Finding the Right Course for You
Yoga teacher training online may seem like a good option for you, but what should you look out for to ensure you’re getting a good deal. If you wish to achieve home study yoga teacher certification this guide will help you select the right course for you and your future students.
Why take yoga teacher training online?
There can be many reasons why you may want to explore this option, but the big two for most people are time and money.
Cost
A typical residential teacher training course can cost anything from $3,000 to $5,000. That’s great if you have it, or have the ability to save the money, but you might not have that amount of spare cash available. A typical online training course can cost between $500 – $1,000, bringing it within the reach of more people.
Time
There is no doubt that going away to study for a period of time in a focused environment provides a unique benefit. But, maybe you’ve got kids, or your existing job only allows you limited time off. The ability to study at your own pace may make the difference in whether you get the chance to take the course or not. But you need to be able to motivate yourself to actually do it.
Geography
The internet opens up possibilities to all of us, regardless of where on this planet we live. This may be the only opportunity for you to actually do a yoga teacher training course.
The Downside of Yoga Teacher Training Online
Perceived lack of status
Obtaining a qualification from a recognized in-person school carries more weight in the eyes of some practitioners. Home study yoga teacher certification does not make you a poor teacher, but some may think that. Are you prepared to carry on your path even if others don’t respect it? If the opinions of others are important to you then yoga teacher training online is probably not a good choice.
Lack of hands-on guidance and feedback from teacher
This is the main reason that people would question online training. Some schools try and short-circuit this problem by having the students spend at least some time in-house, or with a recognized teacher, or have the student submit video of them practicing and teaching.
What to look out for
There are some key features that you have to look out for if you wish to pursue this.
Testimonials Can the school provide testimonials from students who have graduated? How many of them are successfully teaching yoga?
The Right-Feel This is a bit more intuitive, but does the course feel right? Do you resonate with the philosophy of the principals? Would you be proud to say that you learned from this person or school?
Cost Does the course seem to be reasonably priced for what you get? If it seems too cheap, chances are it’s best avoided, but if it seems like a rip-off then stay clear too.
Support and Materials Do you actually get anything worthwhile, or is it simply a hashed-up, overpriced, digital download with little of real value? Is there ongoing support and training?
Assessment If there is no assessment process then walk away as the certificate will be worthless, and there is no incentive for you to stretch yourself and learn new things. Without someone qualified giving you an honest opinion on your teaching ability then you may end up harming your future students.
Guarantee Is there a money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with the materials once you get them? Can you trust that you will get it?
In Summary
Yoga teacher training online is an option that is rightly considered by many who desire to share the joy of yoga and have a sincere wish to help others on the path to health and awakening.
Unfortunately there are a few people out there who are only interested in selling you a certificate, but there are also schools which operate with integrity and are true to the values of yoga. With proper investigation using the guidelines above you should find the option that’s right for you.
The best one I have come across is the Aura Yoga Teacher-Training Camp-In-A-Box which offers comprehensive instruction and is directed by Dr. Paul Jerard. I have studied with Paul and know him to be very committed to his students, either in-person or at distance, and the level of support he offers is second-to-none.
