Becoming a yoga instructor is a great career choice for someone who loves the activity and wants to work in the health and fitness field.
Of course, there is more to being a yoga instructor than simply enjoying the practice. This is a field with strict standards of training and qualification.
The governing body in the UK is the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY). Their teaching diploma takes up to four years to complete, and requires that you have practised with a BWY recognised instructor for at least two years before you can even be accepted on the course.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that only BWY qualified yoga instructors are accepted on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), the gold standard of certification for all British fitness professionals.
The BWY Diploma is an all-inclusive course that teaches you everything you need to confidently teach others. It has five modules, as follows;
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Stress and Relaxation
- Philosophy
- Health and Safety in Teaching
- Practical Aspects of Teaching
In addition to the diploma, all teachers must hold current First Aid and CPR certification.
Although the training is lengthy, this is a field which shows no sign of fading from public interest - on the contrary, it is probably more popular in the UK now than it has ever been, so employment opportunities are good.
