Yoga Instructor/Therapist
Who Is A Yoga Instructor/Therapist?
Yoga has been around for over 5000 years, and this ancient Indian way of life has made its way around the world as one of the best forms of exercise. Today, yoga is practised all around the world and has especially gained a huge fan-following in the western world.
Simply put, yoga is a series of postures, movements and exercises that focus on improving your physical and emotional well-being. Meditation is also a part of yoga, focused on enhancing your mental well-being. As yoga is done for a variety of reasons, it also offers different specialisations for you to select from as a yoga instructor.
Roles & Responsibilities
Maintaining great form through continuous practice. As a yoga instructor, you will have to be in top shape and well-versed at what you’re about to teach. It is also essential to maintain a good posture and physique. It won’t do you any good if you’re unable to do the exercises you’re teaching your class.
Teaching students various yoga postures, positions and exercises. Yoga instructors teach a wide range of yogic exercises to their students. To do this, you need to master the whole spectrum – right from basic forms to advanced practices. For instance, your role requires knowing basic meditation as well as a complicated headstand.
Familiarising yourself with your students’ details. You will have to understand each student, their physical limitations, health conditions as well as strengths and weaknesses. This will help you focus on their problem areas and not push them beyond their limits. You should also be familiar with their diet and lifestyle, and suggest changes wherever necessary.
Monitoring students carefully. Certain yoga poses can get complicated and, if not executed correctly, can cause injuries. It is vital for you to monitor each student carefully and ensure that their form is right.
Teaching important breathing techniques. Several yoga movements require controlled breathing, and as a yoga instructor, your role needs you to be well-versed with this method. Only then will you be able to help students with their breathing.
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What Skills Will I Need To Have To Do This Job Well?
As exciting as this sounds, there are some things you’ll need to learn to do the job right:
YOGA AND PHYSICAL SKILLS
As a yoga instructor, it is essential for you to gain mastery over various yoga exercises, as well as be in good shape, thus setting an example for good fitness.
INSTRUCTING SKILLS
As a yoga instructor, you will be teaching a variety of people. It is crucial for you to communicate well and ensure that each one understands the poses you’re teaching. Your instructing skills have to be good enough to hold their attention and motivate them to continue their journey towards fitness. To do so, you will also have to connect with each student individually and keep their limitations in mind while teaching them.
SENSE OF COORDINATION
You will need to develop an excellent sense of coordination to be able to conduct various exercises. This isn’t just limited to coordinating your actions with your students; you will have to help them coordinate amongst themselves too.
CALM AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE
You’re about to impart knowledge of an ancient Indian practice built to make you calm and fit. To do so, you have to channel your inner peace and help your students develop the same. Remember, each student will come with a different set of challenges, and you need to be calm and positive while helping them gain mastery over yoga. This means dealing with a range of emotionally fragile and physically weak students as well. Just keep calm and carry on imparting your yogic talents to each and everyone.
PERSUASION SKILLS
Not everyone has the dedication and drive to push their limits and work on their fitness. You are bound to come across students who give up quickly and refuse to try anything that gives them even the slightest discomfort. That’s where your persuasion skills will come handy. You will have to push them to build their resistance, improve their stamina and work on their fitness, all within their physical limits.
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What Will My Workplace Look Like?
Yoga instructors work in different settings. You could be teaching patients in a hospital, students in schools and universities or hostels, as well as private establishments. Some yoga instructors also work in gyms, spas, or corporate studios. You may choose to work with an establishment or become a private tutor, where you either teach from the comfort of your home or your client’s home. You may also choose to be a part-time instructor.
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What Is My Scope For Career Growth As A Yoga Instructor/Therapist?
Experts predict an 8% growth in the employment of yoga instructors by 2024. As a yoga instructor, you could get employed by schools, universities, general fitness centres and yoga studios, or you could have your own setup.
Some yoga instructors at spas and gyms go on to take up administrative posts. Once you’ve gained enough experience and reputation as a yoga instructor, you will also be hired to provide private lessons to an elite clientele.
Are you passionate about teaching? Want to pursue it as a future career option? Explore a day in the life of a Yoga Instructor- Mrs. Ekta Shah
How Much Will I Get Paid?
The exact number will depend on where you are employed. It also depends on the years of experience you have, or, in case of a private setup, the number of students you have. But we can give you a general idea.
A yoga instructor earns roughly between INR 1,70,000 to INR 24,00,000 per annum. The pay scale increases as per your experience and popularity.
Okay, I'm sold. This is amazing
STEP 1: Classes XI-XII/Junior College
While it is not an official requirement for becoming a yoga instructor, having a minimum educational qualification helps your personal growth. It is also insightful for further advances to grow in a job. You could choose any stream during your junior college. Take up physical education classes; while they’re not mandatory, they can indeed be helpful.
STEP 2: Learn Yoga
You won’t have a formal college that teaches you yoga, but there is a wide range of certification courses as well as schools that teach yoga. You can pursue your graduation in any field of your choosing while learning yoga at the same time. Remember, there are various types of yoga for you to learn, and you get to pick the ones you would love to master.
STEP 3: Complete a Teacher Training Course
Once you’ve learnt yoga, you should complete a teacher training course. The coursework involves anatomy, physiology, yoga techniques as well as the history of yoga. Not only will this help you gain sufficient insight into teaching methods, it will also help you build a network and get recommendations from your peers.
STEP 4: Register As a Yoga Instructor
Once you have completed your yoga lessons and the relevant coursework, you will have to register as a yoga instructor. Many organisations prefer a licensed yoga instructor.
STEP 5: Land a Job
Once you have the relevant qualification and experience, it’s only a matter of time before you land a job as a yoga instructor.
Congratulations, you are now officially a yoga instructor!
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