Yoga is one of the most recognized and celebrated forms of fitness today. Originating from ancient India, yoga incorporates meditation, strength, breathing, and stretching: all activities that are welcomed in today's hectic and fast paced world.
Picture yourself coming home after a long day at work, or spending hours staring at a screen. Yoga offers a calming and challenging workout that compels you to focus on your own breathing and movement.
Anyone who has spent time at a yoga studio can attest to how powerful it is to be in a well designed yoga and meditation space. The combination of dim and natural light, natural materials, relaxing music, and wide open space beckons you to take the time enjoy some self care.
At the helm of the class is a yoga instructor who has probably invested countless hours training and planning a class that may become the best part of your day. They will do everything in their power to ensure that the time you spend in the studio is enjoyable, peaceful, and high quality. Many studios ban the use of cell phones and even restrict conversation to ensure that practitioners can be in an environment that is peaceful and radically different from the world outside the doors.
Becoming that yoga teacher is a role that many seek: in the world of fitness, there are few things more rewarding than sharing your expertise and promoting health and wellness in the community.
But let's get to the purpose of this article - what steps must you take to become a yoga instructor in Canada? How do you earn the baseline requirements for teaching a class? What are the different certifications you can choose from? Let's take a closer look.
Why is Yoga Teacher Training so Important?
Yoga teachers do so much more than lead a class through poses. They must carefully plan the sequencing of movement, model the correct form to students, and accommodate those that have injury or other physical limitations. They plan music to align with the class, and create a vibe and energy in the room that will compel students to return regularly.
Those that become studio or business owners must also have financial and marketing savvy in addition to the personality and identity they bring to the studio. Becoming a yoga instructor can lead to a successful business career, or a wonderful part time job - whatever your career goals are, you will have plenty of choice in the yoga and fitness industry.
Practitioners of yoga can often become so devoted to the activity that they want to share their expertise with others. As a yoga instructor, you can truly invest your time into learning not only how to create engaging and dynamic classes, but also understanding the human body.
What Are the Different Types of Yoga Instructor Certifications?
You may find it surprising to learn that yoga instruction is a well organized and profitable industry in Canada. Yoga instructors must be certified to be hired to teach in a studio, and students will generally prefer to be led by a qualified individual. Yoga can involve movements that can potentially cause injury, which is one reason certification is important.
Yoga is also an ancient art and practice that you will want to honour by understanding its philosophies and history.
Yoga teacher certification in Canada is overseen by the Canadian Yoga Alliance. You can find various studios across the country that offer teacher training courses.
Yoga teacher training starts by completing a course that is 200 hours long, at a minimum. You can find many studios that offer this course in person or online, depending on your preference. Another option is to take a 500 hour course, which will provide more advanced training.
When deciding which yoga teacher training course to take, you will want to consider what your career goals are. Of course, you can always take additional training should you decide that you want to broaden your knowledge of yoga. You will also want to make sure the course is offered by a reputable and established studio with a strong curriculum and experienced teachers.
You will also want to pick a studio that reflects what you want to embody in your own practice. Each studio will have a curriculum that has been approved by the Canadian Yoga Alliance. Curricula will largely be shaped by the writer, their own philosophies, and the practices of the studio.
After you have completed a yoga teacher training (YTT) course, you may obtain your membership with the Canadian Yoga Alliance, or CYA. Membership with the CYA will ensure that you are part of a recognized professional body. The CYA will also place you in a teaching community, and you can learn about opportunities for professional development and other events.
When you have completed your training and have your membership, you can start teaching. Some new teachers like to gain experience practice teaching classes that are free or low cost, or volunteer in community organizations or schools to build their confidence as an instructor. With experience under your belt, you can also start looking for teaching jobs in studios or advertising your services for private yoga instruction.
Thousands of Canadians teach yoga, or have combined yoga with other health and wellness practices like nutrition, personal training, lifestyle coaching, and meditation. Those that have a love for fitness and want to build a career as a yoga teacher have many options to get started!
How do Private Yoga Classes differ from Studio Classes?
Many yoga instructors choose to teach private yoga classes over studio classes. Here are the advantages and disadvantages for both options.
Advantages and Disadvantages of teaching a Private Yoga Class
Teaching a private yoga class is an excellent option if you prefer working with individuals or small groups, and want more flexibility with your time. If you have a studio space in your home that your are willing to share, it can be incredibly convenient to work from home.
Alternatively, you can also teach classes outdoors, or in the homes of your clients. You can enjoy building strong relationships with individuals and even offer services such as personal training or nutrition advice if you are qualified to do so. Private instructors are paid directly by the client, and usually have low overhead costs which means you can charge a more reasonable rate or keep more of your earnings in your pocket.
There are some disadvantages to teaching privately. You may find it difficult to get clients initially, and you do not get the benefit of being part of a close community with fellow instructors. However, this option could be for you should you prefer working independently and want to be in more control of your income.
Advantages and Disadvantages of teaching a Studio Yoga Class
Working in a yoga studio is an excellent option for those who enjoy teaching in a studio space and do not want the work of marketing their services. Many yoga studios have an established presence in the community, and attract a higher volume of people as a result.
In a studio, you can gain experience teaching larger groups and enjoy having easy access to other yoga teachers who can give you feedback or advice in your practice. Disadvantages include having to follow the studio's schedule, and having less control over how much money you make teaching. Studio teaching is, however, a great way to gain experience and build a reputation as a yoga teacher in your neighbourhood or city.
Strong yoga instructors will have years of experience and training in practicing yoga as a student and as a teacher.They will also be certified and have spent hundreds of hours in a yoga teacher training course.
Does a Private Yoga Teacher Need Certification?
Seriously considering taking the private yoga teacher pathway? There are so many benefits to doing so. First of all, you can teach part time, and work as much or as little as you want to. As a sole proprietor of your own yoga practice business, you can enjoy some tax advantages, which is excellent for purchasing fitness gear and equipment.
As a private yoga teacher, you do not need to be certified, but having CYA accreditation is a an asset to your practice that many students may look for.
If you have a solid reputation and a strong practice, you may be able to earn much more money than you might working for someone else. And you can always opt to teach studio classes if you want to do both!
Yoga is a highly profitable industry with many opportunities for yoga enthusiasts to create an additional stream of income or build a successful business. Yoga instruction is a great entry point to build a fitness and wellness career.
How do I Tell Others About my Services as a Certified Private Yoga Instructor or Personal Yoga Trainer?
Building your business as a private yoga instructor is easy with Superprof Canada. Superprof is a site that private teachers and instructors use to find clients. You can set up a profile on the site as a private yoga instructor, which may include your photo and a description of yourself, your experience, and training.
Once your profile is live, students can easily find your profile and contact you directly through the site to set up a first class or an initial conversation.
How can I find a Yoga Instructor Near Me?
You may find that you may want to take private yoga lessons yourself, either for your own personal fitness or to experience private instruction from a student perspective. To find a yoga instructor in your area, you can use Superprof as a student and find a yoga instructor that suits your needs. Use the search tool to explore teacher profiles, and contact only those that interest you most.
Explore your yoga options on Superprof today!
Becoming a certified yoga instructor is a career choice thousands of people have made in Canada. Yoga instruction is a popular choice for fitness professionals who want to incorporate it into their skills repertoire or open a fitness studio for yoga and other wellness activities.
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