Where to Work as a Yoga Instructor: 5 Rewarding Options

The nice thing about yoga is you can do it anywhere. All you need is a quiet space and yoga mat and you are ready to go. This offers many options if your goal is to become an instructor. But what are some of the most rewarding places to work as a yoga teacher? Here are five to consider.

Teaching in a Yoga Studio or Fitness Facility

The reason a studio, gym, or fitness center is rewarding is that these clients have a clear drive to improve their health and wellness. They have joined the facility to improve their fitness level. They already understand the value of physical activity and exercise, so they're already halfway there.

If you are not an experienced yoga instructor, it can be intimidating to stand in front of a class at one of these locations. Yet, many people taking yoga in a gym are beginners or have limited experience. This can help ease your nerves. Plus, how rewarding would it be to be the one who helps them create a regular yoga practice?

Maybe your career path doesn't involve strictly teaching yoga. That's okay. Bypass the studio and go straight for the gym, where you can teach yoga as a personal trainer. This is rewarding because it enables you to expose clients to multiple fitness methods. Create a training program that incorporates a yoga practice. Give your clients a well-rounded exercise experience.

Client-Specific Yoga Instructor Jobs

There are also several options for teaching yoga that are more focused on serving a specific type of client. For example, some schools hire instructors for their kids' yoga class. If you find it rewarding to help tiny humans recognize the power of their body, spirit, and mind, children's yoga instructor is the way to go.

You can also work with older adults at senior centers or assisted living facilities. Many of these organizations hire a yoga teacher to offer regular classes. This could include doing restorative yoga, which is less intense, or chair yoga for those with limited mobility. Even those who can't participate physically may enjoy the meditation aspect of a yoga practice.

If you have a passion for helping women through pregnancy, you could get a job teaching prenatal yoga at a hospital or birthing center. The possibilities are endless. All you have to do is decide which client demographic you'd find most rewarding and reach out to organizations in those fields to inquire about a yoga job.

Become a Corporate Yoga Instructor

Some people find that teaching yoga within a business is extremely rewarding because it puts you in a position to help improve employee wellness. What good can you do in a corporate setting?

One study found that workplace yoga helps lower employee stress. Another piece of research noted that, after doing yoga, working professionals had reduced aggression and increased positivity. And you can be the one who gives them this wonderful experience.

Jobs in this category are often classified as corporate yoga gigs. They could involve teaching corporate yoga at the business itself or holding a class at a corporate event. On a larger scale, you could help a business develop its entire corporate wellness program.

Teaching corporate yoga requires you to align your classes with their work schedule, which is typically 9-5. If you like nights and weekends off, this may be appealing to you. And if you like teaching people who likely have minimal experience with this practice, corporate yoga classes offer this opportunity.

Yoga Travel Jobs

Did you know that you can work as a traveling yoga teacher? If you've always admired the digital nomad lifestyle style or thought you'd be happiest with a travel job, this is definitely an option to consider.

One way to do this is through a work exchange. Contact a studio in a region you want to visit and offer your services as a yoga teacher in exchange for a place a stay. Yoga Travel Jobs offers a list of places looking for a traveling yoga instructor. You'll find positions in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Australia, just to name a few.

This option can be rewarding for the backpacker at heart. It's also appealing if you like the idea of working a remote job because it allows you to travel. Becoming a traveling yoga teacher combines your two passions in a way that satisfies your desire to teach but still allows you to see the rest of the world.

Self-Made Teaching Opportunities

A fifth option is to bypass a yoga teacher job and go out on your own. Offer yoga instruction online or open your own studio. Switching from an employee to a self-employed instructor offers a few benefits.

When you are in business for yourself, you get to call the shots about what yoga style you offer, whether you teach individuals or groups, and when you hold your training sessions. If you want to hold a fitness retreat, you don't need anyone else's permission. It's up to you what your career path looks like.

Admittedly, this option isn't the easiest to pursue. Growing your own business takes time and effort. And you must wear many hats. In addition to holding yoga classes, for example, you must also market your practice. You are the one responsible for whether it succeeds or fails.

That said, if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, pursuing self-employment can be incredibly rewarding. You can create your yoga empire any way you see fit. If your company grows big enough, future instructors may even come to you looking for yoga jobs!

Deciding Where to Work as a Yoga Instructor

Which job opportunity is right for you? That's something only you can decide. If you're still struggling to figure out where you should work as a yoga instructor, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• What demographic of clients do you want to work with most? Finding a studio or employer who serves this same demographic gives you an idea of where to start.

• What days and times would you like to teach the yoga practice? Corporate yoga will likely encompass a more traditional work schedule. Work at a studio and you can expect to lead a lot of nighttime or weekend classes.

• Do you want to teach at the same location day after day or would you enjoy new experiences? Some people prefer the familiarity of always working in the same studio. Others feel more satisfied when they can travel a bit. Finding a teaching job that meshes with these desires can lead to a more rewarding career.

• What is your reason for wanting to lead a yoga class? Do you want to help others improve their level of fitness, increase their wellness, or is it something else? Strive to find a job that helps you meet this objective.

How to Find a Yoga Instructor Job

Okay. You've decided where you want to work. Your next step is to go after the job, which involves perfecting your yoga instructor resume.

Be sure to include any relevant experience. If you've led a yoga class before, let them know. Even if you didn't get paid, it shows that you know how to help students with this practice.

Also mention whether you are a certified yoga instructor. Having your certification shows that you hold the education and skills necessary to teach a yoga class. This can set you apart from other trainers that are not certified, propelling your yoga career further.

If you are currently missing this designation, you can get it through the ISSA. This Yoga Instructor certification course teaches you how to break yoga poses down for individual students. You also learn which breathing exercises work best for relaxation and which provide more energy. This class better prepares you for a rewarding yoga teaching position, whether working for yourself or someone else.