Everything You Need To Know About Become a Yoga Teacher In Singapore
If you're thinking of becoming a professional practitioner, here's what you need to know
If you're thinking of leaving your "soul-sucking" corporate job in search of inner peace and a more meaning career, becoming a yoga teacher might be an option. But first, you gotta go through yoga teacher training before you can be considered a certified "guru".
The most basic teacher training courses tend to be 200 hours long, while others can run for 300 or even 500 hours. All the courses have to be Yoga Alliance-certified. So how much investment is involved in making that career switch?
The requirements
While the standard route to becoming a yoga teacher is to complete a yoga teacher training course, this is by no means a surefire way to become a good teacher, or a good yoga practitioner, for that matter, especially considering the various styles and definitions of yoga.
However, for most commercially-run yoga studios, a teacher training qualification is a prerequisite for candidates hoping to teach with them. Many teachers even complete multiple teacher training courses.
Some teacher training courses are accredited by Yoga Alliance, while others aren’t. While a Yoga Alliance-accredited course is not necessarily better than one that isn’t, it’s worth noting that some gyms or studios will only hire teachers with Yoga Alliance-certified qualifications.
It’s also important to know that just because you go through a particular yoga studio’s teacher training course does not mean the studio will take you on as a teacher.
How advanced do you need to be to become a yoga instructor?
Even complete newbies can get accepted into some teacher training courses. Others will require experience of anywhere from three months to a year. Then there are teachers who’ve been practising for decades and have attended multiple teacher training courses.
In general, so long as you are proficient in basic asanas, you’ll have satisfied the physical requirements for becoming a teacher. However, whether you’re able to get jobs is a different story. A lot depends on your personality, your network and your personal teaching style.
You might also need to get a specific form of certification if you are interested in certain types of yoga such as pre-natal or Bikram yoga.
And of course, if you intend to do this job in the long term, you should continue to practise and even attend classes conducted by other teachers so you become more proficient yourself and are able to secure better jobs in future.
What’s it like being a yoga teacher?
Yoga teachers are generally either hired full-time at one studio or freelance by teaching at several studios. Your income will depend on the studio, your level of experience and the number of hours you clock.
In general, yoga teachers should be prepared to teach on weekends and in the evenings, as that is when most students are free to attend classes. If you are used to a nine to six schedule, this might take some getting used to.
Yoga teaching is also a very physical job and you will be required to demonstrate asanas and interact with your students. Looking after your body and getting enough sleep is paramount to being able to do your job well.
Here are the top five 200-hour Yoga Alliance recognised courses:
The Yoga Inc teacher training course aims to teach aspiring yoga teachers not just to do yoga, but to actually teach. You’ll not only learn how to correct asanas, but also how to build yoga sequences and give voice cues effectively. What’s more, you will get the chance to lead actual hour-long classes for your final exams.
The course is available on a part-time basis and runs for 11 weeks, including weekends from 9am to 5pm. As a trainee teacher, you get unlimited classes at Yoga Inc as well.
How much: $4,500 (nett)
Hom Yoga has a full-time vinyasa teacher training course that runs for 20 days over the course of a month. You will study theory, deepen your understanding of asanas and also participate in some practical teaching sessions.
Since the course is specifically for vinyasa yoga, the course is better suited either to newbies who wish to focus on vinyasa or those with an existing yoga teacher training certification who want to deepen their vinyasa expertise. Perks include unlimited complimentary yoga classes and 20% off Hom Yoga packages upon completion of the teacher training.
Hom Yoga Training Academy also offers more specific types of yoga that are shorter and require less commitment, such as Children’s Yoga and Yin Yoga.
How much: $3,600
If you prefer the atmosphere of big gyms and aspire to teach at one, Pure Yoga’s teacher training programme might be for you. Taught by five teachers, you will get to dabble in a variety of styles including hatha, yin, vinyasa flow and hot yoga. The course runs for two months with a break in between.
As an added perk, trainees also enjoy discounts at Pure Yoga, including 20% off Pure Apparel retail products, 15% off food items, 20% off smoothies and juices, as well as $3.50 coffee or tea.
How much: $5,350 or $4,280 with early bird discount
Platinum Yoga’s teacher training course covers most of the basics you’ll see in other courses, with a focus on the advanced study of asana, which is useful for less experienced yoga practitioners who might need their alignment corrected.
While the student manual is included in the price, you have to purchase textbooks separately. The studio offers these at a discount. The course is conducted on Friday nights and full days on weekends, and runs for about two months.
How much: $3,999, $3,199 with early bird discount or $2,999 with super early bird discount
This course comes with a ton of perks. As a trainee, you get to attend unlimited yoga classes with Yoga Movement, catered meals and refreshments by Common Man Coffee Roasters, pro yoga shots for your portfolio and 20% off the studio’s retail stores. You also receive an extra month of free unlimited classes if you make full payment a month before the registration cut-off date.
Yoga Movement’s program runs for nine weeks, taking place mostly on weekends. Trainees also get to attend two classes at Yoga Movement.
How much: $3,900
Text: Joanne Poh/ MoneySmart