I Got a Job Right After Yoga Teacher Training. Here's How.

A common question that people signing up for yoga teacher training (YTT) ask is, “Do I need to want to teach yoga afterward?” The answer is no. In fact, I’d guess about half the students who sign up for YTT do so out of curiosity and for personal growth. The other half do it because they want to teach yoga.

When someone asked me this question during my YTT, I replied that I didn’t want to teach. I had always been incredibly nervous about the prospect of standing in front of a group of people and I had a difficult time imagining myself leading others through a class. But some part of me knew that I actually wanted to teach.

Not long after I graduated from my 200-hour training, the studio where I had studied decided to open a new location in San Francisco. Several teachers left New York to help with the launch, leaving a number of time slots on the schedule.

I heard the buzz about who might land those classes. And I knew these were highly coveted and almost impossible gigs to come by, especially for a new teacher such as myself. So to say I was surprised when I was offered several of the classes would be an understatement.

How I Got a Yoga Teaching Job Straight Out of YTT

As I moved through the training, I learned more about myself on an intensely personal level. That gave me the confidence to grow more and more comfortable with my voice as a teacher. In retrospect, what also led to my internal transformation and readiness to teach was my immersion in the entire experience of yoga. Hanging around the studio. Taking class every day. Chatting with teachers, students, and front desk staff. Participating in events. And allowing myself to be fully present in that community. All of that contributed to my internal process.

Being present also contributed to my being chosen as the teacher for those time slots, although I wasn’t aware of it at the time. After chatting with the yoga studio’s directors, I learned that my commitment to the studio throughout the previous year had been a big factor. I was selected over more experienced teachers who had also trained at the studio but just weren’t around a lot. As a result, they weren’t top of mind. But I was.

I had wanted to teach at this studio. And I felt that the best way to do that was to be seen, active, and present. I didn’t have the same resume as other teachers, but people liked me and felt comfortable with me. That translated to the success of my classes right from the start.

What I Tell New Yoga Teachers About Landing a Class

When new grads just out of yoga teacher training ask me about getting hired for teaching gigs, I tell them part of it is being at the right place at the right time. Typically, you wouldn’t describe this as something you have control over in life. But it’s been my experience that you can make yourself available to be at the right place at the right time.

Of course, studios hire yoga teachers outside their circle through open auditions, referrals, etc. But I’ve seen many teachers get their first shot after putting in the time and showing commitment at whatever place they want to be.

Sometimes that first class happens in the form of an emergency and you’re asked to step in and sub because you happen to be there to practice. Other times, a teacher gives up a time slot and management realizes the person who’s been taking that class for months and understands what students want would be the ideal person to take it over. In my case, they also figured everyone already knew me and it would be an easy transition. And it was.

So for yoga teachers out there trying to get a foot in the door, my advice is always the same. Put in the time, make yourself available, and continue to show up for the types of classes that you really want. You’ll be at the right place at the right time.

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