Yoga Instructor Certification

The Yoga world is wonderful to be involved in.  If you have been a student of Yoga, you may be considering Yoga Instructor Certification as a natural progression for you. There is a few things you should know about becoming a Yoga Teacher. Most people would only pursue becoming a Yoga teacher to actually teach yoga classes however if you do not plan on teaching, a good training program will deepen your practice and increase your knowledge of anatomy, philosophy, sequencing, and alignment.

Being a Yoga Teacher – Are you ready?

Most Yoga Instructor Certification programs do have some minimum requirements for all prospective Yoga teacher trainees. Some of the expected requirements can include:-

• That you have practiced yoga disciplines for several years.
• Can do a headstand in the middle of the room unsupported.
• Have attended some classes with the teacher you propose to train with.

Can a Yoga Instructor Certification provide financial security?

Some Yoga students who love practicing yoga and are unsatisfied with their day jobs, hope that becoming a yoga teacher will offer them and alternative to going to work each day. They may believe that if they become a Yoga teacher they will be able to replace their weekly income solely though teaching. Sometimes this is true, however it is important to keep in mind that most yoga teachers do not make a lot of money. Yoga teachers that do make their living solely by teaching yoga work incredibly hard at it. It is a profession where there are currnetly no registered health benefits from health insurance companies. This means that students who attend yoga classes do so at their own cost and there is no way claim the costs with any health insurance company.

Yoga Teacher – A secure Profession?

Being a Yoga Teacher there is no real job security. A down turn in the economy is enough for people to start cutting back on their living costs and classes like yoga can be sacrificed first. On the other hand, there are some excellent yoga teachers who can combine running a few classes a week while keeping their regular day jobs. If you choose this as and option remember you will be likely working evenings as most Yoga classes are held in the evenings so that students can attend without disruption to their day jobs.

Registered Yoga Teacher- What it Means.

Within the United States, yoga teacher training programs need to meet particular standards are registered by the Yoga Alliance which is a nationally recognized organization. You can go to the Yoga Alliance website and check the tab labeled “Registered Schools“.There are currently two different levels of Yoga Alliance certificates, the 200 Hour and 500 Hour. The 200 hour refers to the length of the program, for example the yoga teacher has completed a 200 hours yoga teacher training course, and the same applies for the 500 hour. In order to attain the 500 hour certificate you will need to complete the 200 hour course first. However, you can practice as a yogi in most yoga studios with the 200 hour certificate but it is considered to be the minimum requirement. Some yoga teachers then choose to continue their studies by completing the 500 Hour training. When you have completed your Yoga Alliance registered teacher-training program, you can use the acronym RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) after your name.

What about Certifications in Specialized Yoga types?

Most specialized types of yoga such as Power Yoga, Iyengar, Anusara and Bikram require that teachers complete a training program under their own method and training programs. Bikram especially is required to registered and possibly even taught by Yogi Bikram Choudry himself at his “Yoga College of India”. Yogi’s teaching Bikram Yoga are required to teach Bikram’s prescribed method exactly.

Where to find a Yoga Teacher-Training Program

If you want to be a Bikram Yoga teacher then your choice of a training program will be a no brainer. Get in contact with the Yoga College of India and possibly travel to India for the training under Yogi Bikram Choudry. However, if you practice vinyasa or hatha yoga, you will have a lot more choices for Yoga teacher training and Yoga Instructor Certification.

If you have been practicing Yoga for some time you will have some idea about how to go about finding out the best teacher training programs and one place to start making inquires is at your favorite yoga center. Some of the larger yoga studios will actually offer teacher-training programs. To ensure you get the best available training, research the curriculum offered and make sure it meets your needs. You could also contact the Yoga Alliance to see if the yoga center offering yoga teacher training has been certified with them. There is no point spending your hard earned money on a teacher training course that is not recognized.

Yoga teacher trainees will typically spend thousands of dollars in tuition, so as an unfortunate rule it follows that yoga training has become a moneymaking operation. Make sure you have all the necessary information before signing up. This is the only way to guarantee that your certificate will be of real value when you are finished. It will also specify the number of hours you have spent studying the different types of yoga, studing asana, teaching technique, anatomy, and philosophy.

Who should I ask about Yoga Instructor Certification?

I would recommend that you speak to favorite yoga teachers, yogi’s, about how they received their yoga instructor certification and where they completed their training. There is availability of yoga teacher training in most big cities but if you live in an area where they are not available you might consider doing an intensive program at a yoga institute or ashram elsewhere. The Yoga Alliance website spells out their standards for certification and can help you identify Registered Yoga Schools in your area.

What else should I know about Yoga teacher training?

• An important thing to consider is the cost of becoming a yoga teacher and compare that against your potential to earn after you have gained your qualification and certification. The cost can be upwards of $3000 but it is important to keep in mind that you will get what you pay for. A cheaper course may not be the best thing in the long run.

• You might need to make adjustments to your schedule. Some yoga teach training programs are very intensive, lasting only a month or two but meeting every day during that period. You might need to organize some time off from your day job to complete this type of training.

• There are other programs that can be completed on a part time basis and you might expect that they would typically run for either 6 or 12 months during evenings or on weekends.

The personality mix is important to your training. You will need to be confident that you like and respect your Yogi’s (yoga teachers) because they are crucial to your success as a yoga teacher and you will be spending a fair amount of time with them while you are learning.

Yoga and Pilates Tips hope you have enjoyed this article Yoga Instructor Certification.