Yoga Instructor Career Interview
Renee Zambo is a yoga instructor at Corepower Yoga and Urban Lotus Chicago, in addition to teaching private yoga lessons. She earned her yoga instruction degree from Corepower Yoga and has practiced yoga since 2004.
Yoga Instructor Career Path
From an early age, Renee had a passion for a yoga instruction career.
“Teaching yoga was always something that I wanted to do but never thought I could,” she says. “Then a little over a year ago, my former job as a personal assistant was really wearing me thin, and I felt like I needed a change.”
Renee continues, “I chose a training program that was relatively short (8 weeks) and started teaching right after. From there it has been a little tricky deciding where to teach, when, how many classes, for how much, etc. Plus, I’m still learning a lot about the business side of it.”
Experiences of a Yoga Instructor
Renee has a Bachelor of Arts in fiction writing from Columbia College Chicago, but she worked in a number of different areas before reaching toward yoga.
“I mainly write fiction projects of my own and have done only a few gigs and freelance work in advertising and websites,” she explains. “I worked full-time as a human resources rep before becoming a pet care provider, then a housekeeper, then personal assistant, and then a nanny.”
Finally, Renee decided to pursue her interest in yoga and went through a training program at Corepower Yoga in Chicago.
“At the end of my training,” says Renee, “myself and other trainees taught a community class for family/friends. And that was really insightful. I realized how present I had to be. There was no moment where my mind could wander, or linger on a mistake, I had to be totally engaged in what was happening in that room and respond as accurately as possible. Even when I thought about a mistake I made for a moment, everything else was affected.”
She continues, “I also realized what a big deal I was making out of 7 total minutes of teaching (it was a round robin style class). And once I got over myself and my nerves, I was a much better teacher.
Yoga Instruction Degree Programs
To earn a yoga instruction degree, the program requirements varies based on what type of yoga that you wish to teach. For instance, to teach the yoga form known as Bikram, you have to practice for 6 months before you can even register for training. Baptiste yoga requires 1-2 years of your own practice in addition to at least a year of teaching in a regular studio in order to earn a yoga instruction certificate.
To figure out the requirements for the yoga certificate program of your choosing, visit here.
“But the great thing about yoga is how you’re continually learning and expanding your experience as a student and teacher,” Renee explains. “There are always workshops to go to, books to read about yoga, and different teachers or students to learn from. So the education should never really stop.”
Yoga Instructor Job Description
Renee is an instructor through Corepower Yoga and Urban Lotus Chicago, in addition to giving private lessons.
“I coach students through a series of poses based on the kind of yoga class it is, where their practice is, and in a way I feel could benefit them the most,” she says.
Renee teaches beginner to intermediate yoga practitioners.
Yoga Instructor Daily Routine
“I teach at a couple different studios,” Renee explains, “and every day is different depending on when and where I teach. I typically teach in the afternoon, and I try to plan my day out for time when I can have my own yoga practice, hopefully do a little writing, all around my yoga classes.”
Although this is Renee’s experience, the normal day for a yoga instructor varies from person to person because they all come from different backgrounds.
Renee says, “I’ve found a great difference in some of the teachers I have met. Quite a few are school teachers or business people during the day and teaching at night is there side job. Others live and breathe and yoga, lead retreats, programs, or other special events.”
Yoga Instruction: Steps to Success
Since the lives and teachings of yoga instructors can be so different from one another, you always have to keep an open mind about the practice.
“Always allow yourself to be open continue learning, but that doesn’t mean you have to believe or include everything you read/hear in your own teaching,” Renee advises.
“Also, being attentive to your students,” she continues. “Teach in a way that allows them to find a pose in their own body instead of projecting one on them. Be approachable as a teacher and responsible.”
Renee adds, “And remember your students’ names! Probably my biggest fall back as a teacher, but very important.”
Yoga Instructor Job Market
“It takes time to get a set schedule, regular students, and everything sorted out,” Renee explains. “I was definitely living off rice and beans for a while when I got started. Another thing to consider is that most studios have their own training programs, so it’s not as likely that you’ll be able to teach at a studio where you didn’t receive your instruction.”
Favorite Part about a Yoga Instruction Career
It would be a stretch to say that Renee just has one favorite part about her job.
“Sometimes I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this,” she remarks. “But probably the one of the coolest things I’ve seen was one of my students getting into the pose Birds of Paradise. In earlier weeks I could see she was struggling and getting frustrated, but she held this pose for about two seconds and this immense smile spread across her face.”
A Yoga Instructor’s Future Ambitions
“I always thought it would be great to teach yoga in a women’s shelter, a women’s prison or something along that vein,” Renee explains. “There are some really cool things happening nationwide such as the Prison Yoga Project (www.prisonyoga.com) and yoga in community centers and schools throughout Chicago. So I always keep my ears open to that sort of thing. But more immediately, I’m starting to co-lead posture clinics with the teacher training program at Corepower Yoga, which is a lot of fun.”
Renee also wants to combine her love of yoga with her love of writing.
She says, “I’d love to start freelancing for some locally based Yoga reviews, such as YOGAChicago.”
Advice for Prospective Yoga Instructors
“Try not to focus on what you think a pose should look like, or how flexible you are or aren’t,” Renee explains. “Don’t get discouraged in your first few classes. Like anything, yoga takes a little time to feel comfortable with. It sounds simple, but actually a very hard concept to look over, especially in our society. The point of the asana (pose) practice of yoga is to notice what each pose means in your body, without any judgment, and find progress from there.”
You should also be persistent in your path for teaching if you’re passionate about it.
“Like any transition we take in our lives, there will be a lot of surprising challenges and sacrifices along the way,” says Renee, “especially when you start your teacher training as you will have to learn a lot physically and emotionally. As a yoga instructor, it’s important to be mentally and spiritually balanced as well as knowledgeable of anatomy and asanas. Most of the time students come for that emotional release and support, and you’re responsible for creating that atmosphere.”
She continues, “Stay involved in the community as much as you can, see what’s out there and try not to get discouraged with whether or not your teaching is ‘good’ enough. Know that life, like yoga, is a practice and it takes time to get comfortable and find your style. Every teacher is different, so try not to mimic anyone, and you should be very cautious of programs that make you feel like that. Other than that, good luck! Stretch a limb!”
