Long or short courses — what's best?

Long or short courses - what's best: an intensive or longer duration course?

As with all aspects of the teaching and study of yoga, there is no ‘one way’. Alongside your personal circumstances and preferred ways of study, key factors to consider in deciding whether to undertake a longer or shorter duration course need to relate to the quality and experience of your teachers and training school on the one hand, and to your realistic ability to get the best out of the course within its course period on the other hand. The latter is significantly affected by the commitments, responsibilities and freedoms in your unique life, work, family and financial considerations.

A longer course per se does not guarantee knowledge, skill or safe teaching, although it surely offers the student more time to assimilate and embody the course material and practicum. Rather, knowledgeable, skillful and safe teaching result from the application of both the trainee and the teachers. One needs to use a longer course period to good effect, with consistent and intelligent planning and application to the course homework and self-study, ideally in active, supportive interaction with course companions and mentors. Even with the best of intentions, much can change in our lives over a long course period, so be prepared for challenges to your planned homework and study schedules – even to your ongoing course attendance. Longer courses can be offered with intensive residential week-long modules or as a one-weekend-a-month approach (or similar). These different methods also offer different potential challenges, opportunities and outcomes.

Short-form residential intensive trainings, often in exotic locations, have become increasingly popular in the ‘want it now’ climate of modern society, while for many they also offer the only possible or preferred option. Intensive training immersions have proved to be a very effective method for the development of one’s personal yoga practice and for establishing foundational teacher training skills. If the student can appropriately prepare themselves with pre-course study and skillfully cope with the rigors of the intensive course experience, short-form trainings can be a very effective springboard into teaching.

In my experience of undertaking, and later leading both long and short form teacher trainings at The Yoga Academy and other international schools, there is not a clear answer to which form is best. Rather, the question raises a number of enquiries for each aspirant’s due consideration to get the most benefit out of their investment of time, money and self within the boundaries and freedoms of their life, work, home, family and financial circumstances.

All graduate teachers need to recognise the necessity of ongoing study and training after graduation. Regardless of length, an initial teacher training course is only the first important step on the path to – hopefully! – becoming a safe, informed, skilled and eventually experienced yoga teacher. Thus, all teacher training is effectively long term.

Simon Low for Om Magazine