If you enjoy yoga, and reap its many benefits on a daily basis, then it is no wonder that you are thinking of becoming a yoga teacher. Not only that, maybe practicing yoga has helped to save you?
Of course you will want to share this with others, too.
Yoga can have a major impact on our lives, and most often we do not believe this until we start introducing it into our everyday life. Being able to share the countless benefits yoga has with people is a great way to help others.
However, whilst you might want to instantly start as a yoga instructor, you will need some certification first. Do not worry though, as you will find this process very rewarding.
Not only will it give you the knowledge to become a teacher, but you will grow as a person during the process.
Before you begin on this journey, think about why you want to become a yoga instructor. Also, take note of any personal areas you would like to grow in, and what kind of yoga teaching that you would like to do.
In this article we explore the many steps that need to be taken in order to become a yoga instructor. So, without further ado, let’s get to it!
Enroll In A Certified Yoga Course
Before you begin on your journey to becoming a yoga teacher, it is more than likely that by now you know the kind of yoga you would like to teach.
If you are unsure, then have a good think about it first. Often we go forward with the yoga that we think has been most beneficial to us.
Just make sure that you have spent several years practicing it, and have not only just taken it up last month.
The first step is to look for a registered and established yoga school that follows the guidelines set by the Yoga Alliance. You will then want to enroll in its ‘teacher training program’.
Whilst that sounds easy enough, you need to understand that the programs are often offered at two levels: a 200 hour long program, and a 500 hour long program. The latter is actually the 200 hour course with an additional 300 hour course.
With 200 hours you can go ahead and be a teacher, but the extra 300 hours is similar to a Master’s degree. That means you can specialize in a subject.
Do not just pick the lesser one because there are not as many hours. Think about what you want to do once you have received your certification, then pick the program which is most suited to you.
Both include techniques on teaching, the anatomy, physiology, and philosophy.
Also, you may want to think about any areas to specialize in too, such as being a prenatal yoga teacher for example. In order to do this, you will need extra certifications.
Complete The Course And Register
Once you have completed your program, you will then need to register for certification to prove that you have completed the yoga teacher training course.
Once you have done so, it will be recognized internationally that you are a certified yoga teacher.
To even get the certification, you must have completed the 200 hours level course at the very least. It costs 50 dollars to apply, with annual dues of 65 dollars.
If you want to upgrade the certification to a RCYT or RPYT, then you must pay 50 dollars again to apply.
Receive Extra Certifications
Because you will be working in the fitness and health industry, you may want to learn more about how to keep everyone safe. One of these ways is by becoming certified in CPR.
All this basically means is that you will know how to respond in an emergency situation. This is paramount if you are teaching yoga and have people who are using your service.
Think About How You Want To Teach Yoga
Once you have all the certifications that you need, you may want to start thinking about how you want to teach it, if you have not already. This could be by teaching yoga within a studio, doing it online, or one-to-one sessions with clients.
You might also want to think about who those clients are. You might teach general classes, or target a specific group such as pregnant women, or aim it at professional athletes.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is the best way for you to teach yoga. If it does not feel right, then choose something that feels natural to do. If that means teaching a few classes a week, then go for it.
Begin To Teach Yoga
Now that you have everything in place you can start to teach yoga by yourself. You can do this by offering your yoga services via social media, or relying on your local community to spread the word.
Do make sure that you get yourself out there, as the majority of the time, people are not going to do the marketing work for you. If there are yoga events, then attend them when possible.
It is very important that you become established within the yoga community to be seen as a professional yoga instructor. This way you can charge people to use your yoga services, and to build a business.
Going Forward
Over time, you will find that often certifications will need to be renewed. This could mean redoing your CPR certification, or completing more education work.
Just remember to keep an open mind and to focus on personal growth throughout your life. Just because you may have finished one certification, does not mean you will not do more later on.
Final Thoughts
If you feel the calling of being a yoga instructor, then it is not as difficult to become one as you might think. So long as you put the hours and effort in, you can become a yoga teacher.
The positive effect yoga had on me was indescribable. Every aspect of my life improved, from social to mental, physical to emotional.
I want my website to help more people get into the world of yoga and teach them how to be present for themselves - even if that’s just for a few minutes a day.
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