Best Job Opportunities for Yoga Teachers

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

One of the most frequently asked questions among instructors is, “Where are the best job opportunities for Yoga teachers?”  If you love teaching yoga routines and enjoy its meditative benefits, then you can enroll in a course to become a teacher, but most training programs do not prepare you for the job search after you graduate. The fact is -you could be the best Yoga teacher in the world and also be unemployed.

Preparing yourself to teach is not the same as marketing your skills. It's similar to writing a great book, but refusing to show up to book signings. Today, there are several fantastic places where a yoga teacher can work, earning a great yearly income. Remember that you will have a career teaching yogic practices for a lifetime, and you may want to work in a variety of settings, just for the experience. Here are some of the best places to work as a yoga teacher: 

1: Cruise Ships Throughout the World 

Working as a yoga instructor on a cruise ship is an excellent way to travel to various locations throughout the world. Cruise ship managers want to keep their passengers busy, and many passengers want to learn how to meditate or perform yoga movements. Not only will you get to travel, but also, you will earn a salary, along with having free housing and meals.

2: Senior Centers and Assisted Living Environments

Assisted living environments and senior centers want to have enjoyable activities for their members and residents. Some senior citizens will need specialized routines that require sitting in a chair or using props for balance; but if you can work with older adults, then this is the perfect job for you.

3: Summer Camps For Teenagers and Children

If you live in a region where students have long summer vacation times, then there are probably nearby summer camps for children and teenagers. Find a summer camp that wants a yoga instructor, and you will get to enjoy a fun vacation living in a cabin in the mountains or forest.

4: Local Day Spas or Spas In Exotic Locations

The day spa owners in your city, or in exotic locations, want to hire trained yoga instructors for their clients. You will work closely with other spa employees, giving you an opportunity to learn about other services, such as massages and aromatherapy.

5: Franchised or Privately Owned Fitness Gyms 

Today, many privately owned or franchised fitness gyms offer group classes or individual coaching. Yoga is one of the most popular types of classes requested by fitness gym members, helping you to have a great job.

6: Yoga Studios

This is the most common place a new Yoga teacher would go, and some studios are style specific. Other studios only hire their teachers from graduates of their own training programs. Some studios have a long list of substitute teachers on stand-by. However, other studios are often overwhelmed with students, and you can contact the owners to learn if they need to hire an extra teacher. If you have recently graduated, then this is an excellent way to get your foot in the door to have full-time employment.

7: Freelancing With Private Clients

If you want to remain independent, then start your own freelancing yoga training service. With this job, you will travel to someone’s home or workplace to teach them meditative practices or yoga postures.

8: City Parks and Recreational Centers

Local recreational centers and city parks want to offer an assortment of activities for adults, teenagers and children. If you enjoy teaching outdoor or underwater Yoga, then talk to the managers of the parks and recreational centers in your region about offering classes.

9: Prenatal and Childbirth Clinics 

Women, who are pregnant, need to prepare for childbirth, and they can enroll in your prenatal and childbirth class. Call the medical facilities in your region to determine if the physicians want to offer on-site yoga and meditation classes for their patients.

10: Child Care Facilities and Schools

If you understand how to work with children, then you can provide yoga classes for toddlers to teenagers. Contact nearby child care facilities and schools to learn if the administrators want to offer yoga classes for their students. With a rotating schedule between several schools or child care facilities, you can earn a great living. 

Lastly, corporate Yoga classes exist in many formats. Some are office Yoga classes, some are back injury prevention or stress management classes, and some are full-blown Yoga classes that exist in open space or a corporate fitness centers. I turned my corporate gigs over to our local graduates, in order to focus on Aura Wellness Center, but have to admit, corporate work paid steady and well.

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