If yoga handed out degrees instead of certifications, you can say I earned my Bachelors degree in Yoga. Here is how I got here. I discovered yoga in 2001 when I was in college. I dabbled in several styles of yoga after that: Hatha, Vinyasa, Anusara, Restorative. My practice wasn’t consistent but I always found my way back to my mat.
In 2014, I earned my 200 hour YTT certification in the Prajna Yoga lineage. I took one class and knew I loved the style! A 200 hour YTT program would be like an equivalent of an Associates degree. You get the basics but the gold is in the experience accumulated and the educational workshops one pursues thereafter. If you want to go “all the way” then one could enroll in a 300 hour YTT (to earn their 500 hour credential).
If you read my post —–, then you may remember I’ve wanted to pursue my 500 hour YTT for years but had no clue how I would conquer that with 2 little kids. My husband would probably laugh in my face if I asked that we hire a weekend nanny so I could pay $3500+ to get another certification in yoga, that I don’t “need” to teach. I even considered out of state yoga studios to study at but that would be even more comical to present to him! I could picture it now: “Pay to stay at a hotel every weekend you need to study? Plus gas! Plus $3500+!? And I can’t go golfing because I need to watch the kids?!”
COVID-19 SUCKS. However I made the best of it when it came to yoga training. When Yoga Alliance said they’d honor students who graduated from an accredited program (online or in-person), I went for it! When BLM Rocket Yoga rolled out an online 100 hour yoga teacher training, I went for it! 50-100 hour teacher trainings are like “minors” to an educational degree.
Just because it was virtual, it wasn’t easy by any means. I put in serious time and work and poured my heart into the practicum. I cried tears of sadness during live zoom calls when we confronted tough issues. Bottomline, I learned so much and I have zero regrets.
