How to Become a Yoga Instructor

Most people run a fast paced life such that they need a way to relax at the end of the day or after a long week. A popular way for some to relax is by attending yoga classes. Have you been practicing yoga yourself such that you think you can qualify to teach it?

Learn how to pursue a teaching career in this field.

You cannot teach anything truly well without having the passion for the subject. So it is with yoga. For one to become a yoga instructor, he must love the practice and be really “into” it such that it becomes part of his lifestyle. The fact that you want to become a yoga instructor could only mean that you have been practicing it for at least a few years. You may want to teach yoga for various reasons. Maybe you have free time and would like to spend it in a worthwhile activity. But since yoga is also a philosophy, it is best if you want to teach it to impart to others something that you believe in. This last reason is important because yoga teaching, while being fulfilling to those with the right reasons, is not exactly an easy and lucrative career.

Yoga Instructor Qualifications

If you think you have the right reasons to teach this discipline to others, it is time to deal with the practical aspects of becoming a yoga instructor. Usually, yoga teachers take courses to certify them to conduct yoga classes. To qualify for a program, an applicant must meet certain requirements such as years of practice and capability to execute certain yoga poses. In looking for teaching-training programs, make sure that the center providing it is associated with the Yoga Alliance, an organization recognized all over the U.S.

Programs registered with the Yoga Alliance are 200-hour and 500-hours instructions. The 200-hour training is a usual minimum requirement to become a yoga studio instructor. Those who want to pursue further trainings take the next 500-hour training. These trainings qualify one for a certificate and the right to use RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) in his resume. Training programs will include instructions on asana, anatomy, alignment, teaching technique, sequencing, and philosophy.

These training programs are available in some yoga studios. For training programs on specialized types of yoga such as the Bikram yoga, one may have to take at the close watch of the organization. The program costs a few thousand dollars.

Starting as a Yoga Instructor

Armed with trainings and certificates, you can teach yoga in health clubs, corporations, universities and gyms or you can open your own yoga studio. You can teach yoga for various purposes and to specific types of people. Yoga may be used as part of physical fitness program, as therapy, or as spiritual exercise. It can be taught to couples, seniors and kids. For guidance, look for a more experienced yoga instructor that can become your mentor.

Yoga fees could be as low as about $20 for a single class to $250 for a 20 class programs. Other setups like unlimited classes are also available at modified rates.
 

    Comment

    (All the above fields are required.)