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Contrary to popular perception, many of the trainees in YTT programs
are beginners and those looking to learn and adopt yoga for
themselves, not for teaching others.
...And with good reason.
Let us understand this phenomenon by going a bit deeper.
Why would an individual who has no aspirations of becoming a teacher, at
least not for the moment, want to enlist for an instructor course?
For one, Yoga teacher trainings, especially Residential
programs offer a wonderful capsule of learning in a relatively short time
(typically, 200 hours over 4weeks). During the program, you are exposed to
all the essential ingredients that make for a better understanding &
adoption of Yoga as well as the gaining of its benefits. Not only Asanas
& techniques, you would also typically be exposed to the deep theory that
forms the basis of yoga, understanding of the Anatomy and the human
psycho-physical structure, lifestyle changes, ethics and much more that make
for a complete all round development as envisaged through Yoga.
These are aspects that you definitely won�t learn in your
walk-in yoga class down the street.
Based on this extensive all-round learning, you
will be able to realize which aspects of Yoga you feel drawn towards -
whether the physical part, the meditative experiences or then the deep
philosophy. You will then be in a better position to channel your future
learnings based on your individual disposition and THAT is the right way to
grow in Yoga!
Yoga is best learnt by observing the changes in the self
as one begins to adopt yoga practices. A teacher training module provides a
sufficiently long exposure to be better aware of these changes - the
physical and psychological impact - that yoga practices have upon you. It
only helps that these changes happen under expert supervision and guidance,
to help you understand and cope better. This helps you understand the true
significance of yoga and gain the most out of it.
One also meets amazing similar minded people at such
certification courses. The finer aspects of yoga are best imbibed under
Satsang (discourse congregations) as you are exposed to nuances and
individual difficulties and blocks being shared in a constructive
environment. This single aspect greatly enhances the love for yoga and
accelerates self development.
Lastly, you learn in an environment without the
'stress and expectations' baggage that often accompanies those looking
at the YTT as a professional course for becoming accomplished teachers. It
is amazing how much better one learns while being free of the stress of
"having to" learn with a desired result in sight.
And the reality is that any course only equips you with
the tools and building blocks. The quality of teaching improves only with
years of practice, observation, intuition and class experience.
To conclude, residential Yoga teacher training programs
are a wonderful option for those inspired by and looking to adopt yoga as a
way of life. Being set in yoga retreat kind of settings, they offer a
break from routine life, which in itself is so necessary for being able
to appreciate a new way of living. They also need not be necessarily
expensive, especially if you opt for
Yoga trainings in
countries like India where living expenses are considerably less and the
quality of teaching is wonderful.
So, if you are serious about Yoga and can set out a break
from your regular routine, considering a Yoga teacher training course for
self growth should be well worth it. |