Deciding on a career path is not a simple process. If you are interested in a yoga professional, you have to know the following key factors before registering for a yoga teacher training certification.

Not a Traditional Job

Teaching yoga offers numerous benefits. One benefit is that your schedule can be versatile. Teaching in this industry is not a conventional nine-to-five job. A busy yoga studio can open at the crack of dawn and close late at night to cater to a variety of yoga students. For those of you who are leaving a traditional job to teach yoga, this can be a difficult adjustment to make. As a new instructor, your work hours may not be consistent at first because typically you're filling in gaps in the schedule.

The Costs to Become Certified

To be employed at a reputable yoga studio, they may look for an instructor with a yoga teacher certification. There are two levels of certification: 200 hours and 500 hours. The hours refer to the length of the course. A teacher training program that meets certain standards is registered with a governing body, such as Yoga Alliance. A registered training program can be costly that ranges anywhere from $2,500 to $20,000. Once you complete the program, then you can elect to register with a yoga governing organization. The option to register typically involves an application and annual fees.

In addition, there are costs involved if you decide to continue your yoga training.

Fortunately, there are home-based training programs available that aren't nearly as expensive.

Time Obligation

Aside from monetary costs, there's a time commitment you need to consider when becoming an instructor. You need to dedicate time to learn whether it's a registered yoga training program or not. It doesn't get any easier if you have a family or other obligations. Once you complete your training, it doesn't stop there. Like any career, being a yoga teacher is life-long learning in order to deepen your experience and knowledge.

Yoga Teacher Salary

Supporting a family on a yoga teacher's salary can be difficult. Actually, instructors don't draw a salary. Instead, they get paid per hour, per head, or a percentage. Typically, teachers stitch together a living by teaching in multiple locations and doing supplemental activities, such as workshops and private classes.

Physical Toll

In the event that you teach on a full-time basis, expect to teach quite a few yoga classes for most days of the week. This volume of teaching can take a physical toll on the body. If you have a medical condition that prohibits you from this sort of continuous physical exertion, make sure that you speak to your doctor.

No Benefits

As a yoga instructor, you are responsible for your own benefits. You have no subsidized healthcare, paid sick days, or paid vacations. This is one of the drawbacks of having a career in yoga.

Liability Insurance

Yoga instructors aren't exempt from being sued. You need to consider getting liability insurance in order to protect yourself. Fortunately, getting coverage isn't typically expensive.

Given all the above factors, the most rewarding of this profession is that you're helping people heal on many levels. You're transforming people. You're helping students get healthier, get grounded, and get physically strong. All these reasons are worth far more than whatever income you get.

Finally, if you want to find out more information about becoming a yoga instructor or if you want to learn about yoga teacher training programs.