Deepen Your Knowledge of Yoga

Written by AYC Instructor, Tucker Shelton

Have you ever tried drinking from a firehose? That’s what it can feel like to jump into the 300-Hour yoga teacher training immersion at AYC. The incredible teachers, fascinating subjects and advanced modules are so powerful that it can feel daunting to take it all in. The truth is, you have to be ready to work, learn and transform your practice and your teaching.

Most students piece together their 300-Hour credits by taking workshops and trainings on the weekends. This process can take a long time and requires a lot of planning. For those who have to travel to the training site, that’s a lot of back and forth, not to mention the cost of flying or driving. I struggle with this type of learning because it makes me feel pushed and pulled between my home life and my studies. I am the kind of person who likes to dive headfirst into an experience. I barely achieved competency in three years of high school Spanish classes, but when I spent a month in Mexico, I was forced to learn quickly, and I did. For me, it’s all about the learning environment.

When I did my 300-Hour training at AYC, back in 2012, I spent a whole month in a mixture of potent self-reflection, complete bliss and utter rawness. My training cracked me open and pulled all the things I’d been hiding from right to the surface for me to confront. I learned even more about myself than I did about yoga during that time (which is remarkable because I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned about yoga).

Before my training, I had been out in the world teaching yoga for four years. During that time, I developed some solid classes, and I absolutely loved what I was doing. Still, something was missing. My first teacher training answered so many questions but being a teacher had brought on so many more. I had a few vague ideas about Ayurveda, Yin yoga, Prenatal modifications, etc., but I knew I was no expert. I had met a plateau in my teaching, and something needed to change. That’s when I got the email that AYC was putting together a one-time 300-Hour immersion program, and I jumped on it immediately.

The 300-Hour training dipped into subjects that fed my mind, body and spirit. I didn’t even know how hungry I was for the learning until I was swimming in it. We were immersed in knowledge about Ayurveda, Yin yoga, meditation, juicy assists, senior yoga, anatomy and therapeutics, Bhakti flow, chanting, slow flow, restorative, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, sequencing, philosophy, nutrition, pre and postnatal yoga, chakras, sacred texts and more. It was too much goodness in one place! To this day, I look back at my notes, and I learn something every time.

The charge of energy and knowledge that I received from this training is still with me seven years later. If you are 200-Hour certified instructor, and you are waiting for a sign to take the 300-Hour immersion program, let this be it.

The deeper learning that takes place in the 300-Hour program is essentially graduate school for yoga teaching. You will be asked to be your best self. You must ask difficult questions, hold multiple truths at once, open your mind to changing what you think you know and be willing to shine light on the things that scare you. This may sound frightening, but fear is always present when the ego is challenged to grow. If you choose to enroll in the 300-Hour program at AYC this summer, I guarantee you that you will not regret it.

Right now, you can save on AYC’s 300-Hour Immersion! Register by January 31 and receive $900 in savings with discounted tuition of $3395, free books (a $250 value), and a $50 gift card to the AYC Boutique! Classes begin on May 20 and only require 6 weeks to complete! Continue your journey, advance your knowledge of yoga, and immerse yourself in this unique experience. Learn more here.