There are many benefits to being a yoga instructor, but how do you become one? This step-by-step guide shows how to become a yoga instructor.
Online Yoga Teacher Training
Do you love yoga? Do you love the way it keeps you in shape and builds your mind-body connection? You’re not alone!
The latest statistics show over 35 million American adults practice yoga and the number keeps growing. Have you ever thought about taking your yoga practice to the next level?
If you love yoga and have a regular practice, you might want to know how to become a yoga instructor. Becoming a yoga instructor is satisfying and rewarding. You can help others while maintaining your own practice.
*And don’t forget your yoga mats. There are many great ones, made from different materials such as ones made from cork! Cork mats are pretty much ‘self-cleaning’, but here are some tips to clean a cork yoga mat.
Step-by-step guide on becoming a yoga instructor
- A Regular Practice
There are many types of yoga including:
- Vinyasa
- Hatha
- Anusara
- Bikram
- Ashtanga
Take classes offering the different types of yoga and decide which type of yoga suits you best. Once you find the type of yoga you love, practice, practice, practice.
It’s also important to take lots of classes, which brings us to the next point…
- Find a Mentor
Find an instructor who teaches the style of yoga you love. Take as many classes a week as possible. You need to know how to do yoga before you can teach.
It’s also ideal if the teacher agrees to be your mentor. A mentor inspires you and helps develop your authentic personal teaching style.
You need to be able to do yoga but you don’t have to be able to do every pose. Some yoga poses take years to master, and not everyone can do every yoga pose.
- Training and Certification
There’s no official state or federal licensing organization for yoga teachers. There are a few organizations that offer training courses with official credits. Likewise, there are yoga studios that offer yoga teacher training classes.
You can even find online yoga teacher training courses. After course completion and a set number of training hours, you can register with the Yoga Alliance. They offer the Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) credential.
Having the RYT designation helps when you’re looking for a job.
- Practice Teaching
When you’ve finished your training and completed the certification process, get some practice. Even if you’re been doing yoga for a long time, teaching is different.
Develop your teaching style and learn what works. How? Use your friends and family.
Offer some free classes and ask for feedback. As you teach, you’ll build the confidence you need to charge for your services.
- Charging for Classes
This won’t be as hard as it seems. There are many ways of making money from teaching yoga classes.
You can offer classes through a studio or even teach in a corporate environment. Many gyms now offer yoga classes.
You can even open your own studio or lead yoga retreats.
Now You Know How to Become a Yoga Instructor
Now you know how to become a yoga instructor! The reality is, becoming an instructor doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t even happen after a certification course.
You need hundreds of hours of yoga practice. Find the type of yoga you love most and get an instructor that works for you. Ask your instructor if she’ll mentor you.
Once you’ve got your RYT, it’s time to get to work! Being a yoga instructor is a rewarding career that’s worth the effort.
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