The Benefits of Online Children’s Yoga Teacher Training

YogaBeez Online
Have you Considered the Benefits of Online Children’s Yoga Teacher Training?

How many of you have dreamt about a meaningful career, where you can combine your love of children with your love of yoga and mindfulness? Are you stuck in a rut and feel your dream vocation slipping away because of circumstances beyond your control?  It is amazing how many of us self-sabotage our visions, instead of looking for workable solutions…  It is sometimes difficult to devote a large chunk of time to learning something new when we have busy lives and personal commitments, or we live far away from the trainings which we want to partake in. This is where the benefits of Online Children’s Yoga Teacher Training comes in to play.

Due to the technological age that we are currently living in, we are blessed to have the option of online teacher training.  There are so many benefits of online platforms – providing you have done your research to ensure that the programmes have the required accreditations, qualifications and most importantly interaction with a responsive mentor.

Some of the Benefits of Online Children’s Yoga Teacher Training are:
  • FLEXIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE:

Students can study at their own pace, and the training platform can be accessed from anywhere in the world. All you require is a viable internet connection and computer, with no geographical constraints! This is a great option for people who travel a lot, have a full-time job, are students, parents or who live in remote areas.

In-person trainings can also be fast-paced and intense, and students are quite often left feeling saturated and overwhelmed – with not enough time to process the avalanche of information. Online options allow for students to go through the work at their own pace, personalise their speed and re-read/repeat some of the more difficult part of the course material if necessary. This allows for complete customisation of the learning experience.

YogaBeez Online

  • AFFORDABILITY:

    Online teacher trainings are generally more affordable than traditional in-person training programmes, as it cuts down on the costs of accommodation, travel and other related expenses.

  • SUPPORT OF ONLINE COMMUNITY:

People are often under the misguided impression that the online experience will be a solitary and lonely road… This could not be further from the truth. With this option, you can tap into a global community!  Guest teachers from around the world can be available to teach and support.  Students can ask questions, get feedback, share their experiences and connect with other students. The sessions can be very interactive and friendships from around the world can be fostered through these connections.  This provides diverse networking opportunities and collaborations with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

  • SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING:

Online courses require a certain level of self-discipline and motivation. This can help people to develop valuable and life-long skills in time management, self-motivation and independent learning.

  • QUALITY TRAINING:

Bryony DuckittOnline teacher training is just as high quality as traditional in-person training programmes.  By booking your course through an accredited school like YogaBeez means that the support you will receive will be constant and in-depth.

A great way to set your mind at ease is to read graduate testimonials. This ensures you are getting quality information from the source – from people who have experienced the courses. The wonderful feedback that we get for our interactive online course has been incredible. A great online training course should encourage you to practice your own hands-on teaching throughout your learning journey. Hopefully you will leave confident to step out of the box and onto your mat to deepen your own yoga practice , and to begin your process of becoming an accredited, qualified, well- equipped, knowledgeable and adaptable teacher yourself….

Some great YogaBeez testimonials from past graduates:

“If you can not make the in-person training truly consider the online version as you feel immediately involved and immersed, but not overwhelmed. If anything, the online training allows processes and procedures to slot into place at your own pace and provides you with tools of reference to go back to when you need to access those bits of information again for clarification. Well worth it!”

“The material was very well presented and organized. I was surprised at how engaging the online activity was, as it felt very interactive even though it was pre-recorded.”

“The course suited my needs perfectly. As mum of a toddler, running my own business and starting a new job the self-paced was necessary. It was one of the selling points when I first booked on.”

YogaBeez is a leading provider of children’s yoga and mindfulness, offering accredited teacher training courses, classes and workshops. Since 2005, our unique method has incorporated the core values and teachings of traditional Yoga and Mindfulness coupled with the Montessori philosophy to educate, empower and exercise children from all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. Our inclusive classes are designed to stimulate and nourish physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being.

 

The YogaBeez ONLINE Children’s Yoga Teacher Training is available in both the Foundation and Advanced Level Courses. It is suitable for yoga teachers, school teachers and parents. These online courses will provide you with all the tools you will need to share yoga and mindfulness with children

Dealing with emotions on a Yoga Teacher Training Course

Supporting Emotions in a yoga group
How to deal with emerging emotions whilst on a Yoga Teacher Training CourseHow to deal with emerging emotions whilst on a Yoga Teacher Training Course:

Have you ever entered a yoga class feeling on top of the world until half way through? Whilst holding a pose, the flood gates suddenly open and you find tears streaming down your cheeks? Or found yourself lying in savasana, deep in a peaceful meditative state when a single tear trickles down the side of your face? A meditation releases an expected memory and your smooth, controlled breath soon turns to sobs… Well, if a yoga class can unleash all these emotions, can you imagine what could unfold whilst delving deeply inwards on a Yoga Teacher Training Course? Preparing to deal with these emerging emotions in a safe and supported space is very important.

What are the possible solutions?

Having led and attended many teacher trainings over the years, I have come to accept that no matter how hard we may try to hold it back – our personal emotional baggage is bound to show up at some point over these days of self-discovery. And as a practitioner, a student and a teacher, I welcome these releases. I believe they are a vital part of becoming an empathic and compassionate teacher.

Advice for managing emotions on a yoga course:

Such a big part of being a teacher is being able to hold a space for your students to explore, enquire and ultimately let go. Not just in their physical asana, but also in observing the memory of their cells and past experiences. The only way to release these is to allow them to surface. Then observe them and lovingly (and often painfully) begin to heal and set them free.

What can we do to assist our students?

To allow our students to do this, we need to provide a safe and supportive environment. It is important that we remain grounded and present. For this to be possible, we need to have visited and reviewed our own emotional issues and baggage. I believe we are all made up of an assortment of these special ingredients … remnants of all the experiences we have had during our journey from birth. I don’t love the word baggage, but yes, as this metaphor suggests, the experiences that have affected us are often lugged around.  They can be physically held like heavy weights or tight knots in our shoulders, jaws, lower backs, hips, calves etc. So, its not surprising that when we come into certain poses or sit in contemplative silence, we start a process of physical and emotional release.

Supporting Emotions in a yoga groupExamine your early emotions:

During the yoga teacher trainings I lead, specializing in children and teen yoga, one of the first meditations we do is one of returning to our early years. Many of the trainee teachers haven’t visited these years for a long time and of course not all of these will be happy, bouncy, joyous years. If any of us think back to our teens we are bound to remember some incredibly challenging times.

Respect the students’ emotional journey:

I always provide a space for these teachers to share their experiences, but this is never an obligation. It is imperative to remember that whilst some students may find sharing very cathartic – for others these are deeply personal, intimate details that they may not feel comfortable talking about. As the trainer holding a space, it’s important to respect this privacy but also to let your student know that a one-on-one with you is available should they wish to chat to you personally.

The reason I lead this meditation is that I want trainee teachers to revisit their own childhood years and experiences before working with the bodies and minds of their own vulnerable students. A children’s yoga teacher does not only have to learn how to lead and observe a class, they must also truly examine their own qualities, through a process of self-awareness and continuous self-assessment.

We know children can push buttons, exploring their boundaries with each new adult that enters their lives and often our immediate reaction comes from a place of our own unresolved issues. If a teacher is feeling frustrated with a student, it is good for us to figure out where this irritation is stemming from and discover the true essence of the problem. When a teacher can examine their own qualities internally, we can see that it is often their own anxiety, pride or insecurity that stands between them and the student.

The important qualities of a Children’s Yoga Teacher:

Because the teacher’s disposition and manner determines the atmosphere of the classroom, there are a few essential qualities that a teacher must examine before holding a space. Of course, there is the learning and practising of poses, the yoga philosophy to read, study and practice but there is also the imperative process of personal spiritual preparation. This inner exploration is essential to building relationships with students.

If a teacher is lacking in self-awareness, she may misinterpret or misunderstand a student’s behaviour and this often creates barriers between them. Controlling her own reaction to a student’s actions and understanding where this reaction comes from is an important place for a teacher to begin her spiritual quest.

Practice the art of patience:

Above and beyond demonstrating a perfect pose I believe that equanimity, patience and humility are some of the most essential qualities of a good yoga teacher. And this is where “living our yoga” becomes all-important. We need to be sure that the yoga philosophy we weave into our classes is what we are practicing when we step off the mat and out of the studio.

As we explore and reflect upon the Yamas and Niyamas – the roots and trunk of the 8-fold path that are at the very core of our yoga practice – it is vital that we start unpacking and reflecting on our own make up, those ingredients that make us who we are, the baggage, the unresolved issues. It’s all the gritty stuff that we need to revisit, because in doing so we are not only freeing ourselves, learning to forgive, learning self-love and self-care but we are giving our students permission to do the same. And this is where the true yoga begins … the yoking, the merging, the connecting.

Embrace you emotions:

So, the next time you feel an emotional release sneaking its way into your practice, welcome it, observe it, learn from it and lovingly set it free. And when one of your students experiences one of these moments – hold the space for them to do this and be grateful that they have felt safe enough in your hands to do so.

We hope you enjoyed reading our article on dealing with emotions on a Yoga Teacher Training Course.

For more info contact us.

Managing A Children’s Yoga Class

Are you grappling with effective classroom management within your children’s yoga classes?

Done the training, learnt the poses, perfected your lesson planning, ready to go … and then the children arrive. They are chatty, unable to focus at the end of the school day, running around the space, not listening and getting their attention seems near impossible. Please know that you are not alone, and that some days are going to be more challenging than others. It is completely normal to have times where things go a little awry and the carefully-crafted lesson plan flies out the window! Effective classroom management can greatly assist you when things feel a little pressured.

When children are seeking attention, whether positive or negative, a mantra I always come back to is, “All behaviour is communication!”

Then breathe deeply, come back to centre, reassess the situation and find ways to engage the children in order to manage the challenging behaviour.

It can often be that by implementing some subtle changes into the space, a huge difference is made to the experience of your students, as well as your own confidence as a teacher.

Here are some valuable techniques, which could prove effective in the management your children’s yoga classes:

  • Firstly, to enter your classroom/space in a mindful way.  Try to be aware of any of your own personal challenges or anxieties BEFORE greeting the children. Leave these at the door and be fully present to hold space for your students. They are little empaths who will often feed off the energy you are carrying.
  • Remember that consistency is KEY! Remind the children of the Golden Guidelines gently at the beginning of the class, or have them illustrated in a visual manner. Co-creating these guidelines for acceptable behaviour will go a long way in gaining their ‘buy-in’.  Always follow through, and avoid empty promises. Truth creates trust. Consequences are important and sometimes we need to be firm to be kind.  Children feel safer and more secure when there are clear boundaries.
  • Create engaging and fun lesson plans but remember to be flexible in order to harness the energy of the children in the room. It is important to meet the children where they are, and work towards the goal in unison. Being too rigid will lead to frustrations across the board.
  • There are many different teaching techniques and we need to be aware which ones we operate from in order to be able to see what works and what doesn’t within each group.  When a class starts to become chatty or rowdy, level out your speaking voice to a low and soft place.  The louder they become – the quieter you become… Try not to be reactive, as this simply
    escalates any situation. Sound can be a wonderful way to engage with the children, so be prepared for opportunities to sing a song or hum a tune in order to subtly and positively adjust the energy at hand.
  • Bringing breathwork into the class at regular intervals is paramount, to either energise or calm the space, depending on what is needed.
  • Try to return to your yogic principles at all times, whilst acknowledging the positives in all situations, avoiding negative patterns of speech. Always try to model peace, love and a compassionate attitude, and hopefully they will follow.  And when all else fails … just breathe and smile … and know that the next class will be better! Here is a great quote to get you through the wobbly moments:

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, first you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton

Always be prepared to be unprepared! This is an organic and symbiotic relationship which will move in many different directions, depending on the ever-changing aspects at play on any particular day.

The children will ultimately determine the current and direction, and it is our role to facilitate and not dominate.

At the end of the day, remember to enjoy the dance of the class interaction as you flow in and out of their different energy levels, with a clear image of your own engagement style.

Have fun, be kind, be firm and be mindful. Managing a children’s yoga class can be a breeze! 

Choosing the right yoga teacher training course for you

YogaBeez accredited yoga foundation teacher training course in Helsinki
YogaBeez yoga and mindfulness teacher training course in Cape Town

You’re investing time and money into a training course, so you need to know it’s right for you. I’ve shared my top 4 priorities for choosing the right course.

When I chose to specialise in children’s yoga 14 years ago, there were only three courses to choose from. One was in the UK and the others abroad, so the decision was made fairly easy for me. Today in the UK alone there are probably 20 children’s yoga teacher training courses being offered, about ten of which have surfaced in the past two years.

There are so many options for trainings – how do you even begin to decide which programme is right for you?

It can be a minefield out there and deciding to embark on a teacher training is a big decision. Many factors contribute to finding the perfect match. Every decision is personal, with different priorities and considerations for each of us, however there are some fundamental questions that could steer you in the right direction.

Here are a few key factors to consider when setting out on this exciting new venture

1. Understanding your intention will determine what kind of training is right for you.

Ask yourself these questions before looking for the training that best suits your needs.

  • Are you looking for a career change or would you just like to add a class to your usual work week, for a bit of change in your everyday schedule?
  • Are you hoping to bring some yoga into your work space i.e. yoga and mindful techniques in your classroom or to offer to work colleagues a class at the end of their day?
  • Have you been on maternity leave or are a full-time mum wanting to get back into work but not in the same capacity as before?
  • Are you looking to teach adults or specialise in children, teenagers, family yoga, babies or prenatal etc?
  • Are you merely looking for ways to deepen your own practice?
2018 graduates with Bryony and their certificates from the YogaBeez advanced children's yoga teacher training course

2. Research training courses thoroughly.

oga trainings can vary hugely in terms of curriculum content, theory versus practical, philosophies, attention to anatomy, practical business advice and so forth – making it important to research as best as you can. Evaluate the course syllabus/training outline for the balance of subjects taught. Most trainings are required to cover a minimum number of hours dedicated to things like poses, anatomy, breath work, history of yoga and Vedanta so choose a programme that speaks your language and excites you. What speaks to you most about the yoga teacher training you are researching?

Here is a handy checklist:

  • Ensure your training is accredited, as this will certainly reflect the quality of the training you are getting. There are various governing bodies for yoga, which have set the standard for what a properly constructed teacher training should contain.
  • Talk to people who have been through the programme and the teachers themselves if you can. Was the response to your email a generic one or was it answered directly by the teacher? Is there a personal touch or are you only able to chat once you meet? If this is important to you – seek it out.
  • What is your trainer’s philosophy and mission for their school – what are they trying to share, what kind of skills would they want their teachers to develop and leave the course with.
  • Does your training give you an opportunity to put practice to the theory you are learning? Do you get to observe and teach an actual class – to actual adults, children, teens etc?
  • Will your course qualify you for insurance, as we need this to practice in public venues?
  • What size is the training – is it intimate or vast (15 teachers who get personal attention or 35 teachers whose names never get learnt.)
  • Does your training provider require that you have been practicing yoga for a while? Whilst there is no need to be an expert when you arrive on a teacher training, if you are looking to teach yoga it is imperative that you have a solid regular practice when you arrive – “practice what we teach.”
  • Do you want to be a part of a franchise or would you like to start your own career? What are you signing yourself up for?
    And finally, online trainings can be a good addition to what you have already learnt but being in the presence of a qualified teacher is very important as you start your journey of teaching yoga. It is so important to observe teachings and be observed whilst you are teaching. Be supported by an actual human being rather than a screen if at all possible.

3. Connect with the teacher

A connection with the teacher is fundamental in determining how much you will gain from the course. Training to teach yoga can be physically, emotionally and mentally challenging so it is good to be sure that your teacher is able to support you through this process with sensitivity.

  • Have you researched who your trainer has been studying with and are you familiar with them? Would you like to know more about their teachings?
  • Do you share a similar philosophy of teaching?
    Do their website, personal journey, teaching intentions, articles and programmes inspire you?
  • How long have they been teaching and running these trainings?
  • And most importantly – will your teacher continue to support you after your training is complete? Does your training school have a sangha/group of teachers who connect in with each other? Are there WhatsApp groups, Private Facebook groups, newsletters or website forums? It can feel quite isolating being a yoga teacher, especially when you start out, so community is paramount – whether it’s face-to-face or online, make sure this is something that is offered.

4. The practicalities: dates, location and investment.

Never overlook the practical bits that will play a huge role in your decision.

  • Choose a price that suits your budget – many teacher trainings have payment options and early bird discounts, so it’s worth asking about this.
  • Find a date that works for you. If you are a school teacher, is your training offered during school holidays? If you are in a full-time job you might need to find a training that is offered on weekends.
  • Would you prefer to do a full, intensive training and integrate all the information post-training or would you prefer to have it running over a longer period of time taking time to integrate and practice all you are learning along the way?
  • When choosing a location think realistically about what you can commit to, given your current responsibilities – family, work etc. It’s important not to overstretch yourself so think about how you could manage less travel time at the end of each training day.

As you can see there is quite a bit to consider. Don’t be afraid to get online or on the phone with the person you want to train with. Feel supported as you move through your application process. This is a big step to take, an investment in many areas of your life … find the right course for you and enjoy each step of this journey!

Contact me if you’d like to know more about our courses.

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