Those who wish to become a yoga teacher usually do so because they have been practicing yoga for years and love both the physical and mental aspects of this discipline. Over the past few years, as our society experiences a faster pace of life and therefore more stress, many people are turning to yoga for a solution. As a result, there are more opportunities to become a teacher in this field, but there is also more competition. In order to get hired by a company to work at a yoga studio, there are usually a few steps you need to take.
Most people who want to be a yoga teacher will have a lot of experience practicing the poses, which is one of the main requirements. Usually a gym will ask for at least a year of experience practicing yoga, but preferably a year of experience teaching it. Like any job, those with more experience possess a strong advantage over those who are new to the field. It is hard to present yoga information clearly and confidently if it is an area that you are not intensely familiar with, and so experience is a major requirement.
Depending on the type of yoga instructor you want to become, you may have to show other levels of commitment. If you’re purely interested in a position that is similar to an aerobics teacher, then that kind of experience is all that you need. If you want to be a promoter of the different yoga styles, then you’ll need to show your level of commitment to karma yoga, which focuses on selfless action and service. This means doing some kind of volunteering that will help someone or a group of individuals who are worse off than you.
A teacher of yoga who focuses on karma as well as the exercises will likely have to show how committed they are through examples of reflection. It is not unusual for a company steeped in yoga traditions to ask an applicant to produce essays or other examples of reflection on how yoga improved their life, or how they were able to make a difference in the lives of others.
Some people become a yoga teacher by starting out as a student at a gym, and then slowly working their way up to a position of responsibility. If that is not an option for you, then you can do some research at home and explore other avenues of passing on the knowledge of yoga benefits. An employer basically wants to see that you have a strong level of commitment and have the ability to pass your knowledge on to others in a way that will be enjoyable for the students.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed treating panic disorder as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medications available at www.anxietydisordercure.com.
