Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Dolee - I would certainly encourage you to proceed ahead with the goal of teaching Yoga. What a wonderful incentive! I, too, practiced Yoga for many years, stopped and then started practicing again. At age 49, I started teaching Yoga and then became certified. So, it can be done later in life and it's not just for the younger folks. Teaching Yoga is probably one of the best things one can do for a post-retirement career. Working with people to improve their health is so rewarding and your own health will greatly benefit too. Best of luck!!

Namaste,

-Don

I went to a class not too long ago and the teacher was 70 years old and was phenomenal.I'm not sure how long she'd been teaching (she was a school teacher for many years) but I'm sure she'll continue for many years to come. She has her own studio above her garage. She sure is an inspiration. Good luck and best wishes on your endeavors! Ange

Anyone at any age can teach Yoga. It dsn't require maximum flexibility, strength, balance, or a gymnastic back ground. Teaching Yoga ds require knowledge and the willingness to keep learning.

Teaching Hatha Yoga has nothing to do with age or ideal fitness. Consider a coach at a football game: He can't jump on the field and compete with 300 lb. players who are in their 20's and in top physical shape, but he is a teacher who can explain to his player how to perform better.

The same is true for Yoga teachers. Teaching Yoga to students is also coaching. If you are kind and careful of Yoga student safety, you will be a good Yoga teacher. This is all that counts, but your body will also improve from your own Yoga practice.

You made another good point Jeann. Aging gracefully is of primary importance after middle age. Yoga ds help. Ask any person who has sat on the couch during retirement; how their back feels. Just to get up off the couch is a relief to the body, mind, and spirit. Now, imagine how a person getting off the couch feels after a few Yoga classes. Yoga teachers should realize that more people over 50 are physically active and morivated than ever before. This Chair Yoga that Paul writes about has taken off and will continue to be a wave for years to come.

Hi Don,

The link at the NY Times is gone.

Good article.

Namaste

The article from the NY Times is interesting and it shows many sides of the issues. However, in closing Shiva Rea mentions that some students in the LA and NY markets are looking for only the best teachers. And it kind of implies that yoga teachers must be instructing full time and not concerned about money to be any good. Until reading her statement I had a lot of respect for Shiva Rea, have seen her teach, and like her DVDs - not everyone likes her DVDs, because she dsn't explain much in them and you could break yourself into pieces trying to keep up with her.

Yoga teachers are not guaranteed to make a full time living from teaching classes. It depends on the financial needs of your family and the local market. It is easy for a high roller who has made a few dozen Yoga videos and lots and lots of BIG MONEY to imply, unless you are like me, everyone will discover your aren't a serious full time teacher and your classes will be empty.

What a crock! I will give my Shiva DVDs away to somebody who cares. And I doubt I will ever go to one of her intensives again. Some of these yoga celebs start to believe all the hero worship and schmoozing. As for Shiva, I think all the attention gone to her air head. What a hypocrite!!! She is not the only yoga starlet hypocrite. Listen closely the next time an air head celeb with dozens of yoga DVDs on the market says it's not all about the money. If you believe that - shame, shame, shame, shame on you.

Hi Everyone,

Yoko, No harm done. I feel your pain. Well, so much for yoga celeb worship. You can't expect a star to understand the plight of us lowly part-time yoga instructors. If you practice yoga 24/7 you might be able to control your emotinal outbursts. " title="Laughing" /> Albeit, you best move to a place where there is no need for money (where ever that is).

Peace,

Steph

Teaching part-time yoga seems like a good idea to me. Everyone starts that way, so who cares what another teacher says. Yoga is supposed to stop us from making foolish comparisons. I wonder how many teachers that Shiva trained who are now part-time yoga teachers? It's no big deal, but did you think she was going to be as mindful of her words as the Dali Lama? She just put her foot in it.