| Recently, I spoke to a Yoga teacher intern about | | | | exam should be a measurement of what a Yoga |
| Yoga teacher training correspondence courses. He | | | | teacher should know. |
| had six years of formal training with a master Yoga | | | | 3) There might also be, at least, one essay. For |
| teacher (Guru), and currently, lives outside of North | | | | example: You might pick a health topic to write about |
| America. This interview will help to put some light on | | | | for your essay (3 pages - typed). It could be an |
| Yoga teacher training by correspondence. | | | | overview of Yoga, and its relationship to health, or it |
| Q: Will a Yoga teacher training correspondence | | | | could be Yoga and its relationship to a specific ailment. |
| package make me competent enough to teach | | | | 4) Once you have your Yoga lesson plan template, |
| Yoga? This is bearing in mind that, at this time, I do not | | | | you can start to refine it for your practical exam |
| have access to a local Yoga instructor, who can | | | | (video or DVD). As far as VCD's, or DVD's, make |
| supervise my Yoga teacher training? | | | | sure the examiner can read any format - from any |
| A: Yes, your past experience will help, but the Yoga | | | | part of the world. |
| teacher training course must be entirely complete, and | | | | 5) In your Yoga course, there should also be a number |
| if you wanted to send an early pre-exam video, or | | | | of continuing education resources, for Yoga teachers. |
| DVD, to monitor your progress the director of Yoga | | | | You should not get side tracked by these during the |
| teacher training should review for free, or for a small | | | | Yoga certification process. Therefore, focus on your |
| fee. | | | | Yoga teacher written exam, the essay, and the |
| A mirror, camera, and audio recorder also make great | | | | practical exam first - and in that order. |
| learning tools for monitoring your progress, while you | | | | Q: What Yoga teacher training level should I start from, |
| prepare to become a Yoga teacher. | | | | and how do I proceed to the next Yoga teacher |
| Do not judge yourself too harshly. This is a common | | | | levels? |
| reaction, when we record anything we do. When you | | | | A: You should start with a Level 1, 200-hour minimum, |
| can get by our own self-criticism; you will be on the | | | | Yoga teacher training course. |
| path to become a Yoga teacher. | | | | Q: Are there additional costs in correspondence Yoga |
| Within your Yoga teacher training course, there should | | | | teacher courses, which I need to be aware before I |
| be step-by-step instructions, numerous Yoga | | | | start the training, so that I can factor them in? |
| resources, and you should also be guided in the | | | | For International Yoga teacher interns, the only |
| direction of additional Yoga teaching resources. | | | | additional cost should be, shipping, and if customs |
| In fact, any time you have a question, you should be | | | | charges an Import Fee, on educational materials. |
| able to send an email and receive a timely reply. It is | | | | However, you should always ask about extra fees; |
| also good if you can get answers over the phone. | | | | just to be sure. |
| Q: On receipt of Yoga correspondence course | | | | Q: I have developed a strong awareness of the |
| material how do I proceed with my Yoga teacher | | | | benefits of Yoga. There are no Yoga teachers in my |
| training? What do I need to have in order to fully | | | | locality. Can my Yoga training develop my awareness |
| benefit from the Yoga instructor training material? | | | | into a life long career, as a Yoga instructor? |
| A: Upon receipt of your Yoga training course material, | | | | A: To be honest - Yoga teacher certification is only |
| you should receive step-by-step instructions - | | | | the first step in the journey of teaching Yoga. As you |
| however, let's go over the highlights of a typical Yoga | | | | progress - you will either do independent research or |
| teacher certification course. | | | | take more Yoga courses. |
| 1) You would want to focus on your written exam first. | | | | This is the way it is for all Yoga teachers. Most of the |
| If you had a 900 page Yoga book to read, for the | | | | time, we tend to focus on finding answers and helping |
| written exam; set a goal of reading a realistic amount | | | | our Yoga students, who have ailments. As a result, |
| of pages each day. For example: if you were to read | | | | you will most likely research Yoga techniques for |
| 10 pages per day - within 3 months - you should have | | | | helping your students. |
| your written exam complete. | | | | When it is possible to train with other Yoga teachers |
| 2) You should have developed a complete lesson plan | | | | again; take advantage of the opportunity. You will |
| for your Yoga class within the material of your written | | | | much better off by networking with the nearest Yoga |
| exam. As harsh as this may sound: Essay exams will | | | | teachers, who teach a similar Yoga style. |
| teach you more. | | | | You should also maintain contact with your Guru, even |
| Multiple choice or true / false exams are a "process of | | | | if the only method of contact is by post. Life is as |
| elimination," and over the long-term, the facts you learn | | | | short as an "eye blink" and your Guru would be proud |
| may be easily forgotten. A Yoga teacher written | | | | to know you have chosen this path. |