Description: Yoga is a spiritual and ascetic discipline that is practiced for health and relaxation. Yoga instructors teach and demonstrate the different yoga positions, routines, and philosophies to groups and/or individuals.

Knowledge Required: Yoga instructors must have anatomical knowledge of the body, practical knowledge of yoga postures, meditation, and sequencing, and have some familiarity with business, marketing, and promotion.

Skills: Customer service, listening, motivational skills, physical fitness, problem solving, language, communication

Career Path: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree related to health, fitness, or physical education is often required for employment, but employers also hire those with certification, which can be obtained through training and apprenticeships.

Best Cities for this job: Metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Seattle employ the most yoga instructors.

Median Annual Income: National: $34,750; CA: $24,000

Future Growth: Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

From the field: "Every teacher that I consistently went to [was] a role model, somebody that I would go to class or to go their training, so excited to learn how they lived their life.” - Shakthi Ganeshan

Did you know?  Studies show that yoga reduces the risk of heart disease by improving arterial flow. Similarly, studies show that yoga also helps treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.Description: Yoga is a spiritual and ascetic discipline that is practiced for health and relaxation. Yoga instructors teach and demonstrate the different yoga positions, routines, and philosophies to groups and/or individuals.

Knowledge Required: Yoga instructors must have anatomical knowledge of the body, practical knowledge of yoga postures, meditation, and sequencing, and have some familiarity with business, marketing, and promotion.

Skills: Customer service, listening, motivational skills, physical fitness, problem solving, language, communication

Career Path: An associate’s or bachelor’s degree related to health, fitness, or physical education is often required for employment, but employers also hire those with certification, which can be obtained through training and apprenticeships.

Best Cities for this job: Metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Seattle employ the most yoga instructors.

Median Annual Income: National: $34,750; CA: $24,000

Future Growth: Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

From the field: "Every teacher that I consistently went to [was] a role model, somebody that I would go to class or to go their training, so excited to learn how they lived their life.” - Shakthi Ganeshan

Did you know?  Studies show that yoga reduces the risk of heart disease by improving arterial flow. Similarly, studies show that yoga also helps treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.