Yoga teacher
Yoga teachers teach yoga as a form of exercise to increase fitness and wellbeing.
Salary range: Variable
How to become a yoga teacher
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- specialist courses run by private training organisations
College
You can do a yoga teaching qualification like:
- Level 3 Certificate in Teaching Yoga to Children Aged 5 to 16
- Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga
- Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Yoga
It may be useful if you have a background in teaching exercise.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More information
Other routes
You can train as a teacher by doing yoga courses with a specialist training provider.
You can also get a teaching award from The British Wheel of Yoga, the national governing body for yoga in the UK.
More information
Career tips
You’ll usually need 2 years’ experience of practising yoga with a qualified teacher to teach it yourself.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join organisations like the The British Wheel of Yoga or Iyengar Yoga UK for professional development and to make contacts with other teachers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- customer service skills
- the ability to work on your own
- leadership skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- have insurance
- pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- designing course and lesson plans for a range of abilities
- teaching a wide range of simple and complex yoga positions
- adapting positions for conditions like pregnancy or arthritis
- teaching breathing habits
- assessing your students
- reviewing your own courses and teaching skills
Working environment
You could work at a fitness centre or at a health centre.
Career path and progression
With experience you could run your own yoga workshops, yoga retreats, or holidays.
You may be able to train as a yoga therapist or take further qualifications to train yoga teachers.