5 Simple Steps to Becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor
According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study, the number of yoga practitioners has increased to over 36 million, up from 20.4 million in 2012. A leader in fitness, and now mind-body exercise, NETA is pleased to offer our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program, designed for both new and seasoned fitness professionals. Become a yoga instructor to strengthen your own yoga practice, learn how to transform lives, and acquire the foundation for safe and effective yoga teaching.
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Step 1: Choose Your Partner
Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to upholding yoga instructor standards, by internationally distinguishing both Registered Yoga Teachers and qualified yoga training programs (Registered Yoga Schools). While there are many Registered Yoga Schools out there, NETA’s 200 hour program is unique in its weekend modular format. Rather than making a large up-front monetary and time commitment, participants are able to accumulate hours as it fits their schedule and budget, all while learning from a diverse team of qualified instructors from across the country. Whether taking a workshop as a stand-alone specialty certification, or building toward the 200 hour distinction, the quality of training will equip participants to safely and effectively instruct.
Step 2: Set the Foundation
While many of NETA’s training modules can be taken in any order, it is strongly recommended that our Yoga Foundations Specialty Certification is obtained first to become a yoga instructor. This workshop provides a platform for the remaining workshops to be built upon with a breakdown of 20 foundational poses focused on alignment, safety, variations and breathing techniques. Yoga philosophy, anatomy, and appropriate cuing is introduced with a hands-on opportunity to practice teaching.
Step 3: Build the Hours
Just as Yoga Foundations should be taken first, NETA’s three-day Advanced Yoga Specialty Certification should be obtained last. The remaining courses, however, can be taken in any order and within any timeframe that fits the participant’s needs. Learn the benefits of and how to teach various styles such as fitness or restorative yoga, and how to reach different populations such as kids, seniors, and prenatal. While many participants begin a yoga teacher training program without a clear picture of who their target audience may be, these courses can aid in defining a purpose or identifying a passion.
“Having a passion for yoga and actually teaching yoga seemed like two different concepts to me in the beginning. However going through the training I realized that working with seniors is my calling! I feel very confident now to put my training and my passion together” – Dede, Cedar Falls, IA
Step 4: Complete the Home-study and Establish a Personal Practice
Now that you have the knowledge of the history, styles, and various techniques associated with yoga instruction, take time for self-reflection and personal practice. The final requirement of NETA’s 200 hour training is a home-study reflect on what has been learned and personal growth along the way. We also highly recommend establishing a personal practice as a means of self-care and to avoid instructor burn-out when you become a yoga instructor.
Step 5: Find a Mentor and Begin Teaching
Even after hours of training and a well-established personal practice, taking the step toward actual teaching can be intimidating. An additional benefit of NETA’s training program is the diversity of qualified instructors that present our workshops, bringing different backgrounds, experiences, and teaching styles to the program. Learning from this diverse team allows the student to find their own teaching style. We recommend finding a mentor to team-teach with and to act as a guide during the beginning stages of teaching.
Finally, get out there and teach! What may feel awkward and scripted in the beginning will soon become smooth and natural with practice. As you get more comfortable, expand your repertoire with our Fit Fest and continuing education workshops of HITT it with Yoga and Trauma Sensitive Yoga Practices.
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