Are you interested in becoming a yoga teacher? You are embarking on a beautiful voyage of inner discovery through the intensive yoga training that you will undergo and also a life of service. If you wish to become a yoga teacher, it is likely that your life has been deeply touched by yoga and you wish to share the gift of yoga with others. In this way, being a yoga teacher becomes a very fulfilling and rewarding vocation. 

What are the requirements for becoming a yoga teacher? Of course, being a yoga teacher involves some teaching “physical” asanas (yoga postures). Being athletically active, flexible and supple are therefore positive attributes for a yoga teacher. However, these qualities do not necessarily make someone a good yoga teacher. Yoga is a discipline and it is your own personal ‘sadhana’ (spiritual practice) that will make the greatest impact on effectiveness as a yoga teacher. A yoga teacher therefore needs to lead a disciplined, “yogic” way of life.  

Of course, a yoga teacher needs a thorough understanding of asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (yoga breathing techniques), anatomy and physiology. This knowledge is provided on teacher training courses to provide a foundation from which a yoga teacher can lead a yoga class. As a yoga teacher, you will also need to understand the contraindications of certain asanas and pranayama practices: and it will be helpful if you have an understanding of how to adapt the yoga practices for pregnant women, seniors, those whose range of physical movement is restricted (maybe by age or by illness), and children.  

Probably you will recall from the yoga classes which you have attended, that the personal qualities of a yoga teacher very much affect a yoga student’s experience in class. As a yoga teacher, yoga really needs to become your way of life. It is a great responsibility and an honor to become a yoga teacher: when you bring yoga into people’s lives you are doing a great service. You are in the position to be instrumental in changing people’s lives for the better. Many yoga teacher trainings will therefore also be a process of deep personal transformation, giving you the knowledge and tools to turn your life into ‘sadhana’ (spiritual practice). In this way, you can easily transmit to others the essence of the yoga practice. You will be an example and an inspiration to your students also to embrace yoga more fully in their lives. 

A yoga teacher also needs good inter-personal skills, knowing how to communicate sensitively and clearly. A yoga teacher should learn the art of when to “nudge” a student to move forward a little more in his/her yoga practice, and when to let the student “be” and grow confidence in his/her current level of yoga practice. 

There are many good yoga teacher training courses available these days. They are easily found through research on the internet and in yoga magazines. Decide why and how you want to teach yoga and this should help you to find the course that suits you best. With a good training and a strong personal practice, you are likely to find that life as a yoga teacher becomes more and more joyful, fulfilling and rewarding.