As of 2010, there is no central authority governing sport yoga certifications, says Oregon-based yoga instructor Kerry Collette. In fact, there are no certifications that draw a difference between sport and traditional yoga techniques; however, teachers do receive some kind of formal or informal permission to teach, usually from the people who taught them.
Traditional Qualification
According to Collette, yoga teachers originally begin teaching after receiving permission from their own teacher. If you want to become qualified via this route, you need to take several years of classes. As you become more qualified, suggests Collette, you should ask to help your teacher with her duties. In time, you can transition into teaching your own classes.
Proprietary Systems
There is no copyright on any individual yoga posture; some individuals have copyrighted particular sequences of exercises. As with other proprietary exercise systems, teachers become qualified by paying a licensing fee. Some systems require extensive training, plus passing exams, to qualify for licensing. Others will license anybody who can com up with the -- often exorbitant -- price.
Group Fitness Certification
Oregon-based fitness coach Ben Cohn advises that many health clubs require group fitness certification for anybody wanting to teach yoga on site. Group fitness is a subcategory of personal training certification, usually involving classes in exercise science, physiology, sports psychology and first aid.
Earning Potential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on fitness industry jobs, in which it includes yoga teachers. Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors earned a median salary of $30,670 as of 2009.
Growth Projection
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, yoga instructors can expect to see much faster than usual growth in job opportunities. They expect a 29 percent increase in job opportunities between 2008 and 2018, owing to increased demand among baby boomers and a growing awareness of health and fitness within American pop culture.
References
- Kerry Collette; Yoga Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- Ben Cohn; Fitness Coach; Hillsboro, OR
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fitness Instructor
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