Making a career out of an ancient practice
SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG
In recent years, yoga has become a popular way to exercise, reduce stress and treat injuries. Yoga originated in India and has become widespread around the world, including Thailand.
Because of the focus on the physical aspects of yoga, few people realise they are participating in an ancient practice rooted in Indian religion.
Many fitness centres and hotel fitness studio now "must" have various yoga classes. Because of the yoga fever around town there is a dearth of yoga trainers.
Become a yoga instructor In Thailand, as a result of the rapidly increase in practicing yoga, the shortfall of an organisation to set certain standards for yoga teacher training has become an issue.
There are many teacher-training programmes in Thailand. Most of them by highly experience and notable yoga masters.
Suthee Phanthong of Pure Suthee Yoga said the basic requirements to apply for the yoga teacher training programme are: Sufficient background in the practice of yoga and have ability to do many advance postures (asanas).
He said those who are interested in becoming yoga instructors should learn about the approach of teaching in order to find out the most appropriate one for themselves.
"Before making a decision to take the teacher training programme, you should experience different instructors as there are many kinds of yoga styles. Western instructors may use a power yoga style in order to boost the body strength, while Asian instructors have outstanding flexibility techniques. It depends of each physical structure and elements. Make sure you like and respect the head teachers; you will be spending a lot of time with them," said Suthee.
He has studied several yoga methods such as Sivananda, Iyengar, ashtanga and vinyasa. He mixed and matched each one together in order to discover the true essence of the art and form the purest yoga style that is the most beneficial to all practitioners.
Curriculum, length of programmes and cost
Take a good look at the curriculum.
Some programmes may take only few months, others may take a year. Expect to pay 25,000 to 100,000 baht depending on the course and it's length.
For more information, visit: http://www.puresutheeyoga.com/, http://www.thaiyogainstitute.com/, http://www.yogaelements .com/,
Salary benefits
Jeerasak Phanthong or Tom, said after his first yoga lesson, he never looked back. He accompanied his father, Suthee Phanthong, to gain a first-hand teaching experience, and has also travelled far and wide to study yoga with other masters. By mixing and matching each method, he has created his own style of yoga.
Tom, 25, has decided to forego a university degree for a career in yoga.
At the age of 18, he became a full-fledge instructor and now teaches at several fitness centres around Bangkok.
"Being a yoga teacher is a very good career with a bright future. I charge around 1,000 to 1,500 baht an hour for group classes and for private classes, my fee starts at 2,000 baht. I generally teach five classes a day," says Tom.
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