Published on:
9 May, 2024
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184 In today's fast-paced world, people are becoming increasingly health-conscious due to stress, sedentary lifestyles, and rising lifestyle diseases. Everyone needs something to help relax their mind and body. Yoga which is not just a form of physical exercise but a way of life is gaining popularity. Hence, there is an increased demand for qualified yoga instructors, making it a great career choice for anyone passionate about practising yoga. If you want to know how to become a yoga instructor, here is a complete guide on selecting the right yoga teacher training program and what are the various yoga certifications programs available.
8 Tips for Selecting a Yoga Teacher Training Program
If you want to pursue yoga as a career option but have no idea how to be a yoga teacher, here are tips to help you find the right yoga instructor certification course.
1. Identify your goal
It is crucial to determine what is your purpose in getting a
yoga training certification. Once you know your goal finding a suitable yoga certification program is easy. Anyone practising yoga can help others and teach yoga without any certification. However, if you want to be a professional yoga instructor, getting proper training is necessary for building your technical proficiency. It also helps you get better opportunities as an instructor in Nepal and abroad.
2. Choose a Yoga Style You Want to Learn
There are different types of yoga styles that you can learn. If you already practice yoga you might know what you want to learn. In case, you have no clue, do your research and understand different styles. Some common styles are
Ashtanga yoga,
Hath yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Iyengar yoga, Aerial Yoga and many more. Different schools for yoga training teach different styles. So according to your style preference, look for yoga schools.
3. Select a Certification Level
YCB offers 5 levels of certification for varying levels of learning and skills. Each level requires the candidate to appear in an exam as per the defined syllabus including theory and practical.
- Yoga volunteer is a basic certification of 36 hours duration. Anyone under 75 years of age can do this certification to assist in yoga groups.
- Yoga protocol instructor is a 200-hour training program that requires a minimum educational qualification of a high school certificate to be eligible.
- Yoga wellness instructor certification is a 400-hour program that trains you to prevent diseases and build immunity through yoga. The minimum educational qualification is the intermediate (12th standard) certificate.
- Yoga teacher and evaluator certification is an 800-hour program for anyone with a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
- Yoga master certification is a 1600-hour training program for graduates.
4. Know Your Instructor’s Qualifications and Experience
Take time to learn about your yoga instructor’s qualifications and experience as his knowledge and experience will influence your learning. Check whether your training school has multiple teachers specialising in different subjects like human anatomy, physiology, diet, breathing techniques and meditation, which you will be studying as part of the course.
5. Infrastructure
Look for infrastructure and facilities offered while selecting a training institution. It plays a crucial role in your learning and focus especially if you are enrolled in a residential program where you will be staying for a few weeks.
6. Check the Number of Students in a Batch
Do check the number of students in a batch. A small batch is good for learning as you get more personal attention from instructors which is not possible in a large group of students.
7. Cost of the Training Program
The cost of a yoga training program starts from USD 600 and can go upto USD 4.000 depending on the level of certification and the training institute you are enrolled in. An expensive course with fancy infrastructure may not be always good. Remember that yoga is an ancient practice with a philosophy deep-rooted in Indian culture. Select a course that provides value for your money.
8. Ensure that Your Training Institute Offers Continued Education
Once you get your yoga instructor certification, you need to renew your yoga license or certificate after every 5 years. Ensure that your yoga training school provides a Continuing Yoga Education (CYE) programme to renew your certificate. This program includes an assessment of your work as a yoga instructor and an orientation to enhance your skills. Depending on your performance and skills, you can get a lifelong certificate or you will be required to attend another CYE program.
Conclusion
With the above-mentioned tips, you get an idea about selecting the right yoga training school and how to become a certified yoga instructor. However, becoming a yoga teacher is not just doing a professional certification, you need to understand how to train as a yoga teacher. It requires years of practice, self-control, empathy, continuous learning and discipline to master the art and practice of yoga.
As yoga helps us to maintain physical and mental well-being, it is also necessary to be prepared for any medical emergency by investing in a comprehensive
health insurance plan.