How to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher?

Yoga has innumerable health benefits. It is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘union’. Yoga seeks to bring a peaceful union of the spirit, body and mind with the help of asanas, meditation and breathing exercises. In today’s world, people belonging to all age groups are practising yoga for better health. Hence, many find it quite exhilarating to pursue a career as a certified yoga teacher! Read this blog to find out how you can become a certified yoga teacher.

What Does a Yoga Teacher Do?

A yoga teacher is a professional fitness instructor that guides an individual or a group of people in the techniques of yoga. They are responsible for teaching students about the various postures, stretching exercises, breathing exercises, meditation techniques and promote the practice of mindfulness. Additionally, they may also recommend the nutrition intake and the dietary requirements to the students who wish to practice yoga regularly. 

A few other responsibilities of a yoga teacher include:

• To guide individuals or groups of amateur, intermediate or professional yoga practitioners, to practice yoga. 
• To demonstrate the right techniques of yoga including alternative asanas (postures) or exercises in order to be inclusive of everyone’s needs. 
• To provide helpful advice to yoga practitioners to enhance their practice and make it more easy and challenging.
• To ensure individuals perfect their posture and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 
• To promote the art of mindfulness by encouraging timely meditation exercises and breathing techniques. 
• To share adequate knowledge on the history and principles of yoga which is derived from holy scriptures of Indian mythologies and other important teachings. 

Why Become a Certified Yoga Teacher?

The popularity of yoga has significantly grown in the past decade. In fact, to promote and inculcate the practice of yoga, the United Nations celebrates International Yoga Day every year on the 21st of June. Having said that, the top 5 reasons as to why you must become a certified yoga teacher are as follows :

1. You get to explore the philosophy and history of yoga which enhances your knowledge on subjects such as meditation, asanas, pranayama, chakras and energies.
2. You also get a thorough understanding of human anatomy and physiology which provides deeper knowledge of how your body and mind works. 
3. You learn a great deal about your core body strengths and weaknesses. You will become more physically, mentally and emotionally strong. 
4. You will feel more energised and invigorated in the company of your peers, friends and family. 
5. You create meaningful and long-lasting relationships in your life with the help of yoga.

Skills Required 

Yoga is a discipline that truly embodies the values of intuition, peacefulness and self-awareness. These values are of utmost significance and they must be a vital quality of every yoga instructor. Apart from these values, there are a number of essential traits that you must possess in order to become a successful yoga teacher. These traits include:

• Good communication skills
• Patience 
• Flexibility
• Adaptability
• Being able to engage with others, especially your students
• Core knowledge about yoga
• Punctuality 
• Inclusiveness 

Qualification Required

To be a successful certified yoga teacher, you have the freedom to complete your bachelors’ and masters’ in any field of your choice. However, it is always recommended that you pursue a degree in yoga or a related field so that you are knowledgeable on its various aspects. 

• The minimum age to pursue certification courses is 18 years
• Complete training and earn a certification from a registered yoga school.
• Earn a CPR/First aid certification
• Maintain and renew certifications as and when required

Step-Wise Guide to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher

Now that we have covered who is a yoga teacher, what does he do and the various responsibilities of the yoga teacher, let’s take a look at the steps that you need to follow to become a certified yoga teacher:

Step 1: Study the Fundamentals of Yoga

Before you begin your journey as a yoga teacher, it is vital that you have a deeper knowledge of the various aspects and fields that are involved in practising yoga. The art of yoga contains numerous styles and it is prudent that you figure which style suits you the most. You should also be well-versed in the history and fundamentals of yoga before proceeding to select an instruction style and yoga practice that is favourable for you. The various styles of yoga include Vinyasa yoga, Hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, Bikram yoga, Ashtanga yoga and many more. 

Step 2: Complete a Yoga Training Program

The yoga instructor training programs or certified yoga programs generally comprises coursework that includes an in-depth understanding of anatomy, physiology, philosophy, history of yoga. There are many schools/institutions abroad and in India from where you can pursue such courses and programs. Additionally, you also have the choice to pursue a specialisation degree post completing your certification program. 

Step 3: Get Registered

It is always recommended to be registered as a professional yoga teacher, practitioner or instructor. It is important because many employers select yoga teachers that are certified and registered with a formal yoga school or alliance. On obtaining your yoga teacher certification registration, it serves as a licence and proof that you’ve completed the minimum required training hours for yoga. It also showcases your competency in instructing and teaching your students. 

Step 4: Earn a Certification in CPR or First Aid

If you wish to teach formally in health and fitness centres, it is mandatory that you obtain certification in CPR or First Aid since employers require yoga teachers who are capable of responding to health emergencies in a timely manner. 

Step 5: Maintain Certification

After the completion and registration of your certification, you can begin your career as a certified yoga teacher by offering yoga classes within your community or working in health and fitness centres. However, it is very important to note that you must also complete your continuing education coursework and pay the annual dues to ensure your certification is renewed. For example, professionals who are registered with the Yoga Alliance, are required to complete continuing education coursework of 75 hours every 3 years, which includes teaching yoga for 45 hours and attending additional classes for 30 hours. 

Also read our top searches on How to Build a Career in Physical Education?

Popular Yoga Certification Courses

Now that you’ve been acquainted with the steps to become a certified yoga teacher, we can now move on to some of the popular yoga certification courses that are offered around the world:

• Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification 
• Children’s Yoga Teacher Certification
• Multi-style Yoga Teacher Training Course
• Certificate In Advanced Yoga Practice
• Certificate Course in Therapy Yoga
• Certificate Course in Yoga Science
• Certificate Course in Yoga and Naturopathy
• Certificate Course in Vipassana
• Basic Certificate Course in Yoga Education ( BCCYE)
• Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Course (AYTTC) 

Top Universities Abroad for Studying Yoga 

While yoga is immensely popular all over the world, the majority of institutions that offer certification in yoga can be found within India. Nevertheless, there are institutions abroad that do offer students and yoga practitioners the opportunity to pursue a yoga teacher certification. Let’s have a look at some of these institutions: 

Name of the Institution	Location
SOAS University of London	UK
Loyola Marymount University	USA
Education Centre of Australia (ECA College )	Australia
Vikasa Yoga Academy	Thailand
South Okanagan Yoga Academy	Canada
Bristol School of Yoga	UK

Top Colleges in India for Studying Yoga

Yoga prominently has its roots in India and hence, there are innumerable institutions that offer yoga certification courses to eager learners. Some of the top institutions to practice yoga are mentioned below:

Name of the College	Location
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga	Delhi
Mangalore University	Mangalore
NIMS University	Jaipur
Poddar Group of Institutions	Jaipur
Ranchi University	Ranchi
Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy	Amravati
Gurukul Kangri University	Haridwar
Karnataka University	Dharwad
Babasaheb Ambedkar Open university	Ahmedabad

Career Opportunities and Job Prospects for a Yoga Teacher

Yoga teachers have a stellar job prospect in educational institutions, hospitals, gyms, healthcare centres, companies and housing societies and communities. In today’s stressful world, many companies and educational institutions are recruiting yoga teachers in hopes of inculcating stress management techniques in their students and employers as well as providing an outlet for their day-to-day activities. Moreover, the corporate world has also given birth to the culture of office yoga and desk yoga. 

Furthermore, many yoga centres and health spas are receiving a huge demand for professional yoga instructors who can provide them with the much-needed outlet to vent their stress, anxiety and practice the art of mindfulness and meditation. 

Salary of a Yoga Teacher

A certified yoga teacher has the potential to earn an average income of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month in the beginning. The salary may tend to vary depending on the place and type of employment. The salary tends to increase with respect to the increased years of practice, experience, skills and qualifications in the field of yoga. In addition to that, a certified yoga instructor can also expect a salary of Rs.1 lakh per month if they hold a masters or a PhD degree in this field. 

If you are interested in becoming a certified yoga teacher then get in touch with our experts at Leverage Edu. They can help you find a perfect course and university to pursue this profession.