Satisfy your desire to teach yoga and earn your instructor certification. A yoga instructor plays a leadership role in his community and empowers people to have healthier lives. Once certified, you can work from home, give classes in a client's home or work for a third party such as a health club. Some yoga teacher training programs require little yoga experience, while others require years of experience and a written recommendation.
Style of Yoga
A yoga instructor certificate is issued for a particular style of yoga. Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga and Sivananda are just some of the many types of yoga you can become certified to teach. Each style presents the postures in its own way. For example, Ashtanga yoga follows the same series every time and you hold postures for five breaths. In contrast, Vinyasa Flow is a newer dynamic style of yoga choreographed and subject to interpretation by the instructor.
Close to Home or Abroad
To attain your certification to become a yoga instructor you must complete the coursework required by the yoga teacher training course of your choice. You can take your YTT as a monthlong intensive course at locations around the world including India, Thailand and South Africa. You can also take your YTT close to home over several months by attending weekend workshops and night classes.
Coursework
You must complete the coursework required by your YTT and usually pass a final exam to earn your certificate. A basic yoga course requires a minimum of 200 hours; an advanced course requires an additional 300 hours. The syllabus includes anatomy and physiology as well as learning yoga poses and philosophy. The curriculum also includes information on teaching breathing techniques called pranayama and basic meditation practices. A student should also anticipate learning the Sanskrit names for poses, information on the chakras and the eight-step path to enlightenment.
Yoga Alliance
The Yoga Alliance certifies yoga teacher training programs and offers teachers an official national certification qualification. Yoga teacher training courses registered with the Yoga Alliance must meet certain standards, including the amount of contact and observational hours required in the program. Yoga teachers with a YA certification have either attended a registered school or have submitted the proper forms required to prove the integrity of the course completed. If you complete a YTT registered with the YA, you can register online; otherwise your paperwork must be sent by post.
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