Yoga Instructor Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a Yoga Instructor. Feel free to use our Yoga Instructor job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a Yoga Instructor.
Who is a Yoga Instructor?
Yoga is a popular form of exercise that can help you build strength and flexibility. It also has a positive effect on your spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. A rewarding career as a yoga instructor is possible if you’re passionate about helping others, and love the art of yoga.
Yoga instructors guide students in the practice of yoga, helping them to learn the proper form for various poses. Additional guidance may be provided by yoga instructors to students in areas like nutrition, yoga philosophy, and deep breathing techniques. Yoga instructors can lead classes, workshops, and one-on-one personal training sessions.
Beginner’s classes are taught by instructors. These classes focus on creating a unique style of yoga and avoiding injury. The Cat-Cow Stretch, Downward Facing Dog, and other basic moves are some of the basics taught by the instructor in this class. To ensure that students are in the right form, the instructor will assist them with various poses.
Yoga instructors may mix basic yoga with toning and pilates. This class is usually considered advanced and may be offered to those who are familiar with the basics of yoga. The instructor will focus on specific muscles and balance, as well as teach deep stretches. Students with back pain or injuries to the knees can have exercises modified by instructors.
Yoga instructors are a popular choice for athletes looking for advice on conditioning and exercises to help reduce muscle pain. Yoga instructors might recommend stretching the lower back or hamstrings. To make athletes less anxious, instructors might show them calming poses to practice before a stressful event.
If there are enough students interested, most yoga studios offer specialty classes. Hot flow yoga is one of such classes that a yoga instructor may teach. This form of yoga is taught in heated rooms under the strict supervision of the instructor. The instructors believe that heat stimulates the body’s metabolism and improves circulation. It also helps to eliminate impurities.
Many yoga instructors have backgrounds in areas related to mental and physical health. Instructors who have their facilities will often offer classes in nutrition, personal development, life skills, and other topics. A yoga instructor might teach classes in a building that doubles as a spa, or wellness center. instructors at private resorts may host weekend retreats for couples or special workshops. For those who want to learn how to teach yoga, certified yoga instructors might offer training classes.
Yoga Instructor Job Description
Below are the Yoga Instructor job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a Yoga Instructor job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Yoga Instructor include the following:
- Instructing small or large groups, whether they are new, intermediate, or experienced in yoga practice
- Demonstrating various stretching poses, including advanced, adjusted, and alternative positions, to make it more accessible to students at different levels
- Assisting students in improving or refining their practice. This includes at-home routines and positions that offer certain benefits.
- Helping individual students to perfect their form by offering instruction and manual adjustments.
- Sharing the fundamental spiritual and intellectual principles and practices of yoga, such as those found in the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, and other teachings
The following are other important tasks:
- Leading group classes
Yoga instructors have the main responsibility of creating a curriculum and leading groups through different levels and types. This includes administrative tasks, such as putting together equipment and learning about the needs of clients.
- Demonstrating your practice and technique
You will be the expert and use your body to demonstrate the best ways to do yoga poses, how to breathe properly, and other tips to help you achieve spiritual well-being.
- Make adjustments and offer training suggestions
You may not be as skilled as your students, so it is important to adjust their bodies and provide alternative poses.
Qualifications
These professionals may need to have certain qualifications to get employment.
Education
Yoga instructors must have a solid understanding and practice of yoga and meditation. A certification in yoga instruction is often required to prove one’s educational qualifications.
There are many educational backgrounds that yoga instructors can come from. Instructors may have either secondary education or a GED or high school diploma. Although traditional education is not required often, employers may prefer applicants with a high school diploma or GED to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. These professionals might be interested in education, sports medicine, sports management, or any other health science. These degrees are transferable to yoga instructors who want to be personal trainers, coaches, or instructors. The higher earning potential may be possible depending on the employer.
Training
They gain a lot of their yoga training through years of practice, taking classes, and learning advanced poses. These fitness professionals may attend retreats or take classes over many years before they begin an instructor training program. Aspiring yoga instructors can gain valuable experience by watching their instructors practice and helping others.
A yogi must decide which type of practice they wish to focus on before choosing a training program. Every practice is unique and has its own set of principles, poses, transitions, and methods. While some programs may offer training in multiple practice types, others may only specialize in one.
Yoga instructors typically complete an instructor training program that is certified by the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance’s registered yoga school. Although training programs can vary in terms of cost, setting, and requirements, RYS-certified programs are certified according to the Yoga Alliance’s training-hour designations. This ensures that students who have completed training can be properly certified.
Certificates
Yoga instructor certification is required or preferred by many employers. Yoga Alliance offers a variety of options for yoga instructors looking to become certified. All certifications require that professionals pay dues, complete continuing education every three years and adhere to the Yoga Alliance’s code. These are the certifications that yoga instructors can obtain through Yoga Alliance.
- Yoga instructor 200
Anyone who has completed a 200-hour RYS certified training program is eligible for this certification.
- Yoga instructor 500
Professionals who have completed either a 500-hour or 200-hour program, and also a 300-hour program are eligible for this credential. They also need to have at least 100 hours of teaching experience.
- Certified Yoga instructor 200
Only those who have completed a 200-hour RYS certified training program are eligible for this certification. After completing the training program, they must have at least 1,000 hours of teaching experience within two years.
- Certified Yoga instructor 500
Professionals who have completed a 500-hour RYS certified program, a 200-hour program, and another 300-hour program are eligible for this credential. They must have taught at least 2,000 hours in four years. After completing their second training, they must have earned 500 hours.
- Yoga Instructor for children
This certification is only for those who have completed the 200-hour RYS-certified training course and a Yoga Alliance certified 95-hour children’s yoga teaching course. They must also have a minimum of 30 hours of experience teaching children’s yoga.
- Registered Prenatal Yoga instructor
This credential is for professionals who have completed a 200-hour RYS-certified training course and a Yoga Alliance-certified 85 hour prenatal yoga training program. They must also have at least 30 hours of prenatal teaching experience.
Many online certifying institutions offer exams on yoga principles, poses, and other elements of practice, in addition to the Yoga Alliance.
Essential Skills
These are the most important skills yoga instructors must possess to help their students.
- Customer service
To attract new students to yoga and maintain a relationship with existing ones, instructors must have exceptional customer service skills. To best connect with their students, they must use empathy and patience to teach new poses to beginners.
- Leadership skills
Yoga instructors are expected to teach their students by modeling the poses and leading them. As they help their students improve their practice, they should provide constructive and positive feedback. Many yoga instructors use motivational techniques to help students find their inner strength and challenge themselves.
- Fitness
Yoga instructors have the flexibility and physical stamina to perform a variety of poses, some more difficult than others. Students may be assisted with balance or partner practice. This can help them to build their strength.
- Active listening skills
Yoga instructors need to listen to their students to best meet their needs. Active listening skills are used by yoga instructors to listen and reflect on the words of their students before taking action.
- Speaking in public
They can manage small groups or large numbers of students. They must also be able to speak English and can perform poses while walking around the space and assisting students. To better engage students, they should be able to make eye contact with each other.
How to Become a Yoga instructor
These steps will help you become a yoga instructor:
- Learn yoga
You should be able to understand the basics of yoga before you start your journey towards becoming a yoga instructor. You can choose from many styles of yoga, and you will be able to determine which one suits your needs best by taking classes in them all. Yoga styles include vinyasa, ashtanga, Bikram, and Hatha.
The style of each style may differ depending on the instructor and where it is being taught. To find your style and practice, you should try different types of yoga from different instructors in different locations.
- Take a training course
Next, you need to find a yoga school that conforms to the Yoga Alliance guidelines and then enrolls in an instructor-training program. There are two levels of yoga instructor training programs. The first level offers a 200-hour certification and the second is a 500-hour certification. The program level that is most suitable for you will depend on what you are looking for once you have become a certified yoga instructor. Both levels offer coursework in anatomy, physiology, yoga philosophy, and instructional techniques.
- Register
The registered yoga instructor certificate is a credential that is internationally recognized. It proves that you have met minimum standards for yoga training as set out by the Yoga Alliance. You will need to complete the 200-hour registered yoga school training program. In addition, you must pay a $50 application fee as well as your $65 annual dues. An additional $50 fee is required to upgrade your certification to RCYT or RPYT specialty designations.
- CPR certification
You will need to be certified to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (also known as CPR) if you plan to instruct in a fitness or health center. CPR certification is a requirement for instructors in health and fitness centers. This will ensure that they are equipped to handle any emergency.
- Choose the type of yoga instructor you would like to be
There are many types of yoga instructors. Some cater to certain groups, while others offer classes in particular locations. A yoga instructor might decide to focus on a specific market, such as offering yoga instruction to professional athletes or offering classes online or through a studio.
- Start teaching classes
Start teaching yoga by hosting yoga classes or events in your own home. It is important to be recognized as a professional when hosting such events and charge a fee. Local yoga studios, gyms, and other fitness centers can host classes.
- Maintain certifications
To maintain your yoga instructor certification, you will need to continue your annual dues payments and complete continuing education courses. To maintain your CPR certification, you may need to continue your education or renew coursework.
Where to Work
Yoga instructors can work in many environments including:
- School
Many schools offer yoga as an elective or part of their physical education curriculum. These job opportunities are ideal for yoga instructors looking to teach beginner-level students.
- Yoga studio
They may also share classes with other yogis, rent space to teach or open their studio to provide services to clients. While some studios may specialize in a particular type of yoga practice, others might offer open teaching opportunities. These professionals might have more opportunities to instruct advanced or intermediate practitioners.
- Community center
Some community centers might have a yoga instructor to teach classes. This is often part of their fitness program. These opportunities may be of interest to those who are interested in teaching beginner-level students.
One or more of these organizations may have yoga instructors who teach classes. Yoga instructors can work part-time or full-time depending on their employer’s needs.
Yoga Instructor Salary Scale
The salary of yoga instructors depends on whether they work as an instructor, a coach, or if they are employed by a school, gym, or studio. The type of students they teach, as well as their education, experience, and certification, can all impact the amount they earn.
The average annual salary for a Yoga instructor in the United States is $51,028.