For the last couple of months I have been getting continuous emails and chats that many people want to make Yoga as their profession and help others. So today I thought let’s share the journey of How To Become A Yoga Teacher.
It was the year 2015, when I was working as a Software Engineer in Bangalore, India. It was a wonderful job and I had some great co-workers and a great team. I enjoyed my work each and every day. I was already introduced to Yoga at the age of 15 by my parents.
But I did not continue, again when I was 25 I started to gain interest in Yoga and started my practice again at that time I was completely an ameture.
February 2015 for the first time I got a chance to take 25 days off from my work, so I decided to visit Rishikesh alone (P.S. In India, it’s a very unnatural thing to go on a SOLO trip).
With a lot of effort I was able to convince my parents to give me permission for this trip. You might be wondering even at the age of 25, he is asking permission from parents. This is how it works in India, even if people are the age of 50 and their parents stay with them, then they will ask their permission for important things in life.
Then, I finished my Yoga Course in Rishikesh, which completely changed my perspective on Yoga. While I was doing my course, I used to think one day I have to become a Yoga teacher like my teachers.
It’s not because I was attracted to the money but I was mesmerized to see the way students show love and respect towards their yoga teacher.
This was the first seed that went into my head towards becoming a yoga teacher. Long story short, the very next year I resigned my job as software engineer and started my Yoga school – Sanskriti Yogashala and also started helping Yoga schools in Digital Marketing as I had prior experience of computers.
Why Should You Become A Yoga Teacher?
It’s completely my perspective and I might be wrong. If you want to become a Yoga teacher just to earn money then there are 100’s or 1000’s of professions which can give you better income than Yoga.
But if you want to bring change in others’ lives, if you want to transform the lives of your neighbours, if you want to help your family and friends genuinely through Yoga, then please take yoga as your profession.
If your intention is completely helping others through yoga then even money comes in search of you. Money should be the by-product of you transforming other lives.
It’s not Yoga that does miracles in your Life, It’s your belief in Yoga which creates wonders.
Other reasons why you should become a Yoga Teacher :
- Your health will always be at peak.
- People start respecting and showing immense love.
- You will make this world more healthier.
- Your awareness will be improved.
- By learning the scriptures of Yoga, you will get more clarity in life.
- Your personal problems will no longer trouble you.
How to Become A Yoga Teacher?
Since we have understood what should be our intention even before taking the decision of becoming a Yoga teacher. Now lets understand how to become a yoga teacher.
There are many ways you can become a Yoga Teacher.
- Attend a yoga teacher training in your city.
If you are working already and want to take up a yoga teaching profession then attend a yoga teacher training in your city. They will have an option for weekend and weekday batches select according to schedule.
2. Attend a traditional yoga teacher training from India.
This might be a good option if you are not working currently and not tied to any kind of commitments are ready to explore India. In India there are 3 places where you get high quality yoga training.
- Rishikesh – Rishikesh is referred as the Yoga Capital of the world.
In Rishikesh you can find many schools which can help you with yoga teacher training. But be careful while selecting the school, do not just look at the facilities they provide but also enquire about the teacher, how deep he goes in the class, how much dedicated they are. Because one right yoga teacher training can transform your life.
- Kerala – God’s own Country.
Kerala is always referred as God’s Own Country. Its land of beaches and Ayurveda. If you have any interest in learning Indian Medicines then you should visit Kerala. In Kerala, there are many schools which provide Yoga and Ayurveda Teacher Training.
- Mysore – Ashtanga Yoga
Mysore is always referred for Ashtanga Yoga. Mysore came to this list because of one person that is K. Pattabhi Jois who took the responsibility to spread Ashtanga Yoga to every nook and corner of the world.
3. Attend an Online Yoga Teacher Training.
In this tech savvy generation there are many schools who have started to give yoga teacher training online. If you are planning to take an online course then you have to be double careful because there are many people who give attractive prices and they don’t even complete the course.
So, please take 3-4 trial classes, check reviews and take all kinds of precautions so that you get a good yoga experience. Also very important, even if it’s an online session try to attend the course where they take live classes not just play the recorded one.
Do yoga teachers make money?
Once you have the right intention and got a good place to learn, this should be the question that will pop up in your mind. And it’s right, I personally have gone through the situation where I used to get a good amount of salary and suddenly everything stopped after I chose to become a Yoga Teacher.
With God’s grace and my teacher’s blessing I am still continuing but I have seen many people again going back to their old profession in search of money.
There are 3 ways you can earn as a yoga teacher.
- Work as a Yoga Teacher in a Yoga Studio.
This will be a good option if you are starting your career as a yoga teacher. Find a good yoga school and join as a teacher where you will get good experience & exposure with students
- Start your own Yoga Studio.
You should think of opening your own yoga studio if and only if you have saved a good amount to invest. Because to run a yoga studio, yoga knowledge is not sufficient. You should learn how to run a yoga studio from an administration, financial and marketing perspective. You may have to play many roles when you start your own Yoga Studio.
- Give private class.
This might be another good option to start and earn your living in your initial stages of the Yoga Journey. You can get some initial clients in your circle.
Conclusion
Don’t become a yoga teacher just to earn money or name or to feel good when someone calls you a yoga teacher. Become a yoga teacher to bring difference in others’ lives. If you start caring for others, very soon your life will be taken care of.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Prashanth
Let’s make this world more peaceful
Thank you. Very good article helped me to bring more clarity