Online vs In-Person 200 Hours Yoga Training – Which One Is Better?

The 200 hours Yoga teacher training course is a career milestone for aspiring yoga teachers and yoga practitioners who want to start a successful teaching career, deepen practice and make yoga education more accessible and flexible worldwide.

Over the last few years, the yoga courses have seen a radical shift from the offline and traditional yoga ashram based teachings to online studios and digital platforms. This not only makes learning yoga accessible, but also possible on a mass level regardless of location and time.

While the shift from in person Yoga training to online is accessible, it has given rise to a very crucial question that is - Between the online and the in person 200 hours yoga teacher training which one is better. In this guide, we shall be exploring both of these formats and understanding their benefits and challenges to help choose the most suitable format for your training.

What Is a 200 Hour Yoga TTC?

Before we understand the comparison of the offline and the online format, it is important to understand what does a 200 hour training involve? So basically this is a foundation course which has gained credibility and recognition from the Yoga Alliance. This is a global body that sets international standards for Yoga teacher courses and also maintains a registry of all certified yoga schools and teachers. It not only supports professional development but also standardizes the training and makes the credibility of the training acceptable worldwide.

Usually this format includes Yoga Asanas (Postures) and their correct alignment, breath work techniques such as –

·       Pranayama (the yogic breath work)

·       Meditation and mindfulness

·       Knowledge about the physical anatomy

·       Yoga philosophy such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Bhagwad Gita

·       Mantra chanting

·       The right teaching methodology and practicum to be able to become an efficient teacher.

Online Yoga Teacher Training

Benefits

Convenience and flexibility in learning

One of the biggest benefits of training online is the convenience and flexibility in learning. Often when yoga students enrol in offline courses they have to take out a specific time and schedule and also travel to be able to achieve their certification and training. But when one is taking an online course, they are able to learn at their own pace without travelling and pausing regarding other commitments. This is especially helpful for people who are working professionals or students who do not have the time and money to travel.

Cost effective options

The online programmes are slightly cheaper than the offline ones. This is because in the offline setup the yoga instructor is available physically and guides on a personal level. The yoga students get a chance to save on travel, accommodation and other miscellaneous costs which makes yoga education more pocket friendly and accessible to people worldwide.

Accessibility to resources throughout

Generally most of the yoga schools offer pre-recorded videos, learning material etc which is accessible even after the completion of the course. This is so that the students can revisit their lessons and keep consistency and understanding in their practise.

Customized learning zone

Another major advantage of learning yoga online is to have the ability to customize the learning space and zone. You can pause and revisit any asana or demonstration as per your convenience. And you can keep doing that until you perfect it. This is often something that is not entirely possible in an in-person format where both the instructor and the student are on a limited timeframe.

Access to global yoga masters

Learning digitally allows one to train from Yoga Masters from any corner of the world without having to leave their own homes. This diversity not only offers comfort and convenience but also introduces students to RYT 200 multi style Yoga courses which adds dynamism and variety to the practise.

Limited Physical guidance

The whole practise of yoga is based on perfecting body alignment and coordinating it with the right breath work. These are things which are difficult to learn in an online format. Limited physical guidance may sometimes lead to incorrect postures and wrong alignment.

Lack of the community feeling

Training offline allows one to meet like-minded people and form connections even outside the yoga class. This community feeling could be lacking in an online format.

Struggles with discipline and distractions

It is no surprise that practising at your pace and convenience can also lead to sometimes being distracted and indisciplined. Whether it is work interruptions, phone calls or just the noise around, it may lead to lack of focus.

Offline 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Course

Benefits

Deeper learning experience

Even though yoga is a personal journey, but when you are practising in an in-person format you get the chance to have a deeper and an immersive learning experience. You not only get to personally interact with your yoga master, but inculcate the yogic lifestyle that goes beyond your yoga mat. Following a satvik routine of the yoga school builds discipline and cultivates habits that are transformative.

Real time posture alignment

One of largest benefits of practising offline is the advantage of having a real time posture alignment and correction. When you’re practising in the presence of your yoga instructor, you can adjust your posture manually. This will not only allow you to practise yoga correctly but also help you to prevent injuries and build a strong foundation for your practise.

Personal and spiritual transformation

Yoga has never been confined to just the physical movement. It is a personal and spiritual transformation. When you are practising yoga in a serene environment of a yoga ashram, you get the chance to embrace nature and the peaceful surroundings around you that help you absorb the yogic life profoundly.

Challenges

The Cost factor

The cost factor could be one of the crucial challenges when learning in an in-person format. This is because unlike the online options the offline setup will require you to book your travel plans, pay for your accommodation, food and the batches you will be enrolling in.

Ltd post- training access to resources

Once you leave your yoga school you might lose the direct access to recorded materials or the mentorship. So the in person experience is more about living in the present rather than having to revisit the postures on a daily basis through a recorded setup.

Time and commitment

It is very obvious that when you are in training in a dedicated in person course set up in a certain location, you will have to take out the time, cost and the commitment to enrol in that sort of a journey. This requires courage and dedication to chase your practise.

The final verdict

So to talk about the final verdict between online yoga teacher training and offline yoga course, it is important to understand that both come with their benefits and challenges. But it would be recommended to go for an offline based yoga training. This is so that you can you enjoy the depth of physical practise in a controlled and guided atmosphere and learn to do yoga the correct way and have a real time experience and confidence of learning to teach yoga. You can also engage in learning yoga philosophy and other theories online and then maybe commit to an offline training and certification.

Both the online and the offline 200 are yoga teacher training courses come with their benefits and challenges, but it is up to your requirement, time and cost availability that shall allow you to choose whatever works best for you. It is important to note that enrolling in any Yoga TTC is not just about receiving certification but it is about decoding the Why behind your practise and finding a purpose.