How to Become a Hatha Yoga Instructor

Hatha yoga is a discipline of yoga focusing on the physical movement of the body. It is practiced to obtain balance and harmony between mind, body and soul. Practicing Hatha yoga is a good way to get exercise, peace of mind and a healthy body. People become instructors to deepen their personal practice as well as pass on the knowledge to aspiring Hatha yoga students.

Steps

    1
    Decide what type of Hatha yoga you would like to teach.
        There are many different disciplines including, Bikram, kundalini, vinyasa, power, ananda, integral and more.
        The different types of yoga practices incorporate different poses and breathing exercises.
    2
    Determine the amount of time you can commit to learning.
        All basic Yoga Alliance teacher training programs are 200 hours long.
        Many programs offer different schedules including 4-week retreats, weekends only, once a month for a year and other configurations.
        Having awareness of your schedule and lifestyle helps in determining what type of program to enroll in.
    3
    Find an organization that offers a teacher training program.
        You can receive training through a yoga studio, personal residential training or at an ashram.
        Make sure the location you choose is certified by the Yoga Alliance. The organization should be open and have this information available on request. If they're not willing to disclose any information, it's possible that they are not certified.
        Talk to your instructor to find out what they think the best route for your personal practice is.
        He or she may have a recommendation for a training program based on awareness of your progress as a yoga practitioner.
    4
    Travel to India. Enrolling in a training program in India might be for you if you are a serious student and would like to learn yoga philosophy from the source.
    5
    Go on retreats. Many organizations offer yoga retreats where students and teachers travel to remote places and practice yoga, learn about the philosophy of yoga and strengthen their individual practice. These retreats can help solidify your desire to teach and gain self-awareness.
    6
    Get involved in the yoga community.
        Learn who taught your current teacher and trace back the lineage of teachers to gain a solid understanding of your practice.
        You can learn about yoga retreats and deepen your practice through communication with your teacher and fellow students.
    7
    Enroll in a teacher training program once you've firmly established your practice and figure out your schedule.
    8
    Complete your training and begin teaching.