Looking to get yoga certified but don’t know where to start? Read this article to learn what is involved in yoga certification and where you can get certified.
You’re not imaging things: yoga is most certainly on the rise across the globe, but especially within the United States.
The reasons for this surge in popularity?
Not only is taking a yoga class a great way to make new friends and center your mind, it also comes with a whole host of proven long and short-term health benefits. These include a lowered risk for diabetes, better heart health, relief from chronic pain, and much more.
In addition to wanting to practice yoga, there has also been a rise in the number of people wanting to become yoga certified.
If you’re among them, you likely have questions about how it all works, and how to get started.
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the process of getting yoga certified.
1. Get To Know The Yoga Styles
The first step towards becoming yoga certified?
Make sure that you know the many different types and styles of yoga that you can choose from.
Are you more interested in teaching prenatal yoga, or is hot yoga, a practice geared towards weight loss, more of what you’re interested in?
There are roughly eleven different kinds of yoga practices out there, and more are being developed every minute.
In order to build your business, you’ll need to commit to a maximum of two or three of these styles. This way, you’ll have a much more specific target market, and you’ll also be able to connect with the kinds of people you’re the most equipped to actually help.
Attend some classes and read up on the different styles of yoga, and choose the options that speak to you the most.
Especially if you’re just starting out, you may also want to consider working with a mentor. While not a formal type of training or yoga certification, doing this can definitely give you a better understanding of your preferred practice.
Plus, you’ll have an excellent networking contact for when you start building your business in the future. It’s never too early to start planning, after all!
2. Understand The Expectations
Now that you’ve chosen the style or styles of yoga that speak to you? It’s time to make sure that this is really the best time in your life to actually become yoga certified.
This means that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with both the workload and the overall expectations.
Be aware that, while yoga certification is not currently required in order to list yourself as a yoga instructor, the majority of your competition will have earned their certification.
Become yoga certified will help you to grow your business, better serve your clients, and ensure that you’re keeping both yourself and the people who practice with you safe.
First, make sure that you have the time commitment the course requires at this time. While online learning certainly makes things more flexible, you’ll still need to dedicate a large amount of time to earning your certification.
Take into consideration whether or not you’re familiar with more basic human anatomy. If not, you may want to take a supplemental course to ensure you’re able to move at the required pace.
You’ll likely need to do a combination of both classroom/online learning and in-person teaching/training in order to achieve your certification.
You’ll take a variety of classes, not only on yoga practice and exercises, but also on fitness theory, business management, nutrition, and even the fundamentals of the muscular system.
In short, you should expect to do a lot of work — so make sure that you’re truly ready now.
3. Find An Online Certification Course
Keep in mind that, when you’re looking for online courses that allow you to become yoga certified, you’ll also have the option to pursue additional certifications.
However, be aware that not all online certification courses are created equal. In fact, choosing the best online course will likely be the most important part of your journey to becoming yoga certified.
Always make sure that you’ve taken the time to do your research.
When you’re considering online courses, ask to speak to past students, read online reviews, and take a hard look at the types of classes that are included as a part of the course.
Don’t go for the cheapest option. Remember, this is an investment in your future — you want the best, not the fastest and the easiest. Challenge yourself — your future students will see the benefits.
Look for courses that come with lots of illustrations, use video instruction to teach you the exercises correctly, and include some sort of basic anatomy instruction.
Usually, these include things like CPR certification, your personal training certification, and even a certificate in sports nutrition. Having additional certifications that are related to the world of fitness and wellness will only help you to grow your business.
Plus, even if you’re teaching yoga as a “side hustle,” these certifications will absolutely help you to move forward and become a more competitive candidate in your more full-time work position.
4. Register As A Yoga Instructor
So, you’ve picked out your favorite style of yoga, and you’ve totally familiarized yourself with the ins and outs of the practice. You’ve even completed your yoga certification course, and you’re feeling like you’re on top of the world.
You’re totally ready to start teaching now, right?
Hold on — there’s one more thing that you need to do before you can begin.
Look for places where you can register as a yoga instructor. We’re not just talking about registering your business — though of course, that’s important, too.
We mean that you need to find ways to prove to your client base that you’re an active member of the yoga community at large. Depending on the type of certification you’ve received, you may be eligible to register with places like the Yoga Alliance. You can also look into other yoga societies/groups that you can register with.
First of all, doing this will give you a serious leg up on the competition.
However, it’s also an awesome networking opportunity. You can meet with other instructors in your area and ask them questions about how they built their business. You can promote each other on social media, get advice about where to rent out space, and much more.
5. Start Building Your Business
Now that you’ve become yoga certified and have registered yourself as a yoga instructor, what’s next?
It’s time to start the exciting process of actually building your business!
We know that, especially in the ultra-competitive world of yoga (it sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true), it can be tough to stand out.
One of the first things that you can do to set yourself apart from all the other instructors out there? Start by creating an awesome website that tells your target market about yourself, your practice, and what drew you to yoga in the first place.
Don’t be afraid to get personal. Maybe you dealt with a loss or a struggle that left you searching for something more. Maybe you suffered a lot of setbacks along the way. Maybe you were plagued by self-doubt.
Whatever your story is, don’t stop yourself from telling it. We guarantee that there are people out there that will connect with it.
You can even start a blog about yoga. Without giving away all the secrets of your practice, you can generate lots of buzz and establish yourself as an authority.
Also, never underestimate the power of a strong social media presence. Always tag your posts, connect with other digital yogis, and don’t be nervous about putting yourself out there!
Check out these social media yogis for inspiration.
Are You Ready To Become Yoga Certified?
We hope that this post has helped you to understand everything that it takes to become yoga certified.
While, yes, we know it looks like a lot of work, it’s absolutely worth it in the end. Getting yoga certified will allow you to both take control over your own life, and to improve the lives of others.
Of course, as you’ve learned, your success will depend on the quality of certification you receive.
When you’re ready for a thorough, professional, and incredibly helpful yoga certification course?
We hope that you’ll rely on our incredible online courses to help you to get there.
Today is the perfect day to finally take that first step towards earning your certification. Get in touch with us to learn more about how to make it happen.