A yoga instructor uses yoga to help clients feel better physically and mentally. Yoga is a series of exercises and breathing applications that improve a person's posture, flexibility, and strength. Most instructors are skilled in different types of yoga and often teach private and group classes.
One of the main responsibilities a yoga instructor has is to teach yoga to students. Instructors may teach beginner's classes which focus on developing an individual yoga style and avoiding injury. Some of the basic moves the instructor performs in this class are the Cat Cow Stretch and the Downward Facing Dog. The instructor will also assist students with poses to make sure that the participant has the correct form and does not get hurt.
Sometimes the yoga instructor will mix up basic yoga with other exercises such as Pilates and toning. This is typically an advanced class and instructors may offer it to individuals who already know the fundamentals of yoga. In this session, the teacher will help students to focus on specific muscles, improve balance, and learn how to do deep stretches. Instructors also modify exercises for students who have medical conditions such as back pain or knee injuries.
Many athletes also look to yoga instructors for conditioning advice and to get exercises to reduce muscle pain. A yoga instructor may recommend stretches for the hamstrings or the lower back. Teachers might also show athletes calming poses to do before a stressful event to make the athlete less tense.
Generally, yoga studios will offer specialty classes if there are enough interested students. One such class the yoga instructor might teach is a hot flow yoga class. This type of yoga is taught in a heated room under strict supervision of the teacher. Instructors believe that the moisture from the heat increases the body's metabolism, improves circulation, and releases impurities from the body. One of the tasks that a yoga instructor is to ask the pupils if they have any medical conditions that may be adversely affected by the hot temperature.
Most yoga teachers also have backgrounds in other areas relating to physical and mental health. Teachers who own their own facilities typically will offer classes on nutrition, personal development, and life skills. The yoga instructor may teach classes out of a building that also doubles as a spa or wellness center. In addition to yoga sessions, teachers at private resorts often host weekend retreats or specialized workshops for couples. Certified yoga instructors may hold training classes for individuals who are interested in learning how to teach yoga.