Bikram Choudhury has spread his special brand of hot yoga around the world for three decades. His yoga is characterized by a set sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises done in a room heated to 105 degrees. The heat makes it easier for muscles to stretch. In 1994, he began offering accelerated teacher training to students who keep a regular practice.
Program
If you want to attend Bikram's teacher training, you must be 21 or older and have been practicing the Bikram style for at least six months at an affiliated studio. You also need a letter of recommendation from the studio director. Bikram's courses are unusually large for yoga teacher trainings, with slots for up to 700 students. The course covers anatomy, postures, nutrition, the benefits of yoga, and Bikram's special teacher dialog.
Daily Schedule
Expect long days at your training. The day starts off at 8:30 with yoga class. A two-hour lunch break follows. Posture clinics and lectures take up most of the afternoon, which is crowned off by a second yoga class at five. After a long dinner break, lectures may continue until past midnight. On Saturdays, there's only a morning yoga class, and Sunday is a day of rest. Attendance at all classes and lectures is mandatory.
Faculty
This training offers a rare opportunity to spend nine weeks with one of the most famous living yoga teachers. Bikram himself, along with his wife Rajashree Choudhury and their senior teachers, leads the course. Rajashree won the All-India Yoga Championship five times in a row, from 1979 to 1983. Bikram also brings in Indian and American doctors to teach the anatomy portions.
Cost
This is an especially pricey yoga teacher training, partly because Bikram's fame and popularity command big money, and partly due to the cost of lodging. For example, Bikram set the tuition price for the spring 2011 training at $7,000 plus either $3,900 for a shared room or $8,000 for your own room for nine weeks at the Radisson Hotel at Los Angeles Airport. Full payment for all trainings is expected with your application. Bikram's website claims that his certified teachers can earn $40,000 to 60,000 annually. Finishing the course does not guarantee certification. You must also pass the anatomy test and prove your proficiency in the Bikram dialogue. And of course, certification does not guarantee employment.
Member Comments