What Happens After Yoga Teacher Training?

Photography by Courtney Hergesheimer Figueroa

You made the leap of faith to enroll in Yoga Teacher Training (YTT), hopefully bonded with your fellow trainees, and most likely had life transforming experiences. Even if you signed up for YTT to deepen your practice with no intention of teaching, you still had to practice teach during your program — you might change your mind about teaching in the future. If you do know you want to teach now that you completed YTT, you may be wondering what the next steps are in getting a teaching position.

Depending on your city, a yoga community can feel really small. I do believe there is space for everyone, and I also acknowledge that it is daunting, exhausting, and defeating trying to find a studio teaching position. There are so many variables that contribute to securing a teaching gig. Working in this industry is different than any other industry I have ever worked in. Being a full-time teacher is not impossible, but I would not recommend it for a new instructor months out of YTT. It might be smart to take your time to find your voice, choose what you want to offer, and have a clear authentic identity that sets you apart from other recent graduates.

Someone typically has a large advantage if they are already connected to a yoga studio and embedded in a community. This way, owners know who you are, students recognize you, and your energy contributes to the health of the community. Unfortunately, it isn’t feasible to be a part of every yoga community in your city so find one that you vibe with and commit to practicing there. Use this as an opportunity to trial putting yourself out there, learning the names of students, and asking teachers’ about themselves.

So many of my instructor colleagues have had different experiences trying to find stable teaching positions. Some have auditioned with great and not so great outcomes, some have been outright asked to teach, and some never even received a response when they inquired about a teaching opportunity. A lot of new teachers are able to get on sub lists or teach free community classes as a way to get on a studio roster, but these types of opportunities are sometimes unpaid or compensated at a low level. If you are fortunate to be hired as an independent contractor with a weekly class, newer teachers usually are presented with the least ideal time spots. There isn’t anything necessarily wrong with this, but it does create an environment in which instructors, especially new instructors, do not feel comfortable asking for what they want since they may jeopardize a coveted class.

In many instances, it is a matter of who you are connected to rather than your skill level. This isn’t unique to the yoga community, but it is a frustrating experience for many. A new teacher can be the most knowledgeable in anatomy and sequencing, but they might not have the “star power” (which can take years to build), so they are not given the chance to teach at a reputable studio.

These examples are not meant to deter new teachers, but to empower new teachers with the knowledge that the described barriers are incredibly common. When I started teaching, I took any yoga job possible to improve my skills. I remember teaching at a chiropractic office that paid me maybe $12 a class. One of the only students that showed up every week had two recent knee replacements and I would teach them different variations of vigorous low lunge sequences (can you imagine instructing someone to rest on their knee that was just replaced). Bless that student for being sweet because I was so new and learning how to teach in the world. It isn’t an awful thing that you start small as a recent YTT graduate.

Think of the people and places you are already connected to and try starting there. Offering donation classes is also a great way to get experience. Reach out to schools you’ve attended, clubs you’ve been a part of, or friend groups that would love a monthly class from you. This could help build your confidence and then organically branch out from there.

I wish I could say that every owner of every studio has a standard method of bringing new teachers on, but they don’t. Your worth isn’t assigned to any studio brand or organization. Most likely you sacrificed and dedicated time, resources, and efforts to enroll in a YTT program because you have a deep love that you want to give this world. Hold on to the reason why you want to teach, keep moving forward, and do not be afraid to ask for help.