How would you pay your bills by teaching Yoga for a living? Everyone needs a certain amount of income to live on and Yoga teachers are no different. Yoga jobs may not instantly “fall into your lap.” So what can you do to make a painless transition into becoming a Yoga teacher full time?

The keyword is full time because this is a very big step. Most of us got into teaching Yoga gradually, on a part time basis, and gradually built up a student base. This is the safest way to approach teaching Yoga. You get to perfect your teaching skills, while you are an independent contractor working at health clubs, corporate fitness centers, senior centers, ashrams, or Yoga studios.

Some Yoga teachers have home businesses. You may decide to open a small studio in your barn, loft, back yard, garage, den, or a separate building on your property. This is not for everyone and does have a few drawbacks.

Some Yoga teachers may not want to give their students the “run of the house.” Also, some female teachers may feel uncomfortable with male students in their homes. Think about this scenario: When you have a home business, it is hard to separate business time from personal time.

Let’s say you decided to take Memorial Day off. Memorial Day is always celebrated on a Monday. You tell all of your students class is canceled, but one on them drives up for a Yoga class on Monday evening, at the usual time.

You have family visiting and explain that there is no Yoga class tonight. Now, you feel uncomfortable because your forgetful Yoga student does not remember it is a holiday, until you tell him or her. Do you think this could never happen? Think again, and you would be surprised how many times you may be “on call.”

Home businesses have the advantage of no commute, low overhead, and convenience for the Yoga teacher. However, the drawbacks of being expected to teach anytime can make a home based Yoga studio inconvenient. If you decide to go this route, make sure you draw the line when it comes to your personal time.

Back to getting part time work as a Yoga teacher: Many Yoga teachers gradually build their student base to a point where there is a decision to bring in a partner, limited partner, junior partner, hire an employee, jump into teaching full time, or stop at a few Yoga teaching assignments per week.

You see – The final decision is up to you, and only you know, whether you want to keep teaching Yoga on the side or expand into teaching Yoga full time.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

A personal SWOT analysis is a powerful technique that can be used when seeking a career change (or indeed any other personal change in your life). Linked to a strong and powerful goal, it can enable you to take advantage of your skills, talents and abilities to take your career to the next level.

SWOT stands for:

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

Completing a SWOT Analysis

To complete a SWOT analysis, take a large piece of paper and divide the paper into four quadrants and label each area as above. Look at each area and consider the questions that follow and write down the answers that come into your head.

Strengths

Personal strengths form an innate part of who you are and your characteristics. Consider your strengths as you see them and talk to your colleagues and friends for a further source of support.

What skills and capabilities do you have?

In what areas do you excel?

What qualifications, accreditations or experience make you unique?

What would other people consider to be your strengths?

What qualities, values or beliefs make you stand out from others?

Weaknesses

Consider your personal weaknesses and how you may be seen by others. It is important to list any areas you feel may be holding you back.

What are the gaps in your capabilities and what skills do you need to develop?

In what areas could you improve?

What would other people consider to be your weaknesses?

What personal difficulties do you need to overcome to reach your goal?

Opportunities

Opportunities are normally external and may relate to changes in technology, people that may influence decisions, or training, development or support that may support your aspirations.

What opportunities are available to you?

What external influences can help you to achieve success?

Who could support you to help you achieve your goal?

Threats

Threats are also normally external and are the things that get in the way of your success.

What obstacles are you facing?

What external influences may hinder your success?

Who or what could get in the way of you achieving your goal?

The next step

Carrying out a personal SWOT analysis can help you to understand yourself and support the decisions you make. It will highlight areas you may not have considered before and may help you to realise a different perspective in each area.

It gives you a foundation from where you can move forward with your goal to support your career change and for you to take action. There are various ways in which you can do this.

You can review your strengths, and ensure these are reflected on your curriculum vitae or letter to a prospective employer. You can consider ways to address any weaknesses which you want to overcome or develop your skills and capabilities.

You can review your opportunities as these can be used to your advantage. Also consider how your threats could be minimised or eliminated.

These actions will enable you to take clear steps towards achieving your goal.

Copyright Karen Williams 2007. All Rights Reserved

Do you enjoy practicing Yoga? Does teaching Yoga seem like your ultimate dream job? Does the thought of becoming a Yoga teacher feel like a “calling from within?” How would you pay your bills teaching Yoga? If your life mission is becoming a Yoga teacher; let’s look at a few practical solutions to your obstacles.

If you feel like a “fish in water” during a Yoga class you are not alone. However, when teaching Yoga becomes your own long-held aspiration, your spirit will not be fulfilled in the “daily grind.” You begin to feel frustrated in commuter traffic, and during office hours, when your dream job of teaching Yoga seems out of reach. So what do you do next – if you really want to become a Yoga teacher?

Apparently, you are focused on your goal, so you are far ahead of the majority of people who do not have a clue about what they really want. Here is a formula, and sequence of events, for you to consider: Focus, action, plan, envision, pace yourself, and goal realization.

Focus: It seems like you already are focused on becoming a Yoga teacher, but you should do some research on what teaching Yoga is really like. The types of Yoga teacher training courses will vary, according to style, hours required, on-site training, or correspondence course. Also, the preparation for a 90-minute Yoga class is something the average Yoga student is unaware of.

Action: Most of the world’s population never gets to this point. Most people fall into a “rut” and never take any action to move forward. This requires even more research about what you plan to do, how you plan to teach Yoga, and who you plan to teach Yoga to.

Plan: Write your goals down and only share them with people you can trust. Look at your goal of becoming a Yoga teacher as often as possible. Write down the exact chain of events required for you to become a Yoga teacher.

Envision: Visualization is important in reaching any goal. When you practice meditation, you should see, feel, hear, and possibly smell, what your new career of teaching Yoga will be like.

Pace Yourself: There is a saying, “Rome was not built in a day.” If you try to get to your goal of teaching Yoga too quickly, you will “burn out” along the way. Life is a journey, not a race; “stop and smell the flowers” along the way.

Goal Realization: Once you become a Yoga teacher, do not “rest on your laurels.” Continuing education will be an important and valuable part of your life. A Yoga teacher is a student of healthy living for life.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

So you’ve accepted a lucrative position at another company within your industry. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a career change. Maybe you’re uprooting and heading to greener pastures somewhere else. Whatever the reason, you’re changing jobs. Out with the old, in with the new. Amidst the hassles of moving, finding the kids a new school, and settling in to your new position and community, it’s easy to lose sight of the finish lineretirement. Your 401(k) is probably your most important investment in regards to retirement savings. Don’t let it get lost in the shuffle when a change in your professional life comes along.When switching jobs, there are three things you can do with your existing 401(k): leave it where it is, roll it over into an account with your new employer, or move the money into an IRA. Cashing out the plan is not an option. We repeat: DO NOT CASH OUT YOUR 401(K)! It’ll badly set back your retirement savings plan. You’ll be hit with income taxes plus a penalty of 10 percent if you’re under age 59½. What’s more, you’ll miss out on tax-deferred savings.Leave It Where It IsThere’s nothing wrong with keeping the cash where it is if you’re happy with the plan at your old job. If you’re confident you can keep track of it, if you’ve got a nice chunk of change in there, or if the plan your new employer is offering is less than appetizing – leave it be. Just make sure you tell your old HR department about your plan to leave it behind. If there is less than $5,000 in the account, they have the right to dump you.Roll It OverMost financial professionals agree it’s a good idea to have all of your 401(k) dollars under one roof. It’ll work harder for you as one asset and you can dip into it (as a loan) if a financial emergency arises. If you do decide to rollover, make sure to jump through all of the (relatively minor) hoops and fill out the appropriate paperwork with both your old company and your new employer. Drop It Into An IRAIf your new gig doesn’t offer a 401(k) program, or if you dig the investment freedom that comes with an IRA, go this route. You’ll have much more of a choice when it comes to investing your retirement dollars, as thousands of mutual funds will be at your behest instead of a dozen or so 401(k) options. Be cautious when going this road, though. 401(k)s are generally a smidgen more protected from those evil creditors than are IRAs. It’s a minor detail now, but if you ever declare bankruptcy or get sued, it could become a much bigger issue. Whichever route you choose, know the rules. Way back when, details were cloudy on the IRS-friendly way to transfer funds from one 401(k) to another account. Investors had to put 401(k) funds into a “conduit” IRA if they believed they would move the funds into another 401(k) account in the future. The money couldn’t be mixed with other retirement savings and new contributions were also verboten. Sound confusing? It was. But no longer. Mix all you want. You can transfer an old 401(k) account into an IRA while still making payments, move it from a new IRA into a Roth IRA, or shift the funds directly into a new 401(k) account. The choice is yours. However, make certain to complete a “trustee-to-trustee transfer” when you relocate your funds. This basically means you’re directing your new employer to schedule the details of the transaction with your old company. This way, you can avoid your old job writing you a check for your existing 401(k) balance, wherein you have 60 days to drop it into a new account. This is not a headache you want. When you go this direction, your previous company will hold back 20 percent of your money for income tax purposes. The next time you file your taxes, you’ll get the money back, but meanwhile you’ll have to make up the difference yourself within the 60 days. No thanks. Even more frightening: if you don’t roll over the entire balance within 60 days, the taxman cometh. The IRS sees that deficit as a taxable withdrawal and enforces regular income taxes along with a 10 percent penalty.

As you move through life, your needs, goals, and interests can change. If you’ve lost your spark for your current career, you may decide that it’s time for a major change in occupation. While this can be a scary process, following these tips and guidelines can help you make a career change successfully and more easily.Review Your Current Career

First off, you may want to decide if it’s your career or your job that needs changing. If you find that your company or industry holds promise, you may want to consider if there is another position within the company that would be more compatible with your job skills and interests. Don’t be afraid to talk to your boss and to ask around in your company about other available positions. Employers have an investment in their employees, and an employee that expresses the need for growth and more responsibility can be considered an asset.List Your Skills and Aptitudes

Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses before making a change. Your list of attributes should consider not only what you think you do well, but also where you have received your accolades in and outside of work. Also, be honest with your list of “needs to improve.”Assess Your Interests

You should also write down what you enjoy doing in your spare time. Is there any way you can take a hobby and make a career out of it? If you find this process difficult, you can use career assessment tests online or at a college or university. These tests analyze your personality traits, skills, and interests. Some excellent assessment tests include the Meyers-Briggs (personality assessment), the Jackson Vocational Interest Survey (interests), and the Strength Finders Profile (skills and aptitude).Finding Inspiration

Many successful career changers will tell you they took their passion and turned it into a career. A great book for putting your interests and dreams to work for you is Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher. This book will show you strategies for determining your interests and discovering your skills and strengths. It can also help you develop a game plan to achieve concrete results.Analyze Your Income and Savings

Making a career change can mean a change in income, especially if you’ve decided that you need more education or training. Before moving forward, sit down and analyze the time and money needed to get a degree or certificate in your new career. You need to decide if you’ll be able to continue your current job while attending school to fully determine your monetary situation.Do Your Homework!

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is an excellent way to learn about different careers and the income potential, expected growth, and training and educational requirements. Research your chosen field by going online, reading trade magazines and testimonials, and talking to those in and around the profession. Volunteer or take a temporary job in your new field of interest. Doing so will allow you the opportunity to decide whether or not your new career is a viable one for you.Take Your Time

Remember, be honest in your assessments and take time to research carefully. Career changes are a big deal, and we want yours to be successful. Time spent now in preparing for your new career will lend to your success and enjoyment of it later.

If you are one of the lucky few that loves your job and it is very secure, then you will never have to consider a change in your career. But, if you are like most other people, you will face changes in your career several times during your lifetime.

A change in your career is not necessarily negative – it can be a great opportunity for you to explore new interests and to take risks. If you are unsure as to whether or not you are ready for a career change, take a look at the following reasons listed below. If any of them sound familiar, then now is the time to plan for a change.

1. Boredom – many people cite this as one of the top reasons they decided to switch careers. It is not just normal spells of boredom – it affects your productivity and level of satisfaction. Many people say they hate their job when in fact it is boredom that they are experiencing.

2. Money – this is a big motivator. After all, who doesn’t want to make more money so that they can afford the things they want in life? If you feel like you are not being paid what you are worth or if you are constantly saying “if only I had the money” then you could benefit by finding a higher paying job.

3. Location – location, location, location is not just for real estate. How close or far you live from work affects your satisfaction with your current job and overall quality of life. Dealing with constant rush hour traffic and long commute times is enough to make many people decide to leave their current position.

4. Management – many don’t give enough credit to managers and supervisors to being a reason for driving employees away. Poor communication, micro-management, and a lack of control over one’s workday are big reasons to seek greener pastures.

5. Benefits – medical and supplemental benefits are an important part of any job. Some employers will pay more for benefits; while others will pass off the charges to their employees. Almost every person wants an adequate and comprehensive plan of benefits and if you’re current employer is failing to meet the bar, it is very good reason to look into a more beneficial career.

6. Purpose – are you in the profession you wanted to be in as a child? Chances are that you are not. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t be – there are plenty of adult education classes offered at local colleges and online to get the education you need in order to start that great career. We all want to feel like our career is what you were meant to do in life. You can achieve your dream – you just need to research and come up with a plan of action.

7. Unappreciated – many employers underestimate the power of employee praise and recognition. Many people are motivated by these forces and thrive off of appreciation. If those needs are not being met, then the person will slowly lose their drive and motivation and will resent their job. This is a big reason why many people will switch careers – so that they feel their efforts make a difference.

8. Layoff – okay, so this one is not really a choice, but it is still a reason for a career change. Turn the negative into a positive by exploring your interests and pursuing work that will make you happy and satisfied.

Changing careers doesn’t have to be scary so long as you are prepared for the change. Make sure that you always keep your resume and references current. Stay in touch with how satisfied and happy you are with your current job. Do thorough research on other careers that interest you.

If a career change is not possible for you right now, consider approaching your supervisor with ideas on how to revamp your current position in order to make it more satisfying and meaningful for you.

Work is a major component of your life and the careers we choose should reflect that importance. It is not meant to just pay the bills (although that is a big part of it) – it is possible to derive pleasure and satisfaction from work. The average person will dedicate over three-fourths of his or her life to work; therefore that work should mean something. It all boils down to the right to choose a career that means something to you.