By Grace Izzo
Yoga has been a profound source of transformation in my life, offering both sanctuary and growth. Choosing to embark on my first teacher training in 2018 was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.
If you're considering this journey, know that you're not alone. Every budding teacher begins with questions, doubts, and a sense of wonder about what lies ahead. But with the right training, support, and intention, you can blossom—not just as a teacher, but as a human. Here are five questions to ask as you consider this path:
Like any meaningful endeavor, yoga teacher training is both a gift and a challenge. It offers deep rewards, but it also invites us to step beyond the familiar. Time and again, I have found that true growth—both as a yoga teacher and generally as a human—emerges in moments of discomfort.
People embark on this path for many reasons: to find their voice, to deepen their practice, to share something that has transformed them. What is yours? Knowing your “why” becomes an anchor on the days when doubt creeps in or exhaustion sets in.
In a world that often feels dysregulated, simply turning on the news can be overwhelming. While yoga teachers are not therapists, we do have a responsibility to hold space with care. A well-rounded yoga teacher training should provide foundational knowledge of the nervous system, trauma-sensitive language, and an understanding of antiracism—ensuring that teachers create spaces where all students feel seen and respected.
While asana is a vital part of the practice, it is just one piece of a much larger whole. A truly comprehensive teacher training will explore all eight limbs of yoga, weaving in philosophy, history, meditation, and an awareness of yoga’s cultural roots—including the impact of colonization. Learning to honor and teach yoga in an informed, respectful way is essential to becoming a skillful, well-rounded teacher.
Should I create a S Corp or a LLC? What kind of liability insurance do I need? How do I land my first teaching job? These were just a few of the questions running through my mind when I first got certified in 2018. A great yoga teacher training doesn’t just teach yoga—it also prepares you for the realities of being a yoga professional, covering topics like legal considerations, marketing, business ethics, and how to get started in the industry.
Some people thrive in lecture-based learning, but I’ve always learned best through experience. One of the reasons I chose Asheville Yoga Center’s teacher training is its commitment to offering a variety of learning styles:
If you’re considering teacher training, ask yourself: How do you learn best? Does the program you’re drawn to align with that?
Hello! I’m Grace (she/her), AYC’s Yoga Trainings Ambassador.
My journey with movement began at the age of three through dance, and by fifteen, I discovered my passion for holding space for others to move creatively while assisting children’s dance classes. I became a 200-hour RYT at 18 and have been teaching yoga in a variety of settings since. I am deeply committed to fostering a compassionate and inclusive environment where every participant feels empowered to cultivate self-respect and a deeper connection with their body.
In 2019, I incorporated Yoga With Grace, LLC, marrying my passions for yoga and business. Over the past six years, I’ve gained hands-on experience in yoga business operations, recruiting and managing external partners, multimedia marketing strategy, sales, and navigating contracts and business law. I am particularly passionate about trauma-informed business practices and integrating mindfulness into professional spaces to create more ethical, sustainable, and community-centered businesses.
My yoga teacher training includes a 200-hour LifePower Yoga Teacher Training (2018), Dr. Jennifer Kreatsoulas’ Yoga for Eating Disorders Teacher Training and Mentoring Group (2023), several trauma informed yoga trainings (2022, 2023) and Oxygen Advantage’s Advanced Training with Tiger Bye (2024). Currently, I’m enrolled in another 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training programs at Asheville Yoga Center, where I continue deepening my knowledge and practice.
Off the mat, you can find me practicing aerial arts, spending time in nature, climbing, dancing, and eating sourdough bread.
