You're Not Alone With Your Doubts

As we start new things (a new job, a new relationship, or a 200 hour YTT), most of us feel too [your thing] or not enough [your other thing]. Too old, not flexible enough, too busy, not experienced enough. This pattern is so predictable it's almost comforting.

Doubt is a natural response to new opportunities. Sometimes doubts protect us from being stupid. Other times they are limiting beliefs. When it comes to yoga teacher training, I believe that most doubts should be thrown out the window or - even better - into the trash. I'm not saying this because I want to sell you the Movement Wisdom 200 Hour YTT. I mean ... maybe a little bit. But mostly I just want to help you sort through whatever might be holding you back, and help you shake it off!

Because if you find a good YTT that comes with a money-back guarantee then you literally can't go wrong. The worst thing that can happen is that you start it, realize you don't want to continue, and get your money back. Done. If it was the wrong program, find a different one. If you realized you don't actually want to invest 200 hours into your yoga education ... fair enough, that's your choice.

Okay, now in addition to the discussion in the video I thought I'd give you my rapid-fire answers to 15 concerns that I've heard repeatedly from prospective students before starting their training. Here we go:

1. 'I'm not that good at yoga.'

What do you mean? You can't hold a handstand or touch your toes? Who cares?! Real yoga happens on the inside. Plus, your YTT will help you advance and modify your practice for your body, your goals, your needs. Starting your YTT isn't a reward for reaching a milestone in your practice. It's the tool that leads you to new milestones. Students commonly believe they need to master poses before learning to teach them. This is NOT TRUE AT ALL! You don't have to be able to be able to do every pose you want to teach.

2. 'I could just keep going to class...'

Great idea, you should totally keep going to yoga! Just know that a training and regular classes are two very different things. Studio classes help you maintain your practice. A YTT is the best way to advance it.

3. 'I don't want to teach yoga.'

Totally fine - and you're not alone. In our experience, approximately 1 in 4 YTT students don't plan to teach. The label 'yoga teacher training' sounds like such a program is only for people who really want to teach professionally. But really its also for practitioners who want to take their practice to the next level. And who knows, maybe you'll change your mind once you go through the course. I've seen many students who didn't think that they wanted to teach catch the 'teaching bug' during their YTT.

4. 'All YTTs have amazing ratings.'

I believe that this is because the vast majority of people only ever take one training. Aka they don't have a basis for comparison. Even if they end up in a program that doesn't teach them much, they'll never know what they've been missing out on. To make sure you find an excellent program, pay close attention to the curriculum and the credentials of your lead trainer. (If a program has several teachers this becomes a lot harder.)

5. 'I'm super busy.'

That's okay. Just take an online training on your own schedule. You can take it easy and complete the course on your own timeline without worrying about a group schedule. That said, I would recommend that you invest at least 3-5 hours in your YTT every week to build momentum and feel like you're making progress. A good way to start is to sit down with a planner and look at a typical week. Find 2 to 3 time slots that you can regularly dedicate to your training. That's all you need to succeed.

6. 'I'm too old.'

Age doesn't disqualify you. At Movement Wisdom we've had may students in their 60s and 70s enjoy and complete the program. If you have health conditions or any health-related concerns, you should absolutely talk to your doctor and also your lead trainer to see if and which poses or practices you should avoid or modify. Age brings wisdom and life experience that enriches both practice and teaching in ways that flexibility and strength never could. Older students often become more effective teachers because they understand body limitations intimately.

7. 'I'm pregnant.'

Congratulations! You can still do start a YTT, no problem. Talk to your doctor and your lead trainer to understand which poses and practices you need to avoid or modify in which trimester. (At Movement Wisdom we have a dedicated guide for pregnant students. Oh, and you may also want to take a look at the Healthy Mama, Happy Baby Program

8. 'Will I be the only guy in the training?!'

Probably not. But even if you were... Yes, you'll likely be part of a male minority in your YTT. But don't let that hold you back! We need more male teachers to shift the gender imbalance in Western yoga culture.

9. 'I'm religious. Will yoga conflict with my faith?!'

Yoga isn't a religion. It's a practice and a way of looking at the world that works alongside any faith, or no faith at all. Yoga relates to religion the way Italian Renaissance art relates to Catholicism. If you study it, you'll learn about the cultural and historical context (the mythology, symbolism, and traditions). But you're not required to adopt any religious beliefs.

10. 'Do yoga teachers even make money.'

Yes. Teaching yoga can be both a lucrative part time or full time job. The important thing to understand is that (just like in any other industry), the best yoga teachers have better opportunities and they earn significantly more than average 'run-of-the-mill' teachers. So if your goal is to support your family and/or live life on your terms, then you should invest in quality education first and foremost. As an excellent yoga teacher you'll be sought-after by studios and private clients. You'll build a loyal group of students who'll be happy to go on a retreat with you. You can lead corporate events etc.

11. 'Online YTTs aren't legit.'

Says who? There are good and bad YTTs. The thing that matters is the quality of your teacher and the curriculum they put together. Not whether you study online or in-person. I actually believe that if you can choose between an online and an in-person training with the same teacher you should almost always take the online training. To learn more, check this detailed comparison of online and in-person yoga education

12. 'I'm shy (like, really).'

This training - especially teaching practice - is an amazing opportunity to leave your comfort zone. Don't worry, the course is a safe and supportive space.

13. 'I'm not good with computer stuff.'

You don't need any technical knowledge for an online training. Just a screen and a decent internet connection. All you typically need to do is log into a learning platform and hit play on individual lessons.

14. 'Is my English good enough?'

If you can follow classes in English you're probably fine. You're certainly going to learn a bunch of new words along the way, and this may be some extra effort compared to native speakers. But it's worth it if the teacher you want to study with teaches in English. Also, being able to lead yoga classes in English increases your options to land jobs internationally.

15. 'What If Everything Goes Wrong?'

Take a training that offers a money-back guarantee. Voilà ... that's it ... no more risk for you.