You can take several programs you can take to become a certified yoga instructor for kids. If you’re unsure where to start, here are pointers to help you navigate the process. Knowing what to expect and what lies ahead will make it easier for you to plan and move forward with your plans.
Start with Your Reasons
Why do you want to teach kids? What do you hope to achieve in teaching yoga to children and teens? How do you think the practice can be valuable to them? Asking these questions helps you realize your teaching goals. Before completing a children’s yoga certification online, you must identify those goals to see if this is the best career path for you. If your dream is to help kids use yoga to access joy or work through traumatic events, that’s a goal you can aspire to.
Look for a Program
Once you’re sure about your goals, start looking for a certification program. Every program will likely cover the same ground. However, the teaching styles will be vastly different. Also, some may offer other training programs or classes, so check thoroughly before signing up. Others may provide a program using different methodologies to allow you to experience a range of teaching styles and strategies.
Visit the School
Take a tour of the facilities. It’s an excellent way to see the flow of space in the rooms and how the lessons go. Online or virtual tours will also work. However, in-person visits will allow you to see the staff interacting with the students. You want to observe those interactions. How do the students respond to the teachers? What teaching styles or principles does the school follow? Take the time to check the school’s stance on discipline. Teaching kids and teens means managing and disciplining them, too. Make sure you and the school are on the same page before proceeding any further.
Ask About Customized Options
Some yoga schools offer custom options for the certification program. Is that a better option for you, considering your skills level, goals, and time constraints? Some of those customized options may provide more training in specialized areas. Is that something you’re interested in pursuing? Consider your certification and future goals to see which programs are a match for your needs.
Expand Your Training
Once you complete the certification course, what other areas do you wish to pursue? Do you want to expand into other fields of expertise? For instance, learn how to teach kids and teens with special needs. Is that part of the training you want? Do you see yourself thriving in that career?
Polish Your Skills
Work on refining your skills. It takes time to learn, absorb, and understand lessons in a way that you can start incorporating them into your teaching style and strategy. Give it time. That’s also why it’s best not to rush into another program. Take the time to understand the core of what you’ve learned and once you’ve mastered the material, it’s time to move on to the next.
