| There are many choices when it comes to choosing a | | | | made aware that this editor has taken a Kripalu yoga |
| yoga teacher training. They can be quite costly of time | | | | teacher training and may have a certain bias towards |
| and money, so choosing the right yoga teacher training | | | | it. This is an affordable training at $2,700, but the |
| is important. This article will help one choose the one | | | | accommodations at Kripalu will likely cost another |
| that is best for you. | | | | $2,500. The appeal of this program is that it allows you |
| There are many different styles of yoga and with | | | | to completely immerse yourself in a conscious living |
| each style comes a different yoga teacher training. | | | | environment not having to worry about driving, cooking, |
| Most styles are under the Hatha Yoga umbrella of, | | | | and the stresses of typical everyday life. Another |
| which is essentially yoga for health of the body. Most | | | | great plus to the Kripalu style is that it allows the yoga |
| people say they practice Hatha Yoga as if it were | | | | to fit the student. Hence there is no a rigid principles of |
| differentiating their physical yoga practice. Most of the | | | | alignment structure making it a yoga for a much larger |
| popular yoga styles today are hatha yoga. The other | | | | audience. One of the drawbacks of this program is the |
| forms of yoga are Bhakti(cultivating love), Jhana(study | | | | large number of students, which is typically over 60. |
| of truth/sacred texts), Karma(finding Life Purpose). Of | | | | This can make it hard for one on one time. The style is |
| course some forms of yoga will overlap, but most | | | | often taught in a gentle(Yin) fashion which could be a |
| forms practiced in America are primarily Hatha. | | | | pro or a con depending on subjectivity. |
| Yoga Teacher Training | | | | Anusara Yoga Teacher Training: This style of yoga |
| Back to choosing the right Yoga Teacher Training. | | | | seems to be spreading like a wild fire. One of its main |
| Here are a few important steps: | | | | principles is the opening of the heart chakra and its |
| 1. At least take a class with one or all of the directors | | | | alignment principles tailor to the opening up to the heart. |
| leading the training. Make sure you resonate with their | | | | The specificity of the alignment principles may not be |
| philosophy and energy. | | | | for everyone. One must take a 100 hour Anusara |
| *2. Make sure that the style is right for you. Take | | | | Immersion before qualifying to be able to apply for the |
| classes with different teachers. Some styles have | | | | 200hr training. Those anxious to teach this may be too |
| certain alignment principles. These alignment principles | | | | much of a hold up. The great thing about the Anusara |
| may not work for everyone. Some yoga styles have | | | | Immersion is that it allows you to study with a teacher |
| a very formal system, while others give more flexibility | | | | in a very intimate setting learning the style well before |
| to teachers and students to modify. Some yoga styles | | | | learning how to teach it. Becoming a fully certified |
| are less focused on the actual postures and more on | | | | Anusara teacher will likely give you the skills to be a |
| the meditative aspects. Some styles such as | | | | teacher of teachers. The drawback is that it is one of |
| vinyasana are more fast paced. Knowing if the style is | | | | the most vigorous certification systems and is pricey. |
| right for you may be the most important aspect in the | | | | Vinyasana Yoga Teacher Training: This editor has a |
| choosing of a yoga teacher training. | | | | bias against Vinyasana Flow styles. In Vinyasana the |
| 3. Ask yoga teachers that have done the training for | | | | asana movement is linked with the breath creating a |
| feedback. | | | | meditative experience. Shiva Rea is the predominant |
| 4. Price and timing can also play a big factor. Prices | | | | Yogini in teaching vinyasana flow teacher training. She |
| can range from $2000 to well over $6000 with flights | | | | specializes in Prana Flow, letting the energy of the |
| and accommodations. | | | | body naturally move the body. This teacher training will |
| *There is a premium paid for doing a yoga teacher | | | | likely be expensive due to the high profile of the |
| training with a well known yogi. | | | | teacher. |
| 5. Save Money and see if you may qualify for an | | | | Local Yoga Teacher Trainings: The opportunity may |
| Early Bird Special, Discounts, or Scholarships. | | | | not exist to do a teacher training with a world renown |
| Some popular Yoga Teacher Trainings reviewed: | | | | yogi due to costs and time commitment. There are |
| Forrest Yoga Teacher Training: This training is | | | | many studios that do yoga teacher trainings for an |
| designed to bring about transformation of every cell in | | | | affordable price and space the training out over |
| the body. It is lead by the creator, Ana Forrest who | | | | multiple months to allow for those that work full times |
| can be compared to a modern day Shaman. The style | | | | jobs. Franchisees such as Core Power Yoga offer |
| includes holding of postures for extended periods of | | | | these as well as local studios. As mentioned above, it |
| breath and a lot of core work. Due to the extreme | | | | is recommended to take classes with the directors of |
| intensity(Yang) of the program, it is not appropriate for | | | | the program before hand as well ask others who |
| all. The training is done only twice a year in the from of | | | | have completed the training for feedback. This is likely |
| a 1 month intensive. There is a premium paid because | | | | the most affordable and practical means to get |
| Ana Forrest is a world renown Yogini. With the cost of | | | | certified. |
| the separate Anatomy workshop, the cost of this | | | | If one is a serious student of yoga, the 200hr training |
| training is upwards of $4,000 without accommodations. | | | | will likely only be the beginning. |
| Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training: The reader must be | | | | |