The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
318: Questions to Ask Before Any YTT with Shannon Crow
Description:
Continuing education is an important part of your professional development as a yoga teacher but with a multitude of yoga teacher training (YTT) programs available, it is important to pick the right one. Shannon Crow shares some of the questions she asks before signing up for a YTT.
Shannon has had the experience of going from one YTT to the next and this is something that you may experience if you are a newer yoga teacher. While it is important to build the necessary skills to teach, we need to also be aware of where we are investing our time, energy, and money.
Shannon recommends asking questions about the YTT before signing up. Some things to consider include the accessibility and inclusion of the program, the yoga school’s stance on cultural appropriation, and their values. She also invites you to ask questions about the lead trainers’ experience, their position on medicine and science, religion and spirituality and anything else that may be important for you. The important thing is to ensure that the yoga teacher training you choose is aligned with your values.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] Continuing education is an important part of your professional development as a yoga teacher but there are some hard truths we should be aware of before signing up for the next yoga teacher training.
[2:31] Shannon shares her personal experience with yoga teacher trainings and continuing education.
[7:14] Shannon shares some questions she would ask if she were signing up for a yoga teacher training today.
[10:13] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
[12:30] Shannon talks about how she ended up in a yoga teacher training where the lead teacher talked about aliens instead of yoga sutras!
[13:33] Some other questions Shannon would ask include their yoga philosophy for the trainings and scope of practice.
[14:28] Shannon highlights some other questions you might be interested in asking a yoga school or yoga teacher training program before you sign up.
[16:29] It can also be helpful to ask to speak with past graduates and lead trainers of a yoga teacher training to see if it is a good fit for you.
[19:21] It's important to ensure that the yoga teacher training you choose is aligned with your values.
Questions to Ask Before Any Yoga Teacher Training
Do you teach how to make yoga accessible?
What are your thoughts on cultural appropriation?
Do you have a diverse group of teachers?
How are you paying your teachers and assistants?
What do you do to protect students from abuse of power?
Can I look over your ethics, values, and philosophy statements?
What are your thoughts on social justice?
Do you and your teachers share their pronouns?
Is your business model built on training more and more yoga teachers?
What is your diversity, equity and inclusion policy?
Does your yoga school encourage referrals to medical professionals or do you think science isn’t real?
Are you going to talk about your belief in aliens instead of the yoga sutras during lecture?
What yoga texts do you refer to for yoga philosophy?
May I see the bibliography section of your manual?
What do you teach about scope of practice?
How do you ensure that all trainers and teachers are not talking about food and nutrition?
What is your policy on scholarships, payment plans and refunds?
What are your thoughts on religion and spirituality with regards to yoga?
What is the schedule like in this YTT? Will I be reaching the point of exhaustion?
Do you believe in “breaking people down” emotionally or physically in a YTT?
Has your yoga lineage had any reported (or unreported) abuse?
Do you have training with regards to trauma and is this incorporated into your YTT?
How can I talk with past graduates and lead trainers of your YTT?
How many YTTs have you led and how long have you been teaching yoga?
What does your YTT offer with regards to business education?
Where can I view the syllabus for the training?
How many contact hours are in the training?
How much practice teach time is in the training?
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
Quotes from this episode:
"Looking back now, I feel like it was part of a weird culty pyramid scheme."
"If I was going to sign up for a yoga teacher training today, I would be asking a lot of questions."
"Make sure you're in a training where you can ask questions and question what is being taught in that moment."
"Make sure really that the yoga teacher training that you choose is in alignment with your values."
"Do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions before you sign up and you invest your time and your money. And also don't be afraid to speak up while you're there."
