How to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training (YTTC) for You
Let’s acknowledge something openly before we begin:
Yes, we are a yoga school in Goa.
Yes, we run TTCs.
And yes, of course we would love for you to train with us.
Let’s not pretend otherwise.
But that doesn’t change the fact that choosing a Yoga Teacher Training in Goa today can feel like trying to drink from a firehose, the choices are overwhelming, the marketing is endless, and every instagram page looks serene.
The reason we wrote this guide is not to convince you. It’s to give you clarity.
We’ve met too many students who chose TTCs that didn’t match their needs, their bodies, or their intentions, often because no one ever taught them how to evaluate a program properly.
This guide is our honest attempt to help you make an informed, grounded choice.
So how do you choose a TTC that is actually right for you? The most important place to begin is not outside, but inside.
1. BEGIN WITH YOUR INTENT
Before comparing curriculums or locations, pause and ask yourself:
Why do I want to do a TTC?
Am I doing this to teach? Or to deepen my practice?
If to teach, what kind of teacher do I want to be?
If it’s to teach myself, what areas of my practice need clarity or guidance?
Your intent defines the direction of your practice. It shows you which teacher can guide you, which method resonates with you, and which training will actually support who you want to become, not just what you want to complete.
2. LOOK FOR A TTC THAT IS TAILORED, NOT INDUSTRIAL
This is where many people make their first mistake.
Many schools run TTCs like a conveyor belt:
25–35 students per batch
one-size-fits-all curriculum
mixed levels, mixed abilities
minimal personal attention
little or no correction
rotating teachers
fixed scripts, no real dialogue
But a TTC is not a festival or a yoga holiday. It is a pedagogical process, a structured and deeply personal education in your body and your mind.
You are not a number. Your history, injuries, flexibility, strength, temperament, and aspirations matter.
A good TTC adapts to you, not the other way around.
Look for:
small batch size
direct daily access to the main teacher
individual corrections
space for questions
personalised feedback
real mentorship
These things show integrity in both the school and the teacher. And integrity is what ultimately shapes your growth.
3. PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND INJURY AWARENESS
The uncomfortable reality is: many people get injured during TTCs.
Not because yoga is dangerous, but because:
batches are too large
teaching is too fast
alignment is not taught
students are pushed beyond safe limits
teachers do not understand anatomy
adjustments are taught carelessly or not taught at all
individual conditions are overlooked
A TTC should not be a 30-day bootcamp. It should be a safe, structured, intelligent education in your body.
Signs of an injury-aware school:
alignment is central, not decorative
intelligent sequencing
modifications for all levels
no glorification of “deep” poses
open conversations around pain, load, and safety
Your practice should grow, not break.
4. ALWAYS ATTEND A DROP-IN YOGA CLASS FIRST
This is the MOST important step and somehow the most overlooked.
A TTC runs for 24–28 days. You are choosing the teacher who will shape your practice.
A website cannot tell you that.
An email exchange cannot tell you that.
Only a class can.
A single class shows you:
their clarity
their pacing
their alignment cues
their corrections
their honesty and willingness to share
their intelligence moulding the curriculum and spending more time where required
their ability to hold space
their presence
This is why at Yoga Mandir Goa, we highly encourage every TTC applicant to join a drop-in class. And if you’re unsure, we’re happy to offer a free trial class so you can experience the method firsthand.
Because choosing a TTC is not a transaction. It’s a relationship between your body, your mind, and your teacher.
5. TRUST FIT OVER FLASH
Goa has many beautiful shalas and Instagram-perfect yoga pages: fire ceremonies, graduates dressed in white, garlands, staged sunsets.
None of that teaches you how to move safely.
None of that teaches you how to think clearly.
None of that makes you a good teacher, to yourself or to others.
The right TTC is the one where:
you feel supported
you feel seen
you feel guided
your questions matter
the teaching is grounded, not performative
your practice grows quietly and honestly
Fit over flash. Substance over ceremony ;)
6. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Before committing, ask the school:
What style of yoga does your program follow?
How big are your TTC batches?
Who teaches the asana, philosophy, and anatomy modules?
Do you offer individual corrections?
How much anatomy is covered?
Is your program more “traditional yoga” or “modern yoga exercise”?
Do students get meaningful feedback?
A serious school will answer clearly and confidently.
A TTC should challenge you, support you, and expand your understanding of yoga beyond exercise.
When you find this, you’ve found your school :)