How to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training

What to Look For and How to Know When You’re Ready 

Plus, Why Seasonal Yoga Offers Something Extra

Every year, I have the joy of assisting on the 200-hour Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training, a deeply transformative journey for anyone ready to explore yoga more fully. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been part of, and it’s also a big undertaking.

Choosing to embark on a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) isn’t just signing up for any old course (in my humble opinion), it’s saying yes to growth, reflection, and change.  It’s the start of a journey that expands far beyond your mat.

Whether your intention is to teach or to deepen your personal practice, there are a few things that can make your experience smoother, richer, and more meaningful.

Below, I’ve shared some general guidance for preparing for any yoga teacher training — followed by a few additional notes for those drawn specifically to Seasonal Yoga, which brings together the ancient philosophy of India with the energetic wisdom of the Chinese Five Elements.

I hope it helps, and if you have any further questions, please get in touch.

Our First Cohort of graduates celebrating the completion of their 200-hour seasonal yoga teacher training

Preparing In General for a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• Clarify your “why.”  Reflect on why you want to do a YTT — personal growth, deepening your practice, or teaching — so you can stay anchored when things feel intense.

• Research the lineage and style.  Every training has its own emphasis (seasonal, vinyasa, traditional hatha, etc.). Make sure the philosophy and approach resonate with you.

• Build a consistent practice now.  Ideally, you’ll have at least a couple of years of regular yoga under your belt.  Now, is the time to explore classes with different teachers and styles to deepen your body awareness and familiarity with yoga language and sequencing.

• Create space in your schedule.  The training is immersive — block out time for practice, study, integration, and rest.

• Get organised early.  Think about practicalities like accommodation, travel, childcare, and meals so you can be fully present during training weekends.

• Expect transformation. It’s a personal development journey as much as a teacher training — emotional releases and “aha” moments are part of the process.

• Stay curious, not perfect.  Let go of the need to ‘know everything’, openness and humility are more valuable than extensive knowledge.

• Keep a journal.  Note reflections, shifts, and insights along the way. It’ll become a rich record of your growth.

• Be yourself. You don’t have to imitate other teachers; your life experience, values, and personality are what make your teaching authentic and meaningful.

• Trust the process. There will be highs and lows — both are teachers.

Seasonal Yoga Training in North Herts

Preparing for a Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training

If you’re drawn to Seasonal Yoga, you’ll be working with an approach that blends traditional Indian yoga philosophy with the Chinese Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) — exploring how energy shifts with the changing seasons and how to live, practice, and teach in harmony with these cycles.

Here are a few ways to prepare for this unique path:

• Begin noticing the seasons and your own rhythms.  Pay attention to how your energy, mood, and focus shift throughout the year — this awareness is the foundation of seasonal living.

• Read around the Five Elements.  Even light reading on the qualities of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water will help you feel more at home with the language of Seasonal Yoga. We also do a 100-hour Foundation Course, which is a perfect way to embed the foundational knowledge.

• Spend more time in nature.  The course will often draw parallels between inner and outer nature — grounding in the natural world helps you feel those connections more deeply.

• Take Seasonal Yoga classes.  Experiencing the practice firsthand is the best way to experience how the focus, pace, and postures change with each season.  This will help the philosophy come alive. You can check out my bookings page

• Approach learning as a cycle, not a sprint.  The wisdom unfolds layer by layer, just as the seasons do. There’s no rush to ‘master’ it — it’s about integration over time.

A Closing Thought

A Yoga Teacher Training is a life-enhancing experience — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  

Whether you’re drawn to the rhythm of the seasons or simply curious about yoga’s deeper roots, this journey will teach you as much about yourself as it will about asana, anatomy, or philosophy.

If you’re currently considering the 200-Hour Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training, you can find more details via the link about upcoming courses. Or, perhaps your journey is currently more suited to the 100-Hour Foundation Course.

And of course, feel free to reach out if you’d like a behind-the-scenes insight from someone who’s walked (and assisted on) the path.