Chapter ８

"Well, a yoga teacher is a fitness and wellness professional who leads group classes in yoga. They teach students how to perform the various stretching poses, practice meditation and promote mindfulness in addition to overall wellbeing. These professionals are also often referred to as “yoga instructors” and “yogis.”" I said, quoting the lines. 

"The specific responsibilities often includes, instructing small or large groups of new, intermediate or experienced yoga practitioners

Demonstrating stretching poses, including alternative, advanced and adjusted positions to provide more accessibility to students of different levels. Advising students on ways to improve or refine their practice, including at-home routines, positions for certain benefits and techniques to make positions easier, safer or more challenging

Helping individual students perfect their form, including offering manual adjustments during lessons. Leading groups through quiet meditation by talking through the process of letting thoughts go and relaxing each part of the body and sharing the basic spiritual and intellectual principles of yoga." I explained patiently, watching his reaction. 

He was just staring at me with mouth hanging so I cleared my throat to get his attention. Actually it is not hard being a yoga teacher. You just need to get an education. 

Education requirements for yoga teachers are focused on their understanding of and practice in yoga, meditation and its spiritual principles. To prove their educational qualifications, they are often required or preferred to hold a certification in yoga instruction. 

Yoga instructors come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Some teachers may have some secondary education, a high school diploma or any level of post-secondary education. Though traditional education is not often required, some employers may prefer candidates to have a high school diploma or even a bachelor’s degree. Some relevant degrees these professionals may pursue include education, sports medicine, sports management, physical therapy or other health science. All of these degrees would be transferable for yoga teachers also interested in serving as fitness instructors, personal trainers, athletic trainers or teachers. Depending on employers, advanced education may result in increased earning potential.

After that, there is training. These professionals gain much of their training in yoga through years of individual practice, taking classes, learning new and advanced poses, and getting advice from practicing yoga teachers. Some of these fitness professionals attend yoga retreats or enroll in a series of classes, and do so over many years, before pursuing a training program and becoming a teacher. Aspiring yoga instructors can gain experience before certification by observing the practice of their teachers and even helping fellow students on their own.

Before selecting a training program, aspiring yogis must choose which type of practice they want to specialize in, such as ashtanga, restorative, hatha, bikram and hot yoga. Each practice has its own methods, principles, pose combinations, transitions and intended level of practice. Some programs offer training in a variety of practice types, though some may specialize in one or two.

Yoga teachers typically complete an instructor training program that has been certified through the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance’s Registered Yoga School. Training programs may vary in setting, length, requirements and cost, but RYS-certified programs follow the training-hour designations selected by the Yoga Alliance to ensure students who complete training can be properly certified.

"What about this?" He asked, changing the topic. 

"Coach of a small club, walk the dog, host a party, I told you I was a temporary employee." After years of unsuccessful love search, I found another way to live, that is, to work multiple part-time jobs and earn enough money. Well, that's it. I opened the door of another room as I walked.

"That's not true. She's a very talented artist." Dylan rebutted what I said, and came out of my open room with a book. I don't understand. Does he know me very well? I think so. After all, we are friends.

"Dylan, Dylan," I whispered to him, signaling him to stop talking.

"Look at her sketchbook, she's hiding it down there." Dylan also wants to show Donald my sketch book. He really wants me to beat him up. Oh, I'm going crazy. Why did he do this? How could I have such a friend?

"Dylan!"

"What? He's not?" Dylan muttered to me at the other door, roughly asking me if he was the man I was talking about. I shook my head in the doorway and whispered no

"Is everything all right?" Donald looked at Dylan in disbelief, thinking that Dylan was crazy

"Yes, thank you." Dylan was probably a little embarrassed that his behavior was discovered, gave me a thumbs up and left

"I found it." I found the medical kit in my room and took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from it and showed it to him

"You are also an artist." Donald finally got the sketch book Dylan told him, looked at the works inside, and praised me with my sketch.

"I like to try many different things. Life is short and I can't always live the same life, can I?" I took my sketchbook and put it on the table

"Yes, this is a good philosophy of life."

"My dad used to say that, come on," I held up hydrogen peroxide to ask him to come with me and treat his wounds. 

"In the past?" He sat in his chair and asked me why I said it was the past. 

"Yes, my parents died when I was very young," I told him calmly while adjusting hydrogen peroxide

"I'm sorry."

"It was nothing, that was a long time ago." I said. 

"Ready?" I prepared the mixed hydrogen peroxide to smear on his wound, and my parents' death has already passed, so now I don't think it's anything. 

"Yes, I feel a little embarrassed. I am a doctor, and I should be one." Doctors are sometimes embarrassed. He often deals with other people's illnesses or something. Now I am a girl who is not a doctor or a nurse to deal with his wound, but I am embarrassed. It may hurt him later, and I am not mistaken since he shouted and it scared me.