HOT YOGA Teacher Training Buyer's Guide
HOT YOGA Teacher Training Buyer’s Guide Before You Choose a Course, Know Your Options
Why a “Buyer’s Guide”? • • • •
Make an informed decision Find a professionally-oriented course Cut through the noise of all the different offerings Make sure your investment of time and money is worth it
Look for a True Training Program • Choose a course focused on professional training • Make sure graduates are actually getting jobs, opening studios and serious about teaching • Ask about the curriculum and the focus of the course • Make sure there is plenty of practice teaching and practical experience on your feet
PRO TIP “Most yoga trainings are actually extended yoga practice holidays… extremely fun, but not the professional training experience that you need.”
Do Your Homework (on the course) • • • • •
Email or call the course director Find out what the curriculum is like Ask how many graduates go on to teach Ask how many graduates have studios Ask if everyone graduates
How to Identify a Great Course Graduates are huge fans of the school and the staff Graduates are teaching, practicing and extremely active in yoga Graduates are excited to share their experiences and stories with you Training staff and teachers are happy to connect with you, answer questions, and help you decide • Training staff are continually learning and growing too • • • •
Choose a Good Teaching “Team” • Avoid “guru” led courses • The best courses are based on strong curriculum—not strong personalities • More teachers means more experiences, more support, and more attention • One teacher cannot sustain the energy and depth of content for an entire course—the best courses have large teaching teams • Look for a 15-to-1 or less student to teacher ratio
Are the Teachers Qualified? • Trainers should have taught at least 1,000 classes as teachers before training other teachers • The best trainers continue to be working professionals • The best trainers have experience in many different teaching roles • Avoid courses with teachers who only train teachers or have very little professional teaching experience
Research Your Trainers • Ask your potential trainer about their experience • Inquire about their practice and history as a teacher • See what types of credentials they have • Read testimonials from past students • Contact past students to see what they have to say • Don’t be shy, it’s normal to be curious about your teachers—so ask questions!
Student-to-Teacher Ratio • 15-to-1 is the maximum you should tolerate • If more than 15-to-1, the teachers won’t even know your name • Many courses have 30 or even 100 students for every teacher—avoid those courses
Your Training Facilities Matter • Most yoga training programs are held at non-yoga facilities • If you want to become a professional teacher, you need a professional training facility • Many students at camping-style and dorm-style courses really struggle with illness and discomfort
International Certification • 200hr training is the international standard • Yoga Alliance is the largest in the world • ACE is a fitness-oriented accreditation recognized in dozens of countries, particularly in fitness centers • Some schools “lock” you into their certification, restrict your ability to teach, and force you to “upgrade” or “renew” your certification • The best courses offer multiple certifications
Your Tuition Investment • Choose your course based on future value, not just on price • The cheapest option today will often be very expensive long term • Many teachers who choose poorly end up taking 1-2 additional trainings before they are ready to teach • A good training school with open doors with name recognition and its alumni network • Rather than asking “How much does it cost?” the better question is “How much is it worth?”
Typical Investment • • • • •
Top School Tuition: 4,000 - 7,000 USD (200hr training) Top Facility Accommodation: 3,000 5,000 (4 weeks) Typical Starting Salary for Yoga Teacher: 35 - 55 USD / class Typical Time to Earn Back Investment: 3-6 months Median Pay for Senior Teachers: 62,400 USD / year
“Red Flags” to Watch Out For • Guru-based courses with cult-like feel • Head teacher or school itself has a scandal or bad reputation (surprisingly common) • Understaffed courses with just 1 teacher • Inappropriate facilities such as hotel conference rooms, beach bungalows or shared dorms with outdoor platforms • Courses with very few successful graduates • Courses where no one returns your emails or calls
Making the Final Decision • Choose the course you’re most excited about • Make sure you’re doing the training that is right for you and your goals • Good teachers always have opportunities
About Me • Yoga teacher, teacher trainer, studio owner • Founder and Managing Director of Absolute Yoga Academy, YOGABODY Naturals & YOGABODY Fitness • Taught in 7 countries at over a dozen studios (including my own) • Taught over 10,000 students • 2,000 students have graduated from my teacher training programs
Lucas Rockwood
About Absolute Yoga Academy School started out of necessity Huge success right from day one We’re the “United Nations” of yoga Courses taught in English but nearly 1/2 our students speak another language • Thailand is our “home base” (shown here in the photo) • • • •
“Turning Passionate Hot Yoga Students into Professionally-Qualified Teachers Since 2006…”
ABSOLUTE YOGA ACADEMY www.AbsoluteYogaAcademy.com
Why a “Buyer’s Guide”? • • • •
Make an informed decision Find a professionally-oriented course Cut through the noise of all the different offerings Make sure your investment of time and money is worth it
Look for a True Training Program • Choose a course focused on professional training • Make sure graduates are actually getting jobs, opening studios and serious about teaching • Ask about the curriculum and the focus of the course • Make sure there is plenty of practice teaching and practical experience on your feet
PRO TIP “Most yoga trainings are actually extended yoga practice holidays… extremely fun, but not the professional training experience that you need.”
Do Your Homework (on the course) • • • • •
Email or call the course director Find out what the curriculum is like Ask how many graduates go on to teach Ask how many graduates have studios Ask if everyone graduates
How to Identify a Great Course Graduates are huge fans of the school and the staff Graduates are teaching, practicing and extremely active in yoga Graduates are excited to share their experiences and stories with you Training staff and teachers are happy to connect with you, answer questions, and help you decide • Training staff are continually learning and growing too • • • •
Choose a Good Teaching “Team” • Avoid “guru” led courses • The best courses are based on strong curriculum—not strong personalities • More teachers means more experiences, more support, and more attention • One teacher cannot sustain the energy and depth of content for an entire course—the best courses have large teaching teams • Look for a 15-to-1 or less student to teacher ratio
Are the Teachers Qualified? • Trainers should have taught at least 1,000 classes as teachers before training other teachers • The best trainers continue to be working professionals • The best trainers have experience in many different teaching roles • Avoid courses with teachers who only train teachers or have very little professional teaching experience
Research Your Trainers • Ask your potential trainer about their experience • Inquire about their practice and history as a teacher • See what types of credentials they have • Read testimonials from past students • Contact past students to see what they have to say • Don’t be shy, it’s normal to be curious about your teachers—so ask questions!
Student-to-Teacher Ratio • 15-to-1 is the maximum you should tolerate • If more than 15-to-1, the teachers won’t even know your name • Many courses have 30 or even 100 students for every teacher—avoid those courses
Your Training Facilities Matter • Most yoga training programs are held at non-yoga facilities • If you want to become a professional teacher, you need a professional training facility • Many students at camping-style and dorm-style courses really struggle with illness and discomfort
International Certification • 200hr training is the international standard • Yoga Alliance is the largest in the world • ACE is a fitness-oriented accreditation recognized in dozens of countries, particularly in fitness centers • Some schools “lock” you into their certification, restrict your ability to teach, and force you to “upgrade” or “renew” your certification • The best courses offer multiple certifications
Your Tuition Investment • Choose your course based on future value, not just on price • The cheapest option today will often be very expensive long term • Many teachers who choose poorly end up taking 1-2 additional trainings before they are ready to teach • A good training school with open doors with name recognition and its alumni network • Rather than asking “How much does it cost?” the better question is “How much is it worth?”
Typical Investment • • • • •
Top School Tuition: 4,000 - 7,000 USD (200hr training) Top Facility Accommodation: 3,000 5,000 (4 weeks) Typical Starting Salary for Yoga Teacher: 35 - 55 USD / class Typical Time to Earn Back Investment: 3-6 months Median Pay for Senior Teachers: 62,400 USD / year
“Red Flags” to Watch Out For • Guru-based courses with cult-like feel • Head teacher or school itself has a scandal or bad reputation (surprisingly common) • Understaffed courses with just 1 teacher • Inappropriate facilities such as hotel conference rooms, beach bungalows or shared dorms with outdoor platforms • Courses with very few successful graduates • Courses where no one returns your emails or calls
Making the Final Decision • Choose the course you’re most excited about • Make sure you’re doing the training that is right for you and your goals • Good teachers always have opportunities
About Me • Yoga teacher, teacher trainer, studio owner • Founder and Managing Director of Absolute Yoga Academy, YOGABODY Naturals & YOGABODY Fitness • Taught in 7 countries at over a dozen studios (including my own) • Taught over 10,000 students • 2,000 students have graduated from my teacher training programs
Lucas Rockwood
About Absolute Yoga Academy School started out of necessity Huge success right from day one We’re the “United Nations” of yoga Courses taught in English but nearly 1/2 our students speak another language • Thailand is our “home base” (shown here in the photo) • • • •
“Turning Passionate Hot Yoga Students into Professionally-Qualified Teachers Since 2006…”
ABSOLUTE YOGA ACADEMY www.AbsoluteYogaAcademy.com
