dream job
yoga
teacher
Being able to do what you like and get paid for it is a dream of many people. Alicia Pan,
who lives in Singapore is a living proof it is possible. She teaches yoga, manages her own
yoga studio and she still has some time for her other passion - singing. What’s her secret?
How long are you a yoga teacher and how
did you get to do this?
I have been teaching for 4 years. I chanced upon
yoga in 2006 and decided shortly after to
complete my Teacher Training.
What was your biggest challenge when starting out
your own yoga studio?
As with any other businesses, there is always a fear of
failing. Getting over that fear and actually getting down
to starting it up was the biggest challenge.
What skills must one have to become a yoga
instructor?
I think first all you must have the ability to speak
comfor-tably in front of an ‘audience’. Education
comes after, there are lots of different types of
teacher trainings available, but the textbook education alone does not guarantee a good teacher.
What other areas do you need to understand and
work with to make your career successful?
As a yoga teacher you will need to understand the
fundamentals of anatomy. There will be lots of people
coming in with medical conditions and you’ll have to be
able to modify what you teach to, to a certain extend.
What does your typical day look like?
I am a singer as well, so I perform regularly apart from
running the studio and teaching classes on a day to
day basis.
How many hours a day do you dedicate to yoga?
Do you actually have time for yoga when you are
the boss managing the whole business?
I am a fairly active person and dedicate about 15-18
hours a week teaching classes. I do interval trainings and
mixed martial arts when I am not teaching and practicing yoga. I like keeping busy, even if it means little time to
rest. So yes, I find that while I sometimes feel tired, I still do
have time for my own practice or other activities while
managing my business. It can be challenging though.
yogamovement.com.sg
41