One of the biggest challenges that aspiring yoga teacher trainers are facing today is the uncertainty of their future. The demand for in-person yoga classes and yoga teacher training courses plummeted drastically after the pandemic started. As a result, the opportunities for employment and income for yoga teachers and trainers became quite low and erratic. Those who are already in the profession still feel assured by the fact that they have at least completed their training. So if need be, they can adapt and offer classes online. But for those who are just starting out, fear, anxiety, disappointment and regret are probably some of the feelings plaguing them. They might even be considering abandoning their dreams for some other field.
But you should not be so hasty when making such life-changing decisions. Times may be tough but people always find a way out. It is the same with yoga teacher trainers. It is true that yoga teacher trainers will be finding it difficult to accommodate their training and teaching with this new way of life. But new and innovative ways are coming up every day to help the yoga community. If you need more convincing, we request you to keep reading. We will discuss all your options and opportunities so you will not be blindsided when you go out into the changing yoga world.
How to Receive Your Yoga Teacher Training in the Quarantine
On March 15, the Yoga Alliance released a statement on its website. It said, “Yoga Alliance is strongly recommending, for communities where social distancing has become required, recommended, or the community norm, that all in-person yoga instruction be cancelled until they need for social distancing has passed”. This meant yoga teacher training centres had to cancel all in-person YTTCs. The Yoga Alliance also asked them to start building infrastructure for online live-stream classes. While it was the most logical step forward, most yoga schools and teachers were ill-prepared for this new and daunting task. Of course, online yoga classes are being conducted and students are taking them too. But they are often not enough. You need extra support. Here is a list of things you can do:
- A good teacher should be able to teach well both in-person and online. A good RYS should be able to take care of the needs of their students whether they are in-location or on their computer screens. Thus, make sure that the YTTC you are choosing is from a good yoga school in general. That automatically increases the chances of the online version being good too.
- If a school had been offering online classes even before the pandemic hit, it means they already have the required infrastructure and experience. Choosing such a school automatically guarantees a better grade of the online YTTC course.
- The Yoga Alliance recommends the use of as many online materials as possible. This is very useful advice. You should take advantage of all the resources you have to make up for the hands-on training you are missing out on. Yoga Alliance itself has a relief fund and online resources to help yoga trainers in this time of need.
- Keep training and practising by yourself. If you lose your practice, you will not be in good form when you start in-person classes.
- As you are doing your YTTC, start building up your digital infrastructure. You will have to offer online classes for some time now. It is better to complete preparations in time.
How to Start or Modify Your Yoga Teaching Career in the Pandemic
Whether you are an established yoga teacher trainer or an aspiring one, you will be facing an entirely new world now. No previous advice or suggestion will work anymore. But that does not mean you will be going out blind. Online yoga courses are nothing new. Conventional yoga teacher training course providers and yoga trainers can take a leaf out of their books. Some of the things they can keep in mind are:
- There are many ways you can start offering online classes. You can provide courses through PDF, audio, video and live-streaming. Except for the first, all of these techniques also require textual material to reinforce and support them.
- While it is true new yoga instructors are breaking into the industry with very little income prospects, they have to be rational. Many people are also trying to save money. They will not subscribe to you unless they see some incentive. You can offer some free gifts or resources to get yourself started.
- You can break in through well-known platforms that already have a robust application-payment system in place. This will ensure better business than going stand-alone, as there will be no guarantee of reliability or authoritativeness to reassure people.
- If you do not feel there is a guarantee of continuous income and you have a back-up source of money, you can choose other ways to earn. Freelancing, crowdfunding and donations are great options to help start you off.
- Besides regular online classes, you also have the option of providing single niche classes, premium private classes, function-based bundles and other innovative types of classes. There is a great demand for these now.
- Keep the door open for providing partial or full discounts to those in need like seniors, immuno-compromised people, essential workers, etc.
- Do not try to give out medical advice. You do not have the qualifications for that. Similarly, do not design yoga classes along the line “Yoga to help prevent corona”. That is clickbait and highly deceitful, and can even hurt your reputation. Rather, try “Yoga to help boost your immunity”.
What are Your Best Options
We already said that it makes sense to get your yoga teacher training from a yoga school that has experience in providing online yoga classes. It should also be an established and renowned institution. Aadi Yoga School ticks all these boxes and thus, should undoubtedly be the top choice for you if you aspire for a bright future in yoga teaching.