Chances are if you want to be a yoga teacher, you'll have to enroll in some yoga teacher intern programs. You'll find classes at community colleges, yoga studios and online, so let's explore where you can find the best ones!
Why You Need Yoga Teacher Intern Programs
Just as with any profession, stages of learning are necessary. These stages may be on-the-job or in a classroom setting. Most yoga studios and clients look for certified yoga teachers. Part of becoming a qualified yoga instructor is to delve into the intern opportunities to widen your knowledge and create a style that is uniquely you.
Often, yoga internship programs also help with anatomy issues and help to clarify what poses are best for the type of yoga you want to teach. Learning from expert instructors will help you design a course that deals with the mind, spirit, and body, as well as health issues.
Before you decide on yoga intern programs, determine what kind of yoga you want to teach or use as your focus? There are many including Kripalu, Iyengar, Sivananda, Integral, Vinyasa, and Bikram, to name just a few. Use the types of yoga you want to teach to find good internship programs.
Where to Find Programs
- Professional Yoga Therapist - Professional Yoga Therapists offers an internship that is a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years, with extensions available. The organization offers an intern program as part of a three-phase program taught by Beth Gibbs, who holds a master's degree in Integrative Yoga; her specialty is yoga for menopause.
Classes from this Web site are a combination of book study, online tutoring, and connecting with a local yoga studio for hands-on work.
- Mind-Body Services - Located in Philadelphia and owned by Dr. Christine Ware, a certified Kali Rayu TriYoga instructor, you'll find teacher beginning classes as well as internship programs. Classes are offered on-site and begin at $15.
Dr. Ware offers a unique affordability to her teachers, called the Seva Container. Those interested in becoming teachers and her intern program are encouraged to donate what they can. Suggested donations for up to 12 classes are around $200.
- The Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda is nestled in the beautiful Colorado Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. Through a combination of on-site instruction, textbooks, and hands-on internships, this organization offers 25 days of instruction. The cost of $3,100 is worth it, as you'll be involved in everything yoga from beginning to instruction to internship to obtain your certification.
- Shoshoni Yoga Online Teacher Training - Begin your yoga adventure in teaching by receiving a 20-hour online course that includes personal reviews, tips, instruction, and textbooks. To complete the online program, you must visit one of their studios for your onsite internship program. On-site internship classes are offered in Boulder as well. Total cost to complete the program is $2,000.
Yoga Studios and Community Colleges
A simple Internet search will uncover many yoga studios that offer yoga teacher intern programs. If you are looking for a specific area, make sure to include the area in your search. For example, if you live in Miami, you might search for "yoga studio internship programs in Miami." We found two great ones, one in Orlando and one in California.
- Yoga Matrix Studio in Orlando, Florida, is just one yoga studio we found online that offers internships along with teacher training. Choose from their four-weekend class for $345 or the two-week in-depth course for $750.
- Synergy Yoga also offers onsite yoga teacher internships. Located in Point Arena, California, their six-month program starts at beginner levels and leads to their internship program. Cost to enroll in this Synergy Yoga Studio class is $2,800, and will give you more than just your teacher internship. You'll leave with great tools and ideas on starting your own yoga studio and running a business.
Almost every town has a community college or community college satellite branch. Visit your branch and inquire about yoga internships that allow you to work alongside instructors to gain optimal experience. Yoga teacher intern programs are invaluable because you'll be applying what you've learned in classes, online or from textbooks to real students with the knowledge of a yoga master.
