How to Get Teaching Experience as a New Yoga Teacher

Yoga has become the hot new workout and is widely gaining popularity. Because it involves complicated stretches, poses and breathing exercises, it can be very difficult to teach yourself the artful exercise. However, if you are a skilled yoga practicer or have received special instruction, you may want to teach yoga to others. Becoming a certified teacher helps, but sometimes teaching experience is the best qualification.

• Enroll in a yoga teaching certification class. Doing so makes you more marketable as a teacher, and also makes it easier for you to find opportunities to gain teaching experience.


• Ask a teacher if you can assist in their class as a teaching assistant. This allows you to see what a real class is like and gives you the chance to observe an experienced teacher’s techniques. After working with the instructor, you may also be able to ask them to write a recommendation for you or use them as a reference.


• Hold your own yoga classes for friends and family members. Try this first before teaching other people you don’t know, as those who know you are most likely more understanding if you make a mistake, as well as provide helpful tips.


• Volunteer at your local community center to hold a few yoga classes. Advertise classes as free to all, which can help you draw a larger crowd.


• Teach someone very close to you, like a spouse or child who knows nothing about yoga. Sometimes you really need additional patience when instructing a family member, which prepares you for future pupils who are not very adept at yoga.


• Ask for feedback. Requesting anonymous responses in a survey dramatically improves your teaching methods or styles if you take the comments as constructive criticism.