Table of Contents
The Problem
Choosing your 200 Hour YTT is a big decision. The problem is that you've probably never taken one before and so you don't really know what you're looking for when evaluating yoga teacher training programs. We don't know what we don't know. From the outside, all YTTs look very similar. But in reality, the differences in the quality of different trainings are significant.
And in the end, everything comes down to one question: How good is your YTT leader? Makes sense, right?! If you study with a really good teacher, you'll learn a lot. If you study with a teacher who lacks experience, technical knowledge, teaching skills, or who just isn't a good educator, then you won't learn as much.
So before you sign up for a YTT, you should make sure that your prospective yoga teacher training leader is really good at their job. Now how do we do that?
The Solution
I'll give you two sets of questions to help you assess yoga teacher qualifications. The first one is helpful to evaluate your teacher "from a distance" and without talking to them about your YTT plans. This is ideal if you're considering joining the 200 Hour YTT at your local studio and you don't want to risk making anyone feel uncomfortable. Or if you have a teacher you like to practice with online you can use it to quickly make sure that their teaching is actually top-notch. The more questions you can answer with "Yes", the better your teacher. A standout yoga teacher will check all the boxes.
The questions in the second list help you make sure that a good yoga teacher (who passed the first test) is also a good teacher's teacher - an educator who isn't just good at teaching classes, but also qualified to teach you how to do the same. You don't need to know the answers to these questions. Instead, focus on how your prospective YTT leader responds when you ask them. Do they get excited? Do they get defensive? Does it feel like you caught them off guard or do they start throwing answers at you with a big smile on their face?
Evaluate Your Yoga Teacher From A Distance
Do they offer more than 1 style of yoga?
Do they include meditation, breathwork, chanting mantra or other yogic practices in their classes?
Do their cues work well for you? And what do other students say?
Are they confident enough to offer specific advice in response to specific questions?
Do they include props in their classes?
Do they offer pose modifications (multiple ways to perform the asanas, usually with different levels of difficulty)?
Do they surprise you with creative sequences?
Do you learn new things in their classes (about yoga poses, the history of yoga, how yoga works differently for different people, fun facts about the human body, which cues are outdated …)
Do they weave yoga philosophy / the yogic world view into their classes?
Can they explain advanced concepts in a way that you can find easy to understand?
Do they help you advance your yoga practice in meaningful ways?
Would you say that they have changed your life?
Make Sure Your Prospective YTT Leader Is A Good Teacher's Teacher
Can you give me three specific examples of commonly taught yoga cues that are now considered outdated by movement science, and explain why? (Tests if they're up-to-date on modern research vs. just repeating old alignment rules)
How do you teach students to modify poses for different bone structures rather than just strength/flexibility differences? (Reveals if they understand individual anatomy vs. one-size-fits-all approach)
Which principles of modern movement science and anatomy are you teaching in your YTT? (Distinguishes practical vs. academic anatomy teaching)
Can you walk me through how you'd teach a student to cue hip flexion vs. just saying 'lift your leg'? (Tests depth of anatomical knowledge and teaching ability)
What characterizes good cueing for you, and how do you help students develop their own cueing style? (Your specific quality marker - reveals teaching philosophy)
How do you teach students to sequence classes rather than just giving them templates? (Tests if they teach skills vs. just hand over worksheets)
What's your process for giving students feedback on their teaching, and how often does this happen during the training? (Reveals if there's actual skill development vs. just information download)
How many hours of actual teaching practice do students get, and what's the structure for peer feedback? (Tests practical application vs. theoretical learning)
Can you explain your curriculum structure to me and why you designed it this way? (Your specific suggestion - reveals thoughtfulness vs. cookie-cutter approach)
Do you prefer the physical or spiritual side of yoga, and why? (Trick question - right answer is they're inseparable)
How do you ensure students learn authentic yoga philosophy rather than just Wikipedia-level summaries? (Tests depth and authenticity vs. superficial coverage)
What's the most important thing students learn in your anatomy section, and how do they apply it immediately? (Reveals practical vs. theoretical approach)
Who have you studied with recently, and what were the major insights you took away that changed your teaching? (Tests if they're still learning vs. coasting on old knowledge)
What's your background in movement science, and how do you stay current with new research? (Reveals expertise level and commitment to growth)
Can you name three yoga teachers whose work you disagree with and explain why? (Tests critical thinking vs. just accepting everything)
What does your final exam look like, and why do you structure it that way? (Tests if there's actual skill assessment vs. just completion)
What do students say they love most about your teaching style? (Reveals self-awareness and student feedback quality)
How do you handle students who struggle with the coursework or teaching practice? (Tests support systems and individualized attention)
How many pose breakdowns do you include, and what makes your approach different from just watching a teacher demonstrate? (Tests depth vs. surface-level instruction)
What's one thing most YTTs get wrong that you make sure to do right? (Reveals their understanding of industry problems and unique value)