What Should One Keep in Mind Before Going for a Yoga Teacher Training Course in the Corona pandemic?
The Corona pandemic has really put things in perspective. Not only is it teaching us what is really important in life, but it is also pushing us to find new ways to do old things. The same has happened to yoga teacher training. In-person yoga teaching has definitely taken a big hit due to COVID. The people who would be most affected are those who will take the yoga teacher training course in the pandemic. They will be learning in a new way. That is either online or through in-person classes with social distancing. Thus, they would not only be learning in a new or less common but also teaching in an absolutely new way. They must be quite apprehensive about their future. But just as people in every profession are adapting, so will aspiring yoga teachers and teacher trainers.
What Types of Yoga Classes You Can Consider
Before the pandemic, it was quite easy to conduct research on what kind of YTTC you should take. But, the corona situation is new. Thus, information is also limited. It has become somewhat difficult to judge what kind of yoga classes would suit you. Taking recommendations is also hard. Enough people have not yet tried every option to garner sufficient reviews. That is why it is best to know all the options you have right now. You can always take suggestions, but at the end of the day, the final decision should be yours.
As wild as it may sound, online yoga classes were prevalent and quite popular even before the pandemic. While most people preferred in-person classes, online classes were a godsend for many. Many had busy schedules, many had to fit in classes between their job or college, many had to look after their family. The reasons were plenty. It is with the pandemic that online classes have gained prominence. There are different media options to conduct these classes. The four most common ways are:
- Live-stream – Live-steam yoga classes are the newest crop of virtual classes in the market. After in-person classes had to be suspended at the beginning of the pandemic, the Yoga Alliance asked schools to live-stream classes. As a result, RYSs started offering online classes over live-streaming video applications like Zoom and Skype. This is the closest to an in-person class that any form of a virtual class can get. This is also the only type of online yoga class that needs to actually maintain a schedule.
- Pre-recorded Video – When people say online yoga class, this is what they mean mostly. It is the most popular form of virtual yoga classes available. Teachers record themselves giving instructions and performing yoga. They also provide study material and chat options in case someone gets stuck.
- PDF – This is not the best way to take yoga teacher training, but it does exist. The customers for this method are less in number and mostly niche. Here, the teacher uses a sequence builder software application to create sequences of the asanas, pranayama and other exercises along with instructions. They then convert the material to PDF format and sell it as a bundle. You might consider taking classes this way if you cannot commit to a schedule for any reason.
- Audio – Yoga teacher training classes via audio is also a thing. Teachers record all instructions and information and upload them to the platform. You can download the classes one at a time or all together, as you want. Many prefer audio classes as they are not as static as PDF and do have running instructions. But they are also not as costly as video classes.
The only drawback of these methods, except the first one, is that none of them has the approval of the Yoga Alliance.
What to Keep in Mind When You Take Yoga Teacher Training in Corona pandemic
No one was prepared for such a drastic change in circumstances the world over. But since it is how it is now, the only thing we can do is accommodate. It is important to keep things moving, now more than ever. That is why it is important for people to remember a few things when they are taking online yoga teacher training. These are as follows:
- Do not choose a class just because everyone else is raving about it. Remember, learning a very hands-on activity like yoga virtually is difficult. There will be hurdles and you are the only one who knows your limitations best. So keep your strengths and weaknesses in mind before zeroing in on an online YTTC.
- It is natural that the level of expertise you will gain will not be as good as with an in-person course. Do not feel disheartened. You have the liberty to take more than one of the same course, maybe even through different media. There is no shame in not being able to keep up.
- You should be ready to embrace technology wholeheartedly. Whether you are taking your YTTC or teaching yourself, technology will play a big part in your course or career. Be eager to learn to combine yoga with technology wholeheartedly.
- Communication and transparency are of the utmost importance these days. It is not possible for the person on the other side of the screen to know what you are feeling. You have to take the first step in letting them know. If you let your inhibitions reign, you might not be able to benefit from the YTTC to its full potential.
- Be kind and compassionate. Remember, everyone is new to this. Everyone is in great stress and anxiety these days – teachers and students alike. Both sides must try their best to empathize with each other and forgive minor mistakes.
Learning from the Right Place is Also Important
Most yoga teacher training centres are, undoubtedly ill-prepared for online yoga teacher training. If you want to learn yoga in India with safety but also with quality, a yoga teacher training school that knows what it is doing is your best bet. The school should be technologically equipped, besides having expert teachers. That is why, if you are choosing a school for yoga in India, Aadi Yoga School is the best choice. Many students have already taken our classes and are looking forward to a scintillating career in yoga teaching ahead.