The first thing to know about becoming a yoga instructor is that you will likely need to interact with the Yoga Alliance.
First, you need to decide which style to focus on in your yoga instructor course. If you enjoy sweating it out during your yoga practice, a Vinyasa-style program will be suitable for you. If you prefer using props in your practice, then go for an Iyengar or Therapeutic styled program.
After you’ve completed your teacher training, you will need to register as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance of America. Once registered, you’ll be listed in their global directory as a teacher who has met their minimum requirements for teaching and has completed their training with an officially registered yoga school.
You are now ready to teach yoga. Remember that the role of a teacher is very important. Keep learning and expanding your own practice, so you can share the wonderful gift of yoga with everyone. Learn More about Yoga Instructor Course!
What is the Yoga Alliance?
The Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization based in the United States and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It acts as a trade organization for professionals in the yoga industry. Namely, it certifies instructors and keeps track of which yoga teacher programs are certified as Registered Yoga Schools or RYSs.
To participate in yoga instructor training to become certified by the Yoga Alliance, you must attend a yoga teacher training program at an RYS. Once you complete one of these programs, you will be considered an RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher).
There are several different types of yoga teacher training courses — also known as YTTCs. Here, we’ll mention only the main two: the 200 YTT (200-hour yoga teacher training) and the 500 YTT (500-hour yoga teacher training. For many, the 200 YTT is like the bachelor’s degree of teacher training while the 500 YTT is like the bachelor’s and master’s degree of teacher training. Choose your training program according to your teaching goals and how much time you have to devote to your studies to become a certified yoga instructor.
Most yoga studios, meditation centers, fitness gyms, and other establishments that offer yoga classes where you might teach will ask that their yoga teachers are certified by the Yoga Alliance.
Yoga instructor training includes coursework in anatomy and physiology, instructional techniques, and yoga philosophy. You’ll gain hands-on experience by observing teachers and teaching classes. Many schools adhere to the guidelines set by Yoga Alliance for 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training programs; the Yoga Alliance itself requires at least 200 hours for applicants to qualify for yoga teacher certification. When working on your yoga certification, you will need to choose one major yoga school to pursue to have a basis from which to work with students.
Success Tips for Yoga Instructors:
- Network with teachers and classmates. Yoga instructor training does not guarantee a job.
- Know your market. Competition among yoga teachers is strong in some areas. You may consider a unique approach to distinguish yourself from other teachers. For example, depending on the market, teachers can offer yoga tailored to golfers and other types of athletes.
- Become certified in CPR. Most health and fitness centers require that instructors have the skills to deal with a health emergency by being certified in CPR. Students can take a CPR course while enrolled in a teacher training program.
- After you’ve completed your teacher training, you will need to register as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance of America. Once registered, you’ll be listed in their global directory as a teacher who has met their minimum requirements for teaching and has completed their training with an officially registered yoga school.
- You are now ready to teach yoga. Remember that the role of a teacher is very important. Keep learning and expanding your own practice, so you can share the wonderful gift of yoga with everyone.
Keep learning and expanding your own practice
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