As Yoga has become more popular the need for certification has become clear.  Yoga teachers should be certified for their own protection.  With liability law suits being so popular these days, it would be prudent to have a Yoga teacher’s diploma on your wall.  While Yoga is not considered to be as dangerous as some of the other activities in health clubs, some Yoga classes can be surprisingly vigorous, to say the least.

The popularity of Yoga has some new students jumping off the couch and heading straight into the nearest Yoga class. They may be there from a doctor’s referal or workplace incentive.  A certified Yoga teacher would be able to assess health conditions, ailments, history, fitness level, or if a Yoga student is pregnant.

Yoga certification makes acquiring liability insurance much easier. Depending upon the activities within a studio, the liability insurance policy chosen could be for Yoga only or a sports liability policy similar to what a health club would carry. While Yoga is a relatively safe pursuit, it’s all about liability and you shouldn’t leave yourself uninsured.

For these and other reasons, there have been some recent changes within the certifying bodies who train Yoga teachers. Yoga teaching credentials are a relatively new concept.  As a result, many “seasoned” Yoga teachers have suddenly found themselves in need of credentials. In such cases, they should contact a certifying body to inquire about recognition or credit for past experience.

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Yoga teachers seeking on-site certification should avoid so called ‘weekend certification’ courses. They are often used to teach Yoga as an exercise program by learning a dozen or two dozen asanas, and not much beyond this. Typically they learn a few postures and breathing techniques, but are left knowing a little more than the average Yoga student. The fact is, Yoga is much more than an exercise program. As a result, many of the quickly certified Yoga teachers soon realize they need to be re-certified to learn about contraindications, modifications, working with special populations (seniors, pre-natal, etc.), Yoga methodology, and a multitude of other Yoga subjects.

Some would say Yoga is the most complete health maintenance system known to mankind, with a lineage of thousands of years. Whole health needs to be addressed by much more than an exercise program. This type of knowledge simply cannot be absorbed in one weekend. Given that 200 hours of study has become the international standard for level 1, choosing a course which offers a complete Yoga certification course is very important.

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When you are evaluating Yoga Certification courses it is important to have a complete syllabus. A complete Yoga teacher training program should contain information about some of the following: Asanas, Modifications, Contraindications, Proper use of props, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Methodology, Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Assisting with Posture Alignment, Working with Special Populations, Insider Yoga Teaching Tips, Yoga Teacher Ethics, Chakras, Bandhas, Mudras, Doshas, Yamas, Niyamas, Pranayama techniques, Meditation, Relaxation, Yoga Business Development, Communication, Marketing, and Networking.

When a course offers complete training and covers these subjects it eliminates concerns of not having enough knowledge to be a safe Yoga teacher. Furthermore, it gives you the knowledge and confidence to stay in the Yoga teaching business.

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Yoga home study certification courses are not a new concept. Teaching Yoga using written materials has been around for years. What is new is that most correspondence courses combine written materials with videos, CDs and training online with technical e-mail support. This makes learning how to become a certified Yoga instructor much easier than it used to be.

When considering a correspondence course it is worth remembering that courses can vary in the number of study hours and overall quality. You should be wary of getting a Yoga teaching course from a ‘diploma house’ where they certify everything from pet sitting to web design.

When you consider that 200 hours of study is the minimum accepted international standard, it would be wise to look into Yoga teacher training centres. It is more than likely, they can offer all manner of technical assistance once you have received your study materials. In addition, you should research the syllabus to ensure that you are getting a complete Yoga teacher training course. The course selected should cover all the facets of Yoga including anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, safety, modifications, props, and contraindications.

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It is one thing to devote yourself to doing what you love, in this case Yoga, but it’s quite another to be able to support yourself comfortably and securely while doing it. There are skills you need to learn in order to be successful. A complete Yoga certification course usually has tips about bringing in students and building a business.

As with any business you need to learn how to market yourself. Learn everything you can about marketing and take charge of it. This will be one of your higher overhead costs, especially when you do any paid advertising. However, as in a small business, most experts agree you you can’t afford to ignore marketing and advertising costs.

If you already have the money, you can hire it out to someone else. However, you really should take charge of bringing new students in. Since this is your business, you will be more concerned with your numbers and return-on-investment (ROI) than anyone else. Ignoring your marketing tasks, statistics and ROI, is a classic way to be out of the Yoga business.

Teaching part-time is another way to start your Yoga business. More and more health and fitness clubs are looking for certified Yoga instructors because of growing demand. Being an active teacher will open you opportunities which are not apparent now. It also enables you to keep your overhead low while you determine whether you want to open a ‘bricks-and-mortar’ studio and prepare a business plan.

You also need to actively research trends and demographics in your area by speaking with other stdio owners and teachers. Getting this insider point-of-view can be an invaluable resource for a successful Yoga business start-up.

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