9 Things to Know Before Taking an Online Kids Yoga Certification Course
By Brooke Weber, Pretzel Kids content editor
Have you ever wondered if becoming a kids yoga teacher is the right path for you?
Maybe you practice yoga daily and are itching to help others perfect their cobra pose. Maybe you love working with children, but you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to find yoga teaching gigs in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re looking to pick up a side hustle or two, preferably without leaving the comfort (and safety!) of your own home.
Whatever your reason for starting a children’s yoga teacher training, you’ll be happy to know that now is the perfect time to become a kids yoga instructor!
One unexpected benefit of the pandemic is that online certification courses for potential jobs have popped up all over, and teaching kids yoga is certainly a rewarding way to earn extra cashola. Not only that, but yoga helps kids deal with stress and become more mindful – something we can all use during these trying times!
So, why not learn to teach kids yoga and do something positive for yourself and your future students?
But, before you jump headfirst into a kids yoga teacher training program, here are 9 things to know before taking an online kids yoga certification course.
1. You don’t have to be a fitness expert to teach yoga
Are you familiar with the basics of yoga? Are you motivated to learn more? While some yoga studios require auditions, 200 hours or more of expensive training sessions, and volunteer work before you can even apply for a teaching position, other training programs have ZERO prerequisites. If you enroll in the Pretzel Kids Method, for example, you can become a certified kids yoga instructor in less than 12 hours. That’s right – it half a day or less to learn what you need to know to teach yoga for kids!
So, if you bring a love for yoga and an interest in teaching to the table, you’re ready to achieve kids yoga teacher status.
2. There’s never been a better time to develop a new skill online
Unemployment rates in the United States have skyrocketed over the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, many of those fortunate enough to keep their jobs have been stuck working from home. Still, being cooped up has meant that people worldwide are constantly searching for new side hustles to try and skills to master. Online courses make learning easy and accessible. Plus, some of these skills (like teaching yoga to children!) can quickly turn into efficient moneymakers.
3. Practice, practice, practice to build confidence
While Pretzel Kids offers a fast-track way to get your online kids yoga certification (and why not take the fastest path to a new career), you’ll still have to practice what you learn in order to turn those 12 hours of training into a successful side hustle or job.
Here’s another thought: Are your children taking remote classes or sticking to homeschool this year? Make the most of their time at home by trying out what you’ve learned – hold a yoga class for the whole family! If other neighborhood children can safely gather whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines, why not invite them to a sample outdoor kids yoga session? Once you’re comfortable with teaching those you know well, you’ll be ready to run classes for your very own students in no time.
4. You can learn from anywhere at your own pace
This might just be the best thing about learning something new online: you are your own boss! You get to learn wherever, whenever and however you want. Whether you’re a busy stay-at-home parent, a teacher managing remote or hybrid classes, a college student writing essays on the daily or anyone in-between, you can mold Pretzel Kids’ online certification program to fit your schedule.
5. It helps to know how to work with kids
You’re about to enroll in a kids yoga instructor course, after all! Understanding how to work with and be around kids is just as important as having a basic knowledge of yoga. Even if your yoga skills are superb, you won’t be able to simply transfer the techniques you know from adult classes into classes designed for children. Children need patience, consistency and gentle structure. As Pretzel Kids teacher Ali Andelman knows, sticking to your plan for the session and accepting that things might not always turn out the way you envisioned are the keys to success when it comes to teaching yoga to children.
6. Kids yoga is on the rise – and it pays, too
Preschools and daycares are making kids yoga part of their regular activities, and with good reason. Especially during these turbulent times, children may find it difficult to cope with leaving home and returning to a preschool or daycare with limited social contact. That’s where kids yoga comes in: mindfulness and breathing techniques can help kids deal with stress. With more demand comes more jobs, and since both remote and socially distanced classes have been cropping up lately, you’ll be able to stay safe whilst making money doing something you love.
7. Children actually love yoga…
Though some might believe that children can’t sit still long enough to get through a yoga class, this is a total myth – especially when you’re talking about Pretzel Kids yoga. Each Pretzel Kids class includes effective strategies and activities that keep children engaged, moving, and excited to be there! Kids as young as toddlers can even develop their motor skills by practicing yoga poses, and older kids can learn how to share and better interact with others through mindfulness techniques. And, like we said before, yoga can help anyone manage pandemic-related anxiety. What’s not to love about that?
8…and it’s good for you, too!
The benefits of yoga don’t stop when you become an adult! In fact, yoga is an amazing tool for taking care of both your physical and mental health. As you learn how to teach children and teens through your online kids yoga certification course, you’ll also be learning how to help yourself. Yoga is simple and easy to do from home with little to no equipment required. There’s no better solution to the quarantine blues!
9. This gig is what you make of it
Do you want to work one day a week to earn some extra pocket money? Or are you more interested in completely filling your weekly schedule with kids yoga classes? An online kids yoga certification opens you up to both of these options and anything in-between. It’s a side hustle, part-time gig and full-time job all rolled into one!
Will you really earn money, though?
The answer here is yes – if you select the right course for you! Some courses will go over the basics of teaching, but won’t help you turn your newfound knowledge into real-world employment. Pretzel Kids, however, is in the business of helping you earn an income stream long after your course is over. If you’re the enterprising type, you can start your very own Pretzel Kids branded classes in your community. To learn more about this, check out this great story by Boss Single Mama!
Earn your online kids yoga certification today!
If you’ve made it this far, it’s safe to say that you’re really interested in finding a kids yoga training program online that’s right for you. Woo hoo!
Teaching kids yoga – whether online, for after-school programs or at a studio – is all about what you make of it. And if you want to level up your kids yoga business, look no further than Pretzel Kids!
