teacher has to focus on guiding many varied level students (most of whom are beginners) which means they cannot delve deeper into many aspects of the yogic practice and philosophy. And because now that so many studios have to focus on the business side of things and just make sure their classes are full and that people can go through their series so they can make it back to work or home with their kids, the instructor hardly has a chance to truly expand on the many nuances that would help your practice reach deeper levels of understanding.

Benefits From A Yoga Teacher Training

The real benefit of a yoga instructor training is that you will be immersed 24/7 in the yogic lifestyle where the teacher can truly guide you into so many other aspects of the practice that you may have not even known existed. For three to four weeks (depending on the program) you will eat, sleep, and breathe yoga covering everything from varied pranayama techniques, proper adjustments, sequencing, philosophy, meditation, nutrition, cleansing, and so much more.

Yoga classes are great because it allows us a quick “check in” with ourselves and this gives us a break from our every day hectic routine. But with a yoga teacher training it provides you an opportunity to go much deeper within yourself and the practice that empowers you to live a healthier and more fulfilling life. Or simply put: it teaches you to be your own teacher.