So you want to be a Yoga teacher...

Every time I hear someone say “I’m going to train as a Yoga teacher,” I want to say, “don’t do it.”

When I trained in 2009 you had to have been attending classes for a minimum of two years and practicing for 4 days a week! Most of us had been attending classes for much longer. Teacher training took two years (although for some reason Yoga teacher training is measured in hours and this was equivalent to 500 hours). You covered anatomy and physiology, philosophy, history and teaching practice which included pranayama and asana and began as soon as the course started and was also assessed in class with valuable feedback given. Yoga Therapy (for the mind) was another 500 hours and covered more philosophy, anatomy and physiology, pshychology and neuroscience and teaching practice and frankly put you right out of your comfort zone in a good way!

I’m not writing this to blow my own trumpet but out of concern that nowadays training is short and commercial; it’s the best way for Yoga teachers to make money.

I fear it is unethical to keep setting people up for failure. This may sound harsh but it is tougher than ever to make any kind of a living as a Yoga teacher; unless you are prepared to sell your soul to social media, or be an affiliate for a clothing brand (so long as you are prepared to bare all in skin tight leggings and crop tops). The pandemic has made it even harder now that everyone has discovered Adriene!

If you are passionate about training to deepen your personal understanding of Yoga, that’s wonderful. But if you want to start a career, research the training you do. Don’t go for convenience, go for duration and quality. It’s worth travelling to get the best teachers. Find a 500 hour training if you can and preferably one that gives you business coaching too. And be prepared to spend many years deepening your learning, not just in Yoga but also on how to run a business, marketing, photography and video, social media - it never ends!

Kathy Phillips wrote an article in 2007 giving a similar argument. She and I both trained with the London Yoga Teacher Training Group. Yoga Therapy for the Mind was a training given by The Minded Institute.