Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time to Take YTT

I know it can be really hard to start something that takes a big time and energy commitment. When it comes to signing up for a yoga teacher training, I know firsthand that it’s a huge leap. One I’ve had to make many times in my life! 

One thing I’ve learned is that it never feels like the right time. And you’ll never feel ready. But I’m here to remind you that you can do hard things! The graduates of my 200-hour Foundations program consistently tell me that they weren’t even sure they would be flexible enough to take the program, or had been practicing yoga long enough to even apply. As if they had to already be yoga teachers to take a yoga teacher training! 

But after completing the training, so many students tell me how life-changing it is, how happy they are that they took the leap and made the commitment to create the life they want.

Take Brittany, who graduated from my 200-hour YTT a few years ago. She had just finished her degree in Psychology and had no idea what her next step was. It took a lot of time and persuasion from those around her to take the leap and sign up for teacher training. Here’s how she got the courage to make the leap:

“I told myself, you’re here to learn about yourself, you don’t have to teach after this. Yet as the program came near the end I kept seeing this quote… ‘but what if I fall, oh, but what if I fly?’ I thought teaching one class would be my limit, then one class turned into two, which turned into three, and all these opportunities started to arise. 

One thing discussed throughout our training was that you don’t have to teach in a studio, that there are so many other options. I was approached to bring a yoga program into a hospital and went on to train to teach a program designed for cancer survivors. My teaching has brought me closer to people and closer to helping others than my four-year degree, and I’m happy to be a part of all these unique communities to offer yoga. 

If you’re wondering what you can do with the program after, the answer is there are infinite opportunities and possibilities that might align with your own passions and dreams. Don’t be scared to fall, you might just find your wings and fly.”

In 2020 I took the whole program online, not knowing how things would turn out. I hosted all the course material in my online community and facilitated the in-class lectures and discussions over Zoom using break-out rooms.

Before I launched the training, I thought to myself, “Nigel, you’ve never taught the program entirely online, who’s going to attend this? Don’t people want an in-person experience for something like this? How could I possibly give my students value through a computer?”

I doubted if this was the right time to take the program online, but I did it anyway and saw how impactful it was to the students. 

Wondering if something is the perfect time before you proceed is our mind’s way of suggesting we’re not ready for the challenge. But nothing could be further from the truth.

[Related Post: How Yoga Teachers Change the World]

Back when I was about to start my first yoga training, I doubted if I was ready then to teach other people. I was scared to my core. And then I thought about all the people I could help; and if I could help them even 10%, I needed to go through with the training.

And I’m glad I did—8 years later, 8 trainings completed, and 140 people trained have confirmed that I am capable of helping other people. And that the timing is never perfect.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge yet, why not book a call with me and let’s talk about what’s keeping you on the fence.

For those of you who are ready, our early bird sale ends June 30th (save $300!) and we have limited spots available for this intimate training.

We also have two scholarship opportunities with Warrior Yoga! Deadline to apply is July 11th. Take it from Brittany, go for it!

Your friend in this journey together,