It can sometimes feel like you’re stepping into a room blind folded when you sign up to a course in a place you might of never been with people you’ve probably never met! But you’ve done it! Your place is booked and your bag is packed. What else is left to do?!
We think checking in with yourself and taking some time to reflect before you dive in will help you make the most out of your experience. Over our years of offering yoga teacher trainings to many dedicated students, we know these 3 pieces of advice will put your mind at ease and help you go with the flow.
1. Expectation
Check yourself before you wreck yourself! Rome wasn’t built in a day. A 200 hour yoga teacher training is a great way to start but no matter how comprehensive the course, your first training is just the beginning. Know that you are about to learn a hell of a lot! But also know you will come to realise how much you don’t know and how much more there is to learn. Even if you spent your whole life studying yoga, you still wouldn’t know everything!
Be proud that you took the first step and be ready to open yourself up for different ways of thinking and living. Know that there isn’t one yoga teacher in the world that knows everything but be assured that each one of us has a unique perspective and experience and we all have something to teach and share with the world!
2. Consider What Type of Learner You Are
We all learn in different ways. It may help you to write pages and pages of notes. Others find it helpful to draw pictures and take photos. Consider the ways you learn and retain information best in order to prepare the right tools to help you.
Many times students will ask after a class or course if anyone took a certain photo or video of a posture or adjustment that they’ve forgotten or ask us for coloured cards to make proper revision flashcards. What will you need? Card? Highlighters? 20 different pen colours? Enough memory on your phone? It’s better to be over prepared in this situation!
3. Be Kind To Yourself
Many students come with the worry that they won’t be as ‘good’ as the other students, especially when it comes to the physical asana practice. For one, being good at yoga postures does not automatically make you a good yoga teacher. Being naturally good at something can sometimes make it harder to teach it as you’ve not got a lived experience of how to improve or what it feels like to be in different forms of postures.
If you pick a good school then the place is a learning environment not a competition platform. The space will be safe and supportive, which encourages you to make mistakes, fall over and try new things because that’s the best way to learn!
We hope these small pieces of advice will help you soak up as much joy and knowledge as possible on your teacher training journey. If you have any questions for us please don’t hesitate to get in contact, we always like to hear from you! And for more information on our offerings check out our 200 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in Spain.