Thinking About Yoga Teacher Training?
You’ve been practicing yoga for some time, and you’re now considering taking the leap to train to be a yoga teacher. But maybe you’re still unsure if it’s really the right thing for you, if you’ll be able to make a decent living as a yoga teacher, or if you should just keep going to classes and leave teacher training for later. After all, yoga teacher training isn’t cheap, and there are lots of great yoga teachers out there already. Does the world need you to be one of them? Here are some things to consider before you commit your energy, time and money.
Do You Have to be Certified to Teach Yoga?
This may seem like a strange question, but you’d be surprised how many uncertified teachers are teaching yoga! Watching a few yoga DVDs, attending classes and maybe even beginning – but not completing – yoga teacher training, is not enough to go out and teach. Legally, there are not certification requirements in any country. Practically, it’s a different matter.
Being a yoga teacher is a huge responsibility. Not only do you need to have the basic traits of reliability, dedication, good communication skills and excellent yoga knowledge, but you’re also responsible for the health and safety of everyone who walks into your class. Without really being qualified, how would you know how to deal with clients with specific health issues such as a herniated disc, pregnancy, or scoliosis? A good training course should teach you how to deal with these situations – and much more.
How Much Yoga Experience Do You Need Before Taking a Teacher Training?
You don’t need to have previous yoga experience — but it helps (a lot). A yoga teacher training course can be physically and mentally challenging, and will require many hours of study, with plenty of reading and some written work, too. Having a clear idea about what yoga is about before you begin helps. There’s no hard and fast rule about how much experience you should have before you begin teacher training, and you’ll probably know when you’re ready… but if you’re unsure, ask your regular teachers if they think you are.
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