Want to try a yoga class for the first time, but afraid of not being able to twist like a pretzel? Never fear. Practiced for more than 3,000 years, yoga can be great for meditation, weight loss, flexibility, strength and stamina. Check your concerns at the door, relax, remember to breathe and you'll be well on your way to your first down dog.
Break in a New Yoga Mat
When you buy a yoga mat, it comes with a sticky sheen on both sides. This coating helps the mat stick to the floor so you stay put while practicing yoga. However, the sheen can be slippery to those with bare feet and those wearing socks. The optimal condition for a mat is to maintain the sheen on the side that will face the floor and wear down the side you stand on.
Prepare for Bikram Yoga
If you have already joined a Bikram yoga class, you know this type of yoga is practiced in a room that is heated to between 95 and 105 degrees. Because of this heat, there are a few precautions you must take and a few preparations you must make before attending class. Read on to learn how to prepare for Bikram yoga.
Set Rates as a Yoga Teacher
Setting rates as a yoga teacher is generally based on your level of training, certification and years of experience. Rates will vary depending on whether you are teaching a group class at the gym, at a high-end health club or in a yoga studio or are offering private instruction to one client.Some family gyms might offer as little as $12 per class to teach group classes, whereas a high-end health club may pay its yoga teachers $75 for a 75-minute class. Yoga studios generally offer a base rate and additional monies based on the number of students in the class.If you have a specialty, such as working with pregnant women or children, this will also affect your rates.
Open a Bikram Yoga Studio
Owning your own yoga studio can be an adventurous and rewarding experience. The profit potential of opening a Bikram studio is encouraging, as well. The number of yoga practitioners in the United States has reached about 15.8 million, and a recent study found that Americans spend 5.7 billion dollars a year on yoga classes and products (Yoga in America study, 2008). With yoga increasing in popularity and new markets opening up, opening a Bikram studio could be a worthy investment.