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Become a qualified yoga teacher in Brisbane

Becoming a yoga teacher is a major undertaking, so find the yoga course that's best for you. There are many yoga instructor courses in Brisbane, and even more yoga teacher trainings in India or Bali. Many yoga schools in QLD and NSW offer yoga instructor courses, so make sure you find the right fit.

Ask yourself these key questions: Which are the best yoga schools in Brisbane? There is no right or wrong here, just a question of personal preference. Figure our your preferred style (Hot or Power Yoga, Vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar or Yin...) and decide what your objective is when choosing a yoga course. Do you want to become a teacher? Or are you participating to deepen your personal yoga practice? Here are a few considerations to help you decide:

• Legitimate certification: There are several certifying bodies in Australia's yoga industry. Make sure you choose one and then stay on the same track, as they don't mutually recognise each others' qualifications. You can take a Yoga Alliance certified yoga course or be accredited with Yoga Australia. Have a look at their criteria for qualification and ongoing accreditation on their respective websites. Here at Flex, we certify you through Yoga Alliance International, as this allows you to teach anywhere in the world.

• Amount of contact hours: When starting out on your yoga teacher journey, consider picking a place that allows for plenty of time with your senior teacher. Some yoga courses in Brisbane have a higher amount of contact hours, whilst others partly deliver their course online. Especially since Covid, this has become the norm - but it doesn't necessarily replace 1:1 time. Another option are yoga retreat immersion courses, but they limit the amount of ongoing contact hours you get to spend with your yoga teachers in Brisbane when you get back home, for your ongoing development.

• Covid proofing your training: Quite a few studios cancelled their trainings in 2020, resulting in many a shattered dream. Flex moved quickly to online tuition for as long as required, whilst offering all students to re-attend the course in 2021 in person for free, to get the very best of what we have to offer.

• Gain real-life teaching practice: If you actually want to teach as your part-time or full-time career, choose a training that offers real-life teaching experience both during and after your YTT course. Your facilitators need to provide you with enough practice time so you don't only gain the skills but also the confidence to teach. There are too many yoga training graduates our there who never end up teaching because they have never stood in front of a class and actually given it a try during their training.

• Find your tribe and keep it: On your journey to becoming a fully-fledged yoga teacher you need a group of like-minded people to support you and keep you on track. Many trainees who have attended TT courses in India, Bali or elsewhere overseas struggle when returning home: They have the skills and a lovely memory, but no grounding in an actual community, so they can easily lose heart when trying to maintain their yogic mindset all by themselves.

• Longevity: Covid has significantly impacted the yoga scene in Brisbane and some great schools had to close their doors. However, some of the best yoga schools in Brisbane are still around and Flex is one of them. Check different studios and see which teachers have been offering yoga classes and YTT for a while. They are the role models and mentors new yoga teachers in Brisbane need to progress on their path.

• Maintain your work life balance: If you study or work in Brisbane, training as a yoga teacher in Brisbane might make sense, so you can sustain your training and development in the long run. Consider how far you are willing to drive (or fly) to receive ongoing mentoring from your teacher and stay involved with your tribe.

• What is your goal when attending the training? There are a million different reasons to attend yoga teacher trainings - what is it for you? Are you coming with a desire to strengthen your personal yoga practice? Or do you want to make a living as a part-time or full-time yoga teacher? Consider which school will best cater for your needs and might even be able to hire you as a teacher down the line?

• Find yoga jobs: With the right qualification, you have the opportunity to travel and teach all around the world. Jobs for yoga teachers can be found at your local yoga studio, gym, spas or retreat centres around the country and worldwide. And maybe down the line, you can even open your own yoga studio.

• Yoga as a growth industry: Yoga is increasingly popular in Australia. With more competition between studios, quality is key if you want to sustain yourself. Develop a distinct profile and unique skill set as a yoga instructor so you can set yourself apart, then you can teach yoga workshops in different locations instead of depending on regular classes alone.

• As you develop, define your niche: Ongoing training and development are crucial when standing out in an increasing crowd of yoga teachers. The best yoga teachers in Brisbane and Australia have all done more than one course - they are life long learners. Your Level 1 Teacher Training Course will serve as a great starting point, but the journey continues. Be aware that with some providers, you will have to add regular CPD credits to maintain your certification.

• Teaching opportunities at your local studio: If you learn to teach yoga in Brisbane, your studio will hopefully provide you with a strong network in the Brisbane yoga community so you can get your first teaching opportunities. Make sure to join the Facebook group 'Yoga TEachers Brisbane' and other free online yoga networks once you are certified.

• Which kind of yoga if your favourite? Thereis a large variety of yoga schools in Brisbane with general courses as well as specialty yoga trainings. Visit a few schools that resonate and get clear on the main aspects you care about: physical fitness? A strong spiritual basis? A clear tradition and lineage (like Iyengar, Kundalini etc.)? Who do you want to be as a yoga teacher in the long run?

This is a big, bold, exciting choice and we hope we have made a little difference in raising your awareness about how to navigate this decision!

If you are looking to study here with us at Flex, here is what we care about: We deliver high quality hot power yoga and yin yoga classes. They combone physical strength with deep spiritual and philosophical insights to nurture body, mind and spirit alike. We train well-rounded yoga teachers and will take you on a deeply transformational journey to become the best teacher you can be.