TEACHING YOGA: A NURTURING CAREER PATH

In these times of a global pandemic looking after our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing has become a call of today’s world. More and more people are drawn to holistic approaches and yoga is turning into a popular response for effective support.

The demand for competent yoga teachers is rising and, as a result, so are the possibilities of pursuing a career in that field. As an aspiring yoga teacher, it is crucial that you pick a solid Teacher Training Course as it will not only help you cultivate your passion for this transformative discipline but also enhance your abilities to pass on your experience and knowledge to others.

Hop on an ongoing journey

Teaching yoga provides you with a unique career opportunity to continuously grow both on a professional and a personal level.

Expand your personal practice

In yoga, we remain students no matter how advanced we are and that is part of the magic: the learning process never ends. Becoming a teacher will only reinforce that truth. It will challenge you to explore and improve new yoga poses, breathing techniques and philosophies, enabling you to expand your personal practice, growth and development.

Strengthen your physical and mental health

Yoga is complete in that it offers both physical and mental benefits. One cannot have a healthy body without a healthy mind or a healthy mind without a healthy body. We are one. Everything in us is related. Everything works together, fuels each other. As a yoga teacher, you will become increasingly aware of all the different ways in which yoga can contribute to an improved sense of self.

Physical benefits of the practice include:

1. Increased flexibility

2. Muscle strengthening and toning

3. Increased energy

4. Circulatory and cardio health

5. Improved digestion and metabolism

Mental benefits of the practice include:

1. Increased self and body awareness

2. Stress relief

3. Sharpened attention

4. Improved concentration

5. Boosted confidence

Design your yoga routine

Becoming a yoga teacher makes you qualified to design your own yoga routine, based on your physical and mental needs, as well as your availability. You no longer have to rely on a studio or teacher’s schedule. You can become your own teacher and have the freedom to practice whenever you want, however you want, wherever you are.

Welcome a flexible lifestyle

Considering the dedication and energy it requires to teach effectively, the number of classes yoga teachers can actually give in a day or week varies greatly. That is also why most yoga teachers hold more than one job. With studios offering different classes and time slots for its students, it becomes easy for yoga teachers to juggle with the many hats they need to wear in life. This level of flexibility is ideal for people with many interests, in search of a part-time job or also for parents wishing to be available enough for their children. Given the context we are currently facing, teaching online is also an interesting option which accommodates flexible lifestyles!

Develop the skills that will serve you throughout your life

When you are conducting a yoga class you become a guide for your students, a reference point. They will rely on you to give them what they need. And because yoga can be very physically and mentally demanding, the challenges involved may vary greatly from one student to the next. You will find yourself interacting with all sorts of people from very different backgrounds and walks of life. This will inevitably push you to develop your self-confidence, put forward your social abilities and give you the readiness needed to respond to a variety of situations.

Helping others is so rewarding

People walk into a yoga class for a number of reasons. Some may want to work on their physical body (flexibility, strength, balance etc.), others may need to calm their minds or fuel the spiritual side of their beings. And who knows? That goal may change over time. They may have entered thinking they needed something and left realizing what they needed was quite the opposite. As a yoga teacher, you have the chance to accompany students on their journey – and that is an honour. You will soon find that gain so much in return for what you give.

A few inspiring words by yoga teachers

Varuna Shunglu, 26, Kolkata.

“To be able to grow each day while teaching yoga, watching a student improve with time and patience, and finding the inner strength to build a practice that is lasting and sharing that with everyone around is the greatest joy and challenging at the same time.”

Harini Vani, 32, Bangalore.

“When I began teaching yoga, I realized the joy and fulfilment I received from it. It was a great joy. To see people come out of their physical and emotional problems and lead a healthy, positive life. What could be more rewarding than this?”

Debby Rao, 28, Vietnam.

“In the beginning, it’s a struggle, sometimes you get paid. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you find yourself having to sleep on other people’s couch. But when you have people coming up to you and thanking you for a really good class or watching someone overcome their difficulties and finally do that Asana that they’ve been trying to for a while and finally they are there, that’s a sweet moment right there.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Beretta
– Yoga Teacher & Real Talk Facilitator