#vasaredlands

For the month of May, Vasa has been working on several variations of headstands. Above are the seven different types of Ashtanga headstands as demonstrated by instructor Lisa Vest.

From top left to bottom right:

1. Bound Headstand (Baddha Hasta Sirsasana A)

2. Pinching Shoulders Headstand (Baddha Hasta Sirsasana D)

3. Bound Hand Headstand (Baddha Hasta Sirsasana B)

4. Forearm Headstand (Baddha Hasta Sirsasana C)

5. Iron Cross Headstand (Mukta Hasta Sirsasana C)

6. Tripod Headstand (Mukta Hasta Sirsasana)

Handstand workshop at Vasa on Saturday May 30 at 2:00 pm!! 

 $15 for Vasa members and $25 for non-members

By Lisa Vest

As yoga has grown in popularity, so have teacher training programs. Teacher training is a big commitment and there are a ton of programs to chose from. Here are some guidelines as to what you should look for when choosing your program. 

First and foremost know what elements of being a yoga teacher are most important to you and what style of yoga you want to teach! There are so many options.  All trainings and instructors have a focus. For example, if you want an alignment based program that can carry across most styles of yoga, look for programs based on Iyengar principles. 

Decide if you want to do it online or in person.  When at all possible I suggest in person because things can get intimate at times and it is a great opportunity to meet new, lifelong friends. However, if you absolutely can not adjust your schedule to fit the times, there are good online programs out there as well.

Do you want to do an intensive program or spread it out over time? Again, this depends on your life/schedule/work/commitments. It is great to do an intensive program, especially if you can travel and immerse yourself in the experience, get away from your regular distractions. However, this is an intense and often overwhelming experience to eat, breathe and sleep teacher training for 4-6 weeks straight! Splitting it up into sections can be great too, you get more time to absorb and experience each lesson over time, rather than getting it all in at once.

Meet the trainers before you commit! Ask questions, know their backgrounds, talk to past students who completed the program. In my opinion, having more than one trainer is beneficial because you get to experience different styles and ideas. It is imperative to find a teacher that you connect with, you should feel comfortable to talk with them about anything that comes up during training. 

Make sure the program is accredited properly for what you want to teach.  Most programs are accredited through Yoga Alliance (https://www.yogaalliance.org) , which is very reputable, but do your research.

Get some variety!  While the convenience of doing training at the studio you practice regularly at is great, you may benefit more by stepping out of your comfort zone and submerging yourself in a new yoga environment.  Your first training really is just the tip of the ice berg, there is so much more to learn. Get out there and take as many workshops and trainings from as many different people as possible.  A great teacher is always a student first and the more you experience the more you will have to teach!

Finally, be prepared to work harder and dig deeper than you expect.  A good program should be intense and challenge you physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Personally I love learning, I have many years of higher education behind me and years of experience teaching dance and pilates yet I still found my program challenging. I spent many nights reading and studying Sanskrit instead of relaxing by the beach!