Becoming a More Professional Personal Trainer

Every professional who wants to make a mark in their chosen careers always have to appear professional. The profession of Yoga is no different and upcoming yoga teachers aiming to make a mark in the world of Yoga Teaching must buy the best fitting sports or yoga attire in order to look the part of a Yoga Instructor and also to help your body breathe well during practise and also enhance body movement and flexibility.

Tips for Yoga Instructors

Professionals in the field of personal training will also keep earning more certifications, update their styles, network among their peers in the profession and of course keep sharpening your teaching instincts and get better and better. But we at Wellintra will also like to inform you that Professionalism is about all these things and even more. We can define professionalism as the ‘conduct, aims and qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional individual.’ We could also define professionalism as the ‘competence or skill that is desirous of a true professional.’ Below are some desired traits that you as a Yoga Instructor might want to continue to enhance:

Competency

Being competent is a quality that is important for any professional in any field. Getting certified as a Yoga Instructor does not mean that mean that you have competent. It is merely the first step towards competence. As a serious yoga instructor, you will have to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, participate in other people’s yoga classes, attend workshops and exchange ideas with other professionals who are more advanced than you in order to become a more skilled and seasoned yoga trainer.

Reliability

Reliability is the quality of delivering consistent quality time after time and adhering to your promises. This one of the most important hallmarks of a true professional. Professionals do not make excuses but focus on finding solutions.

Punctuality

Being punctual marks you out as a true professional. As a personal yoga trainer or a trainer teaching a group yoga class, your student(s) expect you to turn up on time. Start and finish your classes on time. By doing this, you are not only respecting your students but also marking yourself out as a no-excuses person who values his / her own time and also the students of the next class / instructor.

Honesty and Integrity

Professionals must possess honesty and integrity ans say what they mean and mean what they say. You must walk the walk and talk the talk.

Humility

No person can know it all. It’s perfectly alright to ask for help when you need it and you must also be willing to learn from others.

Accountability

Everyone makes mistakes. You must hold yourself accountable for all your deeds and words, especially if you have committed an error. Be ready to apologize not just to students and also to your fellow yoga teachers. Having an accountable character will also help you become known as a person of honesty and integrity. Avoid whining, complaining, fault-finding and being sarcastic. These things do not solve any problem and rather add fuel to the fire. We are all human. So be quick to forgive and slow to find fault and complain.

Kindness

As Yoga instructors, you want your students to like your classes so much that they decide to return to your classes again and again. So be polite, be kind and smile a lot. Be good mannered and always smile. It may sound cheesy but being kind and affable makes a significant impact on the lives of everyone around you.

Respect

Good professionals will always show respect for the people around them, no matter what the situation. They have a high degree of emotional intelligence and maturity and display their maturity by considering the emotions and needs of others around them. They may have had a ‘bad day’ but they will rarely if ever allow their mental states to affect their interactions with those around them.

Team Spirit

Try to be a Team Player and drop the prima donna or star attitude if you possess it. We all know what a prima donna has – arrogance, vanity, high-maintenance, demanding and a sense of entitlement. Prima Donnas are not team players and will not take any criticism.

Develop Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are crucial for success because they influence our levels of confidence and our ability to listen and to understand others. Developing good Interpersonal skills also include the ability to communicate effectively with others and help them understand you better and vice versa. Good communication skills will ultimately help you become more successful in your professional and personal life.

About Author

Dhara is a dedicated and highly passionate yoga instructor from Mumbai who trains our clients personally as well as in group classes. Dhara also helps conduct yoga classes and sessions for kids (Age groups 5-9 and 9-14) which include Asanas, meditation, breathing, basic and simple yogic concepts to help them grow into beautiful adults. Dhara is also an avid practitioner of Reiki, The Art of Living & Vipasana Meditation apart from Crystal Healing & Meditation techniques and incorporates all of her multifaceted skills into her yoga classes and sessions as and when required. And she also takes time out to write for the Wellintra Fitness Blog whenever she can!