A New Career as a Yoga Teacher
I just wrote an article about starting a new career as a yoga teacher in elephant journal, and thought I’d share it here. Check out some of the other articles on their site too, they write about all kinds of interesting topics related to ‘the mindful life’: yoga, organics, sustainability, genuine spirituality, conscious consumerism, and more.
Eight Steps to becoming a Yoga Teacher
Ready to escape the cubicle life and swap your business clothes for yoga pants?
According to a recent article from Reuters, the financial crisis and increasing unemployment is leading more and more people to pursue careers as yoga teachers. This might be the perfect time to reconsider your work life, and maybe blow the dust off those dreams of doing something different.
Regardless of the state of the economy, many yoga students are touched so deeply by their yoga practice that they feel compelled to go on to teach and share the benefits of yoga. Others are “just” looking for a fun job that is more aligned with their lifestyle.
If you are dreaming of becoming a yoga teacher, there are a few practical steps to consider:
1. Get a 200-hour certification.
Technically you don’t need a certification to teach yoga, but it’s a good idea to get some formal training. Most yoga studios and gyms require at least a 200-hour teacher training recognized by Yoga Alliance.
These days almost every yoga studio seems to have a teacher training. Do your research before committing to a program: What type of yoga would you like to specialize in? Do you have the time to do an intensive training, or would you rather space it out? Do you have a specific teacher you’d like to study with?
2. Register with Yoga Alliance.
Once you have completed and passed a recognized teacher training you can apply to Yoga Alliance to use the title Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). The registration gives you a listing in the Yoga Alliance online database of teachers.
3. Get some teaching experience.
If you’re new to teaching, getting some experience will help you find your teaching voice. This is the time to work on keeping left from right, mirroring students, and developing a few true and tested sequences. To get some practice, offer a few free classes to family, friends, and colleagues. “It really helped me develop my confidence while teaching and prepare me for auditions,” says Elena Moye Johnston, a Bellevue yoga teacher and the president of Evoke Fitness.
Continue reading the article in elephant journal >>
Nice post! I would add that anyone wanting to be a yoga teacher should also cultivate a private practice if they don’t already have one. As a teacher, I find my greatest inspiration on my mat.
A well written post for newly qualified yoga teachers. I started off at a school gym, and it helps to post a few flyers around the school to advertise. I gave free classes to my family first then build up my confidence from there. I do agree teaching yoga doesn’t make you rich, even if you try to teach more classes in a day to earn keeps. Be inspired to teach for passion rather than for a living. Most importantly, find your ‘true’ reason to why you’d like to become a yoga teacher.
I just found your blog. Great articles and well written. Thanks!