5 Things to Expect From a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program

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5 Things to Expect From a 200-Hour Yoga
Teacher Training Program
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• Yoga is a lifestyle change that begins with a few
  breathing exercises and transitions into an
  encounter with asanas, Sanskrit texts, and
  perhaps a visit to the ashram for the deeper
  enthusiasts. It spans a vast spectrum of
  knowledge and practice that 1-hour or 90-minute
  sessions are often inadequate to cover.
• The 200 hour yoga teacher training is a longer,
  more intense program that caters to the students
  wanting to become teachers or who want a better
  understanding of yoga. Before signing up for a
  class, here are a few pointers on what to expect.
• A deep understanding of yoga anatomy and
  physiology
• The study of human anatomy and physiology is not
  restricted to biology class and med school.
  Rather, the 200-hour yoga teacher training
  program incorporates a deep understanding of the
  human body to help better appreciate its motion
  and range. A deeper dive into the body will
  heighten the awareness, the poses' experience,
  and how deep breathing impacts physiology.
• Therefore, good instructors should exhibit their
  knowledge and transfer it to their students.
  They will combine expertise from different
  sources like physiotherapy and sports physicians.
  This way, every new teacher has a solid
  foundation and will be a valuable asset as they
  embark on their yoga journey.
• A foundation of insightful yoga texts
• The history of yoga dates back millennia with
  evolving rituals and practices. Though a good
  training program should be up-to-date and teach
  new, safe techniques that prevent stress
  injuries, it should also refer back to the
  collection of ancient yoga texts for instruction.

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• For example, the Patanjali Yoga Sutra defines how
  best to practice yoga and overcome the obstacles
  along the journey. Moreover, it defines the
  eight limbs of yoga, different meditation
  practices, and the benefits. Armed with this
  background, the program creates a better
  appreciation for the asanas. Finally, these yoga
  texts impact the practice and your overall
  well-being.
• Practical work
• The true mark of an impactful 200-hour yoga
  teacher training program is the capacity of a
  student to teach their own class. Therefore,
  expect a practicum portion of the training that
  converts gathered knowledge into a transferable
  skill.
• Besides proving an understanding of the
  curriculum, practical work will be a chance to
  exercise speaking and teaching skills. Who knows,
  it might be the skill that bumps you up from a
  good yoga practitioner to a great teacher.
• A step out of your comfort zone
• You may be used to various asanas, yogic texts,
  and rituals, but the training program is a
  different experience. For a start, the program is
  rigorous and spans a few weeks with intensive
  courses in between. Next, a good teacher must
  grasp yoga practice as a whole to cater to
  different students and their needs. Therefore,
  the 200-hour yoga teacher training course will
  push you to refine old and new asanas and
  techniques, which are a physical and mental
  exercise. The good news is that you will
  actively feel stronger, more nourished, and
  healthier.

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5. An all-round program Yoga extends beyond the
capacity to stretch the body into unfathomable
poses. It is also a plunge into mindfulness,
wakefulness, and being one with the self. In the
course of learning, you will encounter barriers
that are not physical challenges but mental
blocks to work through. Some will be more
difficult, depending on what the body is hiding.
In the end, however, all the deep work will
impact all spheres of life, and you will be
better for it overall. Yoga is a lifestyle that
transcends physical body exertion to meditation
and mindfulness. Therefore, teacher training is
labor with the promise of transformative rewards.