You Dont Need To Be Young Sexy And Flexible You Do However Need To Be Creative Adaptable And Deeply Determined To Serve Others
I’m convinced that anyone with the willingness to stick through the tough moments can build the yoga career of their dreams. I’m also convinced that you don’t need to fit the mold of what a yoga-teacher is supposed to look like. You don’t need to be young, sexy, and flexible. You do, however, need to be creative, adaptable, and deeply determined to serve others.
This is my definitive guide to becoming a thriving yoga teacher, on the path of least resistance.
Practice With Bryan Kest At Wanderlust Oahu For More Information Including Lineup And Tickets Click Here
—
Kara Fujita Jovic believes in the power of the breath to center the soul, that love is a super power—for it always speaks the loudest—and that dancing in the kitchen while singing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” may just infuse a meal with magical powers. When she’s not getting caffeinated on fresh air, sunshine, or the sea, you can find her creating, exploring, writing, and helping people find their own personal om.
So You Think You Want To Be A Yoga Teacher Read On To See If Teaching Yoga Is Right For You
You think, breathe, and dream about yoga. Your yoga confederates are your best friends. You talk yoga every chance you get. It’s your reigning passion and metaphor; you prescribe it for every human ill. Why not teach? Since you must make a living—pay the rent and feed the cat and maybe even support a family—you want to do something that you love. Something that fires you up in the morning and gets you up out of bed and doesn’t deaden your spirit. Because I can tell you, having done 9 to 5—high heels, commuter-jammed subway, two elevators up to the 96th floor of the World Trade Center—it’s not worth doing something that you do not love.
But are you prepared for the trials of teaching yoga? You teach early weekend mornings and late weekday evenings, in gyms for as little as $35 per class, in hospital basements and office spaces where you have to first move boxes stuffed with annual reports against the wall to clear the floor. You do your own bookkeeping, line up and pay substitute teachers every time you leave town, and you’re out of luck if you rip up your knee and are out six weeks with a cast entombing your left leg. In January, classes are crammed with first-timers, fresh with New Year’s resolve; by July, the same classes are empty, and you are wincing because you can’t cover the rent.
It ain’t easy but as we all know nothing is easy. Like any other profession, teaching yoga calls for a particular set of skills, talent, and drive.
Going To Any Yoga Teacher Training Does Not Guarantee The Skill Set You Will Need To Teach
There are 6 reasons why some Yoga teacher training graduates never become yoga teachers:
Except for the last one, though. YTTs are fantastic to understand and deepen the yogic practice profoundly. So some people just join for their own practices.
Still, for people who want to become yoga teachers, let us talk about the first 5 issues. I will also share tips on how to choose your YTT, so you minimize the risk of facing those problems.
You’re Going To Get The Best And Worst Of Two Worlds: Business And Spirituality
Most yoga centers I know are operated as a weird hybrid of business endeavor and spiritual community, and it’s a truly confusing mix. For example, there’s often lots of talk about being “family.” And while I’ve genuinely experienced an authentic sense of spiritual community and felt accepted and loved—well, in my own family, I never really ran the risk of being fired.
Sometimes studios are quite business-like . Yet despite these business-minded strategies, I’ve rarely heard of centers giving raises based on seniority, or paid vacations, or insurance, or even the possibility of being made a partner—things that are pretty standard in other businesses.
Youre Going To Be Running Around All Day And Have A Really Weird Schedule
When I was starting out, I took each and every teaching gig I could get. This meant I was sometimes working 17 hour days.
I once taught a regular 5:30 am client, followed by 7am and 9am ones. I got up at 5am, and I was home by 11am . Then I had several free hours until my evening classes. Sometimes, my last class or private session would end at 10pm.
I also became much more conscious of the weather, because I was going in and out of the elements all day long. There was something tremendously freeing about this, but it can also be perpetually exhausting.
Market Oppurunities For Independent Yoga Teacher Salary Rate Per Classes
Yoga instructors don’t necessarily get paid a lot. In fact, their income varies greatly. So, how much do yoga instructors make? according to PayScale, yoga instructors earn an average of $24.96 per hour. Lower pay rates for yoga teachers are around $12.66 per hour, while higher rates can go up to $49.94.
Teaching yoga is a veryhands-on career, and the longer you’ve been doing it, the more experience you’ll have and therefore the better equipped you’ll be to teach. The yoga instructors who are earning higher rates have probably been around the block for quite a number of years, so they already have their fixed clientele and are more in-demand compared to fresh teacher training graduates.
Even if $24 an hour sounds like a good deal, you have to take into account travel cost and time, as well as the amount of prep time needed before class. Yoga instructors usually do not get reimbursed for their travel expenses. This can amount to a lot of time and money because you will not necessarily be able to secure a job at your nearest yoga studio or fitness center.
Some establishments pay their yoga instructors a fixed salary, whereas others go by head count. There are pros and cons to both payment methods. If you are established and popular enough, getting paid per head is definitely more lucrative. However, the risk is that if nobody turns up for class, you don’t get paid anything, despite your time spent preparing for and traveling to class.
Now That You Know Get Out There And Be The Best Yoga Teacher You Can Be
Every yoga teacher is different, and we each bring something unique and special to our teaching.
As we discussed in #5, show up authentically to every class you teach. Establish trust amongst your students, never stop learning and seeking out new information to enhance your teaching, and maintain your personal practice .
As a yoga teacher, you have an amazing opportunity to help others. Embrace this role and be the best yoga teacher you can be. Your students and your career will thank you! Namaste.
Have questions or want to share your own tips for other yoga teachers? Please share in the comments below – we love hearing from you!
- 1.3KSHARES
Being A Yoga Teacher Where Does The Dream Finishes And Real Life Starts
What do you think it takes to be a Yoga teacher? Passion? Professional training?Practising in India? Esoteric powers? Crystal knowledge? Being a vegan? Wearing Lululemon leggings, sarongs or white vests? Maybe a bindi on the third eye? Following a specific religion, lineage or guru? Being a guru yourself? Today I am writing about what is it to be a Yoga teacher. The good, the bad and some bits in the middle. As someone wise once said, ‘as a yoga teacher, people expect you to be well, active and positive all the time’. There is no other profession where people are expected to always give to others without getting anything back but ‘good energy’, donations or hugs. Welcome to the glamorous-not-so-glamourous life of a person that teaches Yoga.
I often say I am not a Yoga teacher. I am a person that teaches Yoga regularly, but as human, I have much more qualities and skills that I use on my day to day apart from Yoga-related stuff. Maybe you will be surprised to know that I have never taught at a studio, wore a white turban or claimed to have healing properties. I don’t call myself a guru, a healer nor a coach. I don’t teach every day nor aspire to do it one day. Not anymore.
I am super happy with this decision and I truly hope you keep supporting me further, like I’ve always supported you.
Thanks so much for reading.
All the good vibes,
I Want To Deepen My Practice Should I Get My Teaching Certification
This is a tricky question and I’ve gotten it from several friends on Facebook and just in casual conversation. I have a contradictory answer.
On the one hand, if you just want to deepen your own personal practice, learn more about the ethics and spirituality of yoga, learn to meditate, or cultivate more difficult asana, I would recommend that you attend retreats, intensives or workshops. I don’t think you necessarily need teacher training.
Teacher training is a huge financial commitment , as well as time/life commitment. My training program lasts over a year – every 5-6 weeks, I spend a whole weekend in training. And there are more intense schedules than that, of course – you can complete your training in an intense two weeks or one month course.
I think if you are just wanting to learn something specific, like how to bring the yamas and niyamas into your life, or how to master arm balances – that you attend a retreat or workshop focused on that subject.
Yoga Instructor: Salary Info Education Requirements And Career Info
Apr 06, 2021
If you’re thinking about a career as a yoga instructor, you will need to complete a training program. Specialization in the field is available, by style of yoga or by the particular group of people you are interested in serving. As a yoga instructor, you can work in a fitness center, yoga studio, or privately with clients.
#3 What Makes A Good Yoga Instructor Youve Got To Be Approachable
If you want to be successful both in the studio and in a business sense, being approachable is really important.
Students, potential students, and other yoga professionals all need to feel comfortable approaching you, talking to you, and generally engaging with you.
The number one barrier that gets in the way of people taking up a new hobby, especially an exercise-based one, is that they feel intimidated by the thought of taking that first step into the studio, gym, health club – you get the idea!
And once they’re your students, being approachable will allow you to create the kind of relationships with your students that will keep them coming back to your classes.
The more your students feel like they can come to you, speak honestly, and ask questions, the greater value they will place on you as a teacher, creating loyalty and high levels of retention.
Truths About Being A Yoga Teacher That No One Will Ever Tell You
6 Truths About Being A Yoga Teacher That No One Will Ever Tell You
I became a yoga teacher almost by accident. , but I was surprised to find that being a yoga teacher was by far the best job I’ve ever had.
Still, there are a few things I learned along the way that I wish someone had told me before I got started. Here are seven of them:
Things You Should Do After Finishing Your Yoga Teacher Training
You’ve completed your yoga teacher training! Awesome! Now, what next? You are most likely continuing with your full-time job, with a dream to start teaching more regularly, and to eventually go into teaching full-time as a career. There are a few things you need to do in order to realise that dream.
This article will help you figure out your next steps and give you tips on how to start an exciting career in yoga.
Let’s get started!
Authenticity Passion Being Of Service And Empowering Others
“Ultimately, being a good yoga teacher is really about being a good teacher. Being humble and not talking down to anybody. I’m also a student, I just have more experience and am just sharing information with you, I’m not telling you what’s right or wrong, that’s for you to decide.
I think what makes a good teacher is when you can empower people, because what disempowers them is when teachers put themselves on a pedestal. I’m just sharing information, but you have to run it through your critical thinking and then decide for yourself if you agree or not, because there’s not just one way, there are many ways. Just being honest and authentic and speaking it as you see it is also a part of being a good teacher.
Being passionate about what you do is also really important. I’m very passionate about health and wellness and I’m constantly seeking it out, sharing what I learn with others, and when I see people getting excited by that, it’s even more exciting…there’s nothing more fulfilling than giving to others.”– Bryan Kest, Founder of Power Yoga
Hard work, dedication, right intention, and simply showing up to our mats, beyond the poses or expectations—it’s this exchange of energy between teacher and student, from one kindred spirit to another, that keeps the ancient tradition of yoga alive.
Steps To Start A Career In Yoga And Make A Fantastic Living
According to an industry survey, two people are interested in becoming a yoga teacher for every current yoga teacher. The recent rise in remote working and self-employment has further increased the demand for people looking to start a career in yoga.
To start a career in yoga, follow this 11-step process that takes you from a novice to having a career in yoga and making a fantastic living.
At StudioGrowth, individuals looking to start a career in yoga regularly approach me looking for advice. Starting a career in yoga is simple enough. However, you need to differentiate yourself in this highly crowded market.
This guide will provide an 11-step process to start a career in yoga and be highly successful.
Teaching Yoga And Practicing Yoga Are Completely Different
Being an advanced yoga practitioner doesn’t make you an advanced teacher. There is a big difference between knowing something and being able to explain and transfer that knowledge to students. When practicing yoga, you don’t think about small details of how you do your asanas anymore, you just know.
Therefore, it is important to take a good yoga teacher training course that teaches you how to give proper instructions and cues. You will also need to learn proper alignments for different body types and how to give personal corrections to these people.
Yoga Teachers– Need yoga insurance? Our friends at beYogi are offering YogiApproved.com readers $30 off your annual premium, dropping the annual cost to $149. Learn more here
Patience Dedication And Love For Your Practice And Others
“Character, patience, and love for their practice. Most of us are drawn to yoga through some hardship in our lives and are transformed through the practice of yoga. Dedication to a daily practice helps us develop the patience to endure this process of growing and it thins the ego so that we learn to soften and live from a more heartfelt place.
This is where character forms and a teacher emerges. As a teacher, we’re simply sharing our practice. A good teacher doesn’t make it about them; they make it about the practice of yoga and all the many benefits we gain when we practice yoga correctly.
Because teaching is a job where you make contact daily with people and have an interest in who they are, it helps you teach from an intuitive place where you invite them to explore their own authentic self. Yoga is ultimately about coming back to the self, and a good teacher has the ability to help students on their journey back home .”– Joan Hyman, E-RYT 500 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Senior Teacher
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming A Yoga Teacher
Once you’ve decided to become a yoga teacher, there are A LOT of things to consider. Besides the fact that you’ve got to do some serious inner work and introspection, you also need to choose the right teacher training program. Here are the most frequently asked questions when it comes to becoming a yoga instructor.
Free Download: 25 Ways Yoga Teachers Can Earn More Money
Not many.
But why does this happen in the yoga world? A world of healing and constant giving…
The fact of the matter is: after a yoga studio pays rent, heating/cooling bills, teacher wages, etc… there just isn’t enough leftover to pay teachers a livable wage!
The economics just don’t allow it.
Prefer videos? Watch 10 way you can make more money as a yoga teacher:
If teaching at a studio isn’t enough to sustain ourselves as yoga teachers, this makes earning an income as a yoga teacher harder than we thought…
Are you saying yoga teachers should ditch the studio all together?
No way!
But understand… it’s nearly impossible to earn a sustainable living by ONLY teaching at yoga studios.
Instead, use yoga studios as a place to hone your skills, build a following, and test out ideas.
There are 3 potential outcomes for Full-Time Yoga Teachers:
- Run around teaching 20 classes/week while living on the poverty line
- Marry a rich spouse who pays all your bills so you can teach yoga for fun
- Diversify your income by earning money outside the studio
…#1 and #2 are not ideal or not possible for most people
Luckily, diversifying your income IS possible for most yoga teachers! And this is the topic we’re discussing today.
Contents
Hard Truths They Dont Tell You At Yoga Teacher Training
So you’re ready to spread the yoga love near and far. You’ve taken the plunge and completed a life-changing journey through yoga and yourself. You have your RYT200. Congratulations! Have a few bliss balls and a tall glass of kombucha to soak in the good vibes before the business bursts your bubble .
Yoga teacher training equips you with a LOT of knowledge and preliminary trial teaching experience that’ll help you when you go out into the real world when your training ends. But there are still some things that can’t quite be taught—only experienced and learned. Here are some of them.
Are You Prepared To Put Pressure On Your Yoga Practice
It’s true that there are people who just quit their job and are like, I’m going to make yoga happen.
But I think there are cons to that because, all of a sudden, the thing that you love has now become your primary source of income. And that can really change your relationship with yoga.
Some of my happiest times working on my own yoga business were when I had my corporate job because the money coming in from teaching and growing the business online was just fun. It was just a bonus.
It wasn’t what I was relying on to pay my rent.
And that was so liberating because I felt like I had so much creative freedom and no pressure to do a brand sponsorship that I didn’t want to do or make a certain kind of content that I feel like I had to make to make money.
My corporate job enabled that freedom.
So you really want to ask yourself, if I really love something so much, do you want to put pressure on it to be a moneymaker right away? Do you want it to fulfill your financial need or more of your spiritual need?
Again, it’s a lot to ask of one thing or one person to fulfill multiple things in your life.
So one thing I would do in addition to trying to hustle and do yoga on the side is to think of all the ways your corporate job does serve you. Because I think a lot of us can get really negative on corporate, but the reality is corporate is great in so many ways.
So let’s list some of the pros of keeping a corporate job:
Some other things to consider are
Start Teaching Yoga Before Quitting Your Corporate Job
That’s my biggest advice. Get into action. If you think you want to teach yoga, start teaching. If you think you could support yourself doing a hybrid approach of yoga and body work, I see that combo working really well. Or yoga and health coaching or yoga and something else, whatever it is, start testing the waters and get into action.
Anything is possible, but I do think putting so much pressure on yourself to quit a corporate job or to not recognize the freedom and stability that your corporate job is giving you and just go head first into yoga is doing a disservice to yourself and your practice. It’s just too much pressure too soon.
Get the certifications you need and really the world is your oyster. You can do anything you put your mind to.
I am someone who never, ever, ever thought that I would make a fulltime living teaching yoga. I did not think it was possible and I’ve proved myself wrong and so many members of my family and my parents wrong. So if I can do it, you can do it.
Small steps and consistent action is better than jumping off the cliff so much love.
Finding A Class To Teach Will Be Harder Than You Think
Sure, there are studios popping up everywhere overflowing with students and different types of classes. Surely, it can’t be that hard to find a teaching job, right? Well, it is.
A lot of studios already have a full calendar of classes, and an even fuller roster of substitute teachers. As a studio owner, once you find the perfect balance of classes, adding an additional class can be risky as there’s no guarantee it will bring in new students rather than cannibalising existing full classes.
And I’ll let ya in on a not so little secret: most studios aren’t in it for the money and often are making just enough to keep the lights on. This isn’t to discourage you—just understand that it might take longer than you’d hoped or thought to find a class to teach. Once you realize this, you’ll be in a better position to understand the next points below.
Be Willing To Evolve As A Yoga Teacher And Human Being
Perhaps the most important aspect of being a good yoga teacher is being a good human being. When it comes down to it, that’s what the philosophies of yoga are all about – learning to understand that we are all one, there is no separation and how to be truly kind and humble. Keep practicing, keep learning and keep evolving not only in your practice but in your day to day life.
Jessica Humphries
Reasons Why Being A Yoga Teacher Is The Best Job Ever
Day!)
After my adventures in England had ended I had originally planned to use my blog to talk about my yoga teacher training and other various yoga related things unfortunately, life got in the way.
Now as I’m two months out of YTT, and I have the best job ever at The Cornermat Yoga Studio in Yorktown, IN I bring you my first blog post about yoga, 8 Reasons Why Being a Yoga Teacher is the Best. Job. Ever.
1. I can have crazy colored hair.
I can’t tell you how many jobs I have applied to, had, looked at, that say “hair must be a natural color” in their employee handbook. As if my purple hair is going to make the shirts I just folded any worse. Now this is something very little for many but for me I LOVE to dye my hair, sometimes natural colors but my most recent I added crazy burgundy peek-a-boo’s. I’m sure there are yoga studios out there that are against hair dyes because of the chemicals and grossness that comes with them but I fortunately work at a yoga studio that welcome’s us to be ourselves and they create nothing but a loving and welcome environment and I love knowing that if I show up to teach my class tonight with bright pink hair, I’m not going to get fired and that, my friend, is a GREAT feeling.
2. Another aesthetic point, I can have my nails any color that I want
3. I get to wear yoga pants….all. day. long.
4. I work very short hours
5. I don’t have to arrange my workout around my job
6. My job is one that is easily travel-able
