When it comes to fitness and wellness, one of the most widely sought-after practices is yoga. Aside from being physically strenuous, helping to build light muscle, and being great for flexibility, dexterity, and body control, yoga is also deeply relaxing and spiritually enriching. If you already have a passion for it, then you might well think about turning it into a career. But is it that easy? What does it take to become a yoga trainer?
Do you know what it actually entails?
There’s going to be a lot of yoga, there’s no denying that. However, when you aim for a career in yoga, usually it means that you will be self-employed. Most yoga instructors and trainers are. They work with local health centers, personal trainers, and the like, offering their services through them. Teaching yoga is all about planning out classes, teaching breathing exercises, and being mindful of how students need to develop at their own pace while offering constructive feedback and support.
Get ready for some formal training
You might have been performing yoga for plenty of years and might be fully confident that you know enough to be able to teach others. However, for most other agencies, trainers, and gyms in the fitness industry to work with you (and for your clients to trust you) you’re going to need some formal qualifications. It can take some time, but you can easily find a 200 hour yoga teacher training certification online. You don’t necessarily need to go to any education center or anything too formal like that, you just need to put in the time and demonstrate that you know what you’re trying to teach.
Be flexible if you want to make good money
Unlike many other jobs, yoga instructors don’t usually have rigid, set hours that they follow from week to week. Much like their clients, yoga instructors need to learn to be flexible, to fit around their client’s lifestyles, and be willing to work outside of usual working hours, since that’s when clients are most likely going to be looking for training. Aside from being flexible, finding a gym to work with tends to be the best way to improve your earnings.
You need to be a good teacher, not just good at yoga
Knowing your stuff is vital, but it’s not going to be as useful if you’re not able to get your students to trust and follow you. A good yoga teacher has many qualities beyond being good at their practice. They are patient, they are able to offer criticism warmly and with understanding, they have the ability to inspire and motivate their clients, and they have to be good at listening to clients. Having some business savvy is pretty crucial if you’re working self-employed, as well.
There are various ways to train yoga professionally, whether you do it in classes or incorporate it as part of a one-on-one training routine. Whatever your plans, pursuing a professional career takes discipline and mindful progress, much like the exercise itself.
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