The answer is most definitely yes!
I was 47 when I trained to become a yoga teacher and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only do you learn how to deliver an inspiring class but also you delve deeper into learning more about the ancient practice of yoga, anatomy and the business of yoga. Often courses will also include a significant amount of self enquiry work and you come away with a deeper understanding of your authentic self and what is important to you.
I had been considering how to next progress in my work and in my yoga and was thinking through different options, separately a couple of people had mentioned they could visualise me training to be a yoga teacher – that was all the encouragement I needed.
I was in my 40’s before I really discovered yoga and its many benefits, I had only been practising for a few years before I enrolled myself on a 200 hour yoga teacher training course with The House of Yoga. The course was a Vinyasa Power yoga teacher training as I wanted to teach the style of yoga which I really enjoyed practising. I wanted to be able to share my love of the practice and help support others in their yoga journey. I have a love of learning and this was a way to continue learning and at the same time practice more yoga.
The course was fully online as it was shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. There were 4 of us participating and our ages ranged from early 30’s to late 40’s, however there was no barrier in how our friendships developed over the duration of the course.
When I enrolled my mindset was that I would be open to all opportunities which presented themselves as a result of being a trained yoga teacher, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to set up my own classes, teach in an established studio, or other ways of sharing the knowledge which I had gained. I was curious to see what would open up and what I could manifest as a result.
I took the step to set up my own classes, initially as I wanted to build my confidence in delivering a class before approaching an established studio, but as time went on and as my confidence a a teacher grew – so did my class. There is more work involved in running your own classes: securing a venue, setting up a booking and payment system and driving your own marketing, this may not be for all. The ability to turn up at a studio, deliver a class and be paid could therefore be more attractive.
I have also been fortunate to be able to expand beyond my regular classes and have been invited to deliver bespoke sessions for sports clubs and I have recently been approached to run a number of sessions at a summer festival, which is really exciting.
Since the course I have taken on a role of Wellbeing champion in my workplace – as part of this role I have developed the mental health plan including the role out of mental health training. I run wellbeing exercises in our monthly company team meetings which can be short breathwork or mindfulness exercises or focused meditations. I feel I have more to offer and greater confidence to deliver compelling and helpful exercises and content. Some of the feedback I have received has been incredible: colleagues have shared how they have been inspired to take up or re-establish wellbeing habits which they had dropped.
At present I would say the only thing holding me back is the amount of time I can dedicate to building additional classes and developing further (as I am still working 4 days a week in my regular job). My age has not been a barrier at all. Career paths used to be very linear, they are now much more fluid and squiggly, skills are very transferable and it is easier to try new things.
Since I graduated from the initial 200 hour course I have also taken a 30 hour Mandala yoga teacher training course which also incorporated Chakras. This felt like a mini retreat, I took some time off work, booked myself into a hotel near the training and loved practising morning and afternoon for four days and learning the structure of this wonderful flow at the same time.
If you are considering training to be a yoga teacher, there are a few things to think about before you take the plunge:
The style of yoga: Look around at various styles and understand where your energy lies and the style you would like to teach. There are many options and it is important to get the right one for you
The teachers who will be running the course: These are people you will be spending a significant amount of time with. Do they inspire you, what specialist areas are they bringing to your learning, do you connect with them?
The location of the training sessions: Many people are happy to travel abroad to places such as India to carry out their 200 hour training and often those courses are more intense and would require you to take a block of time, which may be easier if you don’t have other work or family commitments. A course in the UK may be
The frequency of the training / time commitment: Whilst there is no getting away from a 200 hour course will require you to commit 200 hours of your time, it is important to understand when the training will take place. The course I did was split across evenings and weekends with a regular schedule. It was spread across 6 months and all the dates were shared with us in advance which made it easier for planning.
The cost: Some studios will offer early bird discounts or payment plans which might help to either bring down the cost or spread it across a longer period.
If you are interested in learning more or want to discuss your options please get in touch.
yoga instructor training bali
Everything is very open with a really clear clarification of the issues.
It was really informative. Your site is extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing!
Ali Goode
Thank you so much for your kind words, I hope you have progressed along the wonderful journey to become a yoga teacher. It really is possible at any age.