By Suzanne Bergen, 200-hour yoga teacher training lead facilitator
Have you thought about yoga teacher training, then immediately listed all the reasons it might not be for you? You’re not flexible enough. You don’t know enough. You’re too busy, not “young” or “fit” enough, or you don’t want to teach.
I hear you.
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is a commitment. It’s also a process of transformation – an experience where you learn, ask questions, try new things, and deepen your practice. You don’t need to know everything. That’s why you’re there.
After six years of leading 200-hour YTTs and hundreds of conversations with potential trainees, here are the eight most common reasons I’ve heard people hesitate to sign up, and why they might not need to stop you:
No. 1: “I’m not flexible or ‘good enough’ at yoga.”
You don’t need to be able to do a handstand or even be able to touch your toes.
Teacher training is about so much more than poses. We explore yoga philosophy, anatomy, sequencing, cueing, breathwork, and other parts of the practice you might not encounter in a typical studio class. You’ll also learn how poses can look and feel different in different bodies.
Come with a yoga practice and a willingness to learn. We’ll meet you there.
No. 2: “I don’t know enough about yoga.”
That’s the reason to take the training, not avoid it.
Nobody starts yoga teacher training knowing everything about yoga. Every one of our YTT facilitators has continued learning throughout their careers. Your 200-hour yoga training gives you dedicated time to ask questions, understand the “why” behind the practice, and explore yoga beyond the hours you spend on your mat in class.
Curiosity matters a lot more than already having all the answers.
No. 3: “I don’t want to teach.”
You don’t have to. In fact, only about half of the people who sign up for teacher training know from the beginning they want to lead classes. Others register because they want to deepen their personal practice, better understand yoga, or do something meaningful for themselves. Think of it as “life training.”
And yes, sometimes people who swear they’ll never teach change their minds. Others finish training with zero interest in standing in front of a room full of students, and they’re just as happy they invested in the growth experience.
Becoming a teacher can be one outcome of teacher training. It doesn’t have to be the only one.
No. 4: “I don’t have the time.”
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is a real commitment. There’s no getting around that.
But there’s likely never going to be a stretch of life when your calendar is completely empty. For many trainees, the answer isn’t finding unlimited free time, but deciding that this is something worth making room for.
Before you sign up, look honestly at the training schedule and your other commitments. Think about what might need to shift temporarily. Talk with the people who share your time.
You don’t have to put the rest of your life on hold. But you do need to be willing to make your yoga training a priority for a few months.
No. 5: “Yoga teacher training is expensive.”
Charlotte Yoga understands this one too. Teacher training is a significant investment of both time and money.
It can help to think about what that investment includes: months of education, experienced teachers, hands-on learning, a deeper understanding of your own practice, and, if you choose to teach, the foundation for stepping into that role.
If cost is the biggest thing standing between you and training, talk to us. Learn about available payment options, scholarship opportunities, or other ways to make training more manageable before assuming it’s out of reach.
No. 6: “I’m ‘too old’ or ‘too out of shape.’”
We’ve taught trainees at every age and stage of life, from 20-somethings just starting their careers to retirees and grandparents.
Your life experience can be one of the most valuable things you bring to training. You know your body differently than you did 10 or 20 years ago. You’ve lived more life. You might have a clearer sense of who you are and how you want to show up for other people.
And you do not need to be in peak physical condition to participate. Great yoga teachers and students don’t all look, move, or practice the same way.
No. 7: “I won’t know anyone.”
Maybe not on the first night. But one of the most meaningful parts of teacher training is the community that forms along the way.
You’ll spend a lot of time together. You’ll practice, learn, stumble through new skills, and have conversations that go deeper than the ones you can fit into the few minutes before class.
Walking into a room where you don’t know anyone can feel intimidating. It also gives you the chance to walk out with people you might never have met otherwise.
No. 8: “I’m afraid to get out of my comfort zone.”
You probably will, and I’m pretty confident you’ll find it’s 100% worth it.
You’ll be asked to speak in front of people. Practice teaching. Give and receive feedback. Try something you aren’t immediately good at. Look at parts of your practice, your habits, and maybe even yourself a little differently.
That can feel vulnerable. It can also be where some of the most valuable growth happens.
You don’t need to be fearless before you begin. You just need to be willing to get a little uncomfortable, one step at a time, in a room full of people doing the same thing.
Maybe you’re more ready for yoga teacher training than you think
You don’t have to arrive at yoga teacher training as the most flexible, experienced, or confident person in the room. You just have to arrive ready to learn.
If you’ve been thinking about Charlotte Yoga’s 2027 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, we’d love to help you decide whether it’s right for you.
Learn more about the program, reach out with your questions, or save your spot today.
About Suzanne
Suzanne Bergen is the lead facilitator for Charlotte Yoga’s 2027 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, a longtime Charlotte Yoga teacher, E-RYT 500, and YACEP. She has co-led six teacher trainings and brings decades of practice and teaching experience to helping students grow with confidence and curiosity.
