Turning the System on Its Head

If you’ve decided that yoga teacher training is for you, you might be still in the process of deciding which program aligns best with your goals. (We wrote another post with four tips for finding the right program for you.)

And we’re here to give you something new to consider:

Where does my tuition money go?

For yoga studios that offer teacher training programs, their trainings are a major source of revenue. High quality and certified yoga teacher training programs are an investment, and many for-profit studios offer them to bring in a vital stream of income. Typically, that money goes right back into the studio to help pay for studio space rent and utilities, salaries, equipment, retail stock, and a myriad of other costs that go into running a successful business. This is the norm for the vast majority of yoga studios offering teacher training programs.

How is a nonprofit studio different?

Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville (BPYN) is special because it is offered through Small World Yoga, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization here in Nashville. The organization has a home base in its 17th Avenue studio space, where it offers a full schedule of $5 donation-based classes to the public, but it started as and continues to thrive as a vast outreach initiative, bringing free yoga to traditionally underserved sectors of the Nashville community. A legion of almost 200 dedicated yoga teachers create connection in locations all over the city, including schools, women’s recovery centers, prisons, libraries, senior living facilities, and more.

The first and only of its kind in the city, Small World Yoga is funded primarily through foundations. This level of support allows the studio to offer $5 studio classes for students who may be unable or unwilling to pay $15 or even $30 for a class elsewhere—with zero compromise in quality. Additionally, this foundational support means 100% of your tuition dollars for the BPYN training program go directly back into your community. Just as students’ presence in our studio supports our outreach, your participation in our teacher training means putting a kindergartener, an inmate, a senior, a single mother, on a yoga mat for free.

It’s more than a studio—it’s a calling to connect people and create community by increasing access to yoga.

What about the yoga teacher supply vs. demand problem?

It’s true that the yoga industry is exploding across the country—you only have to scroll through Instagram to see what seems like everyone and their mother striking tree pose in front of street art or famous landmarks, or look around your neighborhood at the prolific number of studios, seemingly as plentiful as Starbucks, to see this booming industry in full swing.

Yoga teacher trainings also seem to be on the rise nation-wide. A single studio can produce upwards of forty graduates in a single program, and with that comes an inevitable question: Aren’t there more teachers than there are slots to teach?

The short answer is yes.

There is no guarantee at most studios that its teacher training graduates will be able to instruct there. But if the studio has several avenues for teaching, such as satellite studios or outreach locations, you stand a much greater chance of being able to put your investment to good use. Since Small World Yoga has an ever-expanding list of outreach locations in addition to its studio classes, it’s in the rather unique position of always keeping its doors open for more teachers. And as BPYN graduates will have already been steeped in Small World Yoga’s mission, they will be best equipped to lead in these locations.

Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville guarantees you a teaching opportunity, where you can make a real difference, after you graduate. What other programs can say that?

And all of this without a decrease in quality?

There’s a common notion that because of budgetary constraints, nonprofits have to make compromises in quality. While that is sometimes true, it is remarkably far from the truth at Small World Yoga. To start, BPYN leaders Liz Veyhl and Chris Byford are pillars of the Nashville yoga community. If your main criteria for a yoga teacher training program is that the teachers are top-notch, look no further. Their awards, credentials, and experience are some of the most extensive in the area. Additionally, BPYN is as legit as it gets. Our certified teacher training program is registered with the Yoga Alliance, affiliated with the Baptiste Institute, and is the first US-based nonprofit organization and studio affiliate of Baptiste Yoga. This program means rigorous, transformative, and meaningful work. It creates empowered leaders who impact the world.

Small World Yoga and Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville allow you to be a part of something bigger.

Four Tips for Finding the Right Yoga Teacher Training Program for you

You’ve decided to take the plunge and complete your 200-hour yoga teacher training—congrats!

But perhaps you haven’t committed to a specific program. There are so many to pick from with different styles, focuses, teachers, reading materials, philosophies; how do you know which one to choose?

Always come back to your “why.”

Why do you want to complete yoga teacher training? Do you want to be a yoga teacher? (It might sound like an obvious answer, but many students complete training to deepen their practice or explore a certain yoga philosophy, and not necessarily to teach. So consider whether you’re one of those students, or if you do plan to teach.) And if you do plan to teach, what kind of teacher do you want to be? Do you want to explore a specific style or philosophy of yoga? Do you want to teach a certain population (seniors, children, pregnant women, etc.)? Are you more interested in the physical asana, the history and philosophy of yoga, self inquiry, assisting, meditation, or all of the above? Some trainings are more general and broad, and others are more focused and narrow. Getting clear about what you want out of your training will help you determine which program is right for you.

Compare and contrast different programs.

You might not know what you want (or don’t want) until you see it. So start researching different programs in your area, reading through the information on their websites, and maybe even making a list of things you like (or don’t) from each program. It’ll be easier to compare once you distill the programs into their essentials: the style of yoga it teaches, tuition, head instructors, the goals of training, etc. A program’s offerings might start speaking to you once you read it; maybe they focus on yoga anatomy, and that’s always fascinated you. Oh, and make sure the program you’re considering is certified with the Yoga Alliance.

Ask a teacher you admire.

Chances are, you’ve had a yoga teacher who has inspired you at some point in your life. Many students begin their yoga teacher training journey after being inspired or encouraged by an influential teacher. If that’s the case for you, see if you can catch them after class one day and ask them where they completed their training. You might not be able to do their program, but that can point you down a certain path of a specific style or focus. If your favorite teacher is trained in hatha yoga, then that style might be what you’re drawn to and what you’d like to train in. The teacher can also give you more specific information about local programs and what they think might be a good fit for you.

Consider your schedule and wallet.

Once you start to narrow down your choices, consider firstly what program structure will work best for you. Does your schedule allow you to attend training after work? Weekends only? Think about whether you’d prefer to complete your training over the course of several months, or whether you’d rather hash it all out in a couple weeks. Some people prefer the immersive program where they have multiple months to let the teaching and readings sink in, while others prefer the fast pace of an intensive program. Secondly, investigate whether the program offers financing options.

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Ultimately, you can’t go wrong if you’ve chosen a certified program that resonates with you, whether that’s because the lead instructors inspire you, or the style is right up your alley, or the caliber of teachers the program produces is what you aspire to become.

Good luck on your journey!

It’s Not the Years, It’s the Mileage

As the phrase goes, “it’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” That’s what 21 years in the Army did to me after retiring. Those 21 years did a serious number on my back. This is what started my journey into yoga. I was a later bloomer into yoga, starting in my 40s. I really wish I had started at a much younger age, especially seeing the massive benefits it offers.

 My journey into teaching yoga began with working six years at a thankless government job. I came home one day to tell my wife how unhappy I was. She was totally unaware of my unhappiness. She asked me what did make me happy? I told her, “I like yoga,” which she then asked me if I had ever thought about teaching? I was both an Army recruiter and instructor while I was serving so standing in front of people and talking wasn’t a far stretch for me. This is what set me on my path to finding the emPower School of Yoga after doing an internet search of local schools. I also had a local yoga teacher who had talked about Baptiste power flow, so she suggested taking a class at Shakti. This was my first introduction to Liz Veyhl and Chris Byford. I knew I had found the right teachers after taking both of their classes. They both spoke of empowerment and community, which really resonated with me. I really loved the physicality of the power flow too. I also learned a hard lesson about not eating a tuna fish sandwich an hour before class. I definitely had to take child’s pose half way through a 75-minute flow before anything came up. It was also a lesson in letting go of the ego. I consider myself a strong person, but I had never sweated so much even running a half marathon. I knew I was hooked.

One of the biggest and most life-changing surprises during the eight weekends of teacher training was the self-inquiry work. I had no idea that we would be peeling back so many past layers of our emotions/experiences, which transitioned into self-realizations. Oftentimes these self-realizations involved tears. I felt myself opening up to my fellow students as they poured their hearts out. My favorite part of emPower is the lifelong friends I now have. We started off as 31 individuals, but after 200 hours of hard work and pouring our hearts out to each other, we ended up as a family. I also really enjoyed learning how to safely assist a student’s practice.

These are a few nuggets of knowledge I would tell myself before the training:

1. The teachers know what they are doing so trust in the process.

2. I don’t need to know everything beforehand.

3. It is all right to let go.

4. HAVE FUN!!!

5. You will be physically exhausted so take care of yourself (eat healthy and get lots of rest).

6. Bring a change of clothes and personal hygiene items because you will get sweaty every day of training.

7. Have lunch with someone different each day of training.

Upon graduating, I started teaching at a local studio in Clarksville. This has now transitioned into teaching at four different studios and three non-profit organizations. I love to teach yoga because I love to empower my students.

emPower School of Yoga has been life changing in such a positive way. It has been the catalyst for a new way of living (a new way of being). I used to have to always be right and prove others that they were wrong. This caused me such angst and only fed my insecurities that I wasn’t man enough. I am a more loving and open person thanks to emPower and their fantastic trainers/facilitators. If you are looking for a yoga teacher training that teaches a fantastic power flow, gives you tools for a more loving life, and helps you build lifelong friends all while having a great time, then look no further than emPower.

Follow me on Instagram @danthemanyoga!

Why RYT?

What is RYT?

RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher, and RYS is a Registered Yoga School. These distinctions are only provided by Yoga Alliance, the largest nonprofit association representing the yoga community and which sets national credibility standards for yoga teacher training.

RYT 200 refers to a teacher who has completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance. RYT 500 means they've done 500 hours, and an "E" before the distinction, such as E-RYT 200, means they're an "experienced" RYT 200, having completed their 200 hours of training and having taught a minimum of two years after completing training.

RYT 200 is most students' starting point, and you can complete additional training to stack on top of your 200 hours if you choose. In other words, you don't have to do an RYT 500 program from the get-go if that number of hours is your ultimate goal; you can do a 200-hour program, then a 300-hour program (even from a different RYS) later if you wish.

The distinction means you can walk into pretty much any gym or yoga studio where you want to teach, and they know immediately that you've met national standards and followed a comprehensive course of study.

Many gyms and studios require their yoga teachers to be an RYT, but it's not always a requirement. So why should you complete your yoga teacher training through an RYS?

Curriculum of RYT 200

Yoga Alliance has set a pre-defined curriculum for Registered Yoga Schools so students receive a comprehensive education. There is flexibility within this structure, but schools must teach these five Educational Categories for RYT 200 training:

• Techniques, Training and Practice (100 hours)
• Yoga Philosophy/Ethics/Lifestyle (30 hours)
• Teaching Methodology (25 hours)
• Anatomy & Physiology (20 hours)
• Practicum (10 hours)

That totals to 185 hours, and schools have some wiggle room with those remaining 15 hours, to be allocated at their discretion based on their training’s focus. Some schools may be more philosophy-based, strength training-based, or focused on a particular yogic style (e.g., Ashtanga, hatha, kundalini, etc.).

That's why it's important when you're researching different training programs to read their curriculum online and find a program that fits your goals and style. Not all RYT programs are the same.

Benefits of RYT

Once you complete a 200-hour teacher training program from an RYS, you are eligible to register for your 200-hour certification through Yoga Alliance. Your membership with Yoga Alliance allows you access to a number of benefits to support your work and daily life, including discounts, workshops, and scholarships.

Is RYT for me?

If you know that the place you want to teach after yoga teacher training requires RYT, then you need to complete training through an RYS. If you don't know where you want to teach, it would still be wise to complete training through an RYS. That way, even if you end up teaching at a location that doesn't require RYT, you've still received a well-rounded curriculum and you can still teach at an RYT-required location later.

Non-RYT training limits your options for where you can teach. On the other hand, RYT training allows you to teach anywhere, even if they don't require it. Plus, you don't have to register with Yoga Alliance once you've completed your RYT 200, so there's no additional cost or risk to completing training through an RYS.

Learn more about RYT and Yoga Alliance.