There are many ways to become a yoga teacher. In this article we will try to help those of you who are doubting whether to choose a residential or a non-residential yoga teacher training.
There are many different types of yoga teacher trainings to pick from. The most common road to becoming a yoga teacher is the foundational 200 hour yoga instructor training, which sets a foundation for your teaching journey. This is also the international standard to be qualified as a yoga teacher. From this foundation, many other types of yoga teacher courses can be added to further specialize your teaching skills.
Read more: The difference between a 200, 100 and 50 hours yoga teacher training
The most obvious differences in all the yoga teacher training courses offered today, are their location and duration of their program. Another biggest difference we can spot here is whether it is a residential and non-residential yoga teacher training. A residential training is usually a one-month intensive training, including accommodation. A non-residential training is roughly the same amount of hours spread over a longer period of time.
An Overview of Residential Yoga Teacher Training
The more serious residential 200 hour yoga teacher training would be in an ashram. The idea behind this type of residential training goes back to the traditional way of teaching, called Gurukula. A Gurukula was a type of school system in ancient India. It can be found mentioned in the Upanishads, a part of the four Veda’s, with the earliest part dating back to the 6th century. In this system, the students would live near or with their teachers and follow the education without any other distraction. This tradition can be found in many different religious groups in India. It was also the main education system in South Asia before the British rule. The modern Gurukula system was revived by Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Shraddhanand in the 19th century, creating space for monastery retreats and training's to be revived. Students attending these spaces are considered equal, they learn from the guru and participate in every-day chores, creating a small community.
Pros of Residential Yoga Teacher Training
Beyond the technical training, YTT is also a process of self-discovery, sharpening one's own mind. Some of the pros of in-person YTT are:
In-Person Learning
Get live adjustments, demonstrations and feedback to enhance your practice and teaching methods easily.
Quality Immersion
Being in a "yoga" space means you can focus exclusively on your training as it eliminates distractions, naturally encourages you to learn and allows you to tap into a level of deep learning and transformation.
Deep Sense of Community
With your fellow trainees and teachers, develop honest relationships and friendships through shared experiences, group practice and with everyone being engaged and committed.
Community Questions
You get to ask your questions right at the moment so you can apprehend the nuances of a pose or concept.
Live Practice Teaching
To practice face-to-face with confidence and receive constructive feedback from peers and mentors.
Teacher Mentorship
Engage directly with experienced instructors for mentorship, guidance and inspiration.
Routines and Discipline
Establishing a daily routine provides the space to develop yogic discipline, consistency and time management skills.
Deeper Energetic Connections
Experience group energy, group breath, and silent meditations more powerfully than in online or virtual trainings.
Supported training environment
Practicing in an intended, calm and custom space, that is well-resourced & enhances your physical, mental and spiritual capabilities for development.
Reasons to choose for a non-residential yoga teacher training
Finding the time to complete a training to become a yoga teacher can be quite challenging, especially when you have to combine your teacher training with other obligations in life. You might have to be home for work, for your family or other permanent responsibilities. It can also be due to specific requirements for food, environment or lifestyle. You might not feel comfortable staying with unknown people or you might be afraid of flying.
These are all legitimate reasons to chose a non-residential training . This means you take some classes a week or a month and in this way you spread the hours needed over a period of time. This can be spread over a couple of months or even years. A local training will let you get to know the teachers around you, spend more time in a yoga studio and provide you with future connections for your career in teaching. The downside of a non residential training is the lack of immersion in the subject. Daily life can and will easily blur the information you receive during the training days. You will most probably get distracted with other responsibilities, making it difficult to fully absorb all the information. So, before you make the final call, lets talk about the cons of choosing a non-residential yoga teacher training.
Cons of Non-Residential Yoga Teachers Training (YTT)
Though there are many significant benefits of non-residential YTT, but there are also some cons, take a look.
No Real-time Corrections
You don’t get the benefit of being corrected in person with real-time adjustments from the instructor - which are important to ensure proper alignment.
Absence of Peer Connection
While you may have less face-to-face communication, you may not be able to connect as deeply with your fellow trainees or find a yoga community you are comfortable with.
Self-Discipline Aspect
Without the structured setting, it is easy to procrastinate, and also may be harder to keep up with the assigned lessons and practice.
Tech Challenges
You may run out internet due to a bad connection, issues or glitches with your software, or simply lack of technological competency that may interrupt your learning.
Lack of Energy
The energetic and immersive feel of a yoga studio or yoga retreat can’t always be felt online.
Less Helpful Feedback
Instructors may not be able to see the subtle issues with your posture in a webcam view, which affects the quality of feedback.
Practicing in Isolation
Being physically alone while practicing, sometimes there is a lack of motivation or emotional support if you are struggling with difficult modules.
Accreditation Issues
Some studios or employers may prefer in-person training certifications, rather than online.
Time Zone Issues
Live classes may be scheduled at inconvenient times if the school is in a different country.
Residential vs Non-residential Yoga Teacher Training: Which is Best?
So, when it comes to selecting a residential or non-residential Yoga Teacher Training program (YTT), it's all about your personal preferences, your particular learning style, your lifestyle, and your goals. A residential YTT provides a deeply immersive experience with real-time feedback, hands-on assistance, and community building. This training is ideal for people who want to rely on a more traditional form of learning, plus be able to form a personal connection with the teachers and fellow students.
However, a non-residential YTT program is flexible in a way that nothing else can be, and many times an online training will provide an option for students that residential training does not provide. In non- residential YTT programs, the student learns at their own pace, has access to the training material long after the course is over, and can customize their study time to fit in around their other life responsibilities - perfect for the independent learner.
Ultimately, whether you are trained face-to-face or online, both will have a place in your teaching journey if the course you pick is well-designed and has made its way through Yoga Alliance's certification process. Reflect on your needs and lifestyle, along with how you learn best, to help you choose online or in-person. Regardless of what format you choose to take your YTT program, if it is the right training for you, you will deepen your practice, expand your knowledge, and feel prepared and confident to step into your new role as a yoga teacher.
Are you ready to choose a residential yoga instructor training?
If you have a month to spare for a full yogic immersion, you can follow a residential training. This is mostly suitable for people who are ready to dive into a large amount of information in a short time span. This can be challenging, both mentally and physically. But if you are willing to learn and work hard, it is more than likely that you will successfully complete the training. You need to be ready to study, practice and teach during the full time for this period. Usually a residential training takes about 4 weeks and has classes 6 days a week with one day off for study and relaxation.
Read more: 4 Reasons why it is possible to follow a yoga teacher training in 4 week
The next question you can ask yourself is what kind residential yoga teacher training you would want to experience. You could go for a complete adventure, travel to a far destination and combine a holiday with a yoga teacher training. Many retreats and hotels around the world offer yoga teacher certification courses. There training's are usually less heavy on the studying and philosophy and more about the experience. This is a good training for anyone wanting a first taste of yoga education and a nice holiday experience. The immersion is stronger than the non-residential type of training. However the holiday feeling you get in a retreat or hotel can influence the learning experience.
There are many ashrams around the world, each having their own philosophy and code of conduct. Some are more strict than others, but all believe in the system of complete immersion and sober living to accommodate the learning experience. A yoga teacher training in a hotel or retreat can have a similar effect, but the environment can be distracting. When you decide to go to an ashram the chances are high that you can stay committed and you will get a glimpse of an ancient way of studying.
Read more: What you need to know about a yoga ashram
Final Thoughts
In the end, with every learning experience, the process will be affected by your way of learning. Finding the right environment to develop your teaching practice is essential to create a strong foundation. Everybody has their own unique way of learning. Our experience has shown that, out of the different ways of becoming a yoga teacher, the experience in an ashram has the best effect. By limiting distractions and maintaining a yogic lifestyle for a month, you can fully immerse yourself in the experience and create healthy habits that will benefit your personal practice as well as your development as a teacher.
Do you need further help to decide about which yoga teacher training might be the best one for you? Read more: How to pick the best yoga teacher training for you?
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