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Having a yoga instructor can really help to boost your yoga practice. They will demonstrate the asanas (postures) so you can really see what you need to be doing and they will help you by watching what you do and making small corrections to keep your body aligned and safe. However Yoga is a wonderful tool for stress management that you can learn on your own with the help of a DVD or book.

By Kathryn Boland, E-RYT 500 Recently while enjoying hot coffee and a good book at a local Panera Bread café, I heard another patron say to his friend (something to the effect of, I'm paraphrasing), "You say you're in this special area, specifically, and they say 'You're the guy for this'. " His comment got me thinking about being a "specialist" versus being a "generalist" as a yoga instructor. I believe this consideration is an important one in the profession because of yoga's countless number of "schools" of thought and styles - from Kripalu to Bikram to Viniyoga forms (and that list certainly continues).

By Sangeetha Saran While being a student has undoubtedly been a transforming experience, compared to the time when one did not practice yoga, becoming a teacher represents an even larger step when it comes to upping your game. This is because training to become a teacher is hard, requiring lots of study, dedicated practice, and understanding of yogic philosophy and the lifestyle changes necessary to live a healthier, more balanced life.

By Jenny Park It seems safe to assume that the majority of yoga instructors start out as students. It is usually a process of metamorphosis from that first day on the mat to making the decision to become a certified teacher. Yoga beginners often are unaware of what they will experience, as they become seasoned yogis. Yet, many experience a transformation so profound they feel propelled to move on from student to 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 Kathryn Boland Have you noticed the positive effects of students feeling a sense of community with those whom they practice? Have you thought about how you might be able to encourage that to emerge as a yoga instructor? I personally started to think about this topic more seriously as I joined a yoga studio, as a member. I had previously taken a few classes here, a few classes there - all enjoyable, but lacking in truly meaningful connections with my teachers and fellow students.

By Kathryn Boland, E-RYT 500 Recently while enjoying hot coffee and a good book at a local Panera Bread café, I heard another patron say to his friend (something to the effect of, I'm paraphrasing), "You say you're in this special area, specifically, and they say 'You're the guy for this'. " His comment got me thinking about being a "specialist" versus being a "generalist" as a yoga instructor. I believe this consideration is an important one in the profession because of yoga's countless number of "schools" of thought and styles - from Kripalu to Bikram to Viniyoga forms (and that list certainly continues).

By Kathryn Boland There I was, in my typical Tuesday night yoga class. We were warmed up and moving into some vigorous Warrior flows. Having been on my feet all day long, my quads whimpered for mercy as I bent deeper into Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose). Ok, true, maybe my alignment got a little sloppy as I backed off my deep bend slightly. The instructor, whom I looked up to highly (both as a student and a new, quite green instructor myself), came over and gave me a physical cue to deepen me in the posture. "They're watching you!" she whispered in my ear.

By Kathryn Boland Do you have a certain structure in which you organize your time - such as monthly, weekly, daily, seasonally or annually? Does that help you to organize yourself personally and professionally? We yoga instructors are busy, with many moving parts and pieces to handle. It's therefore beneficial to have some sort of time framework, fitting within a week or some other set structure of time.

By Jenny Park It seems safe to assume that the majority of yoga instructors start out as students. It is usually a process of metamorphosis from that first day on the mat to making the decision to become a certified teacher. Yoga beginners often are unaware of what they will experience, as they become seasoned yogis. Yet, many experience a transformation so profound they feel propelled to move on from student to instructor.

By Sangeetha Saran Although yoga has been practiced for centuries, it has emerged from a secret tradition for spiritual evolution to become a popular mainstream philosophy for holistic self-improvement. This popularity has resulted in the emergence of teacher training courses.