Why 200 Hours?

I get asked this a lot. Is a 200 Hour training really necessary? Why 200 Hours? Is that even enough?

If you’ve been practicing yoga for any length of time, you have probably heard someone say, “You should do a teacher training”

Here are 10 points to consider when thinking about doing a deeper dive into yoga.

1. A Teacher Training (at least our teacher training) is less about becoming a teacher than it is about finding your own inner teacher. When else will you give yourself that many hours for the luxury of Self-Discovery? About half of the people that come into our trainings do so with no intention of teaching. They love yoga, and want to learn more than what they can learn in a one hour class.
2. Teacher Training is community. You find yourself in a room full of people you’d probably never interact with otherwise. Some of them push your buttons, and you learn that those people have the most to teach you about yourself. Some of them become your lifelong friends, people who know more about you than even your family.
3. In a 200 Hour program, you will find out quickly that the asana (poses) are just a small part of what yoga really is.
4. There will come a moment when you realize you do want to teach. Maybe just to friends and family, or just a partner. But you will notice a desire emerging to pass on what you are learning. In our program, we require you to teach early on, because what you teach, you learn.
5. 200 Hours is barely a scratch on the surface of all there is to know about yoga. But it’s a great place to start. You might find that your questions were answered, and you will walk away satisfied that you have a better understanding of your practice. And…you might walk away determined to keep going. Up next, the 300 Hour!
6. A 200 Hour program is NOT enough to make someone a great teacher. That takes practice. After you finish, you will begin logging your hours with Yoga Alliance. I just logged my 10,000th teaching hour! The more you pass on what you have learned, the more YOU learn.
7. I think one of the most important things you learn is appreciation for the human body you inhabit, and how to keep it safe. In our training, we spend 40 of the 200 hours studying anatomy and alignment. We spend a day at a human cadaver lab, and our students come away in awe of how amazing our bodies are. They come away knowing how to keep their students safe, and how to make yoga a YES for everyone. Side note…I have been a guest instructor in four other programs, and all four of them provide exactly ZERO time on anatomy. Make sure to ask about hour breakdown when you’re researching programs. This is a biggie.
8. If you’re still rolling up one vertebrae at a time, if you’re still doing the chest dive in chcaturanga, if you’ve been told to square your shin to the top of the mat in pigeon, get yourself into our TT. It’s 2020, and we know better.
9. Every single area in your life will improve as a result of doing a 200 Hour program. You will look at your relationships, your work, your health, your past and your future through new lenses. We spend time on helping you create and declare your “Stand”, what you’re up to in the world. And we don’t let you play small once you have declared it. It’s pretty cool what you can be when you get out of your own way!
10. You’re worth the investment. You’re worth taking the time, and the money to grow and pursue something you love. We’re here for you when you’re ready to say YES!