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By Faye Martins Many people find yoga to be a great way to relax and get exercise. Yoga is a great way to mentally unwind and it promotes sports recovery. You may have thought about how great it would be to learn how to teach yoga students.

By Faye Martins Many people opt to become yoga instructors, oftentimes by taking yoga teacher training online. However, there are many yoga students who have considered undergoing teacher training, but aren't sure if this career path is right for them. While there is certainly a difference between a student who's passionate about yoga and a full-fledged instructor, both share a passionate interest in yoga, meditation and advancing their practice. To help determine whether or not teacher training is right for you, here are some of the qualities that make for a good yoga instructor.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Managers of fitness centers, wellness boutiques, and studios may, or may not, also be yoga teachers. Some managers are strictly business oriented and only focus on staying in business. Let's be honest - some teachers cannot manage a business. The nature of business is not for everyone. Managing a group of instructors gives one a unique position. You have to make sure the classes run smoothly, your numbers are good, and everybody is happy.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 If there is one lesson that I can pass onto you in this lifetime, it is to question everything. Please do not take anyone's word as gospel - including mine. Find your answers through research. Lately, there has been a lot of misinformation about Yoga and many related issues. Some people would have you think that all of the teaching opportunities are only in the studios.

By Gopi Rao In this contemporary era, more and more people have become interested in education and getting physically fit. For this reason, individuals who choose a career in yoga instruction can oftentimes attain both economic security as well as the ability to make a positive contribution into the lives of other people. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the field of yoga instruction, you may find yourself wondering whether participating in on-going educational courses would be a prudent decision.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, YACEP What should Yoga instructors know about giving an assist before a potential legal problem arises? Are there some general guidelines for assisting? Have you ever had an assist that did not really help much? Have you ever had a physical assist that hurt you physically or in any way? Do physical assists during asana practice make you feel uncomfortable? Is it really necessary for teachers to give a physical assist?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Are there reasons why someone should not be a Yoga teacher? Truthfully, there are no reasons why any of us cannot be, or do, what we want, as long as you are not hurting anyone. You should always strive to be the best you can be. However, you may find that many people create obstacles, in front of themselves, to avoid success.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 When or if, you want to become a Yoga teacher - would you be thinking of litigation, business, and Yoga? The old saying, "the truth hurts," applies to legality, ethics, and teaching Yoga. You can always "bury your head in the sand" and hope that you are never involved in a legal battle. After all, what kind of a student would sue his or her Yoga teacher? Doctors must ask each other this question every day. Sorry, but denial will not help you in a court of law.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What is the measurement of a successful Yoga teacher? Should a Yoga teacher take money for classes? How do you define success for a Yoga teacher? Is it your contribution to the common good? Is it by producing successful teachers? Is it by technical prowess? Is it by how many students you have? Or, is it a combination of these factors?

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How important are communication skills? Here is an oxymoron for you: Some of the best Yoga teachers are great listeners. This is a general guideline for students who aspire to teach Yoga some day. Listening skills, in Yoga, start when you take your first class, as you learn by hearing, watching, and doing.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 How can teachers lead classes effectively? Behavior toward neighboring Yoga schools, teachers, and their students, should be cordial. Like the old saying goes, "If you do not have anything good to say, do not say anything at all." When we speak of other Yoga instructors, or former teachers, in a hostile manner, what do we teach our students?

By Gopi Rao Becoming a teacher of yoga is a type of conundrum. The yoga path tends to attract those of an introverted nature. Often the thoughtful seekers delve into yoga for a personal pursuit and then become enchanted with the process and want to share what they have learned.

By Jenny Park Let's cut to the chase. Some teachers are telling their students to lock the knees in certain asanas especially balancing asanas. These yoga teachers have no understanding of biomechanics or anatomy. Talk to any doctor or physical therapist and you will learn there are no rewards for locking joints (hyperextending), but there are definite risks. It doesn't matter, which Guru or master says to lock the knees, roll up your mat and leave the class because you only have one set of knees.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Some teachers lead great classes, but hardly anyone has heard of them. It is a shame that proper behavior, respect, and ethics do not make great headlines in the newspapers. Just watch the news, and read the newspaper for a week, to confirm what makes "good copy." It will not take long for you to find a dozen, or dozens, of scandals.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 During the course of a lifetime, most of us have heard the saying," Do as I say, not as I do." We see this kind of leadership everywhere we go. All politicians, religious leaders, police, sports professionals, parents, academic teachers, and Yoga teachers, lead by example, even if the example displayed is not a good one.

By Jenny Park It is such an accomplishment to complete your first teacher-training course. Unquestionably, making the decision where and how to become certified was no doubt a major one. You had to choose whether it would be online, local, abroad, intensive, or spread out over several months or years and cost was certainly also a factor. Therefore, at the end when you completed the education, you probably exhaled a sigh of gratitude and relief, while mentally checking the achievement off the list in your mind. Nevertheless, remember the education is never over.

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 What should teacher know beyond how to run a class? At the very least, a Yoga teacher should have knowledge of the latest trends in classes, and the latest continuing education options for teachers. If something does appeal to you, there are many different continuing education options available for experienced teachers. There are a number of workshops, seminars, and camps around the world for interns and established teachers.

By Kathryn Boland Do you notice how the shifting nature of yoga practice in the West is opening up opportunities for new health/wellness enterprises? Have you dreamt up such an enterprise that brings together yogic practice/other wellness practice and your unique passions and interests? Perhaps you're unsure of how to get started? I'll detail the building and operations of a unique health/wellness business that demonstrates a true actualization of passion, and through that true seva (selfless service).

By Gopi Rao Becoming a yoga teacher - for many people, it's the positive achievement that comes after years of practice, hundreds of hours spent in intensive teacher training, and buckets of sweat and tears spilled on yoga mats. It's the final culmination of hard work, something to celebrate and cherish. However, many teachers run into unexpected problems, as they become a popular yoga teacher in their community. These problems can lead to instructor burnout, stress, and even depression. Watch out for these issues many popular yoga teachers struggle with so that you can be prepared in the event they arise in your own teaching experiences.

By Gopi Rao If you are considering a yoga certification course, you may want to understand diabetes and many other ailments. For those of us who already teach classes, all of the progress we have seen against diseases and suffering do not count in the eyes of scientific research. Science only recognizes its testing, studies and research as factual. At first, we might resent science for throwing out thousands of years of yogic research and claiming it is all biased information. For us to prove yogic methods work, yoga schools have to open the doors to medical and scientific scrutiny. We also have to be prepared to deliver proof and name sources of studies.