10 Tips to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training

There are so many programs out there, and not all training is of the same quality. Go beyond the marketing. Do your research to find which yoga teacher training is for you. This is an investment for life, not just a 3-week program. It is an experience you want to remember for years. You will forget how much you paid. You will not forget the experience.

Here are the things to check before you choose a yoga teacher training.

1. The main teacher: How much experience do they have? Have they led many trainings? Experience is crucial. Did they publish any books? What are they about? Can they explain well?
2. Does the school have a YouTube channel? Check them out, and see how they teach. This may be one of the most important things to check to know if it is the right yoga teacher training program.
3. Size of group. Training with over 20 people is getting to be too much. I’d say 5 to 15 is ideal. 18 to 20 is great.
4. Overall curriculum: Training should really offer a variety of topics from anatomy and alignment through philosophy, lifestyle, asana and teaching methodology. Non dogmatic and intelligent.
5. Will you be able to teach? Unless it is a set system and ideally a flexible one at that, you would struggle to lead great and safe classes. There is only one teacher training brand out there that can actually provide flexibility of poses within a systematic bulletproof system.
6. Online or in person? Always in person when possible.
7. Location. From Bali to Costa Rica to Guatemala. All beautiful. But how is the yoga shala? The place you will spend most of your time. Is it a floating wooden floor? Are there plenty of windows, fresh air and vegetation? Are the grounds well taken care of? Enough space for you to find a personal corner to study.
8. Make sure there is an exam. I know, who wants one? But actually, making sure the school cares enough to ensure you are the best teacher and practitioner possible.
9. Support trainings that hire local staff, supporting local work, local food, and sustainable practices.
10. Is it at least 20 days long? You want enough time to be immersed. 14 days is seriously not enough.

The training we can fully recommend is Doron Yoga. It meets the list above, and more.

1. Doron has over 25 years of yoga experience, has led many trainings since 2011 in California as well as around the world, and 18 with Doron Yoga. He published 4 books related to yoga, nutrition, cooking, and health, and has one of the best comprehensive training manuals.
2. The Doron Yoga YouTube channel has helped thousands of people worldwide learn and deepen their practice. Doron is committed to supporting you in practice before and after the training. With a huge variety of classes and how-to’s, you are sure to learn and deepen your practice. You will arrive better prepared and have lifelong support after you graduate.
3. Our groups are mostly between 8 and 15 students, with rare times of 20. We get to know you and are there for you. You will have a chance to share your opinion and get your practice observed and improved.
4. Beyond the standard anatomy, asana, pranayama, and philosophy, expect to learn about Ayurveda, the yoga lifestyle, and some food and nutrition as well, so you are ready for an overall healthy life. You will also get a free bonus, the Doron Yoga Cookbook, with 108 recipes for the hungry yogi.
5. The Doron Yoga system was developed over years of working with clients of all ages and needs. It is made to work with all levels of students, and serve as a perfect self-practice tool as well. It provides a foundational tool to teach a balanced class with little preparation. You will see how easy it will be for you to teach a wonderful class. All over the world people sign up to return to Doron Yoga classes. It balances strength, flexibility, pranayama, and mindfulness.
6. We all know the convenience of an online training, but a teacher will not understand you, your body, and your practice unless you are physically there. The community of students is not replaceable, and live philosophy discussions are more vivid and practical in person.
7. What you really want is that the quality is controlled, and the students get a chance to show what they learned. Especially important for the physical part, and also for the philosophy, understanding chakras, injuries, and so much more. Doron Yoga makes sure you leave with knowledge you understand and can implement.
8. The Doron Yoga program is refined so that the sessions matter and the teaching style helps you understand and retain the information.

If you are looking for intelligent teaching with passion, you found the teacher training.

The program is the Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher training. The book that goes with it is the Doron Yoga Manual. For a free guide on focus, get 5 Mind Habits That Kill Your Focus.