Maybe you’re thinking about taking yoga teacher training, or perhaps you’ve officially enrolled. As the first session approaches, you may be wondering what to expect.
In any new situation, it’s helpful to know the different stages you’ll move through as you progress toward becoming a fully-realized yoga teacher.
#1 never excitement
⏰ Occurs pre-training and throughout first session
You fell in love with yoga and are ready to learn more. You know it will deepen your practice, and take you to the next level. Plus, there’s been this whisper to teach, and you’re finally heeding the call.
But you’re also secretly doubting your decision.
The timing, the investment, will the kids blow up the house while you’re gone. Or if you’re taking online yoga teacher training, hoping the kids won’t walk by the caera in their underwear.
Then the normal mind-litany: What will training be like? Can you really do this? Will anyone like you? Will you like any of the other teachers? What the hell have you gotten yourself into?
You see-saw between I’m nervous-I’m excited-I’m nervous-I’m excited.
#2 Deer in the headlights
⏰ Occurs somewhere between first and second training session
The first session ended and your brain is fried from new words, new ideas, and just how far your comfort zone is going to be stretched. The day after your first session, you’re exhausted and have a yoga teacher training hangover.
You get a glimpse of the effort (and homework?!?) it will take to complete the training. And now you’re seriously questioning your sanity.
Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you’re not meant to be a yoga teacher after all.
This is the wide-eyed stares of terror stage. Like sitting at base camp after you’ve agreed to climb Mt. Everest.
#3 overwhelmed
⏰ Occurs somewhere between 25-50% of training
This is when doubts surface. The requirements feel a bit like you’re in school again, and you were never a top-notch student. Words are rambling in your head and you’re not sure the difference between updog and downdog anymore.
You’re going to have to get in front of people and actually teach. Clearly you don’t know enough–that’s why you’re in teacher training. Who’s going to take yoga from you? No one’s going to be interested, no one’s going to show up.
And you still have so.much.homework left to complete.
There’s no way you’re going to finish everything. You have a life outside of yoga, and if you hear your teacher say “trust the process” one more time you’re going to scream.
#4 acceptance
⏰ Occurs somewhere toward last 25% of training
You want this, and you’re going to do it. It’s been hard, but you put your head down and kept checking off requirements one by one. You’re not there yet, but you’re closer than you were two months ago.
You’ve taught a few classes and you don’t suck as badly as you thought. You received some nice compliments and most have come back for another class. One or two have shared how much better they’re feeling or how well they’ve slept.
👉 That’s exactly why you wanted to become a yoga teacher.
#5 bittersweet joy
⏰ Occurs at the end of training
You did it; you completed training and were pretty good at it. There’s still a long way to go and so much more for you to learn, but you completed the first major step.
And you proved to yourself you could do it. It was everything you imagined it would be–and so much more.
You’re a different person than when you started. You’re surprised at the personal growth you experienced and are extremely happy you went through it. You understand the process and why it was necessary.
👉 When you get your picture snapped with your certificate–pure joy.
The cozy cocoon of training is over. You won’t be seeing your training buddies on a regular basis. Your mentor won’t be there to ask questions and calm your crazy fears. This is where the bitter comes in.
final thoughts on what to expect in YTT
I’m sharing Sutra 1.20 from the Yoga Sutras because it shows that even thousands of years ago, people struggled with these very stages.
“Through the faithful certainty in the path and directing energy towards the practices, repeated memory of the path and the process of stilling the mind, training and deep concentration and the pursuit of real knowledge, by which higher samadhi is attained.” –Swamij.com
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