How to Become a Bikram Yoga Instructor

Bikram yoga deals with 90-minute classes that follow a set 26-pose sequence without variation. To become a Bikram yoga instructor, you will first need to be a dedicated Bikram yoga student. Follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Become a Bikram Yoga Instructor

1. Apply for Bikram yoga instructor training. You can use the official Bikram yoga Web site as a resource (see Resources below).

2. Register early and pay special attention to dates. There is often an early sign-up price which is lower than the regular price.

3. Prepare for travel. Training is often held in Hawaii or some other location.

4. Study. Bikram training includes topics such as therapeutic application, benefits of poses, asana or poses, alignment and anatomy.

5. Be prepared for the dedication required to complete the course. Nine weeks of study and 500 hours of coursework compose the training program.

Work as a Bikram Yoga Instructor

6. Look for private clients. These clients generally pay the highest fees and all of the money goes directly to you instead splitting it with a health club or yoga studio.

7. Network. Get your name out there using business cards, Web sites and contacts you made as a student or during training.

8. Pay your dues. You may have to begin teaching yoga at a gym, YMCA or other health club. If your goal is to teach at a yoga studio, that can take time as you need to build a reputation first.

9. Apply at smaller yoga studios. These studios, which may be newer and less experienced, are often more open to recent training graduates.

10. Travel to find work. Sometimes in the beginning of your career, you may need to be open to finding your own work, outside of the area you live in. Bikram is a specific form of yoga and locating work can be a challenge.

Tips & Warnings

• Some people enroll in teacher training to deepen their practice, rather than become teachers.
• Bikram teacher training mandates that applicants have 6 continuous months of Bikram instruction, a teacher recommendation for the program and be at least 21-years old.

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[camelcobratree]

on 11/7/2009 Upon graduating from Bikram training, do not follow Step 1 and 3 in the Work as a Bikram Yoga Instructor section. When you are starting out as a Bikram instructor you need to teach at a Bikram studio first. Very few recently graduated trainees are good enough to take on private clients. Do not try to get work at a gym, YMCA or other health club-- you will not receive the proper mentoring needed to become a good Bikram instructor. Prior to going to Bikram training see if your studio will help mentor you when you return- this is the best way to become a good instructor. Once you've taught for a while at a studio, then you can consider steps 1 and 3, but remember at a gym they won't get the room hot enough!

[rjbeaudoin]

on 6/30/2008 To help understand "a day in the life of" and the commitment required, visit the Bikram Yoga Teachers in Training blogs at http://www.bikramfinder.com, the social network for Bikram yoga students, instructors and studio owners