Choosing the Right Yoga Teacher Training in Glasgow, Scotland for You

Choosing a yoga teacher training is a big decision.

There are lots of different courses available, with different teaching styles, course structures, durations, prices and approaches to yoga. So how do you know which one is right for you?

The answer isn't necessarily to find the most expensive course, the shortest course, or even the one with the longest list of qualifications attached to it. It's about finding a training that fits you.

Your reasons for wanting to study yoga, the way you like to learn, the style of yoga you connect with, the teachers you want to learn from and the kind of experience you want to have all matter.

Before you start comparing courses, take some time to think about what you're actually looking for.

Start with your why

The first question to ask yourself is straightforward:

Why do I want to do yoga teacher training?

Perhaps you've been practicing yoga for years and you've reached a point where you want to share the it with other people.

Maybe you've found that yoga has supported you through a particular period of your life and you'd like to explore how you might offer that experience to others.

There is also something deeply rewarding about supporting other people. Research into prosocial behaviour suggests that helping others can be associated with positive emotions, social connection and a sense of wellbeing. For many people, the opportunity to support others becomes an important part of why they are drawn towards teaching.

But you don't have to know that you want to teach.

You may simply feel that you've been going to yoga classes for a while and you're beginning to realise there is so much more to explore.

You might want to understand the philosophy behind the practice, learn more about anatomy and physiology, explore pranayama and meditation, or discover more about the history and traditions of yoga.

You may have questions that your weekly class doesn't have time to answer.

And that's enough of a reason to begin.

You don't need to arrive at the start of a teacher training with a perfectly formed plan for your future. Sometimes you can simply arrive with curiosity, an open mind and an open heart and see where the learning takes you.

Think about what you want to learn

Yoga is much more than asana, the physical postures.

When you're looking at different teacher training courses, take some time to look beyond the timetable of physical practice and find out what else you'll be studying.

Are you interested in yoga philosophy?

Do you want to understand more about pranayama, meditation or anatomy?

Are you curious about the history of yoga and the traditions from which modern yoga has developed?

Perhaps you've heard of the yamas and niyamas and want to understand how these teachings might relate to modern life.

The yamas and niyamas are two of the eight limbs described in Patanjali's yoga system. The yamas relate to ethical principles in our relationship with others, while the niyamas relate to personal observances and our relationship with ourselves.

These teachings can open up much bigger questions about how we live, communicate, behave and relate to ourselves and other people.

So when you're comparing courses, ask yourself what you want to take away from the training.

Do you want to learn how to teach yoga classes, or are you looking for a deeper exploration of yoga as a whole?

Consider which style of yoga resonates with you

There are many different approaches to yoga, and teacher training courses can reflect very different styles and traditions.

Think about the practices you already enjoy.

If you love slow, gentle and inclusive yoga, you may want to find a training that reflects those qualities.

If you prefer a dynamic and fluid practice, you might be drawn towards a training with a strong Vinyasa focus.

Perhaps you're interested in both Vinyasa and Yin, or you want to explore how different styles can complement each other.

There isn't a right or wrong answer here.

The important thing is finding a training that feels connected to the kind of yoga you enjoy and the kind of teacher you might eventually want to become.

It's also worth looking beyond the name of the course. Two courses may both describe themselves as 200-hour yoga teacher trainings, but the actual content and experience can be very different.

Read the curriculum carefully and find out what you'll actually be studying.

Who will be teaching you?

This is one of the most important things to consider.

A teacher training is an investment in the people who will be teaching you, so spend some time finding out who they are.

What is their experience?

How long have they been teaching?

What other training have they undertaken?

What is their approach to yoga?

How do they teach?

And perhaps most importantly, do you connect with them?

Teaching a yoga class and facilitating a teacher training are different skills. You're going to be learning from these people for many months, and possibly forming relationships that continue well beyond the training itself.

If the teachers are local to you, go to their classes.

Experience how they teach.

Notice how they communicate, how they hold space and how they make you feel in the room.

You can learn a lot about someone from being in one of their classes.

Think about the length and structure of the course

Not all 200-hour trainings are structured in the same way.

Some courses are intensive and take place over a relatively short period. Others are spread over many months or a full year.

Think about which approach is going to work best for you.

If you want to qualify quickly and can commit to an intensive period of study, a shorter course may suit you.

If you're working, have a family or other commitments, a longer course over weekends may be easier to manage.

There can also be something valuable about allowing your learning to unfold slowly.

When a training is spread over a longer period, you have time between modules to practise what you've learned, reflect on it, ask questions, complete assignments and allow the information to become part of your own experience.

Yoga teacher training isn't only about learning information. It's about taking that information onto the mat and beginning to understand it through your own experience.

Be realistic about the commitment

Before you enrol, look honestly at how much time you have available.

A yoga teacher training isn't something you attend at the weekend and then forget about until the next module.

There may be reading, written work, practice teaching, self-practice and assignments alongside the taught sessions.

There's also the personal side of the process.

Teacher training can invite you to look more closely at yourself, your habits, your beliefs, your communication and the way you relate to other people.

You may be challenged.

You may discover things about yourself that you hadn't expected.

You may find yourself questioning things you've previously taken for granted.

This is part of what can make the experience so meaningful, but it's worth understanding before you begin.

Ask yourself:

Do I have the time and space in my life to commit to this properly?

In person or online?

Think about how you learn best.

Would you prefer to be physically in a room with your teachers and fellow trainees?

Do you value practicing together, observing other people teaching and having conversations face to face?

Or would an online course give you the flexibility you need?

Neither option is automatically right or wrong. Think about what you need from the learning environment and what will help you get the most from the experience.

If you're looking at a local yoga teacher training in Glasgow, consider visiting the studio before you commit. Get a feel for the space and the people who teach there.

What are the values of the training school?

You're not only choosing a course.

You're choosing the people and environment you're going to spend a significant amount of time learning within.

Take a look at the training school itself.

What does it stand for?

What are its values?

Does it have a clear philosophy or approach to teaching?

What kind of yoga community is it trying to create?

And do those values align with your own?

This matters because teacher training can influence much more than your ability to teach a class. The people you learn from can influence the way you think about yoga, teaching, community and your own practice.

Find somewhere where you feel that you can learn and be yourself.

Consider the support you'll receive

A 200-hour qualification is a foundation. It isn't the end of your learning.

So find out what support is available during the training and after you qualify.

Will you receive feedback on your teaching?

Is there mentoring?

Will you have opportunities to practise teaching?

Can you ask questions between modules?

Is there a community of other trainees?

What happens once the course finishes?

Does the training offer ongoing mentorship or continuing professional development?

And if you want to teach professionally, is there any support around the business side of yoga?

Learning how to teach is one part of becoming a yoga teacher. Learning how to navigate your first years as a teacher is another.

Look carefully at the cost

Yoga teacher training is a significant financial investment, so it's important to understand exactly what you're paying for.

Courses can vary considerably in price.

The cheapest course isn't necessarily the best choice, but the most expensive course isn't automatically the best either.

Look at the whole picture.

What is included in the cost?

How much is the deposit?

Do you have to pay in full?

Is there a payment plan?

Are there additional costs for books, assessment, retreats or other parts of the programme?

What are the cancellation and refund arrangements?

Most importantly, does the course offer the kind of learning experience, teaching, support and community that you're looking for?

Think about the value of the whole experience rather than simply comparing the headline price.

Read the information and ask questions

Before you commit, read everything the training school provides.

Look carefully at the website.

Read the course information.

Check the frequently asked questions.

Look at the timetable and curriculum.

Find out what is expected of you.

And if you still have questions, ask.

A good training provider should be happy to have a conversation with you before you enrol.

If the training is local to you, you could ask whether you can arrange a call, meet for a coffee or attend a class with one of the tutors.

Don't be afraid to ask the questions that matter to you.

You're making a significant commitment of your time, energy and money, so you should feel comfortable with your decision.

Trust the feeling you get when you find the right course

There is a lot of practical information to consider when choosing a yoga teacher training, but there is also something to be said for how a place feels.

Does the training resonate with you?

Do you connect with the teachers?

Does the philosophy of the school make sense to you?

Can you see yourself learning in that environment?

Do you feel curious about what you're going to discover?

Choosing a yoga teacher training isn't about finding the course that everyone else says is the best.

It's about finding the course that is right for you.

You may begin your search knowing exactly what you want.

Or you may simply know that something is drawing you towards a deeper exploration of yoga.

Either is fine.

You don't need to have all the answers before you begin.

Sometimes the most important thing you can bring to a yoga teacher training is curiosity, a willingness to learn and an open mind.

And if you choose a training that gives you the time, space, support and guidance to explore those things, you may find that the journey becomes much more than learning how to teach yoga.

It may change the way you practise, the way you teach and the way you understand yourself.

You can learn more about Meridian’s 200 Hour Yoga Teacher training in Glasgow here.