FAQ about Yoga & Meditation Teacher Trainings with Konalani Yoga Ashram in Hawaii
Q.How do I become a Yoga Teacher/ Instructor?
A. Deciding to be a yoga teacher is a very personal choice. Starting to wonder if this is the right path for you is often the first step towards being a teacher. First, it’s important to focus on your own practice and your own growth. Second, you can enroll in Yoga Instructor Training, so that you have guidance, support, and a clear curriculum to help you grow and learn to teach. There are countless trainings to choose from, so it’s important to do your research, and make sure you feel a connection with the program you choose. Many instructors only teach one training per year or are even teaching their first training. Be sure to find out how much experience the teachers have specifically in leading trainings. Some people may be awesome yoga teachers, but that doesn’t mean they are prepared to be Yoga Teacher Trainers.
Q. How long do I need to practice before doing a Yoga Teacher Training?
A. Becoming a yoga teacher is a personal journey. Some people practice for 20 years before deciding to do a training, while some people are certain they must do it after 6 months of practice. “each one is best,” in other words, there is no right answer. If you are feeling called to deepen your practice, if you have the time and resources to do the training, and if you deeply wish to grow, then it may be time for you to do your yoga teacher training!
Q.How much experience do I need to become a Yoga Instructor?
A.There is no set answer. The most important element is the wish to learn, grow, and expand. In general students have at least two years of experience, but if you feel compelled to do a training there is no requirement beyond your own willingness to dive in to the practice and commit wholeheartedly.
Q.Can anyone do Yoga Teacher Training?
A.Yes, absolutely! We have had students from ages 13-75 with experience levels varying from brand new to yoga to practicing for over 30 years. You do not need to be able to do advanced yoga poses. All people have the capacity to tune inward, build their awareness, and guide others through that process. If you are newer to yoga or have been out of school for many years, the training might feel a little more challenging, but it is accessible to all who are willing to do the work. Sometimes people with less experience end up having an easier time because they have fewer bad habits!
Q.Can anyone become a Yoga Teacher?
A.Yes, absolutely! True yoga is a state of being that transcends age, ethnicity, intelligence, and flexibility. It is an experience of the inner self that is available to all who are willing to make the effort. One of the Shiva Sutras says “A Yogi is one who makes an effort.” If you are willing to try day after day to devote yourself to your practice than you are on your way to becoming a yoga teacher!
Q.Do I have to be flexible to become a yoga teacher?
A.Yoga is an internal state, it is not contingent on being able to force your body into certain shapes. Some people are intimidated to become a yoga teacher because they can’t do a headstand, or touch the floor in a forward fold, or do the splits. Yoga is not about any of those things, but rather the inner awareness one has as they move and breath. This is something anyone can learn and you may not feel like you have a whole lot of awareness yet. That’s okay, this training will help you build your inner awareness! You will feel more, develop more support, more balance, and those elements might naturally make you more flexible, not because that’s the goal, but because it is a natural byproduct of being present in your body and relaxing the nervous system.