Thinking about Yoga Teacher Training? Read this first

It's late summer, and I've been seeing lots and lots of advertisements for Fall 200 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings. Maybe you are considering signing up for one. I know the feeling--you've been practicing yoga for a while, maybe it's even changed your life, and now you want to bump your commitment up a notch. The time feels right to commit and immerse yourself more than is possible in 90 minute classes and the occasional workshop, and teacher training appears to be the logical next step. Maybe for you, it is! I'll be the first to admit TT was one of the most growth filled, healing, positive experiences of my life. I just wish I'd been prepared for what happened after I got my certificate. If you don't ever have the intention of actually teaching, you can probably skip over this post; however, if you are like me and your yoga-colored glasses are at a nice day-glo shade of rose, you might want to take heed.

Here is my list of things I wish I'd known when I made the choice to become a yoga teacher, as well as a few tips if you are still gung ho:

1. Have some experience practicing yoga (pro tip: yoga is more than asana). I thought this was obvious, and then recently attended an informational meeting for a training I am considering. A person signed up who had only taken a handful of classes. Again--if you are taking the training with no intention to teach right away, this doesn't apply to you. All I know is this: $18 is a lot of money to spend on a drop-in class, so you can bet I'm going to make sure I'm getting my money's worth.
2. Find a teacher you actually like and respect, and who has a life outside of yoga. Ideally, this teacher shows you their faults every now and again, and can actually speak from experience. Even more importantly, this person can own up when they make a mistake. Be very weary of falling prey to a cult of personality or lifting someone onto a pedestal: you will eventually be disappointed. Just because someone can stand on their hands for ten minutes or throw their leg behind their head like it ain't no thang does not actually mean anything other than that they are flexible.
3. Perhaps you've found *your* teacher and they start talking about the upcoming training. Let's incorporate some critical thinking, yes? YTT is yoga teachers' bread and butter. I'd be willing to wager that often, the instructors are not actually invested in whether or not you ever become a teacher. This is another reason it is important to have an actual relationship with a teacher before you sign up. You want to study with someone who sees the value you will bring as a teacher and  uncover that value with the proper tools. Otherwise you run the risk of being a walking dollar sign.
4. Yoga is many things; if you choose to teach, one of the things yoga will become is business. Find out how much of the training is devoted to teaching you how to navigate the business aspect of teaching yoga. There is a lot more to teaching yoga for a living than waltzing in and teaching class a few times per week. Which leads me to my next tip:
5. Make sure there are systems in place to support new teachers. That might be mentoring with an experienced teacher. It might mean opportunities to practice-teach and get feedback.  If there is no indication that you will be supported after you graduate, I say run. 
6. Don't quit your day job. Ever. I hate to break it to you, but you probably won't start teaching right away. Scratch that-you DEFINITELY won't start teaching right away. The day might come where you are able to survive off teaching, but until that happens you will probably need something at least part time to cover your butt. The burrito budget only goes so far before you start fantasizing about the stability of your previous cubicle life.
7. When you do start teaching, don't get attached to teaching at a studio. Volunteer. Teach at gyms. Grow your skill in an environment where the expectations are lower and you can close the gap on the learning curve without any unnecessary pressure. 
8. Yoga teachers are not doctors, nutritionists, therapists, etc. I repeat, THINK CRITICALLY. If your yoga teacher says something weird that raises those little hairs on the back of your neck or makes you feel queasy in your gut, LISTEN to those messages. 
9. Supplement your knowledge. 200 hours does not make you an expert at anything. Read, take trainings and workshops across different disciplines, and be curious about different methods outside your chosen style of yoga. 
10. Most importantly! Feed your own practice. Continue to study and learn. Get support if you feel stuck. So many teachers start teaching, and stop practicing. Now that you are teaching, people will look to you as a source of knowledge and it's important that you stay connected to your center. Otherwise, you will forget why you ever set out to teach in the first place, or worse, you'll let it go to your head.

If you are SERIOUS about becoming a yoga teacher, please do yourself a favor and approach finding a teacher training the way you would approach going to graduate school. Would you enroll at a university where all the teachers had nothing but weekend certifications? Didn't think so. Do your research. Read testimonials--and not just the ones the studio uses to market the damn thing.  Enjoy the experience, and, keep your feet on the earth. I learned the hard way, so hopefully you won't have to.