Yoga instructors, like most alternative professions, are looked down upon from time to time, and their credentials are questioned most of the time, with some jeering that it is not a proper job. This is because people only see one side of the picture, which includes a gorgeous, “skinny,” usually white or Asian instructor who is found carrying a yoga mat, and drinking fruit smoothies. There is no lie here, and this is the representation most yoga instructors do get, but a lot is going on the other side as well. One thing a lot of people do not know is that a good yoga instructor attends training and is certified to be teaching. If you have questions, you can look into Marianne Wells Yoga Teacher Training, one of many training institutes that offers certifications to instructors.
There is work that goes behind being a yoga instructor like planning flows for clients, and how you can cater to every client’s needs. Everyone’s bodies pose their unique limitations and challenges, and this is highlighted even more so if you work with unique, diverse, and differently-abled populations. This is where the real work and challenges can come in, and if you are certified and have the right experience for it, then you can work with these challenges without making your clients feel they are different.
Yes, influencer culture and social media have distorted what yoga instructors are, what they do, and what they look like, but the truth is that you will find a variety of different instructors with different approaches, and that look and act differently from each other. As long as you go to a properly certified yoga instructor, you will find yourself learning to appreciate what they do and what they embody.