5 Questions You Should Ask Before Picking Your Teacher Training Course

We got a lot of questions about our Yoga Teacher Training Courses and we want to help you figure out whether our course is the right fit for you! We understand that it’s a big decision and with all of the options available out there the choice can feel a little overwhelming! Do  you study in Australia or overseas? 200hrs or 350hrs? Which one is the best value for money? There are so many factors to take into consideration that it can be overwhelming even knowing where to start! So without further ado – here are our top 5 questions to ask a yoga school (including Stretch!) before taking the plunge:

Is the course accredited?
Having an accredited provider is incredibly important for your Yoga Teacher Training qualifications – without it, you’ll be unable to get insurance, unable to teach, and the quality of the course can’t really be trusted!

There are two governing bodies overseeing yoga teacher training courses in Australia – Yoga Australia (who have slightly more demanding standards and oversee Australian courses specifically) and Yoga Alliance (who govern all courses internationally). Yoga Australia only recognises 350hr trainings as a true Level 1 teacher (however will let 200hr trained teachers register as a Level 0 while they upgrade their qualifications). Yoga Alliance recognises a Level 1 as just 200hrs.

The Stretch Yoga Teacher Training program has been certified by both governing bodies (both Yoga Australia and Yoga Alliance), which means once the course is over you’ll have no trouble getting insurance both in Australia and internationally. The training is world class, and you’ll be provided with a certificate upon completion that you’ll be able to use for the rest of your teaching career! Students of yours will also be able to claim their classes on their private health if you choose to register with Yoga Australia. Finding an accredited course is definitely worth the time - not only will your training be of higher quality, but you'll be far more employable once you graduate!

If you're thinking of teaching we definitely recommend going for the full 350hr training. You'll leave feeling more confident and having covered off some specialty teaching areas which are always in high demand! But don't worry, if you pick the 200hr option you can always upgrade later on!
 
Who is the lead trainer (and how experienced are they)?
The lead trainer of the course is someone who you’ll be listening to a lot! Ideally they’re someone who knows what they’re talking about, and someone who has undergone a lot of training themselves! We recommend looking for a Senior Yoga Teacher – someone who has been teaching for over 10 years, and who has completed more than 1000hrs of training (essentially someone who really knows what they're talking about!).

Miriam Van Doorn  is the Lead Trainer here at Stretch has been teaching now since 1998. She’s an EYRT 1000 teacher, has completed well over 1000hrs of internationally recognised training and has taught all over the world – including in Australia, India, Bali and Singapore. She’s supported by PJ Wells – the owner here at Stretch Yoga who has been teaching since 2012, running the studio since May 2014 and has a background in Nutrition and Dietetics from QUT. She’s completed over 500hrs of training both in Australia and India. We think they make a pretty good team!

And while qualifications and experience are important, even more so is whether the teachers click with you! Are they friendly, nurturing and knowledgeable? Do they make you feel good in their presence? Do you like their style? Have you been to their classes? You can catch Miriam and PJ on the regular timetables here at Stretch, chat to PJ at reception or come to one of our Teacher Training Information Sessions! We would love to say hi!
 
How many face-to-face contact hours are involved?
This is a big one! While many schools advertise that they are 200hr or 350hr, they simply don’t have the required face-to-face workshops in their training! Ideally over 65% of the hours should be made up in this way – that means at least 130hrs of training workshops (not just classes) should make up the 200hr training, and 228hrs for the 350hr training.

With 22 full day workshops and 2 amazing retreats (plus classes), Stretch Yoga is one of the few courses that doesn’t pad out their training! We’re looking to create teachers that can teach here at Stretch – and the only way we can do that is by providing as much face-to-face time as possible!
 
Does the school (including lead trainer, other teachers and management) resonate with me?
Not only will you be spending a lot of time at Teacher Training Workshops, but you’ll also be spending a lot of time at the studio in general! You’ll be coming to classes, dealing with the teachers, staff and management regularly and all around finding yourself a new home for 12 months.

Each yoga studio comes with its unique philosophies and feel – some are very regimented and alignment focused, others are more spiritual and a little less organised! The spaces have different energies to them and they come with different props, class styles and schedules.

You need to find the one that feels like home to you! Where what the teachers say in class and how you’re greeted at reception feels just ‘right’. Ideally you should spend a bit of time there before you decide to take the plunge! We recommend trying out a few to make sure you've found your Goldilocks, and register for our Teacher Training Info Sessions so you can meet your trainers!
 
Am I ready to be a yoga teacher?
If you’re reading this, then the answer is yes! It’s ok if you don’t feel ready to teach a class right now because that’s what a good Teacher Training Course is all about. You’ll learn the skills you need to teach – all you need to be is ready to start!

If you love yoga and you want to share that love, then teaching is such an amazing way to do it! Doing your yoga teacher training doesn’t just mean teaching regular classes at a studio either – you might teach kids, the elderly, corporate groups or just your friends and family! You’ll constantly teach yourself – and in conversations you have with friends and family you’ll encourage others to try yoga just by your example!

You might end up teaching meditation or mindfulness. You might start a yoga mat company. You might start teaching straight away, or in 10 years from now. There’s no right or wrong, and no way you have to do this. But if you’re curious, and think you might like to then you definitely should!
 


If you’re interested in learning more about the Stretch Yoga Teacher Training we encourage you to sign up for our Teacher Training Information Session on June 2nd. You’ll get to practice in a beautiful yoga class with Lead Trainer Miriam Van Doorn and learn more about the course from PJ Wells. If this date doesn't work for you please don’t hesitate to contact PJ on 07 3210 6886 or email info@stretchyoga.com.au to arrange a private meeting.

Read More:
Yoga Australia Teacher Training Requirements
Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Requirements