What I Learned From My 200hr Yoga Teacher Training In Thailand
What I learned from my yoga teacher training surprised me.
I arrived on the beautiful tropical island of Koh Phangan in late August 2019, ready to do (almost) nothing but yoga for the next four weeks.
I’ve been practicing asanas (the physical yoga postures) for over a decade, but I’d only stumbled on the philosophy of yoga 18 months prior to our YTT.
My physical practice has always been very on and off, so I definitely wasn’t walking into it thinking I was an expert. I’ve hosted my own retreats and led yoga classes in them, so I was used to taking on the role of a teacher. But, I walked into this experience as a beginner with plenty to learn.
And that’s the best way to approach all things in life. Always be a student. Regardless of how much you know, look for how much more there is to learn.
This is how you grow.
Here’s what I learned from my yoga teacher training in Thailand
1. Take your time deciding on where you’ll do your YTT
Why did we choose Thailand?
It was a happy accident, really!
Initially, my partner and I were between Bali and India. We spent a year living in Bali and loved it. We took many yoga classes in Ubud, so we knew this would be a great place to do our YTT. Although the idea of returning to Bali was exciting, we both were ready to explore a new country.
Yoga is said to have originated in India, and the YTT experience is supposed to be much more authentic in Rishikesh. That’s why we dabbled with going to India – until we realized how basic and potentially uncomfortable the experience might be.
It’s common to be given basic meals, live, and do yoga in buildings without AC. And although we can live in uncomfortable conditions like this (and have done so while traveling), we wanted a more luxurious experience. So India was out.
My partner had traveled around Thailand when he was younger and loved it, and I had never been before. So, after some initial research, we decided to head to Thailand and do our yoga teacher training there.
NOTE: The rise of yoga has unfortunately led to an increase in cult-style organizations led by “gurus” who are grooming and abusing women. To ensure you don’t go to one of these yoga schools, I highly recommend reading the introduction to Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, where she has compiled a long list of schools where abuse has been reported.
What Thailand has to offer
I did some internet research on the different yoga schools there and the kind of YTT that we wanted to do. Since my first yin yoga class, my body has been craving more yin, and I found a 200YTT specializing in yin & vinyasa. However, the location was slightly cut off from everywhere, and we decided that doing a more general yoga teacher training might be better. And we could always take a specialist course later on if we wanted.
After researching and taking some much-needed thinking time, we chose the One Yoga School in Koh Phangan, Thailand.
It’s home to the infamous full moon parties, but take a short scooter ride down to the other side of the island, and it’s really chilled. Plenty of yoga, quiet beaches, and small veggie & vegan cafes can be found.
About One Yoga
The yoga shala overlooks the ocean, and the villas are about a minute’s walk to a small private beach. The food is cooked with love, made from local produce, and is all vegetarian and vegan. And they teach various yoga styles, including vinyasa, hatha, yin, ashtanga, nidra, and kundalini. The team were very friendly, authentic, and kind people. It feels like a real community. And the price is really affordable too.
But everyone is different. So trust your own intuition when deciding which school to go to. Trust that you won’t choose wrong.
2. Remember that yoga is not about doing headstands
I was fortunate to have learned this when I stumbled into yogic philosophy classes with an amazing teacher in Ubud, Bali.
But so many people still believe that yoga is the physical asanas. And it’s not their fault. Yoga has been presented to many of us as an exercise. Getting abs and a peachy bum. But asanas are just a tiny part of what it is.
The problem with most yoga teacher trainings is they are heavily focused on asanas rather than philosophy. And I understand why. Because it needs to be appealing to people. It needs to draw people in. Unfortunately, this means many people complete their YTT without truly embodying what it means to be a yogi.
Yoga is about what you say and how you say it. It’s about the things you do and the way you do them. It’s about who you are and the person you choose to be in every moment of every day. Yoga is the choices you make and your intentions for making them.
Yoga is a spiritual practice. And it’s a way of life.
Yoga is not about being able to stand on your head.
If that’s all you learn, you’ve missed the entire point.
3. The people who join you on your yoga teacher training are there for a reason
I’m an introvert, so the idea of spending four weeks with a bunch of strangers was unappealing to me at best. I was so nervous the day we arrived, even though I had my partner with me for emotional support.
No matter how much I work on my confidence and mindset, I always get anxious about joining a large group of people I don’t know, introducing myself, and mingling.
As expected, there were people I naturally warmed to and others I didn’t. Throughout the four weeks, certain things were said and done that I found disrespectful – to our teachers and other group members.
Yoga helped me in those moments of frustration.
It helped me to take a step back and be a witness to what was going on around me. And reserve judgment – something which I’m continually working on.
The people who end up on your path in this life are there for a reason. Yogic philosophy teaches that you have all met before in previous lifetimes. And you have all been drawn back together again in this life for a reason.
Maybe it’s to teach you something.
To help you grow.
To show you something you want or don’t want.
And help you learn more about yourself and grow.
4. Rest when you can
Different yoga schools have different schedules, but the common practice is six days on, followed by one day of rest.
Those six days will be filled with much more physical exercise than you’re used to doing each day. Plus a lot of learning new things, including philosophy and anatomy. Coupled with early starts and long days.
Ours was a four-week course, but I know some schools cram it into three weeks, which suits many people who need to get back to their jobs at home. Both are pretty intense. That’s why it’s so important to rest whenever you can. You’ll also want to explore your surroundings and do some sightseeing but try not to over-exert yourself.
My partner and I did nothing on our rest days apart from eat, watch TV or movies, and rest. We were lucky that we arrived in Thailand a month before our course started and had a chance to explore. If you can, I’d recommend organizing your trip like this – even if you only give yourself a couple extra days.
5. Remember that the real work begins when you return home
In our final circle on graduation day, almost every student noted how completing the yoga teacher training impacted them and was a “life-changing” experience.
For that to be true, you must take what you’ve learned and apply it to your life when you get back home.
I wondered how many people in that room would’ve made real changes in their lives and how many would’ve slipped back into old habits and ways. And it’s so easy for that to happen. It’s the same when you attend any inspirational workshop or seminar or work with a coach.
While there, they raise your vibration and make you feel highly motivated and inspired to change your life. But once it’s over, and you’re left to your own devices, it becomes difficult to maintain.
So, if you’re serious about walking the path of a yogi, then I encourage you to go on a yoga teacher training.
Whether you’re thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, or the training compliments another part of your work (for example, as a health & wellness coach), or you’re just curious and feel called to go, do it!
I haven’t taught yoga since this training, but I’ve continued a personal practice, and stepping onto this path led me down many others that I may never have found my way to otherwise.