Do you love yoga? Have an interest in the health and wellness industry? Are you looking for a career change, or a break from your regular grind?
If any of those questions intrigue you, you may have already considered starting your own yoga teaching practice. You've probably had plenty of fantastic yoga instructors that seem to effortlessly orchestrate a seamless class where every student walks out feeling better than when they walked in.
Good yoga teachers understand how to use the right combination of music, movement, and talk to create a class where you feel both relaxed and invigorated by the end. This is truly the magic of yoga class, and one of the reasons millions of people practice yoga on a daily basis.
Becoming that amazing yoga instructor is no accident. Nearly any strong yoga instructor will have years of experience and training in practicing yoga as a student and as a teacher.
They will have engaged in a close study of human anatomy and have spent hours observing their own mentor teachers. They will also likely be certified by a professional body such as the Canadian Yoga Alliance.
Yoga certification is important in Canada because like any sport or physical activity, yoga has its risks. While it would seem more likely physical injury would come from contact sports like football or fitness activities like weightlifting, you can certainly injure yourself performing more complex poses.
Safety is a big part of your teacher training, and you will need this information to teach advanced classes safely. Another reason certification is important is that it is critical to maintain a high standard of practice and honour yoga traditions. Without regulation and certification, the art of yoga can easily succumb to dilution. Even though any trainer can incorporate yoga movement in their work, having certified instructors ensures that the integrity of yoga is maintained.
From a career perspective, having your yoga certification makes you a much more palatable candidate to studios hiring teachers, or potential clients looking for instruction. Being a certified yoga instructor is the baseline measure for getting an interview or a call for a job.
This article is all about being a yoga instructor and getting your certification. Let's learn more about becoming a certified yoga instructor.
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!
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Certified Private Yoga Teacher?
Becoming a yoga teacher is a journey that starts when you first hit the mat. Your journey may, in fact, have already begun! From the minute we take our first yoga class, we start building flexibility and muscle memory that can directly inform the way you teach. The time you spend in class as a student will be a formative time of your yoga training.
It is there that we can get feedback on movement and experiment with different yoga styles. You will discover as a student which types of yoga appeal to you most: Ashtanga, Bikram, Restorative, Yin, Iyengar, Kundalini, and so much more. It is possible that you will even realize that you like to mix yoga with other fitness styles.
With a strong background in your own personal. yoga practice, you can start earning your certification by enrolling in a yoga teacher training course at a local studio. In most cases, these courses will be 200 hours long at a minimum, but you will find longer (300 or 500 hour courses) as well.
The benefit of taking a longer course is that you can delve more deeply into your learning and specialize in different styles. If you are looking to certify as quickly as possible, have no fear - you can take continuing education courses to upgrade your training.
Once you have finished your teacher training you will want to take the time to practice teaching yoga for free or for charity. Teaching yoga in this way takes the pressure off, and students will understand that you are learning to teach.
You may have taken a class with a student teacher yourself and have a sense of what those classes will be like! Teaching free classes is also a good way to gain experience, build your reputation, and perhaps even get a following of students.
Finally, you can get your Canada Yoga Alliance certification and be a bona fide yoga instructor. With your experience and certification, you can apply to teach in a studio or set up your own private practice.
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 does a Certified Yoga Instructor Differ from an Uncertified Private Yoga Instructor?
As a yoga instructor, you can choose to teach classes that the public can attend or teach small groups or individuals privately. Many certified yoga teachers choose to do both, since there are many advantages to either option. As a general yoga instructor, you can apply to teach in studios, gyms, community centres, or to schools or other organizations.
This is an excellent option if you like the energy that comes with working with large groups, and you want to build experience in a variety of fitness environments. As a general yoga teacher, you will find it easy to network with fellow yoga educators and connect with students that may choose to transition to private classes.
Private yoga instruction is an arrangement typically set up between the student and the teacher. You may choose to borrow studio space, work out of a home gym, or teach yoga at a park or backyard. This is a great option if you like the intimacy of a private class. You will get to know your students well, and the pay can be quite appealing considering you are only observing and teaching one student.
Those that feel confident in their yoga skills may want to go ahead and teach yoga privately without getting any certification. However, you may find it more difficult to find clients, who may ask or expect their teachers to be trained with an accredited yoga school. Yoga certification is very important to Canadians, who want to practice yoga safely and effectively.
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.
What Will Private Yoga Classes Be Like Compared to Studio Yoga Classes?
Private classes, unlike studio classes, will largely be driven by the level, needs, and preferences of the client. For example, you may have a client with health or mobility issues, and your instruction must be tailored to meet their needs. You can spend time providing extensive feedback to a private client, and really help them to reach their fitness goals.
Being a private yoga instructor is not unlike being a personal trainer. If you have personal trainer qualifications, you may even choose to combine elements of both practices.
Studio yoga classes typically involve much larger groups. You will be giving each student as much feedback as possible, and shift between modelling movement and checking on your students. Large classes will also mean that you must design movement to appeal to a more general audience, and may want to consider the level of fitness and flexibility of your students. You may choose to design different types of classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
Becoming a 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. Learn more about yoga teacher training in Canada.
How Do you Promote Your Services as a Certified Personal Yoga Trainer?
Does becoming a personal yoga trainer intrigue you? The next question you may have is - how do I find work? Thanks to Superprof Canada, promoting your services as a private yoga instructor is easy.
Once you acquire certification, you can set up an profile on the Superprof site comprised of your name, contact information, and a quick bio on your background, the services you offer, and qualifications. Be sure to mention in your profile that you are a member of the Canadian Yoga Alliance, since this will make your profile more credible. Once your profile is set up on the site, students can contact you directly to see if you can meet their needs.
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.
How Can I Find a Yoga Instructor Near Me to Help me with my Teacher Training?
Are you interested in finding a yoga instructor that can provide personalized feedback on your movement, coursework, or simply want a more bespoke practice for yourself? Why not use the Superprof site as a student and find a private yoga instructor in your area!
Use the site to search for a private yoga instructor near you. This could also be an opportunity to have instruction modelled for you, or to learn a style of yoga you are unfamiliar with.
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