How to Become a Yoga Teacher

So you want to become a yoga teacher? Turning your favourite hobby in to a career is a liberating move, and when your favourite hobby is yoga, it's especially transformational! But this transformation takes time, effort, strength, and money. So before you make the commitment, here are a few key things you should consider:

Types of Yoga Teacher Trainings

To become a certified practicing yoga teacher you need to register with Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance is an association representing the international yoga community. There are over 55,000 Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) and more than 3,500 Registered Yoga Schools worldwide (RYS). As a registered Yoga Alliance teacher you can teach all over the world! The basic requirement to become a yoga teacher is a 200-hour RYT course. You can develop your training with a 500-hour RYT advanced course, or specialise. Here is an outline of the main yoga teaching qualifications available:

200-Hour Courses

A RYS 200-hour yoga teaching qualification qualifies you to teach a general adult population. It encompasses much more than just physical practice. All Yoga Alliance accredited 200-hour courses incorporate teaching methods, teachings on yoga anatomy and physiology and yogic lifestyle, and ten hours of teaching practice, as well as 100 hours of physical yoga practice. This is the first step for any budding yoga teacher. A 200-hour course will prepare you and qualify you to become a yoga instructor, granting you a license to teach yoga all over the world.

500-Hour Courses

500-hour yoga teaching instructor courses are advanced courses aimed at competent yoga instructors who are seeking to go deeper with their practice and teaching, involving further hours of all aspects covered in the 200-hour course. They are deeply rewarding for the committed yogi who wants to develop and expand their yogic knowledge and skills.

Pregnancy

Our yoga practice must develop in harmony with our bodies, which change greatly when women are pregnant. The pre and post-natal yoga instructor qualification will enable you to support expectant mums through their yoga practice. Many yoga teachers choose to teach pregnant women after they have been through a pregnancy themselves. This of course gives you personal experience that will contribute to your teaching, but this qualification is by no means restricted to those who have experienced pregnancy. A pre and post-natal teaching certificate is a good qualification for any yoga instructor to have, not least when you consider that most yoga students are female between the ages of 25 and 45 and are likely to get pregnant at some point! Whether you intend to teach pre and post-natal classes, or simply want to integrate expectant mums in to your classes, this is a valuable qualification to have.

Children's Yoga

The Registered Yoga Teacher for Children (RYTC) is recognised throughout the international yoga community as a good standard for yoga teachers teaching yoga to children. A children's yoga teaching qualification only allows you to teach children. If your Yoga Teacher Training Course for Children is done alongside or in addition to a 200-hour yoga teaching qualification, then you are qualified to teach children and adults. Yoga practice has been shown to be very effective with children, instilling calm, aiding concentration and encouraging healthy growth and development on all levels, so this qualification is widely valued. It is recommended for yoga teachers with at least two years teaching experience and can be completed as an intensive or longer course, usually lasting between 3 - 12 months.

Nidra

Becoming a Yoga Nidra teacher means you can apply yoga for therapeutic and healing purposes. Yoga Nidra means Yogic Sleep. It is deep yogic practice in a state of conscious Deep Sleep, a state of deep relaxation used by Yogis to purify the Samskaras, the deep impressions that are the driving force behind Karma. Yoga Nidra is similar to meditation but you leave the Waking state, go past the Dreaming state, and go to Deep Sleep, yet remaining awake. Sound complicated? This form of yoga is for experienced mediators so ensure you have a regular meditation practice before embarking on a Yoga Nidra teaching course. Teaching Yoga Nidra requires specialist-training through courses accredited by The Independent Yoga Network. It is a brilliant next step for yoga instructors committed to yoga practice and those who wish to develop specialist skills and awaken yogic healing abilities.

Foundation Courses

Short Foundation courses are a good step in preparation for longer teacher training, and can help you decide whether yoga teaching is for you. A Foundation course is a brilliant way to improve and enhance your yoga knowledge and practice, and also a great choice for anyone who is unsure about making the big financial investment in a yoga instructor course.

How to Finance your Yoga Education

Let's hope it's a given that you're not becoming a yoga teacher for the money. Still, it's important to give some serious attention to how you will finance your life as a yoga teacher. Yoga teacher training courses usually cost around $3,000 and can be as much as $7,000. Most course providers allow you to pay in instalments, making the cost more manageable. Did you also know that some offer teacher-training scholarships? Or you may be able to earn as you learn as a Student Teacher.

Find a yoga school that offers payment plans to make the course fees easier to manage. Some schools offer options to pay in monthly or quarterly installments, and even more flexible installments tailored to the individual. Look out for Early Bird specials too!

Whatever your situation, don't let finances hold you back. After all, you didn't get in to this for the money. In fact, your yoga practice will actually help you to save for your yoga teacher -training course. Work on your personal practice and cut out the costs of classes. Take the opportunity to live a more yogic lifestyle, and save on the costs of luxuries: vegetarianism, and a bit of self-discipline and personal growth, is sure to save you money!

What's your yoga style?

The modern yogi is faced with the now mammoth task of choosing between over 50 different styles of yoga. The list of yoga styles keeps growing, but some of the top ones are: Ashtanga, Bhakti, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Ishta, Iyengar, Tantra, Classical, Vinyasa, Raja, Flow... to name a few. With so many types of yoga to choose from, and a new kind appearing on the scene every five minutes, choosing your teaching style is no easy feat. Will you go for a traditional or modern? Specialist? Religious? There's now Children's yoga, Pre/post-natal yoga, Taoist yoga, Buddhist yoga, Christian yoga, Hot yoga ? The choices are endless!

In truth, the huge number of names for different styles is somewhat misleading. There are often several names for what is essentially the same kind and, as any student who's tried different classes in different styles will tell you, there are great similarities between them; so much so that it's often difficult to remember which was which! However, there's a big difference between going to a few classes and becoming a yoga instructor. So, before making the long-term investment in a teacher-training course, it's worth getting educated about the subtle (and not so subtle) differences, and trying different styles in order to find your perfect match.

Things to consider when becoming a yoga instructor are:

Choose a style that you are good at, that suits your body type!
Number of asanas and flexibility of sequence - will you get bored if all your classes are the same or struggle to remember different routines?
Do you prefer a work out or a moving meditation?
How do you feel about wider elements of the style such as meditation, props and setting?
Are you required to follow professional, moral and/or legal codes as a teacher?
Who the style appeals to, as these will be your students!

What follows is a basic guide to some of the most popular types of yoga today:

Hatha

The term ?Hatha' actually refers to all physical styles of yoga - the asanas - so in fact, any style of yoga practiced in the West is essentially Hatha. However, bear in mind if you want to market your classes as Hatha, classes referred to as Hatha yoga will usually be gentle and relaxing, focusing on teaching basic asanas. This makes them a popular choice for beginners.

Ashtanga Vinyasa

Get ready to sweat! Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is a physically demanding, vigorous style of yoga. Ashtanga yoga literally means "eight-limbed yoga," as outlined in the Yoga Sutras. It is a system of yoga first recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta, an ancient manuscript containing original asana groupings and philosophical teachings. The physical practice uses a fixed series of poses held for just five breaths each, separated by a half sun-salutation. Building internal heat and causing lots of sweating, this synchronization of quick movement between asanas with the breath is great for detoxifying the body and improving circulation. This is the yoga for athletes and requires lots of stamina. Unsurprisingly then, "Power Yoga" is an modern American adaptation of Ashtanga Vinyasa that uses a variation of poses and focuses on physical exercise rather than the philosophical aspects of an Ashtanga practice. Becoming an Ashtanga Vinyasa or Power Yoga style teacher is a great way to build physical strength and fitness, but make sure you're really up to the physical practice because you'll have to be a step ahead of your students. It is important to note that to become an "official" Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher, it is only possible under the direct guidance of Sri Pattabhi Sharath Jois, the grandson of the founder, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, in Mysore, India. However, many teachers do teach in the Ashtanga style, and the similar Vinyasa style.

Vinyasa Flow

Vinyasa Flow is heavily influenced by Ashtanga. The practice is also called simply Vinyasa, Flow or sometimes, Dynamic yoga. Vinyasa is the Sanskrit word for ?flow'. Teachers guide students to flow through poses with little pause between asanas for a fluid, physically active practice that gives students a good work-out as well as an interesting yoga experience that varies from class to class according to the teacher's choreography. As a Vinyasa teacher, you'll need to be prepared with a choreographed routine of poses for each class, and music to compliment! This is a hugely popular form of yoga in the West today that will keep both you and your students on your toes and gives a lot of scope to develop your own teaching style. A Vinyasa Flow teacher - training qualification is a good basis that will enable you to teach in many styles.

Kundalini

Kundalini yoga aims at awakening "kundalini" energy at the base of the spine using breathing exercises, meditation and often chanting as well as traditional yoga postures. It was introduced to the US by Yogi Bhajan, and was founded on the principles of Sikh Dharma. Kundalini is, as it happens, Russell Brand's chosen style of yoga. By his own admission, he got hooked because of the states of ecstasy and altered states of consciousness that Kundalini induces. It is a great choice for anyone interested in the spiritual aspect of the practice and learning more about using complimentary techniques to enhance their yogic practice, but make sure you feel comfortable leading an ?Om' chant before taking this path.

Jivamukti

Jivamukti is a modern school of yoga developed with the intention of bringing yoga practice back to its roots. Founded by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1986 in NYC, Jivamukti yoga is Vinyasa-like in style, but it's known for being more of a philosophy for life than a physical practice. The school emphasises that yogic practice is part of teaching the way to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. Inspired by the original Sanskrit meaning of the word asana, meaning seat or connection, the practice of asana is seen as a way to increase practitioners' sense of connection to the earth and other people. Classes include music, chanting and often readings from Sanskrit scriptures from which the classes are co-ordinated. This could be an incredibly rewarding path to take for the trainee yoga teacher, but one that requires much discipline and dedication. Teachers must be prepared to live by and pass on to their students the five tenets of Jivamukti yoga: Ahimsa (compassionate, non-violent lifestyle encompassing vegetarianism); Bhakti (a yogic practice directed towards God or the realisation of Divine nature); Dhyana (meditation); Nada (deep listening) and Shashtra (study of ancient yogic teachings).

Iyengar

Iyengar yoga is a meticulous style of yoga focusing on alignment. It uses props: belts, blocks, ropes, blankets and bolsters, to help practitioners find correct alignment. If you prefer an au naturale practice, this style isn't for you. Iyengar comes from the same lineage as Ashtanga yoga, and although they have similar asanas, it is very different (much slower!) in its approach. Iyengar classes challenge strength, holding poses in alignment, rather than stamina. Because this form of yoga is suited to people with injuries and chronic pain, teachers must go through thorough specialist training to become properly qualified, so make sure you choose a reputable course if you decide to take this route. If you would like to specialise in teaching people with injuries, Viniyoga is also a good option. Viniyoga is commonly used for healing injuries and is proven to be especially effective at alleviating chronic back pain.

Bikram

Not for the faint hearted! Bikram yoga is a serious work-out promising to increase muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular fitness and weight loss, not to mention it is practiced in a heated room of up to 100 degrees! This is to promote flexibility and claims to facilitate the release of toxins, i.e., expect profuse sweating. Bikram was created in the early 1970's by Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yogi and a Gold Medalist Olympic weight lifter. The good news is that for anyone determined enough to want to teach this style of yoga, there are only 26 poses to learn and each class goes through the same fixed sequence of poses. ?Hot yoga' is the same as Bikram, but it differs in that it deviates from this sequence. Hot yoga developed because Choudhury, who has trademarked his sequence and began prosecuting some centres for advertising their classes as Bikram, wanted to deviate from his sequence, thus ?Hot Yoga' was born. Bikram yoga has become uber-fashionable in recent years, especially amongst London hipsters. There would be no shortage of students for the newly qualified instructor, but make sure you follow the Bikram sequence, or you'll need to call it ?Hot yoga'.

Restorative and Yin

Restorative yoga is all about relaxation and healing. Restorative classes use bolsters, blankets and blocks to prop practitioners comfortably in passive poses, which are often held for up to 20 minutes, allowing muscles to relax fully. A Restorative yoga class should be a beautifully calming experience releasing tension and rejuvenating the body. It's no surprise then that they are becoming a popular choice in gyms on Friday nights after a hard week's work. For a similar but slightly more active style of yoga look no further than Yin from the Taoist tradition, which also uses props in passive poses but moves a little quicker giving greater attention to flexibility as well as relaxation. Dru Yoga is also focused on health and healing but with the help of meditation, mantras and spiritual teachings rather than props.

Sivananda

The aim of yoga according to the Sivananda School of yoga is to spread peace, health and joy. Sound nice? Sivananda is a beautiful choice if you want to really immerse yourself in yoga, but will require commitment to daily yogic practice on all levels. Sivananda's founder, Swami Sivananda, simplified yoga to five principles aimed at physical, mental and spiritual growth. These are: Proper Exercise (Asanas), Proper Breathing (Pranayama), Proper Relaxation (Savasana), Proper Diet (vegetarian), Positive Thinking (Vedanta) and Meditation (Dhyana). Sivananda also integrates the four paths of Yoga - Karma, Bhakti, Raja, Jnana. Recognizing different people are suited to different paths, with Sivananda you can pick and choose between the four to find your own way to the central aim of ?union with the divine.' Sivananda is spiritual yogic practice but very accessible. If you don't like headstands, best to find another practice as there's lots of them here.

Satyananda

The founder of Satyananda yoga, Satyananda Saraswati, was the student of Sivananda Saraswati, and a modern yoga Master in the west as well as his native India. Also referred to as "Integral" yoga, like Sivananda yoga, Satyananda encompasses all the major branches of yoga- hatha, karma, bhakti, jnana and raja and aims to develop and balance all aspects of being- body, mind and spirit. The uniqueness of Satyananda is its evolving nature: it explores and translates knowledge from the ancient yogic and tantric texts for contemporary use in the modern world. In this way the teachings are universal and progressive but as a Satyananda teacher, you will need to maintain a strict yogic practice in your daily life, as well as keeping up with the trends.

This is by no means a definitive list. There are many more styles and schools of yoga to explore. Consider the possibilities and try not to get bogged down by practical issues. It's well worth travelling a little further or paying a bit more for a teacher- training course that will be more rewarding for you in the long term.

The Personal Life of a Yoga Teacher

Yoga teaching is never just a job. It is a lifestyle that inevitably affects your personal life, resoundingly for the better! Although every yoga teacher is different, there are a few key things that are worth considering when you become a yoga teacher.

Maintaining your Personal Practice

It is easy to neglect your personal practice when you become a yoga teacher. If you are dedicated and build up a good reputation, you'll likely find that you have a full schedule. When you are dashing between classes, fitting in another hour or so of yoga for yourself isn't always easy. It can be seductive to think that the practice you get whilst teaching is enough. Although you will demonstrate asanasto students during your classes, you need to focus on helping them during classes, not yourself. It's likely not the time to try out new poses for your own growth! Making space for yourself to continue and develop your own yoga practice will help you flourish as a yogi and a teacher.

One option would be to make practice part of your daily routine. Plan to get up early and begin your day with 30 minutes, or schedule arestorative yoga class for yourself at the end of the day. You could arrive early for one of your classes and use that time for a self-practice. As any yogi knows, practicing alone is a wonderful way to clear the mind and find your centre.

It's also useful to continue to stretch yourself, take a break from your usual routines and attend other yoga classes. This will give you an opportunity to meet other teachers, try other styles as well as stretch yourself physically and spiritually. Your personal practice will continue to develop and thrive, and who knows, maybe you'll pick up other teaching skills at the same time!

Healthy Living

Living a healthy lifestyle goes hand in hand with being a yoga teacher. In fact, yoga is really about a healthy lifestyle as much as it is a physical practice. This means living morally, maintaining positive relationships and eating healthily. As you will find, this is of course the most rewarding way for a yoga teacher to live. It is no fun getting up to teach a yoga class after a heavy night's drinking and you won't be passing calming yogic energy to your students if you are high on coffee. You don't have to give up your guilty pleasures completely though - this is yoga. It is all about balance. Many yogis follow Ayurvedic teachings about lifestyle, which emphasise the importance of ahara, proper diet, for maintaining health and happiness. Vegetarianism is recommended and a diet low in toxins like sugar, alcohol and caffeine. However, Ayurvedic teachings also emphasise the fact that everybody is different and so we all need a slightly different balance of foods in our diet to maintain health. For instance,Vata types need calming, soothing foods like heavy fruits such as bananas, cooked grains and coconut milk, and should avoid spicy foods that aggravate their natural anxiety and nervous tension.Get in touch with your body and find your own way to a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, Ayurveda also teaches that when we are balanced, we choose to eat foods that are good for us. You will find, as you probably already have, that yoga practice really does encourage us to do this as it brings our body, mind and spirit into harmony. This balance can be felt across every aspect of our lives. So rather than giving yourself strict rules, let it happen naturally!

Setting Boundaries with Students

One of the best things about becoming a yoga teacher is joining a community of yogis and meeting many wonderful, like-minded people along the way. Yet, be careful to set boundaries with your students and resist socialising too much with them. We yogis are usually empathetic types, so you will find that like other people in your life, your students are drawn to you for support and advice. You may feel obliged to help them with their personal struggles or find yourself getting too attached to their struggles. Yoga also teaches the importance of non-attachment, and the best way to help is to help people heal themselves. You are helping by teaching them the power of yoga. Of course you'll make friends along the way. Just make sure you are comfortable with your student/teacher relationships. The most important thing is to preserve your vital energy. Personal space is a must.

Personal Development

One of the beautiful things about yoga is how you continue to grow with it. It is a journey of physical and spiritual discovery! So when you become a yoga teacher make sure you continue developing yourself, your practice and your teacher style! Advanced teacher training courses are a good way to maintain your own learning, but you needn't necessarily wait until you "feel" ready. When are we ever ready? Attending yoga retreats and events are great opportunities for focused practice, for learning additional skills, and meeting other yogis and teachers. If you don't have the time or the money for retreats and events, going to yoga workshops to work on specific asanas or attending everyday yoga classes will help youto develop your practice and teaching. Whatever you do, don't neglect your personal development.Within everyyoga teacheris a yoga student.

Learn The Business of Yoga

So you have completed your yoga instructor training course and are a fully qualified yoga instructor. All that's left to do is start teaching!... Right?... But where to begin?... And how? Welcome to the Business of Yoga....

The realities of the inevitable post-graduate start up period...

Even the most skilled and the most prepared yoga instructors face the realities of the post-graduate start up period. Building up a student base and regular schedule of classes isn't easy. Not to mention the greater task of building up your own confidence to teach! And then there's the marketing you need to know/do?!Confronted with some much to do, many people benefit from thinking through their options. As the Yoga Sutras tell us, "In not only the physical science, but in the real mental silence, the wisdom dawns."(Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras, 75).If possible, take a breather when you finish your training course to contemplate your future as a yoga teacher. If you can afford it, resist getting another job in the meantime and use this time to focus on how you will become a practicing yoga teacher. Yoga, both the physical and mindful practice, is a great source of inspiration! Devoting time to your practice will keep you focused. You don't need to go it alone though. Reach out for support from the yoga community. Speak to organisations you are affiliated with and people closer to you about how you might move forward. Your yoga instructor may be able to offer you suggestions or even offer you a class to teach. You might know somebody who can help you set up social media pages to advertise your skills and organise classes. If it's confidence you need, begin by teaching your friends and family. Don't stress. Start simple. Just make sure you start and you'll soon be on your way to becoming a successful yoga teacher. Make sure you have teaching insurance first though!

How to get Yoga Teaching Insurance

Although it hasn't always been the case, it is now generally accepted that you need Yoga Teaching Insurance to be a yoga teacher. Getting insurance couldn't be easier. You simply need to show your teaching qualification certificate. Teaching insurance is easily acquired through your accreditation body as part of your membership package. You can also get it from an independent insurance provider, without needing to be accredited, should you choose this route. Another important consideration is coverage for any teaching specialties, such as post natal, children's yoga, teaching abroad or complementary therapies.

Working as a sole trader or...?

By nature yoga is co-operative and community orientated, but it is also personally transformational. Do you want to embark on your own journey or connect with fellow yogis and work together? Either path is open to you in the business of yoga.Being asole trader gives you the freedom to teach when and where you like and may be the independence you were looking for when you enrolled in a teacher-training course. However, it can also be a daunting task to begin as a sole trader. You might consider having a business partner or collaborating with numerous people in the yoga community. There is a movement within the business of yoga towards collaboration, which reflects the teachings of the practice. Collaboration rather than competition encourages positive relationships and community so of course it's encouraged in the business of yoga! Social enterprises, charities and community co-operatives are very much in keeping with the movement. You don't have to embark on a project for an excuse to collaborate with others. Perhaps you need help with advertisement or finances? Employing a friend or trusted business partner to help you with this could prove to be a great investment as well as a great source of support.What is right for you depends on your intentions as a teacher. Do you just want to teach local classes or are you looking to set up a yoga business? Do you wish to progress to having your own studio or retreat? Think about your aims and how best to achieve them.

Finding Work

The biggest worry for any yoga teacher starting out is finding work. This is often less daunting than you may think. The biggest barrier to finding work is usually a lack of confidence! There is no shortage of demand for yoga teachers even as the number of yoga teachers continue to increase, because the number of yoga students continues to increase! If you are worried about job prospects and looking for security, consider teaching during training. This is a great way to gain experience and gain students. You may even be lucky enough to get a scholarship on your chosen teacher training course, giving you a job when you finish!

The best advice for finding work is to be pro-active and utilize your connections. Start with the places and people you know. Perhaps they are looking for teachers in the studio where you've practiced. Or your local gym, community centre or other businesses in your area that might benefit from regular yoga classes. Go back to your old college and see if you can set up a class there. Your local community is a great place to begin teaching, and you're more likely to have support there. If you want to aim bigger, make use of social media and yoga networks to advertise your skills, or look in to teaching options abroad in communities or international centres. Keep your mind open to possibilities and the right teaching opportunities will come to you.

To waiver or not to waiver?

Liability issues are now at the forefront of ethical debates within the business of yoga. Is it business savvy to get students to sign a waiver taking responsibility for injury, or a precaution that may make your students feel uneasy or unsafe? Liability waivers do not seem to fit in the world of yoga. However, considering the risk of injury involved, from a business point of view, liability cover does make sense. Although there are no known legal cases surrounding injuries in yoga classes, there have been some claims made.

You can address liability issues without waivers by asking students to sign a consent form when they first join your class, as many studios and teachers are now choosing to do. A consent form sets out the benefits and risks associated with yoga making students acknowledge their awareness of the risks so they are less likely and less able to blame you if they do get injured. The best way to avoid liability issues is to prevent injuries in the first place. Being aware of your students' vulnerability to injury and/or other injuries they may already have keeps both you and your students safe. Striking a balance between yogic principles and business principles is not always easy. Be true to your own principles and do what feels right.

Working 9 - 5?

As you might guess, yoga teaching is not a 9 to 5 job. Working hours for a yoga teacher are pretty irregular. This does not mean you won't find your own regular routine, but that may take some time. Expect early starts to catch the pre-work crowd, lunchtime classes for those on the go, and late night sessions for people after work. You will often work what we might usually call "unsociable hours", but as you're your own boss, they needn't be unsociable for you. Enjoy the flexibility of your working hours as a yoga teacher and fit your work around your life. Unless you are very lucky, you will need to be very accommodating when you begin teaching before you build up a client base. The truth is, although they are irregular, you are unlikely to feel frustrated with your working hours as a yoga teacher. Most yoga teachers find themselves immersed in yoga, teaching at all hours, dashing between classes, and squeezing in others for their own progression and enjoyment in-between!

Those coveted private clients

It is normal to find yourself feeling burned out as a yoga teacher from all the running around between classes and irregular hours. Many yoga instructors are turning to private clients to gain more stability, tranquility and money! Sounds great, but how do you go about getting private clients? Begin by building a website, setting up your own social media and post on yoga sites to advertise for private clients. Even the most ambitious can start small by building a client base from people they know and meet. Private one-on-one yoga sessions are becoming popular for people with busy lives. Many people also prefer to keep spiritual pursuits private, and feel embarrassed in public spaces. This means you get to teach in the comfort of your own home, or theirs! Others are drawn to the personal nature of private yoga sessions, which provides individual healing and an appropriate setting for individual transformation and growth. You will need to be attentive to your clients' physical and perhaps emotional needs. Teaching private clients is often very much like therapy! This may seem like a daunting prospect for a newly qualified teacher, but if you feel like this is an ideal teaching model for you, you are probably right. You are more in the spotlight as a teacher when teaching one on one, so be sure to have your asanas down and your confidence up if you take this route!

Live the Life

Yogis are not usually the most commercially minded people. But if we want yoga to become our work and our lives, we have to make a living! Like most yogis the business of yoga is pretty co-operative, but like any business, if you want to succeed, you need to know how it works and how you will make it work for you. Don't let the practicalities of becoming a yoga teacher scare you. Get savvy about the business of yoga before you even enroll in a teacher training course. Consider your options, sort out practicalities and make connections so that when you qualify you are ready to begin teaching (the next day)! (would remove just because we say about maybe taking a breather first!)

Great! You're a Certified Yoga Teacher....

Top Tips For Teaching Your First Yoga Class

So you've made it! You are qualified, fully licensed to teach and you've plucked up the courage and the contacts to book your first class... but how on earth are you going to teach it? It's natural to have self doubts and to be a little nervous at this major stage in your journey. Don't let the nerves get in the way and follow these ten tips on how to teach your first yoga class.

Be Prepared. Make sure you have a routine planned that you are comfortable with. Include your favourite asanas so you can lead the class with confidence and enthusiasm. Begin with what you know, perhaps your favourite personal practice so you flow through it naturally. If you need to use notes to prompt you, that's alright. Just make sure you don't read from them. They are just there to guide you. If you would like to include teachings or complimentary practices in your class, make sure you know how they will fit in to your routine, and how they apply to a modern yogi's life. Lastly, be careful not to overprepare. Over-rehearsing your class will make you unresponsive to your students and inflexible.
Don't overcomplicate things. Keep your sequencing straightforward. There's no point trying to run before you can walk. If your routine is too complicated, the class will not run smoothly for you or your students.
Stay calm and teach from the heart. You are bound to have a few nerves going in to your first class. Use your yogic exercises to help you relax. Breathe deeply, clear your mind and focus inwards. Concentrate on finding yourself in your body before you begin to lead the class. This is bound to take a little longer the first time. Stay present and teach from the heart and tension will float away. Joining in the practice will also help you to stay calm and centred throughout.
Watch the time. Be on time. Whatever you do, don't be late! It is best to arrive before your students start arriving and get settled. You won't make a good impression or set the right mood for the class if you arrive looking and feeling flustered. Then set a steady pace for your first class that enables you to lead confidently. If you can't keep up with your own routine, the rest of the class has no chance. Of course pacing depends a lot on the style of yoga you are teaching. If you are teaching power yoga, your class will need to move fast. Keep an eye on the time throughout so you can slow down and speed up your routine as needed to fit the class time.
Get to know your students. You don't have to be best friends with all your students by the end of your first class, but be sure to welcome them warmly. More importantly, get to know their bodies. Find out if they have any injuries, other conditions or issues you should know about, and if there are areas they want to work on. Attentiveness and responsiveness to individual needs makes for happy and loyal students.
Let mistakes go. Remember, teachers can have teachable moments even when they make mistakes. You're not perfect, no one is, and it's crucial to communicate that even as your students are learning, so too are you! Try not to be afraid or embarrassed of your mistakes. If you forget your routine or even take a tumble laugh it off and carry on. We are all human. Every asana doesn't have to be perfect and you don't have to show off the most difficult ones. Your students are unlikely to be able to keep up with you in any case. Don't push them or yourself too hard!
Smile. Whatever happens, keep smiling. This will keep the mood of your class, your students, and yourself up!
Stay after class. Be available for your students after class, whether to ask questions or show them some encouragement. It would also be wise to have a sign-in list with a column for email addresses so you can keep them informed about your upcoming classes.
Keep teaching. Even if your first class doesn't go how you'd like, it is still a big achievement and a learning experience you can build and improve on. It will get easier. Just keep teaching and before you know it, you'll be flowing through classes like a pro!
Don't forget the music...

Yoga Class Playlists

Music can make a big difference to the mood and the pace of your class. If you are leading a meditative practice, meditation music will set the right mood. A Power Yoga class would require high tempo dance or techno music perhaps.

Remember, the music should compliment your practice and not the other way around. Make playlists that will fit in to the background of any of your classes without distracting you or your students. Try out different genres of music and see how it affects your practice. And have fun with it! Who knows, maybe you'll discover there's a market for disco yoga classes?!

Here are a few example playlists to get you started...

The Host of Seraphim (remastered) Dead Can Dance
Once Upon A Time- Akshin Alizadeh
The Stroll - Force of Nature
Silver Morning- Nujabes
Orange Sky- Instrumental - iil. gates
Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
Levitation Nation - Spongle
The Sky Was Pink- Nathan Fake
Teardrop - Massive Attack
Solstice - Bjork
The Way You Dream - 1 Giant Leap
Bedtime Story - Younger Brother
A Nice Little Place - Ott

Prelude - Muse
Tuolumne- Eddie Vedder
Montana- Youth Lagoon
I forget where we were- Ben Howard
All I Want - Kodaline
Rolling Stone - Passenger
The Cave- Mumford and Sons
The Water - Johnny Flynn feat. Laura Marling
Like Real People Do - Hozier
Twines and Twisted- Valerie Jones
Clocks Go Back - James Bay
Spirit Bird - Xavier Rudd
Holocene - Bon Iver
Arrival in Nara- Alt J

Siren - Kerogen
R.I.P - Rita Ora
Eye of the Needle - Sia
Princess of China - Rihanna
Retrograde - James Blake
Spirits - Jamie Woon
Bloodstream - Ed Sheeran
Natural Blues - Moby
Fat Boy Slim - Praise You
Lucky - Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk
Bang Bang - Jessie J
What I did For Love - David Guetta fet. Emilie Sande
Picking up the Pieces - Paloma Faith
Born to Die - Lana Del ray
Lullabies - Yuna
Strong - London Grammar
The Last Day - Skylar Grey, Moby

Agra - Paul Horn
Sunrise in Paradise - Nik Tyndall
Lazy Calm -Cocteau Twins
Land of The Elves - Achillea
William Aura - I am Energy
Osamu Kitajima - Moonflower
Dustin O'Halloran - an ending, a beginning
Being Here- Laraaji
Avril 14th - Aphex Twin
Divine Spark - Mars Lasar
Peace in Humanity - Nawang Kheghog