So you want to become a yoga teacher...

Hello everyone! I am so excited and honored that this is my first blog post. Today I will be writing about how to become a yoga teacher.

I have been practicing yoga for over five years. When I was in high school my gym was offering free yoga classes. I decided to take a power class and boy did it kick my butt! I had no idea that yoga can be more than stretching. I fell in love with this class and began going frequently. I continued to practice over the few years, but was not familiar of yoga philosophy, meditation, and alignment. When it came time for savasana, I hated it! I did not understand how to observe my thoughts, I thought my mind had to be blank. I would get very frustrated and would give up fast. It was until I got older, and began reading "The Four Agreements" that I started understanding my mind. I began to learn how I am the observer of my thoughts, the energy I put out to the world, is the energy I received back. I used to get mad very easily, not considering what other people were going through, gossiped, and I was not connected to my spirit. After I read that book it changed my life. Yoga for me wasn't fitness anymore, I really began my practice.

After some time and thinking I was drawn to begin my Yoga Teacher Training. I was so excited and eager to learn. Yoga completely took over my life. I began my 200 hour training at Pose by Pose Studio. I walked in thinking I was educated about yoga, and I left being wrong. Yoga is something you truly never stop learning. You can master all the asanas, but truly mastering yoga is when you master meditation. It took a year of hard work and dedication and I finally graduated with my 200 hour certification! I was so happy and excited. I did feel like I was not prepared to begin teaching. It is very normal not know where to start, how to teach, and to feel nervous. I got hired within a week at my dream studio and landed the job! My first class I showed up almost two hours early because I was so nervous. The more I taught my classes, the more I learned what style of yoga I like to teach, how to be more confident, making mistakes is okay, and to go with the flow. There is no room for judgement.

Becoming a Yoga Teacher was my best decision I have ever made, I am so honored I get to share my practice with my students.

Pros of becoming a Yoga Teacher

-You learn more about yoga everyday

-Changing peoples lives and helping them relax

-Seeing your students finally getting a pose they have been working on

-You will find a beautiful community

-Flexible schedule

Cons of becoming a Yoga Teacher

-Low pay. 25-30$ per class

- Building up clients takes time and a lot of effort

-Not paying enough attention to your own practice

-Worrying if your class is good enough'

-Very challenging to make a living

Tips to be successful:

A huge tip I always recommend and if it resonates with you is becoming a sound healer. I became a sound healer before I graduated my 200 hour and I had no idea how much it would help my career. Sound healing is music that heals the body mentally and physically. Thee vibrations that come from the instruments create frequencies to promote deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Sound healing grew my classes very fast and every time I mentioned I did sound healing I got hired on the spot. You can make extra money doing sound healing private lessons and workshops at studios. It a beautiful and fun touch you can add to your classes.

Staying organized and keeping track of your classes and your students progress is important. Always offer different variations, and help your students out if they can't get an asana. My number one rule is being connected to your students. Always ask how they are, and what they want to learn in your classes. I found that as soon as I started asking what poses they wanted to learn, my students very appreciative. There is a difference teaching yoga and actually being a teacher.

Always follow your dreams and do what your love. Namaste.