Hatha Yoga Teachers: What is the Best Yoga Instructor Certification for You?

There are so many styles of Hatha Yoga and many instructor certifications to choose from; but how do you decide which Yoga course is the best for you? We often refer to all of these styles of Hatha Yoga as Yoga sub-styles because they are divisions of Hatha Yoga.

You might think it is hard to find the right Yoga teacher training, but there are many options for aspiring Yoga instructors. Below are some of the many choices you should consider, when you are deciding to become a Yoga instructor.

Moderate Hatha Yoga: There are many styles to choose from, but earning a Yoga instructor certification in one these styles will enable you to teach a wide variety of students.

The age and condition of your Yoga students should be taken into consideration, when deciding about which Yoga certification to join. Traditional Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Sivananda Yoga are examples of this classification.

Chair Yoga: This is a specialized Yoga instructor certification, but the global population is aging. When you consider how many people turn 50 every day - this Yoga specialist certification may be more mainstream 10 years from now.

Hot Yoga: There are a wide range of ages involved, but this does attract a younger crowd. The 105 degree room temperature is not to be taken lightly - if your native climate is much lower. You must feel real passion for this classification of Yoga. Bikram Yoga and Hot Yoga are examples of this type of Hatha Yoga.

Vigorous: Flowing, or powerful, movements and asanas can reach a wide range of ages, but most of your Yoga students will be less than 40 years of age. Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Power Yoga are examples of this classification.

There are other options for Yoga instructor training, as well. The number of study hours, for Yoga instructors, should be at least 200 hours. There is also the decision of whether you can attend Yoga training in person or take a Yoga instructor distance learning course.

On-site Yoga instructor training might be over the course of many weekends throughout five months, a year long Yoga training course - or the Yoga course may last years. Obviously, time is a factor in your decision, but cost and the quality of the Yoga instructor training should be "weighed in the balance." Yoga instructor intensive training should be in the range of 200 minimum hours of training.

Home study Yoga certification courses are for interns who cannot attend Yoga instructor intensives. The graduates of these programs have previous Yoga experience and must be self-starters. The type of person, who takes "night school courses," or home study courses, in any subject, is self-motivated. However, a minimum of 200 Yoga study hours is suggested for Yoga instructor interns.

© Copyright 2006 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. riyoga.com riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html