Yoga Therapist

Job Description:

Yoga therapists use yoga to help people with physical issues, emotional issues or specific health problems.

Job Category:

Health Care & Social Assistance

See Health Care & Social Assistance jobs Practice Video Interview

What you will do:

As part of your day-to-day tasks, you could:

take a client’s case history including their physical and emotional health and lifestyle
agree a personalised programme of therapy to help with issues or symptoms
work with clients on a one-to-one basis or in group classes
teach simple yoga postures to more complex moves
teach breathing exercises, relaxation and visualisation techniques
give advice on how to maintain good health and a sense of inner peace and relaxation
if you work freelance, market your services and do business admin

Skills:

You’ll need:

knowledge of psychology
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As well as:

excellent verbal communication skills
active listening skills
to enjoy working with other people (teamwork skills)
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
sensitivity and understanding
leadership skills

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

There are no specific GCSE subjects that are typically required to become a yoga therapist. Yoga therapy is a specialized field that involves the application of yoga techniques and principles to support individuals with various health and wellness concerns.

To become a yoga therapist, you will generally need to complete the following steps:

Obtain a Strong Educational Foundation: While there are no specific GCSE subject requirements, it can be helpful to have a background in biology, anatomy, psychology, or related subjects that can provide you with a foundational understanding of the human body and mind.
Complete a Yoga Teacher Training Program: Before becoming a yoga therapist, you typically start by becoming a certified yoga instructor. There are many accredited yoga teacher training programs available, and completing one of these programs is essential. These programs often include coursework on yoga philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodology.
Gain Experience: After becoming a certified yoga instructor, it’s important to gain experience teaching yoga. This experience will help you build your skills and understanding of how yoga can be applied to various individuals with different needs.
Specialized Training: To become a yoga therapist, you’ll need to undergo additional specialized training in yoga therapy. These programs are designed to teach you how to work with individuals who have specific health issues or conditions and how to tailor yoga practices to their unique needs. Look for accredited yoga therapy programs.
Certification: Many yoga therapy programs offer certification upon completion. Obtaining certification is often a requirement to work as a yoga therapist. There are various organizations that provide yoga therapy certification, such as the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
Continuing Education: Yoga therapy is an evolving field, and it’s important to stay updated on the latest research and techniques. Continuing education and workshops can be valuable for keeping your skills current.

You can get into this job through:

specialist courses run by private training organisations

Other Routes

You could take a course in yoga therapy. To do this you’ll usually need to:

complete a yoga teaching course of at least 200 hours
have at least 2 years experience of teaching yoga

You may need to show examples of recent study to prove that you can cope with the academic content of the course. An understanding of anatomy and physiology will be useful.

Working Hours and Environment:

A typical week consists of 32-34 hours of work. You could be required to work freelance/be self-employed managing your own hours.

You could work at a health centre, in a therapy clinic or at a fitness centre. Your working environment may be physically demanding.

Career Path & Progression:

You could teach yoga, as well as practising as a self-employed therapist.

With experience you could teach or supervise yoga therapists in training.

You could take additional training to offer other complementary therapies.