500 Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Courses: The Who, When, Why, Where, and How

1. Alena Natalia Charow September 2016 500 Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Courses: The Who, When, Why, Where, and How Regardless of your level of practice or determination, any 500 hour yoga teacher training course is not for the faint of heart. On a physical level the intensity of such a course requires long hours of consistent practice, training and study. On a subtler level this advanced level course forces us to look inside with a depth and scrutiny that is likely unprecedented. Any 500 hour yoga teacher training course, regardless of your intentions, are not for the faint of heart. The typical 500 hour training course includes long hours of consistent practice and study, truly challenging those who take on such a course. Despite being vigorous, a 500 hour yoga course can also be completely life changing. So how does one go about preparing for and completing one? Firstly, who should be taking a 500 hour yoga teacher training courses? A 500 hour training course is best for those with a well established practice of two years or more and would like to deepen their practice. A 500 TTC is also for someone who has already been teaching for one year or more and would like to advance and refine their teaching skills. A teacher training course is also good for those who practice yoga beyond asana as it goes beyond just posture practice into the more subtle and complex realms of the yoga system. In doing such an advanced course participants are able to experience the wonders of pranayama, meditation as well as learn more about the theoretical framework of yoga in in-depth philosophy classes. 500 hour courses also tend to look at more complex anatomy and physiology as well as how we can apply yoga directly to healing in yoga therapy and Ayurveda classes. In short, a 500 hour TTC is perfect for an intermediate yoga practitioner and/or a beginner or intermediate teacher who wishes to expand their knowledge, practice and teaching of yoga. Though yoga is for everyone, a 500 hour teacher training course is not always for anyone. Practitioners with less than a year of practice, an inconsistent practice, or without interest in teaching or learning about yoga beyond the practice of postures are probably better off taking workshops, a 200 hour course, or preparing more sufficiently before undertaking a challenging 500 hour training course. But regardless of your preparation, a 500 hour course is a challenge. The most important quality in a person intending to take this course is dedication. One should be dedicated to their practice, if they are a teacher also dedicated to teaching, and also, most importantly, dedicated to the journey. When should one take a 500 hour TTC? As mentioned above it is best if you have sufficient experience in practice or teaching beforehand. But one should also do this course at the right time in their life. As it is very demanding and can easily reshape your world views and life trajectory, giving yourself ample time before and after the course to prepare and re-assimilate is very important. Make sure to find a time in your life when you can truly take the time and make the space to be present, focus and allow the magic of such a profound experience enter your life. This is how one can really make the most and reap the benefits of a 500 hour course. For yogis with a more limited schedule, many yoga schools also offer the option of a 500hour training course broken up over an extended period of time. So rather than spending three months in a school practicing and studying everyday, this option allows for students to meet a few times a week over the course of 6-12 months. The two different systems have their benefits and drawbacks. When you are completely immersed in a course full time you have the opportunity to really focus, learn and go inwards without the distractions of daily life. On the other hand such intensity often offers little time or space to fully digest all the information, experience and processes. When you are able to break up the course over the course of many months, you have the time and space to digest everything you are learning and to not really disturb the routine and

2. Alena Natalia Charow September 2016 commitments of daily life. However, there is less opportunity and capacity to be completely engaged and focused on the course, make it more difficult for profound transformation and deep experiential learning to take place. Where does one take a 500 hour TTC? As yoga has become increasingly popular, the opportunities are endless! If you don’t already have a teacher or school you connect with, be sure to do your homework as there are a lot of not-as-awesome programs out there. It is important to factor in where you want to be and if you want to travel far away or stay close to home. Some people like to go to yoga destinations such as Costa Rica, Bali and India. Some people prefer to go straight to the source and head right to Rishikesh. Why does one take a 500 hour TTC? Of course this is a very personal question as everyone’s reasons likely vary. The intentions in undertaking such a commitment are of utmost importance and everyone coming to take such a course should be aware of their intention. If you don’t have an intention, set one. Some reasons to take a 500 hour TTC, as aforementioned, can be as straightforward as deepening your practice, learning more about philosophy and anatomy, becoming a better teacher, etc. But diving into a 500hr TTC has the potential to profoundly affect our lives if commenced with the right intention. In writing this article I asked my yoga teacher Sunil Sharma of Tattvaa Yogashala in Rishikesh to share his insights into what he sees in the people who come to Rishikesh to undertake the 500 hour course. He responded: “500 hours is for those who have this intense desire to know one’s purpose in life. Some people have that quest to know about the mysteries of life and death and they are guided by a higher purpose of life beyond the life that is only based in sensory gratification. I have no idea about those who come for teacher training. But I went to learning for a long time due to that seeking in me. So when one goes for longer intense tapas (practice of purification), they can find some deeper meaning in their practice and life.” Before commencing a 500hour yoga teacher training course prepare yourself accordingly, set clear intentions, and go with no expectations, as the answers tend to reveal themselves along the way. You will get back what you put in and you will transform as much as you allow yourself to change. This kind of course truly has the capacity to heighten you awareness, heal old wounds, release stubborn patterns, and bring your closer to yourself and something divine. It’s up to you !