A Career in Yoga
Yoga is a philosophy which first developed in India, in which physical exercises and meditation are believed to help people to become calmer and united in spirit with God. The art of practicing yoga helps in controlling an individual’s mind, body and soul. It brings together physical and mental discipline to achieve a peaceful body and mind; it helps manage stress and anxiety and keeps people relaxed. It also helps in increasing flexibility, muscle strength and body tone.
Yoga has many physical and mental benefits, that include building muscle strength, enhancing flexibility, promoting better breathing, supporting heart health, helping with treatment for addiction, reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain; improving sleep; and enhancing overall well-being and quality of life.
Modern yoga focuses on exercise, strength, agility, and breathing. It can help boost physical and mental wellbeing. It focuses on poses designed to stimulate inner peace and physical energy. Ancient yoga did not place as much emphasis on fitness. Instead, it revolved around cultivating mental focus and expanding spiritual energy. However, whether ancient or modern, the ultimate purpose of yoga was and is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body.
Myriad of health benefits offered by yoga have resulted in an increase in the number of individuals practicing Yoga around the world. Practicing yoga aids in effectively treating a majority of ailments such as insomnia, hypertension, gastrointestinal afflictions, diabetes, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and sleep disorders. Furthermore, yoga significantly improves regulation of blood pressure, aids in prevention of diseases, stabilizes hormonal changes, maintains blood sugar, and helps in balancing bodily fluids. Such extended health benefits offered by yoga are expected to drive the market growth in the years to come.
The worldwide yoga market size was valued at $37,462.5 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $66,226.4 million by 2027, growing at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2021 to 2027. North America leads in terms of share in the yoga market; however, AsiaPacific region is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Yoga has been an integral part of Indian culture since times immemorial and has been practiced across the country by many people. Over the decades, yoga has become more popular and has been adopted as a way of life by a growing number of people within India. Many people have been inspired to adopt yoga, so much so that several different forms of Yoga have emerged over the decades to cater to the different needs of the people according to their age, fitness levels and expected outcomes such as fitness and flexibility, peace and calm and spiritual development.
With the establishment of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), the promotion of Yoga has intensified, and it has been reintroduced in people’s lives, rekindling in their minds the value of yoga and the role it plays in holistic well-being. Encouraged by the promotion by the Ministry, the business around yoga has increased manifold. The business ecosystem around yoga comprises yoga gurus or teachers; yoga schools and studios; yoga ashrams; yoga retreats and other yoga-related businesses such as apparel and equipment and books and videos etc.
Yoga classes are major revenue earners, and the number of participants sees a sharp rise in the summers with the International Day of Yoga serving as a gentle reminder to people to adopt this ancient Indian science. Personal branding and marketing of yoga reflects the growing popularity and business potential of yoga with personal brands such as Iyengar Yoga and Bikram Yoga being extremely popular. Several celebrities from the media and entertainment industry have also released videos and books on the yoga they practice, giving a boost to the business around yoga. So much so is the demand for yoga services that according to the trade body ASSOCHAM, there is a shortage of three lakh yoga instructors in India, as compared to a demand for five lakh such instructors of yoga.
A yoga instructor is a certified yoga teacher who conducts classes with individuals or different groups of people which involves meditation and yoga poses. The instructor has several roles to play, as he or she leads a group of students through a comprehensive and approachable sequence of postures, breathing exercises, meditations, and contemplations. One of the primary roles of the yoga instructor is to create a safe and nurturing space for the students to participate in a class. The instructor is also responsible for demonstrating and guiding the students through a series of poses in a safe and understandable way. Additionally, a yoga instructor also helps his or her students modify the poses, if necessary, and offer suggestions about using yoga as a therapeutic tool to heal from an injury.
Yoga instructors are in an increasing demand at yoga centers, health spas and gyms. Even the corporate sector has noticed the benefits of yoga and has called for routines customised by yoga teachers especially for the sector. Personal one-on-one classes are also becoming a popular option. There are also chances of employment in TV channels where regular yoga shows are broadcasted.
However, the primary responsibilities of a Yoga instructor are:
- 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.
- Sharing the basic spiritual and intellectual principles of yoga, including from the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and other teachings.
| Education Pathway | ||
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Post-Graduate | Some Colleges |
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BA in Yoga B.Sc. in Yoga |
MA in Yoga M.Sc. in Yoga |
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