Is a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Right for You?

Who a teacher training is actually for

A 200-hour training is not only for people who want to teach. Plenty of students enroll to deepen their own practice, to learn why the poses are built the way they are or to spend a few months inside a subject they love. Teaching can come later, or never.

The studio describes its program as an in-depth course for students inspired to become teachers themselves, and as a good fit for those who want to embrace a yogic lifestyle and deepen their practice. Everyone is welcome to apply.

A fair test is this. If you already attend class regularly, find yourself curious about the how and why and are ready to commit time for several months, the training is worth serious consideration. If you have only taken a handful of classes, spend some time as a student first.

What the Yoga Loft RYT 200 covers

The Teacher Training and Practice Intensive in Oak Park is a 200-hour program led by owner Jill Jerome with a carefully selected group of instructors. Graduates receive a certificate from Yoga Loft Studios plus the RYT 200 credential from Yoga Alliance.

The curriculum includes these subjects:

• History of yoga
• Sequencing
• Ashtanga
• Meditation
• Ayurveda
• Trauma informed teaching
• The business of yoga
• Sanskrit
• Jivamukti
• Sound healing
• Anatomy and physiology
• Assisting and adjustments
• Pranayama
• Practice teaching

That list spans philosophy, technique, the body and the practical side of leading a room. It reflects the studio's own practice, which includes Ashtanga, sound healing and meditation alongside the heated classes you can take on the regular schedule.

How the schedule works

The training has been built around a Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 PM and a Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4 PM, with select evening and weekend workshops added along the way. There is no class on holidays. That rhythm leaves your weekday daytime free, which suits people with full time jobs.

Virtual options are available as well. The studio offers livestream and on demand access, which helps if you travel, miss a session or live too far to come in every week. Ask the studio how the virtual options work for the cohort you are considering.

Whatever format you use, plan for time outside the sessions. Reading, practicing, writing and trying out sequences on friends all take hours. Be honest with yourself about the energy you will have, and talk to your family or employer before you commit.

What it costs and what is included

The tuition is $3200. That includes a 6-month full membership to the studio and all materials, so you can practice as often as you like while you train. For many students the membership is a large part of the value, since regular practice is what the training is built on.

Studio members also receive 15% off teacher training and workshops, according to the membership page, so if you are already a member the cost can come down. The studio has also offered early bird discounts for earlier applications. Ask about current terms when you contact them.

Compare the full cost of the training against the number of hours, the credential and the access you get. Then compare your own budget and schedule against it. A training you can attend steadily is worth more than one you struggle to keep up with.

How to decide, and how to find the next start date

The best way to decide is to practice at the studio first. Take classes with Jill and with the other teachers, notice how the room feels and ask yourself whether you want to spend months in it. One Google reviewer, a trainee, says Jill is always willing to answer questions about the foundations of Ashtanga.

Jill has been teaching since 2009 and holds Yoga Alliance E-RYT status, and the instructors page has more about her and about the rest of the faculty. Talk to graduates if you can, and read the teacher training page start to finish before you apply.

The next start date is best confirmed with the studio directly. Call or text (312) 560-8668 or write to info@yogaloftstudios.com, and ask what the application involves. The studio is at 115 N Oak Park Ave in Oak Park, and the staff are happy to talk it through in person.