6 Things to Know Before Starting Your Yin Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga is thought to have started around 3300-1500 BCE. In the early times, yoga focused more on the spiritual element than the movements themselves, but the core concept and beliefs have stayed the same after all these years. Yoga poses, known as asanas, have changed over time to keep up with the different ways yoga is being used.
If you’re interested in how yoga can be used to heal the mind and body, then yin yoga teacher training might be the right path for you. It might take some time to find the best yin yoga teacher training that suits your needs, but once you’ve completed the training, you’ll be ready to start teaching others how to embrace this slow-paced practice.
Keep reading to find out more about the six things you should know before starting your yin yoga teacher training journey.
1. Find the Right Training Program
It is crucial that you take the time and energy to properly research different training programs to ensure you pick one that is suited to your needs. You also need to make sure the training program is certified; otherwise, you will not be able to teach afterward.
Your personal needs will determine what course works for you. If you’re currently working full time, it doesn’t make sense to pick a course that requires you to complete all the training hours as quickly as possible. Some things you can look out for are self-paced yin yoga training courses.
If you do your research beforehand, you’ll have a smoother and more peaceful time, so you can devote yourself to your practice.
2. Understand the Elements of Yin Yoga
Just because you’ve attended a few yoga classes doesn’t mean you truly understand the elements of yin yoga. As you’re gearing up to take your teacher training, it’s important to understand how physical poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana) all work together. While these elements are present in all yoga practices, when it comes to yin yoga, they are implemented differently.
Asanas in yin yoga are passive floor poses that are held for long periods of time. There are various yin yoga asanas that are similar to Vinyasa asanas, but they mainly focus on releasing tension and allowing gravity to do the work for you.
When it comes to breathing techniques in yin yoga, you breathe from your diaphragm. You should try to exhale for twice as long as you inhale.
Since yin yoga is paced slower, there is a strong focus on meditation. When you start your practice, you need to set an intention for yourself and your practice. This allows you to be receptive to the experience, and you simply allow your feelings to be there.
Grounding yourself in the basics will help you take a step back and remember why you wanted to pursue this training.
3. Take a Step Back
Before you start your teacher training, it can be useful to take a break from your personal practice. This may sound counterintuitive, but teacher training can be draining physically and mentally. By taking a break, you’re allowing your body to rest and your mind to reset.
You also run the risk of injury if you’re still practicing close to the start of your teacher training.
4. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert
Just because you want to complete a yoga training course doesn’t mean you need to be an expert before you start. The goal of a yoga instructor isn’t to be able to hold the most difficult asanas; it’s to teach others.
While you’ll need to know the basics and need to be able to do some of the things you expect your class to do, the main thing a yoga instructor does is cueing.
The way you tell people what to do with their bodies and treat them with compassion is worth more than being able to do a handstand.
5. Set an Intention
When you start your practice, you’ll usually set an intention. When setting an intention, you’re bringing attention to the quality you want to cultivate for your practice both on and off of your mat.
So, you also want to set an intention for your teacher training. Whether you want to feel more at peace or grow your compassion, setting an intention will help you stay in touch with yourself throughout your training. When things get difficult, you can reflect back on the intention you set and how it made you feel.
6. Leave Your Expectations at the Door
When it comes to yin yoga, your ego can easily get in the way. If you set expectations for yourself before walking into your training, you’re setting yourself up to fail. Each day builds on what you learned the previous days, so there’s no need to compete with yourself or anyone else.
This will also help you embrace spontaneity, which will be helpful when you’re teaching. Yin yoga is all about adapting the poses to work for you, not forcing yourself into the pose.
Consider Yin Yoga Teacher Training
If you’re considering completing a yin yoga teacher training course, then you need to be armed with the right knowledge. It’s one thing to know all the poses, but you need to understand how yin yoga is used to heal both the mind and the body.
Loka Yoga School offers comprehensive residential and online international 200-hour yoga teacher training and 50-hour yin yoga teacher training. If you’re looking to get started on your yin yoga teacher training, then feel free to contact us today!
