Written and recorded by:
Jess Rose
Read time:
7
min
Full video
50
min
#1 - I don't think I'm ready.
The fact that you're here means that you are ready. You were curious enough to look for a YTT … what more are you waiting for? 😊
#2 - I'm not good at yoga.
What does that even mean? You can’t hold a handstand or touch your toes? Who cares?! Yes, a good YTT will absolutely help you advance your practice. But the goal is not necessarily to make your poses look pretty or to get into poses you couldn't to before. It may happen. But you may also just learn new ways to do poses in a way that works better for your unique body. Plus, a YTT will help you dive deeper into the non-physical aspects of yoga. Most importantly, it'll help you connect with your true nature. And once you do that, physical performance won't be a concern for you anymore. You'll be free!
#3 - I'm not very flexible
That's not a problem. There is no flexibility benchmark you have to hit before you're "officially ready" to enroll in a YTT. So flip the switch. Don't think "I need to get flexible and then I can start." Instead, think "I'll start and by the end of the training I'll almost certainly be more flexible than I am now."
Also, don't worry too much about flexibility. It's just one aspect of yoga and certainly not the most important one. A good YTT will help you let go of expectations and be content no matter how flexible or inflexible you are.
#4 - Do yoga teachers actually make money?
If you're worried about your career - fear not! As long as you make sure that you get a comprehensive and thorough education you'll be able to turn your passion for yoga into a thriving career. As a standout teacher you won't rely only on studio classes. You'll be able to attract private clients, teach corporate yoga, organize your own retreats, or combine yoga with other professional services.
PS: No, Ai will not take your job away because teaching yoga is a lot about creating real human connection.
#5 - I'm religious. Will yoga get in the way?
Absolutely not. Yoga is not a religion. It's a practice and a way of looking at the world that works alongside any faith, or no faith at all. Yes, the yoga tradition is intertwined with Hinduism. And in a YTT you'll (hopefully) learn about how certain Gods and Goddesses inspired asana poses, or how you can use Hindu mythology to come up with creative themes for your classes. But you'll never be asked to adopt any specific religious beliefs. At least not in our training. The point of a yoga teacher training is to expand your horizons, not to dictate your personal beliefs.
#6 - I'm old. Too old?!
Probably not. Consult with your doctor first and make sure that you lead trainer really understand if and how you need to modify your physical practice. In general, you're never too old for a YTT. The important thing to understand is that the goal of a YTT is not to push you into poses you couldn't do before. Rather, it's about deepening and rediscovering your yoga practice in new ways. Finding adjustments, expanding your repertoire, and exploring new dimensions of yoga that you don't get in regular studio or online classes.
#7 - I'm pregnant. Can I still join a YTT?
Congratulations! You're right to be concerned - the health and safety of you and your baby is top priority. So consult with your doctor first. In general, you can absolutely take a YTT while being pregnant. Just be aware that you'll have to modify your physical practice in certain ways. Also, some breathwork practices (hopefully they're part of your YTT) are not recommended for pregnant yogis. Your lead teacher should be able to give you detailed instructions for how to modify your practice. We recommend that you join an online YTT. That way you don't have to stress out about the group schedule. And you'll be able to revisit the training contents after birth.
Talk to your doctor. If they give you the green light, you should be fine. It's important that you talk to your lead teacher about how to modify your practice for your specific condition. And it's probably a good idea to take an online YTT so you don't have to stress out about keeping up with the group or performing in front of other students.
At Movement Wisdom, we've had students with injuries and medical conditions like these successfully and joyfully complete the course:
carpal tunnel syndrome
scoliosis
hypermobility
high blood pressure
low blood pressure
autoimmune diseases
arthritis
joint replacements
chronic pain
slipped and herniated discs
cancer
#9 - I have a very full schedule.
Then you should consider a flexible online YTT. Unless yoga is at the very bottom of your priority list (in which case you probably shouldn't join a YTT at all), you'll be able to complete the program one class at a time. Think about it as your personal project for the year to come, not as the thing that you need to check off your list ASAP so that you can move on to other endeavours.
#10 - I don't want to teach yoga.
You're not alone. In our experience about 1 in 4 YTT students don't plan to teach yoga. Many of them change their mind though, because they end up catching the "teaching bug". But if you don't … no problem. Just don't worry about graduation or teaching methodology and focus on your personal motivations.
#11 - Will I be the only guy in the training?
Probably not. But even if you are … should you let this hold you back?
#12 - I'm shy, how will I survive teaching practice?!
A YTT is a wonderful opportunity to leave your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Good YTT leaders make safety and non-judgement a priority for their training. So you can expect that teaching practice is a safe space where making, laughing about and learning from mistakes and imperfections is encouraged; and where pointing fingers is a no-go.
#13 - English is not my mother tongue.
If you understand this website you’ll be fine. We recommend that you take a class with your prospective YTT leader to see if you can understand her well. And yes, you'll have to learn a bunch of new words and expressions along the way. But that shouldn't hold you back. Think of it as another way how the training helps you grow.
#14 - I could also just keep going to regular classes.
Great idea! Just know that a 200 hour training and regular classes are two very different things. Studio classes are really good for maintaining your practice. A YTT is the best way to advance it.
#15 - All YTTs have such great ratings.
That’s because 99% of people only take one training. So even if it’s bad, we just don’t know what what was missing. But that shouldn't keep you from choosing a YTT. It just means you need to spend a few hours on research to make sure you pick one that's actually solid. Our overview of the 7 most common YTT mistakes is a great place to start.
#16 - I'm afraid that online YTTs aren't legit.
Understandable! Yoga is a physical practice and so it makes sense to assume that you should be in the same room as your teacher. However, at Movement Wisdom we actually think the opposite is true. We've done a big comparison of in-person and online yoga education and online YTTs came out as the clear winner. So don't worry. Just make sure you find a good teacher who you resonate with (just as you would for an in-person program.)
#17 - What if everything goes wrong?
Just pick a training with a money-back guarantee and voila — you just reduced risk to 0.