We get it, yoga teacher training can make you feel like you’re wrapped up in a loving and comfortable cocoon for a month, once it’s over it’s normal to feel a little lost about the next steps.
Following yoga teacher training, at the top of your to-do list is probably going to be securing yourself a teaching position. In this article, we will have a look at the different ways to go about this, and also the steps that you’ll want to consider taking before diving headfirst into the world of teaching yoga.
Helpful tips for finding a yoga teacher job
Get prepared with the following steps once you’ve completed your yoga teacher training. Preparing what you need early on will ensure that you are ready to start teaching at the first opportunity!
Start a certification folder
Make copies of your certification, get a few of them laminated, and keep them safe inside a folder that you can dedicate to your new yoga profession. When you create your yoga resume and potentially receive certificates from further training, you’ll be able to keep them all together.
Register with Yoga Alliance
There are many benefits to registering yourself with Yoga Alliance. Primarily, you’ll gain credibility and improve your visibility amongst both students and studios looking for teachers in the local area.
Consider first aid training
To become a professional in the international yoga community, you’ll need to get yourself certified in first aid. It should be easy to find first aid courses that are local to you, and they will all cover the basics of emergency response. Taking this course can also leave you feeling more confident during lessons - particularly when teaching higher risk students such as the elderly, handicapped, or women who are pregnant.
Liability insurance
Most studios will require you to have liability insurance before hiring you. There are various companies providing insurance for yoga teachers with different insurance plans. You should easily be able to find something suitable for both your needs and your budget.
Create your resume
Even if you have just come out of yoga teacher training and feel like you don’t have very much to add to your yoga resume, you might be surprised. Consider your previous employment and experience to find skills that are transferable to teaching yoga.
Look into rates
Do a bit of research into the rates charged by yoga teachers in your hometown to help you set yours. Having your rates ready at the first query will show potential employers that you are both professional and prepared to teach. Don’t undervalue yourself, but remember that you’re also new to this!
Teach family and friends
Giving lessons to your family and friends can help to keep what you learned during training fresh in your mind, as well as serving as a reminder about what you love about teaching and why you decided to embark on this journey in the first place! Your friends and family can give you honest advice that will help you to grow as a teacher and leave you feeling confident when you begin teaching your very own class.
How to start teaching
There are various ways that you can start teaching - and, unfortunately, not all of them mean being employed by your favorite, luxury studio. Here are some of the best ways that you can start sharing yoga with potential students as soon as possible.
Gain classroom experience
Get experience in local yoga studios by assisting existing classes. Studios that teach large groups of students might really appreciate you donating your time to help with adjustments or providing props around the classroom. This can also be a great way to ‘get your foot in the door’ and put you in place as the obvious choice when they first realize that they need a substitute teacher. Try to assist for at least 3 months to demonstrate your commitment to teaching on your resume.
Cover teaching
Head to local studios and ask if you can add yourself to their sub list for when they need a cover teacher. Even if you are only asked to cover one lesson every two months, the experience that you gain from stepping into a classroom where you don’t know the students will be invaluable.
Gym schedules
This may not be what you had in mind when you started looking into teaching yoga, but everybody has to start somewhere! See if your local gym has a yoga class, and if not, offer to start one for them. You could be exactly what they’re looking for to fill a slot in their weekly class schedule.
Be creative
Start your own donation-based outdoor class for the experience. You’ll meet lots of people, and maybe even land a studio job through word-of-mouth.
Network
We can’t deny the power of social media. Make your online presence known on the yoga scene in your area and you may find that a job opportunity pops up somewhere along the way. Head to yoga events, workshops and festivals to meet other yoga teachers and get known within the community.
Our best advice: teach at least once a week - even if it’s for free! You’ll keep your teaching spark alive and, sooner or later, you’re bound to land yourself a teaching job.
Things to remember when looking for a yoga instructor job
It can be easy to get caught up in the fact that you haven’t yet found yourself your dream job. Try not to let it get you down, and remember the following.
Be patient
It can take some time to find work, every yoga teacher has been in the same position as you!
Don’t forget to practice
Whether you’re looking for a job or already teaching, don’t let your own practice slide. This will keep your passion alive and remind you what it is that you want to transmit through your classes.
Don’t stop learning
Attend other classes, workshops, and further training to develop your knowledge of yoga. There is a whole world of yoga poses, transitions, and flows to learn and transfer to your classes. After a little time teaching, you may find that you want to start specializing in a particular style of yoga. Our prenatal yoga teacher training provides you with everything you need (and more!) to become a confident and caring prenatal yoga teacher that students can trust and learn from.
Don’t let your love of yoga disappear in the process of trying to find yourself a job. Be patient, take chances and be willing to test out avenues that you might not have considered before, and soon enough you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful yoga teacher.