Completing Aligned Yoga’s 300 Hour Teacher Training with Briohny Smyth- A Review

I first want to start out by saying that this teacher training has transformed me into the yoga instructor I always knew I could be. “Transformation” was the last theme in the training and I really did feel myself transform as a person, as a yogi and as a teacher. I knew it was going to be an amazing experience, but Briohny truly exceeded my expectations.

Thank you Briohny and her team for putting so much extensive hard work into this training and delivering an incredible virtual experience. Mathieu, Dr. Santo, Jess, Neil, Julio and Doris were integral parts of adding extensive value, insight and education to this training.

I initially decided on this training because of Briohny’s attention to detail and alignment in asana (as well as her persona, which really resonated with me). What I got was much more than I could have asked for: a full rounded yoga training experience- from asana, pranayama, kriya, mobility, business and everything in between. I did not realize I would be getting such impeccable quality of teaching that was provided through this training and I am blown away by how much I learned in so many different facets of yoga. Bri shows up throughout the training to offer encouragement and inspiring words which helped keep me feeling motivated and accomplished throughout the process. It was really nice to see and hear her cheering me on!

I am happy to say that I graduated and am now a certified Aligned Yoga Instructor and received my 300 hour designation!! The amount of growth that I received from this training is hard to put a price on. I would recommend this training to anyone wanting to become a teacher and current instructors who want to further their yoga education.

I am very thankful this training was online and that I had the amount of time provided to complete it (1 year). I was able to slowly implement what I was learning into my yoga classes, which solidified my understanding and allowed me to get any questions answered as they came up.

Taking this virtual training actually made me want to attend an in-person training with Bri in the future! I can't wait for that day to come!

Sign up here: Aligned Yoga Teacher Training Briohny Smyth

I previously posted about my initial impressions and experiences with the training, so here is a more in-depth review:

This training took me almost 2 months to complete- mainly because I was actively listening to everything provided and taking notes on them. I’m sure if you weren’t as diligent as me with notes, it could take half the time. You do have a whole year after purchasing to complete the training and go back to revisit anything you wanted to brush up on.

I purchased a 5 subject notebook (360 pages) for my note taking so that I could feel more organized. I divided it into Cueing + Anatomy, Non-Asana yoga (pranayama, kriya, meditation, kirtan, etc), Live Practices, Teaching + Sequencing, and Business. I ended up filling up this notebook almost completely. I have this note book as a singular reference to a majority of the training as I wrote down the module, day and title of each one lesson in it’s category. I also printed out all of the teacher training manual and other pdfs provided, and put those into a file folder. I typically printed 2 pages per sheet to save paper and because it grouped everything together (pose images and descriptions on the same sheet). I then used these sheets to take notes on as well.

Here is a bit about what I learned and what my personal experience was like. I broke it down so that if you wanted to purchase these modules individually, you would know what to expect. Although I do recommend completing the entire training.

The Practice +

This module was an excellent introduction to various poses (50+). Briohny explains how to enter each of them, and separately discusses anatomy and muscular engagement. The way it’s designed is great as each day builds upon the other. She also went over intro to handstand and forearm balances in a lot of detail. If you are on a mission to get a handstand or headstand, this module will give you all the tools you need to start!

Mathieu goes over many different types of kriya, pranayama, intro to yoga philosophy and more. It is easy to see how deep and extensive his knowledge is. He explains that he has taken many teacher trainings in the past, which makes sense as to why he is so confident and knowledgeable. Briohny also provides some excellent meditations throughout the module. I love her voice, it is incredibly soothing and allows me to get right into the meditations.

There are specific pre-recorded yoga classes on Alo Moves from Bri (sometimes 2) to complete with each day of the module. I found that some of the earlier yoga classes provided are a bit more difficult than I would have expected, but they did really challenge me to understand my body further. As I learned more about muscular engagement, the classes got easier to practice (although I did struggle with a few!). It was really fun, inspiring and motivating to take these classes from Bri.

I really enjoyed the daily quizzes and journal entries to test me knowledge and help me think critically. I also really liked the ability to see others’ questions and ask my own to learn to clarify certain things and get a deeper understanding of whatever the topic was.

Overall I really enjoyed this module. I was able to practice what I was learning on my students and feel it myself through the Alo Moves classes. As the time went on I found myself becoming a more confident instructor, feeling more knowledgeable and better able to communicate with my students.

I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to become a yoga instructor. My tip- go back to a topic after a few months and review it because the information will sink in further and really solidify your understanding. She also has a bonus section of much more in-depth content of each pose which in itself is incredibly invaluable for any asana instructor.

Sign up here: Aligned Yoga Teacher Training Briohny Smyth

The Teaching +

This module was all about how to teach. The Practice + Module was imperative for providing a foundation to really prepared for this more in-depth learning through this module.

Bri’s ability to communicate and teach so clearly, concisely and effortlessly is highlighted throughout the whole course, but this module she really stands out. Mathieu’s knowledge of yoga philosophy and the way he explains everything so well is a testament to how deep his knowledge is in the aspects of yoga that do not involve asana. We also get a chance to learn advanced anatomy from Dr. Santo, who offers great insight into movement and injury prevention/rehab.

We get an in-depth look at how to cue the poses, giving adjustments and identifying and correcting common misalignments. I was able to improve upon and perfect poses that I didn’t know needed it, and actually perform poses that I struggled with. I was able to learn something new and important about almost every pose. It really improved my arm balances and inversion practice too! There were short assignments of practice teaching as well to reaffirm the knowledge provided.

Similar to the first module, we are also given classes on Alo Moves to complete for each day of the training. They were definitely challenging, fun and insightful! With the more in-depth understanding of the poses and sequencing, I was able to experience these classes with an “instructor mindset.”

I think the sequence of this module flowed really well, was taught perfectly and tied the whole course together. The Teaching + mirrored the first module, but also got into much more detail and depth in every aspect. It taught me not just how to teach, but how to communicate. Not just what cues to use, but how to feel them in my body. Not just how to perform kriyas, pranamaya, etc but also how to teach them. This module helped me dramatically in my own practice as well as in my teaching. I really feel completely prepared and confident in myself as an instructor after this module. I now feel confident cueing almost any pose provided— even if I can’t perform it myself. I would highly recommend this module if you are looking improve as a teacher!

Sign up here: Aligned Yoga Teacher Training Briohny Smyth

The Business

This module is definitely unique to this training as Briohny has had extensive experience in many aspects of business of yoga AND has the educational background to back it up. My previous experience with the business of yoga was extremely basic and introductory, offering no real guidance or understanding of what path to take as a new instructor.

This module gave me insight on how I want my yoga business to run, where to start and how I can continue to grow. It gave me ideas of how to make my dreams come true and what steps I need to take in order to get there. It also made me question previous goals or aspirations and really understand what is best for me. Bri focuses on helping you build yourself as a brand, discusses social media, content creation, workshops and lots more! I was able to do a lot of professional self-growth through this module and it has helped me figure out the best ways to really serve my students and community.

If you are just starting it out as a teacher, Bri really helps provide a clear path to making this into a feasible career. If you have been teaching for a while, but not sure where to go next, this module can help you gain a better understanding of how to grow professionally as a yoga teacher.

Sign up here: Aligned Yoga Teacher Training Briohny Smyth

Lives

There were lots of Live practices and Question & Answer periods. These really helped me to feel like I was apart of something bigger and that I wasn’t alone in this experience. It was great to see other yogis, learn about their experiences and hear answers to questions that I may have never thought to ask. Or even to understand different bodies based on what was asked. I was able to get my own questions answered as well, which I think is super important.

Even though this course is virtual, there is a feeling of connectedness in the lives, which is so powerful. It really made me feel like I am part of a community- I even got this feeling during the replays. All the lives are recorded and available to watch if you miss it, or want to watch it again!

In the live practices, I got to experience classes from each instructor, including Bri. Her live classes are much more interactive than her classes on Alo Moves. This was most apparent while holding certain poses for long period of time while Bri “blabbed” haha. I learned fun transitions, new variations of pose and gained an even better understanding of certain poses and how to practice them/teach them.

This portion of the training really added that “extra special” something that made it feel more “real” as I could see other students in the training, as well as Bri and her faculty live!

If you’re wondering what the “final exam” is like- this is how to get certified:

3 things:
1. Complete a written question and answer section of various questions (showing that you understood the content)
2. Create and submit a 5 minute video of you teaching (just you, or you teaching someone)
3. Complete and submit an assignment from the business module- having various choices of which assignment to complete. I chose something I had not done before.

Allow 2-3 weeks to receive feedback and (hopefully) your certification as an Aligned Yoga Instructor and Yoga Alliance certified instructor!

For any questions you have about this journey, feel free to comment below, or speak to Briohny directly!

Here is the link: Aligned Yoga Teacher Training Briohny Smyth