In Canada, anyone can call themselves a yoga teacher, hang out their shingle and start offering classes. There are no regulations delineating what experience or training a person needs in order to teach yoga. However, to be taken seriously by students and in the yoga community, teachers need to show that they have some sort of qualification for the job.

There are a variety of ways in which yoga teachers can obtain training. There are home-study or distance education courses, classroom instruction (sometimes combined with home-study components), and practical or apprenticeship style programs.

Home-study courses are not recognized by the Yoga Alliance or the International Yoga Association any more. These organizations require classroom theory and practical components to teacher training in order for it to be considered valid. That does not negate the usefulness or quality of home-study programs. Apprenticeships are great for those who wish to learn the basics of yoga asana, but tend to leave out yoga philosophy.

To become a qualified yoga teacher, first you have to decide what kind of training is right for you. If you opt for home-study, you need to understand that not all yoga associations will recognise it or permit you to join as a certified teacher. Some insurance companies will insist that you have proper classroom and practical instruction with a qualified teacher trainer in order to get liability and comprehensive coverage through them. Attending an accredited school of yoga does not necessarily mean that you have to go full time. There are a number of schools that offer intensive training over several weeks, but many offer evening and/or weekend classes that can fit your lifestyle.

Good training encompasses yoga philosophy, asana instruction, anatomy, lesson planning and business development. These are often 500 hour courses that are broken down into sections of instruction, personal practice, practical teaching experience, and study hours. A 200 hour course is less comprehensive, but will touch on all of the same aspects as a 500 hour course.

You also need to decide what kind of yoga you wish to learn and teach. There are several schools of yoga that are each slightly different in their approach. Iyengar, Ashtanga and Bikram are examples of different yoga disciplines that you may wish to explore. Again, you need to do your homework.

In order to become qualified as a yoga teacher, you will be expected to complete

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