≡ Menu
YogaDork

Teaching Yoga As Second Career: 3 Tips to Make It or Break It

in Business of Yoga, For Teachers, MUST READS, YD News

Tired of your dead end job? Had it with cube dwelling and stapler-stealers at the 9-5er? Drop your Dolly Parton broken record and become a yoga teacher! U.S.News & World Report shares with us what so many have already realized, yoga teacher training has become the new grad school! “I’m going back to school to find my true path” has taken on new meaning as more folks flock to teaching yoga as their second (third, fourth or fifth) career.

While we see the growth and proliferation of yoga as an intrinsically good thing and obviously inevitable with everyone from soccer star Ryan Giggs, Michelle Obama and Osama bin Laden haters downing their dogs, on top of the new yoga fest-o-rama and latest imminent development of Magic Kingdom Anusaraland, there are some pitfalls like trendiness and shallow intentions that put us off. Even, yoga’s pop star Sadie Nardini is sensing the “superficiality” on the mat.

It’s awesome more people are interested in yoga, and we are extra flippin’ enthused about more people enrolling in yoga teacher training. We said it! And it’s because we have faith that it means there’s enough interest to want a deeper understanding of the practice. But be forewarned, yoga teachers to be! Don’t think it’s an easy thing to fall back on like a law degree, or certificate in ‘notorious terrorist sniffer-outting.’ Still, there are major benefits to switching streams and swimming with the yoga fishes.

We’ll break down our words of advice based on the article in quote bite form.

1. Yoga offers a better quality of life to many who endeavor to teach, with increased peace of mind, freedom and sense of purpose.

“Starting out, [my salary] is much smaller than what I was earning at my old position, but the quality of life … is a thousands times [better],” says Laird, 27, who makes a living teaching a combination of group classes, private lessons, and yoga therapy. “I would take this salary over my old one any day, because I can actually enjoy life rather than being miserable.”

Translation: Teaching, yes. But don’t expect to be able to pay for taking too many classes, at least to start anyway. Also, invest in a planner, or google calendar the crap out of your sched. There is no happiness guarantee the instant you get your 200hr belt. Your education shouldn’t end there either.

2. Yoga in practice can positively affect your entire life, not just your parsva bakasana split leg variation. (keep the hips lifted!)

“The lifestyle is one of the things that makes yoga popular,” says Cristie Newhart, operational manager of professional training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, a nonprofit organization that trains yoga teachers in western Massachusetts. “It’s not just the physical pose. It’s the breath. It’s learning about nutrition. It’s learning to be in touch with feelings … People are very much attracted to living a more authentic life.”

Translation: Don’t get wrapped up in idealisms. It’s too easy to think you’re not advanced enough, flexible enough, or look enough like the glossy photos of fancy asan-ers presented in the media. Be patient. Be the authentic YOU. (Keep in mind that YOU may not be a yoga teacher after all. And that’s OK.)

3. Yoga is getting so popular that there are even more job opportunities out there for budding teachers.

“It’s almost like yoga studios are becoming like Starbucks,” Laird says. “There’s one on every corner now. So there’s plenty of opportunity for teachers—it’s just a matter of finding your way into the studio.”

Translation: Yes, it’s true! NYC is a bonafide SCENE. New Yorkers are more excited about yoga than free iced coffee day at Dunkin Donuts. And we hear this yoga thing is pretty popular elsewhere. However, it’s a hustle. Just like anything else, it’s a business and you’ve got to treat it as such no matter how long you can stand on your head and hold your kumbhakas. The good news is, what you put out is what you’ll get back. Keep truckin’.

Interested in more yoga biz news and tips? Stay tuned for YD teacher series coming soon. Have questions? Let us know.

——

Earlier

76 comments… add one
  • Great post! I’ve been considering getting certified to teach yoga and this article is very timely for me. Thank you!

  • yoginlapin

    Thank you so much for this honest and down to earth post. It is a bit challenging finding the 1st teaching gig, but I was so grateful and happy when I found a studio nearby. I teach only 1 class a week, but it brings me so much joy to be able to create 75 minutes of ‘feel good’ space for members of my community.

  • As a smaller town yoga teacher I say : Holla! Look for jobs outside of studios as well as at studios. Sub and sub and sub some more and eventually if you teach from your heart you will find great gigs. Nice post Miss YD

  • really glad ya’ll plan to do more yoga-business orientated posts –

    maybe some emphasis toward seniors and fitness to go with the usual more trendy showy stuff ? 😉

  • Dayita

    I am *so* conflicted over this. I am coming to yoga via a roundabout spiritual path and started practice thinking that the physical benefit was just a nice plus. Then I got into a Jivamukti class and saw how well it all fit together and started planning for a YTT in a year or 3 so I could get a good grounded practice going as well as get my life sorted out to have room for it. And now I see the wave starting to break and frankly given the average quality of teachers I encounter I’m not so sure. Excellent teachers are few and far between and the ongoing dilution of popularity makes me wonder if I should even help perpetuate the system.

    Bottom line: too damn much monkey-mind 🙂

    • Cinderella

      for Dayita…..it is quite natural to feel so conflicted over today’s Yoga scene! Far too many studios have opened and branded their own style of yoga. ‘Yoga-for-golfers’, ‘yoga-with-your-dog’, ‘yoga-for-joggers’…on and on it goes confusing the masses and diluting the true essence of yoga. Embracing a spiritual life is what is more important than ‘teaching yoga’. Follow the Yamas + Niyamas, strive to live them as best you can! Become vegan and truly let go of being caught up in the cycle of using and abusing animals. Give up things that dull the senses and mind, everything from your food/drink to the company you keep. Recycle and reuse. Too many of us are disconnected from Mother Earth. How can we live a truly spiritual life if we keep destroying her and her sentient beings? Cultivate compassion, compassion, compassion. Study only from those with high values and clean lifestyle. Teaching/Instructing of yoga should come from a place of wanting to share an incredible way of being, not from wanting to run a (successful) business. Become quiet within and the path will unfold. In my humble opinion, kindly bear in mind that ‘yoga’ should never be looked upon as a business. I have been approached a number of times by studios wanting me to teach at their location…their first question is ‘how much money are you expecting to get paid?’ I ask of them their philosophy and of their other instructor’s values and lifestyles and never hear back from them. Upholding the essence and integrity of true yoga is more important than teaching a class just for the sake of teaching a class. Read up on Vanda Scaravelli, she liked to teach one student at a time. Quality is of the essence, indeed! http://handtoearth.wordpress.com/yoga/scaravelli/ For ten years I have taught private classes, group classes in all sorts of places (except yoga studios) and the experience has been very rewarding 🙂 So far there are only two masters that I continue to study from and it took many years before we found each other. Be patient yet persistent with living a spiritual life and any questions you have will be answered 🙂 Be well…Namaskaram

      • Liz Horton

        Cinderella, I find your comments inspiring and I also strive to teach more from the idea of sharing a gift and helping others than striving to be “successful”. I believe if we are teaching from a place of integrity and authenticity, then the money will follow and students will gravitate toward those teachers. “People before profits” is the guideline that I follow. We need to at least try and uphold ethical behavior in our life on and off the mat. Otherwise, what are we teaching?

        • “people before profits” that’s a great guideline… thank you for your comments, liz and cinderella…

  • It is very important to join the perfect yoga class in Dallas which teaches majority of the poses of yoga.

  • Sam

    As a former full-time yoga teacher who now teaches part-time (I went back to the office work and do enjoy my job) make sure you leave your rose-tinted glasses at home. You will not get rich teaching yoga and your chances of becoming the next Rodney Yee or Sarah Powers is slim. IMO don’t give up your day job. Teach a bit in the evenings or on weekends. This can satisfy your urge to do something more ‘human’ and loving with your life.

    Only those with an innate sense of business and marketing combined with boundless energy (and few family obligations) will hit the big time. There are many, many so-called yoga teachers out there now and oodles more hitting the streets with their fresh new 200hr certificates. You must have a “hook”, something different than the numerous other teachers you compete with to become truly successful. That is why we see so many boutique yoga styles now – Yoga for Runners, Yoga for Seniors, Chair Yoga, Yoga for CEOs, Yoga for Obesity,etc, etc. All are laudable but there is a finite amount of niches to fill.

    I can’t help wonder why no one is yet questioning the high amount of new yoga teachers flooding the market every week. There is a saturation point.

    Again, teach for the enjoyment. Keep your day job too. And breathe.

    • Cheri

      Your comment is very informative and touches on the fact that you do have to have a uniqueness to anything you’re marketing.

      You have to have an unending amount of energy, passion and enthusiasm for what’s being promoted.

      Nothing is impossible, with grace, hope and faith in what you are doing anyone can make it and fulfill what they feel called to do.

      Really its about giving that selfless service, showing great love for whatever it is you are doing, putting in your best efforts the results will come on their own.

    • Julie

      I agree! I’m not sure I feel comfortable making Yoga a business. It shouldn’t be…

    • Amanda

      I agree with alot of this. I have been teaching part time for 10+ years and now there are so many teachers out there. Almost every studio in the area I live in has teacher trainings. Also, there is a “free” donation based studio in the area that provides a great service to the community but makes it very hard on teachers who need to earn a living teaching classes.

    • Liz Horton

      I think there are so many teachers saturating the market because it is lucrative for studios to offer teacher training. Students who sign up for teacher training are never given the facts about the reality of teaching in this market. I remember asking the training staff where all the grads were working and the person seemed taken aback by my question. All I received was a blank stare. Also, its far too easy to get a teaching certificate. I am aware of some people receiving their RYT certificate without even passing the final exam. Why isn’t more being done to keep the standards higher?

  • lahope

    Just stay healthy and be prepared to buy your own medical insurance.
    As a student I prefer seasoned teachers and absolutely stay away from classes taught by someone who does a three month teacher training in order to escape that boring day job after having practiced for a just a couple of years.

    • Jen

      I think it is better to take a class from a passionate new teacher than a boring teacher who has 15 years of practice.

      • I think it is better to take a class from a passionate teacher with 15 years of practice than a boring new teacher.

        • Cheri

          Really it’s about committing to your own practice. The teacher is there as a guide and is not there for entertainment or intellectual purposes. Find that stillness within yourself as you are going through the movements, steer free of judgment for this takes away from the essence of practice.

    • As a student, I prefer to take classes from a teacher that makes yoga their #1 priority, teaching it full-time and living and breathing it, rather than someone who has an unrelated full-time job and just teaches yoga “on the side”, regardless of teaching experience.

      • Forbes magazine recently had an article that a yoga teacher requires 10 YEARS of experience before they have their “chops” down. A seasoned teacher has moved through hopefully, the “trap” of spiritual superiority, and teaches more than asanas AND brings people into an experience of transformation and transcendence from physical and emotional pain and suffering. Blissings!

        • A friend teacher told me after four years of nearly full-time teaching that she had only just begun to feel like a teacher. It must be different for everyone, but one thing that I think is pretty much a guarantee is you “teach your practice.” I’m less interested in the amount of time a teacher has been at it than the love and authenticity and spiritual grist-for-the-mill they present in their teachings. And, just for the record, I love potty-mouthed or irreverent teachers. I don’t want a class full of f-bombs, but the well placed obscenity can do wonders for lightening up a class. Maybe what takes so long to develop in teachers is a sense of humor? You sure can’t teach that in a TT…

        • Jen

          Well, yes – but even that 10-year teacher had to start from the beginning. You don’t just skip ahead and get to the 10-year mark. People need to just chill out and stop thinking so much. Find a class you like, a teacher you like, do it and then go on about your day. Yoga has been hailed as this big-time life saver or something – and it’s not. It’s a selfish practice really. Contrary to popular belief, people actually spend too much time in their heads – and yoga accentuates that causing you to look at your body, wear the latest Lululemon clothing and act all serene and peaceful.

          I thought yoga was the “answer” – then I found running again and remembered what it felt to be really stimulated.

          • Cheri

            It is not up to us to claim judgment upon those who are seeking to promote whats marketable to the general public. Go within your own practice as not a selfish endeavor, but go with the intention to share your merits with others. We have to understand that not everyone is at the same place on their journeys, yoga can be true spiritual path if one wants it to be. The intention is up to each individual.

      • e

        I have had some pretty amazing newb teachers! I found they were more open and humble.

      • Couldn’t be agree more. Yoga is not something you do on the side. It is full-time, full-life experience and wisdom.

  • When I started teaching most of the yoga studios wouldn’t hire someone without experience, so I started teaching at my work place confereance room after work to co-workers. They invited friends to come and this lead to other community based classes. The beautiful thing about this is that I was able to get people who were hesitant or scared or sceptical to take yoga to attend since in was in a nutral enviorment. If you really want to teach sometimes you just have to create a class and start teaching!

  • “I can’t help wonder why no one is yet questioning the high amount of new yoga teachers flooding the market every week. ”

    I did. In my blog. But people have short memories.

  • Elizabeth

    Remember that the vast majority of people who take YTT programs do not become full-time yoga teachers. I would suspect that the vast majority of them enter the YTT program without the intent to become full-time yoga teachers, but I can only speak for the handful of programs abotu which I have personal knowledge.

    Many of the people in my YTTs were not there to become teachers, but to deepen their own understanding of yoga and feed their own practice. Many studios have a single “advanced studies” and “teacher training” program that meets YA guidelines (so it is TT) but is mostly attended by those without teaching aspirations.

    Of the people in my YTTs who intended to teach (I should mention I’ve participated in 2 full programs at the 200-hour level, plus taken portions of 2-3 others) most did not intend to teach full-time. Some would not even consider teaching yoga full-time.

  • Thanks for this post. I agree with Sam – don’t give up your day job, as you will not get rich teaching yoga. But hopefully that is not why most yogi/yoginis (myself included) decided to become yoga teachers. I can’t tell you the joy I feel after teaching a class, especially if a student has a kind word for me after class.
    I jumped off the corporate roller coaster a few years ago and have adapted to a much simpler and more spiritual life and have never been happier.
    For those of you looking for teaching opportunities, definitely think outside the box and create classes in your community. This summer I’m teaching yoga outside on the beach in Ohio and can’t wait to listen to the waves while I take students through their asanas.

    • you can make money teaching yoga, but being a good yogi or instructor doesnt mean you are business minded. teaching yoga should be a realized career path and e shouldnt be apologizing for wanting to pay our bills.

  • As an admitted slacker-yogi, I knew if I didn’t start teaching Yoga, I might drift away from Hatha, even though I loved it! I blame it on my Kapha nature. After teaching for 34 years, and being in a non-traditional yoga body, (as in fat) I attribute my happiness, contentment, good health and stamina to the fine art of teaching Yoga. I love your blog, and if you’d be interested in reviewing my book–Big Yoga: A Simple Guide for Bigger Bodies–I’d be happy to send you a copy.

  • Great post with important tips. Completing training doesn’t guarantee jobs, but the lifestyle can be nice. I certainly hope to grow my teaching practice someday 🙂

  • kia

    I originally got my did my 200-hour YTT to compliment 15 months of physical therapy after a bad car accident that had me leave my PhD program. I figured that when I went back to finish that degree I would teach a class a week somewhere to balance my left and right side of my brain… funny thing is along the way that YTT really helped me find a good deal of balance and let go of getting that degree with my ego in check.

  • Great post! True, there are LOTS of people who are going through YTTs right now. But reaching a saturation point? I don’t think so. Yoga is exploding in popularity and still only a sliver of the total population has experienced it. There is so much opportunity. But you have to be willing to get out of the crowd and stand apart. Will you get rich as a yoga teacher? Depends on your definition of rich. If you’re thinking of cash money – you can make as much as you want if you learn the business of yoga as well as the practice.

  • Meredith

    I hate when people throw around cliches like “don’t expect to get rich doing X.” Well, I’ve been in the editorial field for the past decade, and heard that phrase whacked around after I graduated school. And you know what? No, I didn’t become rich from the field; but I have been able to make a living from it. I plan on taking the same approach to yoga. I encourage others to do the same.

  • Thanks for the encouragement! I am a recent grad of a 200 hour certification class (as in I graduated this past Sunday), and it changed my life in so many positive ways. Whether I end up teaching full-time or not isn’t really important to me. I’m just so happy to be on the yogic path.

  • Great posts….
    I’ve always felt that if you are guided by your intuition and passion for life, you will be drawn to those things that are fulfilling and make you happy. If you go deeply into yoga practice, at some point you may also like to share what you have learned, and become a teacher.
    Keep in mind that the practice and business of yoga has the same issues as any other business…. there are politics, the drive for profit and a ‘corporateness’ that can take away from what makes yoga so beautiful.
    So I would say it is most important, if you become a teacher, to stay with that internal connection to what yoga is for you, and keep that as the foundation of your journey with yourself and your students.

  • Glad you brought this article up as I recently decided to undertake yoga teacher training as well. I keep my head focused and tell myself that it’s not about getting teaching opportunities right away, but instead, a chance to expand and deepen your own practice and with that mentality, I do think it’ll help keep one’s mind positive.

  • A teacher knows that they are on the ‘right path” of service in the world IF their classes are growing. After 6 months of teaching for a newbie, if your class is not growing, then that is a sign that you are missing some key ingredients. There are many elements a successful teacher needs to incorporate into a class to “inspire” their students. One of the worst things for example, based on my 40 years of experience, in a beginner level class, is to teach sun salutation. WAY too much. You want your students to say, ” I can DO this. Yay!” NOT “Oh sh#t, I can’t do this, it is way too much for me. ” Then they never come back. I hear this over and over from new students. Advice for newbies, GO to the classes that are jammed at your studio, or other studios. Learn from these teachers.
    A great teacher is ever a great student. xo to all.

  • Staycie

    How the yoga path enfolds in each person’s life is different, we aren’t all on the same path. Sweeping generalizations are not answers for every person who decides they want to attend a teacher training. Some may come out of the training with a greater dedication to being a yoga student, others may teach to friends and family, and others may thrive as full-time yoga teachers. As long as each person finds and follows their true path–what is authentic to their true self, they should find happiness and fulfillment. You must do you. 🙂

  • Jeanne

    I am a new 200 RYT teacher, reading the boards to learn from those who have come before. I just started teaching my own class in a small studio and researching the business side of things. I prepare for my class by trying to weave asana with other 7 limbs into my practice. I am disappointed with the amount of yoga classes that are asana only – if more of the new teachers that places like Kripalu are cranking out are willing to go out on a spiritual limb, and teach yamas, niyamas, pranayama and the like, then I can’t wait until the new army arrives.

    Please feel free to visit and agree or disagree.
    http://eyesopenyoga.blogspot.com

    Namaste,
    Jeanne

  • teri nagelberg

    Please be sure to include that it takes years and years to become proficient in the Path of Yoga. It is so much more than just the asana practice but even the physical movements take many years to cultivate correct alignment, form and awareness for just your own practice. Teaching others is a big responsibility and is not cultivated overnight.
    Taking a teacher training course does not make a teacher and in fact much of the news about yoga injuires come from “teachers” who are not meaning to cause harm but are just not quailfied to be teaching others…(yet)
    Just want to keep us all safe out there and be sure we are recognizing Teachers are masters who have logged the hours over many, many years.

  • So I’m a yoga “pop star?” Thank God I studied for 17 years and logged over 10,000 hours of training and teaching experience–now I finally get my Britney Spears title! lol! and xo. Sadie

    • YD

      it’s your Bon Jovi title of course!

  • Lisa Jansen

    From my yoga teaching experience is learning that life is after all about balance.
    Lisa – mother, biz dev manager, established yoga teacher and life time student

  • Another tip. Practice yoga for a year and see if you feel you could place yourself in the position of your yoga teacher. Commit yourself to attend one to two days a week and learn what it is like to have to lead a class day after day, whether you feel like it or not!
    Yoga certification training is a commitment and expensive.
    If you find that you love teaching yoga even when you may have a class of only 1 to 4 students then that’s a pretty good indication, you’re a genuine yogi!

  • Rick Stenson

    Great article and unbelievably timely. Started taking Yoga about a year ago and immediately loved it. I had been an exec in the computer industry for 5+ years, hardcore athlete and also taught spin & core classes a couple of times a week for fun. Without a doubt my exercise classes were the highlight of each week, however the prospect of teaching full time did not appeal to me. In the spin & core classes I participated with my students and I worked harder than any of them each class to bring them along with me. It worked famously but I also knew I could never ever sustain that level of effort over the 25+ classes a week I would need to teach each week to make a living. Expand that 5, 10+ years = never gonna happen. When I started doing the Yoga I just knew intrinsically that I had found the path that was going to enrich me spiritually, allow me to continue my love of teaching, and give me a sustainable opportunity of making a life long living. I continued to practice & learn as well as keep my job in the tech world. Then flash bang out of the blue our company was bought and my whole division got laid off one day to the next. Ever see the movie ‘Up in the Air with Clooney? That was my experience. And when he said that this could be the best thing that ever happens to you? He was actually right. Universe basically kicked my ass out the door and said: YOGA IS YOU. So now I am working on getting into the next Bikram training session. Yes it is a significant financial investment, however I like the style and from a purely economic standpoint it is MUCH easier to get going as a Bikram teacher. Especially a MALE Bikram teacher. Because Bikram is so completely scripted and organized, studios are much more comfortable hiring and putting newly certified teachers in a rotation. With so much teacher creativity and personality involved, studios typically want to intern styles like Vinyasa. My goal is to open my own studio within 5 years. I have boot strapped and successfully run other businesses, so the dollars & cents side will be easy. The spiritual side will be a welcome life long journey. I can’t wait. Namaste

  • Go here for a free e-book called The Life of a Yoga Teacher- Could It Be For You? which expands on many of the useful points made in this article:
    http://ashayoga.com/teachertraining/the-life-of-a-yoga-teacher/

  • Anna Cowper

    I’m sorry, but I absolutely and fundamentally disagree with the comment ‘Just like anything else, [yoga] is a business and you’ve got to treat it as such’. My understanding is that yoga is path of self realization – involving the body in the case of Hatha yoga – and teaching/imparting it to others is ultimately a sacred privilege, whereas the spirit of ‘business’ is making money out of people. These are two essentially contradictory aims and mindsets which are impossible to reconcile without either missing the point entirely or ceding to double-think. This is difficult when we live in a capitalist society and are dancing to it’s tune, but – and forgive me if I sound judgmental but I really care about this – I think people who’ve got as far as training to be yoga teachers should be capable of waking up a little. What is the niyama of aparigraha – non accumulation – all about for instance? It’s the antithesis of basic capitalist principles. I’m not saying that a yoga teacher shouldn’t charge for imparting his or her painstaking acquired knowledge and expertise, nor that they don’t deserve to be able to earn their living from teaching, but this cannot and should not be in the same spirit as, say, running a tech start-up or a restaurant franchise. Yoga teaching is NOT about kicking ass or gaining competitive advantage or any other such business parlance, although this doesn’t mean you can’t use your intelligence and discernment when setting up as a teacher.
    Having said all that, if your understanding of yoga is that it’s another form of physical exercise, just a particularly effective one, then none of the above really applies. Also, I wouldn’t presume for a moment to say that this is wrong or inauthentic; it has it’s own authenticity and does awful lot of good, it’s just a different thing from the 5,000 year-old system for understanding and self-realization as originating in the ancient Hindu Vedas that is so important to me and quite a few others. Those of us on THAT path are trying to figure out the way forward with integrity in the society in which we live. I don’t think this means that yoga teachers in the West shouldn’t be able to earn a living and have look after themselves and their families in reasonable comfort, I really don’t. But let’s be clear here and let’s be honest: yogic values and capitalism do not sit comfortably together.

  • I have being practicing yoga the last six years. i will like to start a small class for women in my area. I will love to know how to start- sort of guidelines to teaching yoga.
    thank you
    Ghaji

  • I started my teacher training simply to deepen my practice, to learn the traditional Indian yoga practices (my school, the Integrated School of Yoga, is very ‘Eastern’). Anyway, once I realized I might want to teach, I looked around. But there’s no money to be made without opening a studio, doing teacher trainings, workshops, etc. And I live in the world and need a salary (I’m thinking you do, too). But what about yoga as a way of life, integrated into every day? How happy would I be if someone came to my office every day and I just had to show up for a quick 20-or-30-minute class? EXTRA happy! Since no one was doing it, I started my own corporate yoga company. Now I have two full-time jobs (!), and hope to transition shortly to just one – Chief Yogini @ http://www.YoginiUtah.com. 17 teachers provide the classes, I’m in charge of sales and marketing (and trade shows and accounting and janitorial)! But no studio (i.e. overhead). We bring yoga to the workplace. It’s awesome. As for me TAKING a class… I try to fit it in! But I DO feel amazing being able to bring Yoga to offices and corporate events, and to help people get through the day more focused and healthier. 20 minutes after a quick onsite yoga class and people are all “Ahhhhhh….”! It’s worth all the time, money and energy – it all comes right back. Namaste!

  • Rick

    I completely agree on the spiritual goals of Yoga. But in the real world if you want to teach/practice yoga full time, either you have a spouse that can pay most of the bills, or you have to approach the endeavor with a business mind. You have to be able to make a living, how are you going to do that. No amount of wishing and spiritual path walking is going to pay the rent. So please before you condemn those us that want to do this for the rest of lives but have to also do the practical money part of it, think realistically.

  • Prajith Mambally

    Teach yoga as your karma. Then it is become as a karma yoga.
    According to Swami Sivananda yoga is Be Good and Do Good.

  • Prajith Mambally

    Teach yoga as your karma. Then it is become as a karma yoga.
    According to Swami Sivananda yoga is Be Good and Do Good.
    As a humble yoga teacher , i never consider this as my profession. But I am nothing doing other than this to earn my bread and butter.

  • crown heights yogi

    Why does this article have translations to the very easy to understand quotes?

    Translation:

    It is assumed you are an idiot.

  • I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and
    entertaining, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy
    I found this during my hunt for something relating to this.

  • Mahala

    Becoming a yoga teacher was the best thing I ever did! I went to school in NYC and tried as many yoga studios as I could. Where I live now there are only a couple yoga studios and I started teaching in gyms. That’s a true blessing to have so much access to yoga.

  • Thank you so much for this article! I was teaching Yoga already, had to stop because of injuries and am now thinking again on what to do, what not to do… I am still a bit shy and insecure, but those comments here are also very inspirational.

  • This is 21st century… everyone is looking for some stressbusters… so no doubt making a career in teaching yoga can be useful in the long run. As a yoga practitioner am at a fairly advanced stage, so would love to take the leap and start teaching!

  • Hi.
    I thoroughly appreciate your new website on
    Teaching Yoga As Second Career: 3 Tips to Make It or Break It and I will bookmark this..

    Thank you!

    My site … website design (Laurel)

  • # 10 “Mickey’s Magical Christmas – Snowed in at the House of Mouse”.
    Danisoft DVD Ripper and Wondershare DVD Ripper Platinum
    are amongst the best converters available in the market.
    It used to be only for your computer, but has since
    expanded to video game consoles and handheld devices.

  • Thanks for the good writeup. It if truth be told used to
    be a amusement account it. Look complicated to far delivered agreeable from you!

    By the way, how can we keep up a correspondence?

Leave a Comment