HomeCareerYoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career

Yoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career

“There is no such thing as superhuman. Being human is in itself super”- Sadhguru. Yoga has been a natural healing agent for thousands of people all around the world and also learning yoga has now become a necessity for many people. The recent data suggest that more than 350 million people practice yoga regularly.

We are today living in a world where people have become more health-conscious than they ever were. We can also owe this sudden change due to the nature of jobs and increasing lifestyle diseases. The people are today more at risk as work involves sitting in front of computer screens more than what it used to in the past.

Yoga is an option that not only gets you the required workout but also relaxes you. Yoga is one of the most natural ways of keeping the human body fit and in shape. It is something that has spread its wings to most western countries as well. This natural system which began as back as three thousand years ago has been maximizing its benefits making a difference for most people and also enduring them with health and happiness.

It has also been estimated that 1 million more people may join Yoga in the coming years. Hence, not surprisingly, the yoga industry has become one of the leading sectors in India and abroad. And a career in Yoga can be one of the highest-paying jobs in today’s world. Interestingly, you don’t need to launch a startup to start earning from Yoga.

A Career in Yoga in India – Types of Courses

Most professionals who have been sharing their knowledge of the science of meditation and also yoga are called yogis or Yoga Teachers. With the rise in the reputation of holistic and alternative medical care, a lot of weight is being given to yoga teachers and so it has resulted in becoming a great career choice. 

Yoga is taught in the form of a variety of courses. From short-term certification to a master’s and diploma, there are various options for seeking aspirants to polish their skills. Check the following segment to know in detail about types of courses in Yoga:-

B.Sc in Yoga 

This is a 3-year bachelor’s course in yoga wherein students are exposed to the science of Yoga in detail. They learn about body anatomy and the effect of yoga on the body and also mind. They also learn in detail about yogic science, hatha yoga, elements of yoga, and more. To pursue a BSc course in yoga, one must complete class 12th examinations.

M.Sc in Yoga

This is a master’s course in yoga. To pursue it, one must hold a bachelor’s degree to pursue MSc in Yog. Students learn various important subjects such as Anatomy and Physiology, Vedas, Upanishads, Physiology and Health, Yoga Therapy, and more ancient text such as Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra, and more.

Diploma in Yoga

These are short-term courses for preparing yoga teachers to pursue a diploma in yoga. One must complete his/her schooling. Students are taught Yogic Science and also Patanjali Yoga Sutras, therapy, naturopathy, Mental Health, and more.

Certificate Course in Yoga 

  • It’s a short-term certification course for a career in Yoga.
  • There are 200-hours, 300-hours, and also 500-hours courses.
  • These are part-time TTC (Teacher Training Courses) programs.
  • Students are taught the fundamentals of Yoga.
  • The certification is given through an accredited body to establish a career in yoga therapy.

Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Science

It is a one-year duration course with the eligibility of graduation with any stream from any recognized university.

Teacher Training Course 

Teacher Training courses are specialized to prepare students who seek yoga professionally. This is a very profound science, and not every other flexible person is eligible to teach it. Proper knowledge of it experientially, academically, and practice must be ingrained in those individuals before teaching others. TTC can be a 3 months course; it can also be 6 months to a 1-year course. Individuals are prepared in a committed environment to transmit it the way it should be consciously.

B.A in Yoga 

This course is Bachelor of Arts for Yoga. One should complete schooling to pursue a BA in Yoga. One gets to learn a detailed aspect of Yoga academically. They also get to learn about the basics of Ayurveda and other ancient science for lifestyle.

M.A in Yoga

It is a two-year duration course with the eligibility of minimum graduation from any stream. On completing a BA in Yoga, students can pursue an MA in yoga for in-depth research into the subject. 

B.Ed in Yoga 

Those interested in teaching Yoga as an academic subject in universities in colleges can apply for a BEd program in Yoga. One must pass class 12th to pursue B.Ed in Yoga.

Admission to Courses in the Field of Yoga

Yoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career
Yoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career

You can pursue bachelor yoga courses after passing your 12th class from any stream and also for master courses you should hold a graduate degree in any stream. There is not any age limit for admission to yoga courses.

The best colleges to pursue yoga courses are:

  1. Sivananda Ashrams
  2. Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute
  3. Parmarth Niketan
  4. Ashtanga Institute
  5. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari
  6. Gordhandas Seksaria College of Yoga & Cultural Synthesis
  7. Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga
  8. Patanjali International Yoga Foundation
  9. Maharshi Dayanand University
  10. SRK Medical College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Kulasekharam, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu

Exams for Career In Yoga

  • The ministry of AYUSH has started a certified QCI exam for yoga professionals.
  • The exam is mainly for those who wish to have a certification by the QCI department (Quality Control of India).
  • The QCI exam has two levels.
  • Level one refers to the instructor exam.
  • Level two is a teacher exam
  • You can even apply for some government jobs with a good QCI score.

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Career Opportunities

After completing one’s education, a student of yoga sciences can look for jobs in the following areas:

1. Research Officer- Yoga and Naturopathy

Trained graduates can opt for academic teaching of yoga in various government and also private schools. Every school nowadays has an individual yoga class that trains students from the beginning. These teachers train students from state to national level championships.

2. Yoga Therapist

These professionals are required for relaxation and rejuvenation purposes through therapies. Few muscle blockages can easily be released with various yogic therapies and massage. There are few points in our bodies that can ease out a person in the long run when pressed in a certain way.

3. Yoga Instructor

Yoga instructors aim to instruct all yoga asanas and also positions to their students.

4. Yoga Teacher 

A yoga teacher comes under the category of a senior position. Once you acquire an instructor position, you can become an experienced and professional yoga teacher.

5. Online Yoga Education and also Blogging

This is an emerging field in current times. Though yoga practices are preferably imparted in physical practice sessions sometimes due to unexpected situations like such times of COVID 19 pandemic, online yoga sessions are also emerging. Apart from that, professionals may not directly teach it but educate people about the importance of yoga, yogic diets, simple kriyas, and more. Educated professionals also write blogs and articles. They earn out of collaborations and influencer markets as well. For this skill, a person must have basic knowledge of blog writing and social media knowledge.

Career Scope after a Degree

Yoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career
Yoga: Colleges, Scope, and Certifications to Pursue a Flexible Career

Based on the Yoga training you have received, you can opt for the field of research, training, or working as a Yoga therapist. You can find work in resorts, gyms, schools, health centers, housing societies, and large organizations. Television channels also hire Yoga trainers, and renowned personalities prefer to hire personal Yoga instructors. A self-employment is an option many opt for as well. A great stress buster, Yoga is gaining ground among the ever-increasing number of foreign tourists who seek peaceful holidays, adding to the demand for Yoga specialists, and also there is no dearth of scope for the people in this noble profession.

This time of Corona Panadamic demands Yoga to promote sound health before it gets worse. There are powerful pranayama and kriyas, which can boost people’s immunity so that the body is protected internally. Thus the scope of this subject increases exponentially and is expected to soar in coming times. This is a way of life that can bring about transformation at a human’s fundamental level, which is the need of the hour.

Salary in this Field

Yoga teachers can earn from Rs. 10,000 up to Rs 30,000 per month by taking group classes. Personal classes for individuals/celebrities pay much better, especially if you’ve created a reputation for yourself among clients. Working at spas is also a good option and one can start at Rs 15,000 approximately and with experience earn as much as Rs 80,000 per month. Yoga instructors who cater to two or three organizations in the corporate sector also earn around Rs 70,000 per month.

Conclusion

As rightly quoted by the Ministry of AYUSH, “ Yoga has now become the icon of global health, and also many countries have started integrating it in their health care delivery system”. This is because it contributes to overall health in all possible ways: physical, psychological, and beyond.

There is a need for around 3.5 lakh yoga professionals and also instructors in our country. This shows that there are ample opportunities if you are thinking of starting a career in Yoga. Job opportunities include working in yoga centers, spas, housing colonies, yoga institutes, private clubs, and also as personal trainers. Depending on your experience, skills, and also location, you can earn handsomely with this career opportunity.

Rakhul Kumar
Rakhul Kumar
Project Associate at IIT Madras || Instrumentation Engineering from Anna University |

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