Movement Wisdom 200 Hour Online YTT

I can’t do some of the challenging poses like Handstand, Crow Pose, or the Splits. Is that a problem?

Not at all! This course is perfect for passionate yoga students who celebrate everything from holding Downdog for 5 breaths, to holding Handstand for 3 minutes, and everyone in-between!

One of the most important lessons you will learn in this training is that yoga takes place on the inside. It doesn’t matter at all what your practice looks like from the outside.

For one person, sitting still in meditation or lying down in Savasana is their biggest challenge on the mat. They might be able to do Scorpion pose all day long, but getting still and quiet feels impossible.

Someone else might be light-years away from touching their toes, but have an incredible yogic mindset and can meditate for hours on end. Our level of success in yoga is not visible on the outside – it’s all about our mental state as we do the things that challenge us the most.

There is no list of poses you need to be able to do in order to sign up and be successful in this course. There is no one style of yoga that you need to have practiced to take this course. Everyone who is passionate, motivated, and dedicated to achieving their highest results is welcome to join.

Do I get personal feedback from my teachers?

Yes. Lot’s of it!

1. The training includes live teaching practice sessions in small groups. You’ll receive helpful and targeted feedback on your teaching from our Movement Wisdom mentors after each session. The teaching practices will solidify your skills, help you find your personal style and build confidence and clarity.
2. We’ve included Empowerment Reviews (short quizzes) at the end of each training chapter to help you consolidate your learning and get feedback on where you might want to do some extra review of the course contents.
3. You can ask your yoga-related questions in our community and I’ll respond to you directly with a short video. Every question you have will get an answer from me!
4. You will receive supportive, practical and personal feedback from me on your final exam, as well as your teaching practices along the way.
5. Join our regular “Asana Hour” calls with Jess to ask your questions about your poses and get immediate help and clarity.
6. If you want even more highly detailed personalized feedback on your poses and sequences you can sign up for our optional training upgrade.

I have a full schedule already. How can I possibly find time for this course?

I can’t tell you how to make the time for the course. But I can assure you that it is possible to do the training even if your days are already full. Plus, you have lifetime access to the course and can graduate this year, or in 5 years from now!

We’ve had everyone from high-ranking executives to stay-at-home moms with 4 little ones complete this training. If they can do it, you can too!

If you love yoga, this course makes it easy to put your YTT before Netflix with a minimum amount of discipline.

And since the contents are prerecorded (and available as both videos and podcasts) you can literally study whenever and wherever you want (aka bathtub study sessions and educational walks in the park 😊).

The best part is this: We’ve been told over and over that the Movement Wisdom 200 hour training doesn’t drain your batteries. It recharges them!

I have suffered an injury that impacts my yoga practice. Can I still do the course?

Yes! As long as you have the green light from your doctor, you’re good to go! We’re not doctors ourselves, but are happy to offer detailed personal advice on how to modify your asana practice depending on your exact condition. Jess is highly trained in therapeutic yoga and is more than happy to have a call with you once you sign up for the course about how to make this training work for your specific condition!

And we trust that you will listen to your body and do only what works for you as you make your way through the training.

In the past, we have had students with injuries and medical conditions like these successfully and joyfully complete the course:

– carpal tunnel syndrome

– scoliosis

– hypermobility

– high blood pressure

– low blood pressure

– autoimmune diseases

– arthritis

– joint replacements

– chronic pain

– slipped and herniated discs

– cancer

Is this course beginner-friendly?

Yes! The Movement Wisdom 200 hour online YTT is a foundational program with plenty of options for beginners, intermediate, and advanced practitioners.

Don’t get me wrong – there will be poses in this course that challenge you both physically and mentally. But you are not expected to come to the training able to do everything – not even close! Yoga is a process. Your practice is a process. Your mindset when confronted with things you can’t yet do is a process. What shapes you make in your body (or don’t make!) are not at all important. Yoga is about so much more than that.

And to be honest, we love having students who are newer to yoga in our courses, as they come with more of a blank slate. Our more “advanced” students have a harder time in some ways, as they have a lot of old cues and yoga myths from their years of practice that they now want to unlearn!

Ideally, you have practiced yoga – any kind of yoga at any level – for at least 6 months.

Is this course suitable for seniors?

Yes! The Movement Wisdom 200 hour online YTT is great for older adults.

One of the most important lessons you will learn in this training is that yoga takes place on the inside. It doesn’t matter at all which poses you can or can’t do (anymore) or what your practice looks like from the outside.

For some, sitting still in meditation or lying down in Savasana is their biggest challenge on the mat. They might be able to do Scorpion pose all day long, but being still and quiet feels impossible.

Someone else might be light-years away from touching their toes, but have an incredible yogic mindset and can meditate for hours on end. Our level of success in yoga is not visible on the outside – it’s all about our mental state as we do the things that challenge us the most.

Note: if you have heart disease or osteoporosis, please send Jess a message once you start the training so she can help you personally cater each class to you!

Can I really improve my practice and learn to teach yoga on the internet?

Yes, absolutely 👍

In fact, there are very good reasons why you should sign up for an online YTT over an in-person training.

But before we dive in, let’s make one thing clear:

The quality of any yoga teacher training – in-person or online – depends almost entirely on the knowledge and skill of your YTT lead trainer.

• How much do they know about the different aspects of yoga?
• Can they communicate their knowledge effectively?
• Do you personally resonate with their character, their vision, and their style?
• Do they live and breathe and easily share the yogic worldview with others?

Picking the right teacher is the #1 most important thing you can do when choosing your YTT. This cannot be overstated! Whether you study with them online or in-person is secondary.

Okay, now let’s consider the advantages of online trainings:

1. Flexibility

Your typical in-person training will take place full time (usually 4 weeks) or on weekends (usually 10 long weekends in a row). You have to be there or you can’t do the course. Online trainings, on the other hand, can be incredibly flexible (when most of the lessons are pre-recorded). In the Movement Wisdom YTT you decide when and where and for how long you study.

2. Better content:

Filming a 200 hour training is sooo much work. We don’t want to do it ever again! 😂 That’s why I prepared each class carefully and with great attention to detail. In an in-person training, on the other hand, the lead trainer will teach between 8 to 12 hours every day. It’s easy to see why peak-performance teaching might not be possible in this set up.

3. Watch it again

Did you really like a lecture and want to replay it multiple times? Trying to grasp a difficult concept and need a replay? Want to start the training all over again to see how much you’ve improved and to deepen your knowledge even more? No problemo! All of these things are possible in our online YTT. But of course totally impossible with an in-person YTT.

4. Permission to relax

You won’t ever be rushing to class. No worries about what other people think about your hair. And if life gets in the way – that’s okay. Your classes will still be there tomorrow, waiting for you patiently.

5. Environmentally friendly

No more guilty conscience about flying across the globe to study with an industry leader; just do it from home! Streaming is so much less harmful to the environment than flying to Bali or driving multiple times per week to the nearest yoga studio.

6. Risk-reduction

Any good online YTT will give you the chance to try before you buy. This way you can get to know the teacher, dip your toes in the water and see what you’re signing up for. An excellent online YTT will even give you a free trial period (we do). Our training is risk free, leaving the decision to commit totally up to you. In an in-person training, on the other hand, you have many substantial risk factors even if you’re confident that your teacher is amazing (accommodation, food, room-mates, weather etc.)

I’m pregnant, can I still take this training?

Yes! I have prepared a detailed guide on how to modify your yoga practice if you are pregnant during your YTT. If you follow this guide you and your baby will be totally safe. And if you have any questions at all after reading the guide, we can jump on a call at any point to make sure everything is 100% crystal clear.

There are limitations for your physical practice during pregnancy. These differ depending on which trimester you’re in. You should avoid certain types of poses and breathwork practices. All of this is outlined in the guide.

Your pregnancy will not impact your ability to go through and complete the course, so no worries at all! And – I’ll let you in on a little secret – I filmed most of the classes in this training while pregnant with my second! So now you really know that it’s do-able. 🥰

Will my religious beliefs conflict with this yoga teacher training?

No. This 200 hour YTT does not ask you to believe anything.

There is no system of yogic beliefs that you have to subscribe to in order to be a “good yogi”. So if you already practice a religion – don’t worry – yoga won’t get in the way. Rather, it will be complimentary and you’ll find many familiar ideas, just framed differently.

And if you’re an atheist, you can totally stay in your lane, too. The only thing a good yoga teacher training will do is broaden your horizons. Hopefully a lot. And as far as I know, that has never hurt anybody. 😎

How do you help me stay motivated?

We know that motivation levels can change from one week to the next. We’ve all been there. We also know that a 200 hour training is a marathon, and not a sprint. We know that learning from the comfort of your home can sometimes present distractions. We know that flexibility is good, but too much flexibility can be disorienting.

That’s why we do everything we can to help you stay on track from the first day of your training all the way through to graduation.

Here are some of the big and small things you can look forward to:

• weekly live teaching practices that keep you engaged and inspired
• an engaging, inspiring and motivating teaching style
• teachings on yoga that are equal parts surprising and fascinating
• a course structure that prevents overwhelm
• monthly challenges for the whole training community
• personal accountability buddies
• clear guidance along every step of your journey
• a broad variety of learning formats
• limitless flexibility that allows you to take breaks when you need them
• a ready-to-print training manual that makes everything feel more “real”
• a class-by-class progress tracker for your fridge, planner, or desk

I don’t plan to teach yoga. Does it still make sense for me to take a 200 hour YTT?

Yes! About 25% of Movement Wisdom students do not intend to teach after graduation. So you’re not alone!

This training is – first and foremost – an opportunity to deepen your own personal practice and understanding of yoga. You’ll learn crucial information about your body, including it’s abilities and challenges on the mat. You’ll also cultivate the attention and wisdom you need to have a sustainable and exciting practice for life.

We give you insights into the ancient philosophies of yoga that will help you bring these powerful lessons into your life right away. And the teaching practices, although at first glance might not seem relevant to you, will actually teach you beneficial life skills like using your voice, finding confidence, and presenting yourself to others positively.

There is so much to gain from taking a yoga teacher training, whether or not you plan to teach yoga.

Will I be able to attend live calls in my timezone?

Good question! We are fortunate enough to have students from all parts of the world. What a wonderful environment! Still, the vast majority of students are from Europe and North America. And our team members are also based on these two continents. Therefore, our events are scheduled primarily with the corresponding time zones in mind.

Here are a two rules of thumb:

• If you’re anywhere between Los Angeles in the West (UTC -9) and Moscow in the East (UTC +2), and you’re somewhat flexible with your schedule – then you should be able to attend events during waking hours.
• If you’re in the Middle East, Asia or Oceania and you’d like to attend, then you’ll occasionally have to stay up very late or get up very early. Sorry!

Is this course Yoga Alliance certified? And what does that actually mean?

The Yoga Alliance is an international non-profit group that represents and supports both yoga teachers and the yoga industry. They set the industry standards for yoga teacher trainings.

The Movement Wisdom Online 200 Hour Online YTT is certified by the Yoga Alliance. This means that once you graduate, you’ll be able to register with the Yoga Alliance and use the title “RYT 200” after your name (e.g. “Amy Smith, RYT 200”). It’s the yoga version of adding letters to your name from university and other higher education certifications.

This certification is important, among other things, because many studios won’t hire you without it. The thinking is that the program they were a part of gave them the foundational concepts that they need to teach. Not every YTT gives their students this foundation.

Some yoga teacher training programs are not registered with the Yoga Alliance. This means that they either did not meet criteria for registration (they didn’t have the appropriate curriculum or level of certification of their lead teacher trainers) or they do not want to register with Yoga Alliance, even though it might hurt their students in the long run not to be registered.

The fact that the Movement Wisdom YTT is registered is beneficial to you, whether or not you decide to officially register with the Yoga Alliance (which includes a small yearly fee) or not.

Do I have to be on Zoom a lot for this course?

Not at all. Almost the entire program is pre-recorded. Only about 1 in every 10 training hours happens live on Zoom.

Click on “Timezones” to learn more about our schedule.