6 Steps to Becoming a Yoga Teacher

Yoga is a practice that stretches back thousands of years, with most people tracing its origins to Ancient India. Indeed, the word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root word “yug”, which roughly translates to English as “union”. Yoga is the union of mind, body and soul and in recent times, it has snowballed in popularity all across the globe.

Amidst the increasingly frenetic and stressful pace of modern-day life, more and more people are turning to yoga to calm their psyche and achieve equilibrium in their consciousness. That has led to a surge in demand for professional and accomplished yoga teachers, with that trend expected to continue going forwards; according to some projections, job opportunities for yoga teachers will rise by over 20% in the coming years.

As a result, yoga could provide a fulfilling and lucrative career path for anyone with a deep passion for the discipline. As a means of sharing the healing powers of yoga and helping others to improve their own quality of life, yoga is a highly rewarding profession. What’s more, it can be an excellent way to make a living out of your vocation, especially if you run your yoga business wisely.

1 | Analyze your Motives

Before you begin on the grueling but ultimately gratifying road to becoming a yoga teacher, it’s important to analyse your motives. Are you doing this for the pure love of the practice? Do you want to lift others up and help them to reach their full potential? Or are you simply interested in making money? Before you make a life-changing decision to quit your current job and pursue your yoga dreams, you must make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Financial motives are not enough on their own.

If you’re finding it difficult to pinpoint exactly why you want to become a yoga teacher, it may be helpful to read up on the stories of others who have already achieved their aims. For example, this fascinating interview with Michaël Bijker, one of the biggest names in the European yoga scene, delves into the reasons which led him to become the respected teacher he is today. Meanwhile, the story of Vanessa van Noy, who has been changing lives as a yoga teacher in the US for more than a dozen years now, is equally inspiring. Tap into the passion of others to identify your own.

Once you’ve determined why you want to pursue a career in yoga – and confirmed that you’re doing it for the right reasons – there’s a long road ahead. You can’t simply begin to give classes without putting in the necessary groundwork, which involves understanding yoga’s rich history, investigating the anatomy of the human body, memorising poses, acquiring practice and becoming certified. You’ll also need to dive deep into your spiritual development, since yoga is all about teaching from the heart. Indeed, that’s perhaps the most important aspect of any yoga teacher’s education.

If you’re prepared to put in the hard yards and dedicate yourself fully to this noble profession, you can undoubtedly become a successful yoga teacher in a matter of years. Read on to find out more concrete information about exactly what you need to do to make that dream a reality in 2022.

2 | Understand the basics of yoga

First things first – you must command a thorough understanding of yoga if you’re serious about teaching it to others. This not only involves the theory and mechanics behind the physical poses and breathwork of yoga, but also wrapping your head around its millennia-long history and the reasons why it’s been so popular for so long.

On the surface of things, yoga is a physical practice comprised of moving, stretching, breathing, meditation and other exercises. However, the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts, since practicing yoga has been proven to unlock any number of health benefits. Not only does it build muscular strength and increase flexibility, but it enhances peace of mind and relieves stress. It can even help you to make better choices, align your life more cogently and encourage you to observe kindness and compassion towards others.

To become a yoga teacher, you must not only grasp these concepts, but fully embrace them. Anyone can take advantage of the myriad health and happiness benefits that yoga can bring to their life, but not everyone has the ability to teach that gift to others. Who wouldn’t want to be one of those capable of lifting up their fellow humans for a living?

3 | Identify your style

Once you’ve gained a broad overview of the history and heritage of yoga, it’s time to narrow down your discipline. Over the course of thousands of years, many different styles of yoga have emerged. Some of these focus more on movement, while others may place greater emphasis on breathwork or concentrate on meditation.

Another aspect that can vary significantly from one yoga style to another is the amount of time spent in a pose, and whether one moves fluidly through the poses or practises each individual pose in isolation from the others. It’s important to pay attention to these characteristics and think about which of them appeal most to you before committing yourself more fully to a particular niche or style. Some of the most popular variations of yoga currently being practiced in the West include Ashtanga, Hatha and Vinyasa.

In order to gain a better idea of which type of yoga is most suited to your unique preferences, it’s a good idea to participate in a variety of different classes led by expert teachers. This will give you an insight into how the discipline works and offer first-hand experience of how to communicate the ideas contained within it in an effective manner. One great way to find your own path is to try out several online courses, such as those offered by highly respected teacher Michaël Bijker for a budget-friendly price.

You can then determine which discipline appeals most to you and take a more extensive online course in it, such as Michaël’s dedicated pranayama module. (Link to pranayama course) Other options include this fantastic meditation course (outbound druyoga link) or this self-practice programme (outbound yogafitletic link), which allows you to focus on specific asanas in your own time and at your own pace.

4 | Find your perfect yoga teacher training program

Now that you’ve gained an understanding of the principles underpinning yoga and have zoned in on the style that most interests you, it’s then necessary to learn as much about it as you can. This can be achieved through a yoga teacher training program specialising in your chosen discipline. Take your time over this decision, since it’s one which will heavily influence the direction of your career.

One of the best places to start looking is through teachers affiliated with the Yoga Alliance. This non-profit organisation sets the standards (known as the Guidelines for Yoga Teacher Training) in the industry and contains a registry listing all of the teachers which meet its requirements. Although it’s not strictly necessary for a teacher to become affiliated with the Yoga Alliance (and that applies to you once you have completed your education, too), it does give assurances about the quality and repute of a teacher.

One choice you will have to make here is between a local, in-person course and a remotely taught online one. There are some excellent local options out there, including this authentic teacher training centre in Parmanand in India or this ashram in the Netherlands. (Outbound links to Parmanand and Netherlands courses) Generally speaking, the personal touch afforded by local classes makes them a superior option, especially considering the abundance of overpriced and underwhelming online courses out there. Having said that, there are some good quality alternatives on the internet, such as this certified breathwork instructor course which offers five live sessions.

Once you have identified a course that you like the look of, it’s a good idea to do your due diligence and check its credentials before signing up. This means visiting online forums, reading customer reviews (Link to Michael’s reviews) and weighing up testimonials from those who have already experienced it. This will give you a strong indicator of whether or not it’s worth your time and money.

5 | Immerse yourself in the practice

Until now, all previous steps have involved somewhat mechanical actions. Studying the theory of yoga, zoning in on your chosen discipline and applying for teacher training are all 100% necessary – but they could all comprise mere box-ticking exercises. To ensure you get the most out of each of them (especially the last one), you’ll need to be fully present and committed.

For example, it’s entirely possible to spread your training over a two-year period, attending only weekend sessions while you raise a family and run a business at the same time. Is it recommended? Absolutely not. If you’re learning in this piecemeal fashion, you’re unlikely to have the headspace you need to properly devote yourself to the important work of becoming a yogi. How can you expect to unite your mind, body and soul – and help others to do the same – when each is so cluttered and chaotic?

On the other hand, you might decide to visit an ashram and condense your training into a single, intensive month. That’s a more feasible course of action, but can still lead to burnout or cause you to suffer from distraction. However you organise your education, you need to make sure you set aside time for you to really connect with the material you’re taking in.

After all, the best teaches are those who teach from experience and from the heart. Your training period is your golden chance to learn as much as you can, absorb effective techniques and mature as both a student and teacher under the guidance of someone truly inspirational. Make sure you exploit this opportunity as comprehensively as possible by being fully present at all times.

6 | Start teaching

Last (but certainly not least), you must take the leap and begin teaching your own students. This step usually takes the most courage, since many people are may lack confidence in their own abilities, even after completing their training and receiving their certification. How do you begin? How do you accrue experience when you have none to build on?

There’s no one-size-fits-all method here, but the secret is not to overthink things. Instead, just take the plunge! If you like, you can ask neighbours, colleagues, friends and family to attend your initial sessions and you can even offer them free of charge or on a donation-only basis. This way, there’s no pressure for you to place a monetary value on your services until you have gained the experience and confidence to do so.

At the same time, it’s advisable to launch a simple website and run your own social media channels, since this can be a fantastic method of marketing your yoga classes to new clients. Adding a blog is another sure-fire way to gain the interest of others, as well as maintaining your own motivation in what you’re doing. Plus, it can be an excellent method of documenting your own self-practice.

Indeed, the importance of continuing your own yoga development cannot be underestimated. Even after you’re a qualified teacher and have established a client base, you must always continue to practice every single day. This will ensure that you stay strong, grounded and humble, connecting you more deeply to your discipline and putting you in a better position to bestow its gifts on others.

Conclusion

Becoming a yoga teacher is an excellent career choice for anyone who wants to share their inner wisdom with the world, help others become more in tune with themselves and continue their own spiritual growth. What’s more, the increasing popularity of the practice means that it can also be a viable way to pay the bills as well as feed the soul.

If you are interested in following this path, you need first-hand experience of how yoga affects the mind, body and beyond, as well as an intimate grasp of the culture and heritage behind this millennia-old pastime. Aside from those prerequisites, you must also find a teacher capable of granting you an insight into how they affect the lives of others, ensure that you fully immerse yourself in the educational experience and learn how you can one day do the same. After that, it’s simply a matter of setting up your own studio and starting to teach.

It might seem like a long road ahead, and at times the obstacles in your path might even appear to be insurmountable. But with perseverance, dedication and an unflagging work ethic, you can unlock the physical, mental and spiritual health benefits that a career in yoga teaching brings – and share them with others, every working day of your life. Now that’s a gift that never stops giving.