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How Do I Choose the Best Yoga School?

D. Nelson
D. Nelson

Yoga began as a set of Hindu breathing, posturing, and meditation techniques, though it is used now by people of many different cultures all over the world. Individuals who practice yoga can enjoy increased flexibility, improved concentration, and overall improvement in physical and mental health. To choose the best yoga school, you should consider the levels of instruction offered. For instance, if you have never engaged in a yoga practice before, you need to find a yoga school that offers beginners' courses. Individuals who have years upon years of experience practicing yoga and who are ready to teach this method, on the other hand, should choose yoga schools that have been certified by groups such as the Yoga Alliance.

When you are looking for the best yoga school, you might want to consider some practical concerns. The first schools you should look at are those in your general location. Research yoga centers near your places of residence and work. For some people, there might be a number of schools to choose from, while others might find that there are only one or two schools nearby. If you are unhappy with the only yoga schools in your general location, you might want to consider finding an independent yoga instructor who is certified.

A woman doing yoga.
A woman doing yoga.

It is common to find a yoga school that allows people to sign up for different payment plans. For example, if you are sure that you want to attend a certain yoga school regularly, you might accept a payment model by which you pay for months or even a year of classes. When you are deciding which yoga school to use, however, you should sign up for only one class at a time. If you are unsure about the appropriate level of instruction for your expertise, you should ask a staff member or instructor, or seek out educational resources provided by the school.

Many well-respected studios offer yoga teacher training in addition to their regular classes.
Many well-respected studios offer yoga teacher training in addition to their regular classes.

When you attend a yoga school for the first time, pay attention to how you feel. Some yoga teachers are hands-on and may go out of their way to help you perfect your breathing and postures. In other cases, yoga teachers might allow you to make mistakes and teach yourself. No yoga teaching style is better than another. Instead, certain yoga teaching styles work better for some individuals than for others.

Yoga teachers should be certified by the Yoga Alliance after successfully completing their teacher training.
Yoga teachers should be certified by the Yoga Alliance after successfully completing their teacher training.

You also might want to consider how you feel around others in a yoga school. If you find that you have classmates who consistently distract you, it might be time to find a new school. In some cases, you might need only to attend a course at a different time.

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    • A woman doing yoga.
      By: Shuva Rahim
      A woman doing yoga.
    • Many well-respected studios offer yoga teacher training in addition to their regular classes.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Many well-respected studios offer yoga teacher training in addition to their regular classes.
    • Yoga teachers should be certified by the Yoga Alliance after successfully completing their teacher training.
      By: iofoto
      Yoga teachers should be certified by the Yoga Alliance after successfully completing their teacher training.
    • In the United States, many programs that train and certify yoga instructors cost upward of $2,000.
      By: Andrey Kiselev
      In the United States, many programs that train and certify yoga instructors cost upward of $2,000.