Why depth is more important in yoga teacher training than variety of topics

Yoga teacher training courses are now a dime a dozen. Many of them offer a modern flow yoga style combined with a seemingly impressive variety of additional topics: Ayurveda, chakra teaching, yin yoga, business coaching, singing bowls, trauma yoga, spiral dynamics, energetics, Kundalini yoga, alignment, breath work, mindfulness, vipassana, and much more. On paper, this sounds like a well-rounded and inspiring training program. But how deep can a training course with so many topics really go? Have you ever thought about it? This blog article explains why depth is more important than variety of topics.

Pure theory vs. practical implementation

An experience from our training

Depth instead of distraction

Pranayama: wisdom instead of sensory overload

Yoga philosophy: from knowledge to life

Meditation: clarity instead of show

Why so many topics are sometimes also a distraction

Dunning-Kruger effect in yoga teacher training

Is our training suitable for everyone? No.

YouTube Video: 10 myths about yoga teachers (in German)

The above question is central. Most yoga teacher training courses are based on 200 or 300 hours - that's actually not much time to not only learn something theoretically, but also to build up practical skills. What's more, these training courses are usually conducted in groups, with participants who, in addition to the theory, should also learn how to teach yoga professionally and not just perform in front of a group.

If you then tackle a new topic per module or weekend, there is hardly any room for repetition, deepening or actual understanding. It's like trying a little bit of everything at a buffet - but you don't get full or nourished by it.

If you want to get involved in something in the form of training, don't you also want to learn to understand the depth and complexity of the subject? We do. Because that's what makes you an expert.

A participant in our 300h Alignment yoga teacher training recently told us about a conversation with a friend who had also completed a 300h training course at another yoga studio. At first, she was impressed by the long list of topics covered there. But after a moment's thought, she came to the crucial point: what good is all this knowledge if I can't really understand or apply any of it in depth?

This reflection gets to the heart of the matter. Depth requires time, repetition, application and competent guidance. This is the only way to develop real understanding - and that is the basis not only for practicing yoga, but also for passing it on responsibly.

At The Yoga Place in Zurich, we consciously focus on depth. We have clear focus areas: Alignment Yoga, anatomy, applied yoga philosophy, pranayama and meditation/spirituality. These topics run through our training courses and are taught and developed step by step.

We don't teach acrobatic fancy poses like “Wild Thing”, “Fallen Angel” or I don't know what kind of figures. They may look good on Instagram, but they are simply not necessary in yoga. The effect on the body is so small, but the potential for injury is huge. Instead, we will focus on the basics of yoga - the most important yoga poses, their correct alignment in relation to your individual anatomy, their effect and how to adapt them. We repeat and deepen these until they are understood and internalized. In this way, you will build up skills that will sustain you even after the training.

We also focus on depth rather than variety in pranayama. It's not about the umpteenth breathing technique or trendy breathwork session. It's about the wisdom of the breath - about mindfulness, about feeling, regulating and understanding the quality of your own breath and what this has to do with your personality. You will learn how to practise and pass on pranayama in a way that strengthens and calms the nervous system and does not overstrain or overstimulate it.

Yoga philosophy is another example. From our point of view, it should not be a purely theoretical subject, as this is too superficial for us and does not bring about any change in personality. It is of little use if you know what the Bhagavad Gita teaches but your own life remains unaffected by it. That is why we focus on applied philosophy. During the course, you will receive assignments on the topics discussed, which will invite you to reflect on what you have learned and put it into practice in your everyday life.

Swami Vivekananda said: “An ounce of practice is more valuable than a ton of theory”. We take this sentence seriously. At the same time, we know that yoga practice does not only take place on the mat or meditation cushion. We should incorporate it into our mindset and our actions on a daily basis. Because off the yoga mat, in “real life”, we can see to what extent our yoga practice influences us or not. Are we changing into gentler, more reflective and more understanding beings or not? Are we finding more peace and joy within ourselves or not? These are big topics and tasks, and the goal is never that you have to master everything immediately and be perfect. Here's a short YouTube video from me: Top 10 myths about yoga teachers.

We also stay focused in meditation. There is no endless choice of techniques, no esoteric show, but clear, simple mindfulness and concentration practices as well as meditations that enable you to receive spiritual energy, because this is important if you want to develop spiritually. You will learn how meditation calms, strengthens and spiritually nourishes your inner self - not through external effects, but through silent, honest practice.

I think it is due to our zeitgeist, which demands more and more input. The constant consumption of new things, stimuli, techniques and methods is often nothing more than an avoidance of real depth. Because depth also means persevering, reflecting, letting go, doubting and sticking with it.

The Kruger Dunning effect comes to mind. This effect describes a phenomenon in which people with little knowledge or ability in an area tend to overestimate their competence.

You can also describe it like this. People who know little often don't realize how much they don't know - and therefore think they are better than they actually are. This also means that competent people often underestimate their skills because they think it's so easy for everyone.

Someone who can barely cook says: “I'm a great cook!” A professional chef, on the other hand, says modestly: “There's still a lot to learn.” This is because you only realize how complex a topic really is when you have more knowledge.

It's the same in yoga. At the beginning, you learn so many new things, are highly motivated and think you already know almost everything. This is called the “Peak of Mount Stupid”, so to speak. This is where overconfidence is at its highest and motivation is very high. If you stick to the topic, however, you quickly realize how complex it is and sometimes feel like you'll never learn it all.

That's the moment when many people leave the subject and prefer to move on to something new in order to be “stimulated” again. Because you have reached the valley of despair or the valley of tears. However, if you can get through this valley, things slowly start to go uphill again, towards the path of enlightenment regarding the topic. Slowly it starts to make sense again and motivation returns. The excitement and stimulation may no longer be as great as at the beginning, but a form of genuine competence and wisdom is now increasingly asserting itself.

I'll be honest: you'll probably feel this valley with us too, especially in the second module of our alignment yoga teacher training. But we will guide you through it safely and encouragingly. Because that's where development happens - you grow. And not superficially, but in depth. That is precisely our goal.

This approach is not suitable for everyone. And that's okay. If you are looking for a training with as many topics as possible and quick stimulation and flow yoga, then our alignment yoga teacher trainings are probably not the right choice.

But if you really want to get to grips with yoga - with its depth, its philosophy, its spiritual power and its practical relevance - then you will find us a place where you can grow. Authentic, well-founded, supported.

Curious?

If this approach appeals to you, then take a look at our Alignment yoga teacher training courses in Zurich.

Here you will find all the information you need to find out whether our path could be yours.

You can order the free training brochure here. Please note our trainings and information related to our trainings are in German.