Yoga Teacher Training, Coming Right Up! by Alison King Tigges
Next month begins One Tree Yoga’s 2nd, 300-hour yoga teacher training program. I wrote a blog on this last summer, so I am recycling some old thoughts on this AND adding some new ones! Spoiler: this is a good read even if you have no interest in our YTT program. It is just a love letter to yoga as a whole! But, if you are even the tiniest bit curious about what an advanced program like this could do for you, keep reading.
1. Yoga is a life-long practice and it never ever gets boring.
I have been practicing yoga for 24 years, teaching yoga for 18 years, and co-leading teacher trainings for 12. A very long time! I can say, while my practice is ever-changing (how often I practice, styles I practice, frequency of practice, what I teach, how often I teach, involvement in the business etc), I have never once been bored. I credit this to my teachers and my teacher’s teachers, as well as the community of OTY for keeping the true essence of yoga at the core. Yes, yoga is physical practice. It is a form of exercise. But it is so much more and that is what always keeps it fresh and exciting. There is always more to learn and always more to explore. It is a practice of understanding yourself! And we (you) are never boring. Whether it is an advance training like this or a simple 60 minute class, there is so much to discover. The beauty of an advanced training is we really get to dig into the good stuff.
2. Yoga teacher training informs every aspect of my life, daily.
I loved yoga and found it beneficial before I ever enrolled in a teacher training program. It is a powerful and effective tool to navigate life and this body no matter how deep you dive. BUT! Like most things in life, the deeper you go, the more meaningful it is. Yoga classes are awesome, but let’s face it. You can only go so deep in an hour class. Taking the deeper dive in a training program gave me endless information! Yoga makes me more aware of my body in space. I have tools to help me move it in a healthy way, nurse injuries safely, makes my weightlifting form better and more mobile, and generally helps my posture and just makes life and getting around easier. The more I learn about poses and alignment, the more information I have on my body and how to age gracefully. Yoga teacher training also allowed me to dive into the philosophical aspects of yoga. Getting to teach yoga philosophy to others, year after year, just increases the knowledge and appreciation I have for the practice. Yoga philosophy has given me a roadmap for how to be kinder, more authentic, more honest, and more loving —with myself and others. Yoga teaches me how to move in the world more skillfully. And let’s face it, it ain’t easy out there! We need as much help as we can get! I take comfort knowing this practice has stood the test of time and has been helping humans for centuries.
3. Every year I do this, I get to see yoga transform people’s lives for the better.
I talk a lot about how yoga has helped my life. The beauty of sharing it with others is, I get to see how it positively impacts other peoples lives every day. Over the years, I have taught hundreds of people. Many of them not your “typical” yogi, and that is my favorite part! Yoga can help anyone, if they are brave enough to start. Leading teacher trainings has given me the gift of watching someone fall in love not just with the physical practice, but the many teachings yoga offers for life off the yoga mat. Plus, the community built is unlike any other. It is fun to watch the lifestyle click or friendships form. We say it is life changing, because it is!
4. If you are on the fence about doing a training, do it! But be discerning.
Want to teach yoga? Not sure? Know for a fact you never want to tech yoga, but are curious? GREAT! Yoga teacher training is for you. Very few YTT graduates end up teaching in a traditional yoga studio setting. Those that do teach/share, do it in many unique environments: gyms, work spaces, healthcare spaces, online, with friends/family, individual sessions, social media…I could go on and on. And even if you never “teach” a single person or class, the things you learn in a training setting will only improve your yoga practice, and your life, going forward. I have also learned that there is rarely a perfect time to do anything. If you are feeling the pull, it might just be the right time. If we wait for the perfect time under the perfect set of circumstances, that may not be coming.
Fun fact! When I embarked in yoga teacher training in 2008, I was almost certain I did not want to teach. I know Gabe felt the dame when she did hers. I am so grateful that I did the training and listened to that little (scared!) voice inside that said “maybe you should do this”. And look where that led! So, you never know what the future might bring.
I am biased, but One Tree yoga offers the best of the best training program around. It is comprehensive. You will learn yoga poses, alignment, yoga anatomy, philosophy. You will actually learn HOW to teach! Shockingly, this is not always the case in many programs. You will have experienced teachers guiding you who have made yoga their life’s work. Gabe and I are always doing some sort of continuing education to up our game. I am almost done with a year-long anatomy training and its been SO FUN. Yoga and this program IS fun! We laugh, we cry. You get to do a lot of yoga (the price of classes is included in training) and a lot of learning. It is a true “journey of the self” through the lens of this ancient practice. Gabe and I have spent the last 12 years developing, re-developing, and improving our curriculum. Trust me, the manual you receive in our YTT is pure yoga gold! Like most things out there, not all programs are created equally. So, do your due diligence when researching. Go take classes at the studio you are considering. Make sure it is a good fit.
We begin our 300-hour training September 11. I am really excited about the group we have shaping up. Our next round of 200-hour (where you typically begin) training will start in October or 2027, so don’t worry if you need to wait for that one. It’s a goodie too!
We love talking about our program, so if you have questions, please reach out!