If you’re reading this post, you’re probably considering doing a yoga teacher training. Yay! I’m so excited for you! And, I also know this can feel a bit overwhelming, because there are so many trainings out there.
So, let’s start with the basics, shall we.
What is a yoga teacher training?
A yoga teacher training is a program required for you to take in order to become a yoga teacher. Makes sense, right? It can’t just be a free for all, for the sake of safety. This is why an individual teacher, or a yoga school creates structured trainings for teachers from all walks of life.
Okay, so we know that yoga teacher trainings are required for someone to become a certified yoga teacher, but what’s up with all the different options and hours? Valid question!
A 200 hour yoga teacher training is the baseline requirement in order to become a yoga teacher. This means you must take a 200 hour course first, before anything else. It’s important to note that this means you cannot take 2, 100 hour courses. And also best not to take a 300 hour course. But rather, just 1,200 hour course to start.
I’d suggest waiting at least a year after your 200 hour to take a 300 hour yoga teacher training, which is an advanced (and often specialized) course. These will vary tremendously depending on what exactly you want to specialize in. Make sure you’re clear about your specialty before signing up.
Next up we have 100 hour yoga teacher trainings (as well as any number of hours under 100), which is a continued education course, as opposed to a yoga teacher training- although they do get used interchangeably. Continued education courses are a great way to dive deeply into a specific topic or niche to get a better understanding, and to become a better teacher. You must already have a 200 hour training in order to log the additional continued education hours.
And this little gem, the 100 hour training, is going to be the focus of today’s post.
Let’s dive into it!
100 hour Yoga Teacher Training Online vs. In Person
Continued education 100 hour trainings can look so many different ways. Especially nowadays. And especially post-Covid, with everything moving online.
I personally have taught a 100 hour with Glow Yoga Retreats in person at Still Salty Escape (this was the first time I ever taught a YTT, and fell in love!), and also have a full online course that covers everything we learned in person.
In person trainings and online trainings both have pros and cons, of course. I think to make the best choice for you, you need to consider:
Your budget
Your learning style
Your motivation
Budget is clear, right? Remember that in-person trainings are not only a pricier tuition rate (I know my online course is a third of the price of my in person event, for instance), but also the time you’ll need to take off of work, the flight, the additional transport, childcare, etc.
Learning style might be something you haven’t quite figured out yet, so start with a low risk discovery. Learn a simple new task or skill- like, let’s say a new social media strategy. Listen to a podcast about it, watch a video about it, and read a blog post about it. Which style of learning do you prefer? Of course in-person is going to be more three dimensional, because it’s in person. Do you need that hands-on support, or can you learn more independently?
Motivation can fall in the same vein as learning style. Think about yoga classes in general- do you like to practice at home or in person? Do you need that energy of people around you to stay motivated and on track? Or, can you maintain that motivation all on your own? This is important to consider, so that you don’t invest in a course, and then never finish it, because your motivation fizzled out.
Benefits of Yoga Teacher Training and Continued Education Courses
I personally am a big proponent of taking 100 hour yoga teacher training courses throughout your teaching career. There is so much to be learned from these courses, and it’s vital as a teacher to continually expand.
More Likely To Get Hired
If you’ve read my free guide on how to get hired as a yoga teacher (link), then you know this is a big one. 100 hour trainings (or any continued education) will really set you apart from the thousands of other people who only have a general yoga education.
Specialties
I love taking continued education courses myself, as a student, because it allows me to develop multiple specialties. It’s kind of like a little taste test platter, and if you want to go deeper into one thing- then you can always go for a full on 300 hour training in this topic down the line.
Growing Yoga Teacher Community
One of my favorite things about teaching 100 hour teacher training courses (and also 300 hour trainings), is that I’m surrounded by teachers. Sure, you’ll learn a lot from whoever is leading the course. AND, you’ll also learn a lot from one another. There is so much value in growing your yoga teacher community for networking and collaboration purposes, as well as deep friendships and bonds.
Take Your Practice to the Next Level
Yoga teachers are prone to burn out, because it’s a lot of hard work, and not always the best pay. When we’re teaching five million classes a week, it’s hard to feel inspired and motivated to create new, fresh ideas. Taking a continued education course will really refine your teaching skills, and also ignite that creative passion that brought you to the yoga practice in the first place.
Be a Better Teacher for Your Students
We all know that being a yoga teacher is about being in service to our students. This is really the role we step into every time we step on the teacher mat. That being said, we can’t serve our students if we’re depleted. So, now that the training has filled your cup again, you’re able to overflow onto your students. And they’ll feel it! Trust me.
How Much is Yoga Teacher Training
This is the big question, right? The one that everyone wants to know. And, the thing is, like most things in life- it really depends.
Prices for yoga teacher trainings can vary between THOUSANDS of dollars depending on the teacher, location, and venue. Like I mentioned before, there’s also a pretty large difference between online trainings versus in person trainings.
The important thing to remember here is that you’re paying for your education, and in turn, investing in your career. I say this to remind you that just because it’s cheaper, doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Now, I’m not saying you need to break the bank, either. There’s plenty of midline options. What I am saying is that you get what you pay for with trainings. Keep that in mind.
I’m so proud of you for taking the step into becoming a certified yoga teacher, and also for deepening your practice. I can’t wait to watch you shine!
xx,
K
Is 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Worth It?
In case you haven’t already realized, this one is a resounding YES. It’s so worth it. Honesty, even doing a 20 or 30 hour program can be incredibly worth it to spark that creative fire again.
If you’re questioning whether a continued education course is worth it for you, I’d urge you to try an online course first. These have a lower price point, and they’re also fully self-paced and low stress. Glow Yoga Retreats has a robust library of online continued education to choose from. I love the Ayurveda, 85 hour Prenatal, and 100 hour CE.
Other schools have additional great continued education courses on yoga philosophy, yoga nidra, and Yin yoga. All in all, you really can’t go wrong taking another yoga teacher training course, assuming you’ve done your research on the teacher and the school.
If you’re ready to pack your bags for your next YTT abroad, make sure to check out this post so that you can prepare for your training accordingly.