Thinking about becoming a yoga teacher?

It is not unusual for people who have been doing yoga and loving it and who have felt its transformative qualities to begin to think that they might like to be the one up the front leading others in the practice. You might think we would want to say to you, great, go ahead and do it, it is all rosy ahead. But we want you to be sure before you take that leap.

Be sure about your motivation

Before you embark on the teacher training path really investigate your motivation and your heart’s calling. It may look as though you are finding a great way out of the daily grind, into the idyllic lifestyle of doing yoga all the time and wearing comfortable clothes for your job, but the truth is a little bit different.

It is a crowded marketplace and becoming more so. This means that it is becoming harder and harder to make a living teaching yoga. Do not do this if your motivation is to give up the day job and replace your income teaching yoga.

It can seriously alter your relationship with your own practice. Just imagine, when you are on the mat you are working out what to teach today and tomorrow. And after all that teaching the last thing you want to do is to go to a class or simply find solace in your own practice on the mat.

Is this your vocation?

If your heart is still calling you to the vocation of yoga teacher you will then have to consider which training to take. They are not all created equal. You will get what you pay for. If it is cheap and quick, you may finish the training not feeling confident as a teacher and unable to register with our national peak body, Yoga Australia, unable to obtain insurance and possibly lacking the knowledge to keep your students safe. We strongly recommend taking a program that is registered with Yoga Australia. (Follow this link)

How else to learn more about yoga except to teach?

Of course, teacher training courses, also attract a lot of people who do not want to teach, as it can seem the only pathway to more yoga knowledge than you can get at the local regular classes. Perfectly valid. It is certainly one way to go. But there are other options.

Broaden your practice

Consider broadening the places you practise yoga and explore what other teachers in your location are offering. Some teachers are fairly happy just staying with regular asana classes but you will also find others who have explored some very rich seams of treasure in the yoga teachings they will share with you.

Get some serious reading

Whenever you find someone whose knowledge is appealing to you, get their recommended reading. This might open even more doors to explore.

Do more workshops

Look at the different workshops and short courses being offered in your locality and begin to explore them. Much more can be taught on the longer event than you will ever get in your weekly classes.

Sign onto retreats

Quite often it is at retreat experiences that deeper knowledge is imparted. Shop carefully. Perhaps the authors of some of those books you've started reading are also running retreats. Go on the retreats with the teachers you are encountering in person who are offering what you seek.

(Author, Tina Shettigara)

Want more thoughts on this subject? The yogipreneur really tells it like it is here. http://theyogipreneur.com/so-you-want-to-teach-yogapart-i/