Where do you see yourself in five years?

"I'm interested in taking more trainings so that I can offer a wider variety of classes. I'm really interested in restorative yoga and how it helps with injuries and auto-immune disorders. I am fascinated by the human body, and also plan to take a functional anatomy class. I love learning and intend to take as many workshops and courses as I can!"

"I'm interested in taking more trainings so that I can offer a wider variety of classes. I'm really interested in restorative yoga and how it helps with injuries and auto-immune disorders. I am fascinated by the human body, and also plan to take a functional anatomy class. I love learning and intend to take as many workshops and courses as I can!"Whether you plan to teach yoga full-time or on the side with your regular office job, yoga studio owners want to hear that you are goal-oriented. Give an example that shows you are thinking about the future and taking steps to reach your goals.

If a student was disruptive in class, what would you do?

Yoga students come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. You may have a student who likes to talk to their neighbor during class. You might also have a student who never turns off their cell phone and walks out in the middle of class to take a call. You never know who might come to your class! You will need to know how to gently pull them aside and explain the boundaries and expectations of the class. You don't have to be confrontational! Simply ask them to turn off their phone or cut back on the chatter.

What is your yoga philosophy?

Your yoga philosophy explains your mission as a yoga teacher. You are teaching students to connect their body and minds through moving through postures intentionally and using their breath to help them notice where they might feel stuck. Interviewers also want to hear about your teaching techniques and tools you use. Explain the foundation of those techniques, whether they are drawn from your training in hatha yoga or if they are more based on a different type of yoga training. Share your specialty, the levels of yoga you like to teach and the types of students you enjoy teaching.

How has yoga changed your life?

"After a serious car accident, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to do all of the physical activities I use to. I was a competitive cyclist, but I injured my neck and my hip to where I couldn't ride my bike anymore. My doctor recommended yoga, and I was hooked after the first class! I felt such relief in my joints and even felt less pressure in my neck. Since then, I have dedicated my life to practicing and teaching yoga so that others can experience the same benefits."

How do you stay up to date in the yoga industry?

"I am enrolled in a 500-hour yoga teacher training to deepen my understanding of anatomy. I am also learning more about how to balance a vigorous vinyasa yoga practice with a restorative yin practice. It's so cool to blend these elements together and hear such great feedback from my students!"

"I am enrolled in a 500-hour yoga teacher training to deepen my understanding of anatomy. I am also learning more about how to balance a vigorous vinyasa yoga practice with a restorative yin practice. It's so cool to blend these elements together and hear such great feedback from my students!"As a yoga teacher, you are always learning! Even when you're teaching classes, you might found out about an injury or an illness you've never heard of. To stay up to date, you will want to make an effort to listen and learn from your students as well as take the time to read publications and complete trainings that will help you improve your classes. Talk about the efforts you are taking to stay relevant and current to keep your classes fresh and informative!

Have you ever taught pre-natal yoga?

If you're not familiar with pre-natal yoga, it is a type of yoga that is specific to pregnant women, helping them continue their yoga practice throughout their pregnancy. You can learn more about pre-natal yoga and how to teach yoga to mothers who have recently given birth by visiting websites like Yoga Journal and Yoga International. It's always helpful to do a little research before your interview. Take some time to educate yourself, whether it's watching youtube videos or attending yoga classes!

How important is meditation to your yoga practice?

"Meditation is a challenging practice! I've learned that when I incorporate it into my daily routine, I feel much calmer and have a greater ability to focus. It also helps me to pay closer attention to the needs of my body. I try to integrate meditation into my classes so that my students can get a taste of the benefits!"

"Meditation is a challenging practice! I've learned that when I incorporate it into my daily routine, I feel much calmer and have a greater ability to focus. It also helps me to pay closer attention to the needs of my body. I try to integrate meditation into my classes so that my students can get a taste of the benefits!" If you are new to teaching or meditation, share your experience. It's okay if you don't have much experience with meditation. If that's the case, talk about what you notice about your mind and body when you do meditate. Share the positive effects and how you intend to incorporate it more into your daily life.

How do you ensure the safety of your students?

"By helping students learn to listen to their bodies by paying attention to what feels comfortable or uncomfortable, I help my students learn how to respond to those sensations. I also focus a lot on teaching proper alignment of the spine to help my students move into postures that are safe for their bodies."

"By helping students learn to listen to their bodies by paying attention to what feels comfortable or uncomfortable, I help my students learn how to respond to those sensations. I also focus a lot on teaching proper alignment of the spine to help my students move into postures that are safe for their bodies." Safety is so important when practicing yoga! The interviewer wants to hear that you have a solid understanding of anatomy and how to teach students basic safety principles that they can incorporate into their practice. Explain how you educate beginners and advanced practitioners about how to stay safe and enjoy their yoga practice!

Do you prefer to instruct small groups, large groups, or one-on-one?

The interviewer wants to hear about your experience teaching different groups of people. They may offer private instruction to their students and want to hear about how you adapt your teaching style. In your yoga teaching career, you will have the opportunity to teach a wide variety of students in different environments. You may even decide to teach corporate yoga or kids yoga. Be honest about your preference and talk about how you are willing to be flexible about teaching in different settings.

How would you respond to a student with an injury?

"I had a student with a herniated disk, so twists were not a good idea for him. I offered him alternative poses whenever I suggested a twist or something that might aggravate his back. I wanted him to feel comfortable in class even if there were some poses that he could not do. I focused on core strengthening exercises when he attended class so that everyone could participate. I also reminded him of what he was capable of doing so that he didn't feel discouraged. I try to be inclusive and provide a lot of options for my students."

"I had a student with a herniated disk, so twists were not a good idea for him. I offered him alternative poses whenever I suggested a twist or something that might aggravate his back. I wanted him to feel comfortable in class even if there were some poses that he could not do. I focused on core strengthening exercises when he attended class so that everyone could participate. I also reminded him of what he was capable of doing so that he didn't feel discouraged. I try to be inclusive and provide a lot of options for my students."As a yoga teacher, it will be important for you learn about how to modify poses for individuals with different types of injuries. Give an example that shows that you understand the body and you can provide specific postures that will help ease the pain and discomfort of those injuries.

What style do you most enjoy teaching?

Share a little bit about the type of yoga you are most familiar with teaching. If you are passionate about Hatha yoga, talk about why you enjoy teaching it! If you don't have much experience with teaching, share your experience with yoga and what you're looking forward to about teaching. If you are a people person, teaching yoga is a great way to connect with others. You will have opportunities to build relationships and meet interesting people every day! Teaching yoga is a rewarding experience that will be just as life-giving to you as it is for your students!

What has helped you improve your classes since you first started teaching?

"The more I teach, the confident I become. It has been helpful to take workshops from other teachers, but what has helped me the most is my own yoga practice and learning from my students. My students have inspired me! They have taught me how to be a better listener and how to observe what's happening in their bodies. It's all about the practice! As I get more experience and listen to the needs of my students, I feel like my teaching continues to improve."

"The more I teach, the confident I become. It has been helpful to take workshops from other teachers, but what has helped me the most is my own yoga practice and learning from my students. My students have inspired me! They have taught me how to be a better listener and how to observe what's happening in their bodies. It's all about the practice! As I get more experience and listen to the needs of my students, I feel like my teaching continues to improve." New teachers often struggle with feeling confident about their teaching ability. Give it time! Every time you get in front of the class, you will feel a little bit nervous, but that's okay! With practice, you will gain confidence in your skills and feel more comfortable speaking in front of your students. Share some tips or tricks that have helped to improve your classes and your teaching ability.

Tell me about your yoga teacher training.

Yoga teacher training is a life-changing experience for many individuals. Talk about the highlights of your training, including what you learned and how it impacted your life. One of the joys of training is the sense of community that you develop with the other student. Yoga teacher training is an opportunity to practice with people who truly want to improve themselves so that they can better help others. You also will read books that challenge and inspire you. The physical practice can be strenuous, as you may be practicing 5-6 times a week. Share what you learned from pushing yourself to your edge and challenging your beliefs within a supportive environment.

What have you done in the past year to improve yourself?

"This year I committed to establishing a daily meditation practice to help me to feel more grounded and manage stress. It has made such a difference!"

"This year I committed to establishing a daily meditation practice to help me to feel more grounded and manage stress. It has made such a difference!"Show that you are proactive about improving yourself and strengthening your weaknesses. You may have cultivated your own home practice, which shows discipline and motivation. You may have become a vegetarian or a vegan to help improve your health. Give an example that the interviewer will find relevant to teaching yoga.

How do you manage your teaching schedule?

If you are teaching 16 classes a week, you are likely running around like dealing with more stress than the average yoga teacher! The studio manager wants to hear that you can manage your schedule so that you can meet the basic expectations of showing up on time and instructing classes that are challenging and motivating to students. Share some of the tools you used to stay organized. You might want to to keep a calendar or set alerts on your phone. Explain how you are reliable and give examples of how you manage your weekly teaching schedule.

Why do you want to be a yoga instructor?

"I have experienced so many benefits from my yoga practice that I want to share it with others. I want to help others learn how to relax and relieve stress. It's amazing how much different your body feels after a class through simply moving and breathing!"

"I have experienced so many benefits from my yoga practice that I want to share it with others. I want to help others learn how to relax and relieve stress. It's amazing how much different your body feels after a class through simply moving and breathing!"The studio manager wants to hear that you are passionate about sharing yoga with others. You may not have teaching experience, but you have practiced enough to understand how yoga can help relieve stress, strengthen the body and help calm the nervous system. Share you favorite aspects of yoga and a little bit about how it has benefited your own life.

Who has been your greatest influence?

Think about who has made the greatest impact on your life and your teaching. You can talk about one of your yoga teachers or an inspiring person who has encouraged you to pursue your passions. Sometimes the greatest teachers are those who have challenged us to move forward when we felt discouraged or helped us accomplish our goals. Explain how this person made a difference in your life.

What are some of the challenges you've experienced as a yoga teacher?

"I worked with a yoga teacher who was always subbing out her classes. It was frustrating because it affected everyone, including the students. I talked with her to explain how I felt about it and how the students were disappointed that they didn't get to have the consistency of having the same teacher every week. She explained that it was really difficult for her to get to the studio at that time. We were able to change the schedule, which made the teachers and the students much happier!"

"I worked with a yoga teacher who was always subbing out her classes. It was frustrating because it affected everyone, including the students. I talked with her to explain how I felt about it and how the students were disappointed that they didn't get to have the consistency of having the same teacher every week. She explained that it was really difficult for her to get to the studio at that time. We were able to change the schedule, which made the teachers and the students much happier!"Give an example of a challenging student or a situation that you worked to resolve. Share how your willingness to address the problem improved the situation!

Why did you start practicing yoga?

"I use to be an athlete, running and playing sports my whole life. When I injured my knee, I knew I needed to try something different. I was in college when I tried my first yoga class and I loved how my body felt afterward. My knee continued to feel better the more I practiced! It's been 9 years and I look forward to practicing every day now."

How do you build relationships with your students?

"I like to have each student introduce themselves before we start the class. I give everyone a chance to talk a little bit about themselves so that I can get to know them and they can meet each other. Community is so important to me, and I take time before and after class to talk with my students as much as I can!"

"I like to have each student introduce themselves before we start the class. I give everyone a chance to talk a little bit about themselves so that I can get to know them and they can meet each other. Community is so important to me, and I take time before and after class to talk with my students as much as I can!"It can be tricky to get to know your students when you only have a short time to chat with them in between classes. Share some of the ways you make an effort to be personable and follow up with students. It could be as simple as remembering their names and asking them about an injury or an experience they told you about the week before. Use examples that show you are personable and care greatly about your students.

What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

"I sometimes get so caught up in the details of how to teach a pose that I can overwhelm my students with information. I have learned that by offering two to three simple cues, students are better able to understand and move their bodies into the shapes. I have been simplifying my sequences to help the students learn the basics and then gradually elaborating on what I want them to do when I am instructing."

"I sometimes get so caught up in the details of how to teach a pose that I can overwhelm my students with information. I have learned that by offering two to three simple cues, students are better able to understand and move their bodies into the shapes. I have been simplifying my sequences to help the students learn the basics and then gradually elaborating on what I want them to do when I am instructing." Identify a weakness that you can apply to teaching yoga. If you know you still get nervous speaking in front of other people, talk about how you started doing karaoke or how you are taking an improv class to help you overcome your fear. Show that you believe in yourself and are proactive in making those self-improvements.

What is your greatest strength? How does it help you be a more effective teacher?

If you're not sure about your best strength or what you should share in your interview, take a moment to think about some of the compliments you have received from coworkers or friends in the past. Sometimes it helps to look at your resume, even if your past experience was in a completely different field. Reflect on your accomplishments and think about the qualities that helped you to be successful. Yoga teachers need to be physically strong and flexible. They also need to be confident and enjoy helping others. Talk to the yoga teachers who trained you or talk to your mentor. It's always good to listen to the observations of the ones who know you best!

What types of yoga do you have the most experience instructing?

Hatha, Vinyasa, Anusara, Forrest Yoga... there are so many different styles of yoga! There is even aerial yoga for the more adventures types. where you can climb silks and perform high above the ground! Share your experience and describe how your classes incorporate the elements of this particular style.

What do you feel is the most important skill a yoga instructor should possess?

There are so many skills that are important for yoga structures to be effective teachers! Having patience with your students and understanding that everyone learns at their own pace is something important to keep in mind. You also need to be observant and compassionate. These qualities will help you to meet your students where they are. One of the most important skills a teacher can have is the ability to modify classes to meet the needs of their students. All of these qualities combined will make you an excellent teacher!

What makes your yoga classes unique?

"I like to do hands-on adjustments for my students and use inclusive language that motivates everyone in the room. I studied vinyasa flow, so my classes are energizing and great for someone who wants to sweat. I like to use the wall when we practice inversions so that everyone can participate, even if they have no experience doing upside down poses."

"I like to do hands-on adjustments for my students and use inclusive language that motivates everyone in the room. I studied vinyasa flow, so my classes are energizing and great for someone who wants to sweat. I like to use the wall when we practice inversions so that everyone can participate, even if they have no experience doing upside down poses." Think about all of the different aspects of your class from start to finish. You may share a poem at the beginning of the class. You may also like to do partner work so that the students can try a new way of practicing poses and experience a sense of community. Yoga studios like to hire teachers who take a creative approach to teaching and include as many different types of students as they can.

What do you know about our yoga studio?

The best research you can do before your interview is attending classes with as many teachers as you can to learn about their styles of teaching and get to know them. Building relationships with other yoga teachers at the studio will help you learn more about what they are looking for and it might help you get some good recommendations. You can learn more about a studio by spending time there than you can online. If you'd like to do some online research, you can read studio reviews and learn about their mission from their website.

What is your greatest achievement as a yoga instructor?

"I was teaching private sessions with a student who had cancer. We practiced yin and restorative yoga to help activate the parasympathetic nervous system which helps calm the body and activate the body's natural immune response. After just five sessions, my client shared how he felt more energetic and motivated. It felt really good to be able to help enhance his quality of life and help him have a more positive outlook."

"I was teaching private sessions with a student who had cancer. We practiced yin and restorative yoga to help activate the parasympathetic nervous system which helps calm the body and activate the body's natural immune response. After just five sessions, my client shared how he felt more energetic and motivated. It felt really good to be able to help enhance his quality of life and help him have a more positive outlook." Give an example of a time you worked with an individual client or a group. Explain the situation to show what you did to make a difference in their life through using your yoga knowledge and experience.

Why should we hire you?

Talk about what makes you unique as a teacher. You may have trained in India under a well-known guru, or maybe you trained at a local yoga studio that specialized in pre-natal and kids yoga. You want to share what makes you stand out. If you are interviewing at a studio that teaches Hatha yoga to an older demographic, explain how you will design classes that cater to their existing clientele. You also want to talk about how you plan to draw in new students through marketing yourself in creative ways. Remember that you have something special to offer that other teachers don't! Your authentic voice, your training and experience will make you a great addition to any yoga studio!

How can you tell that you taught a successful class?

Start by defining what a successful class means to you. When students compliment you and continue to come back to your classes, you know you've done a great job! But sometimes you don't get feedback or repeat students. Offering modifications for those who have experienced injuries and teaching to the appropriate level of the students in the class, whether they are beginners or advanced, will help everyone to feel included and more confident in their abilities. You want students to walk away feeling refreshed and encouraged. Share a few examples of ways you have made your classes enjoyable. If you are a new teacher, think about a class you attended that you felt was successful and share why.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

"I use to struggle with stress in my life. That is one of the reasons I started practicing yoga. I worked for a fast-paced software company, and it was taking a toll on my body. Through practicing yoga regularly, I learned how to calm my body with my breath. I learned techniques that I can practice at my desk when I'm at work. Sometimes I even take a break to move through a few poses to help calm my body. Yoga definitely helps with stress!In every work environment, you will be faced with stress. Even if you work for a yoga studio, you may feel rushed between teaching classes or you may be asked to take on more responsibility. The studio manager wants to know that you can deal with all types of stress and that you will know how to respond in a constructive way. Give an example that shows you are adaptable to different work environments and can handle stress or pressure wherever you are.

Yoga Instructor Interview Questions

Go Back

1. Where do you see yourself in five years?
2. If a student was disruptive in class, what would you do?
3. What is your yoga philosophy?
4. How has yoga changed your life?
5. How do you stay up to date in the yoga industry?
6. Have you ever taught pre-natal yoga?
7. How important is meditation to your yoga practice?
8. How do you ensure the safety of your students?
9. Do you prefer to instruct small groups, large groups, or one-on-one?
10. How would you respond to a student with an injury?
11. What style do you most enjoy teaching?
12. What has helped you improve your classes since you first started teaching?
13. Tell me about your yoga teacher training.
14. What have you done in the past year to improve yourself?
15. How do you manage your teaching schedule?
16. Why do you want to be a yoga instructor?
17. Who has been your greatest influence?
18. What are some of the challenges you've experienced as a yoga teacher?
19. Why did you start practicing yoga?
20. How do you build relationships with your students?
21. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
22. What is your greatest strength? How does it help you be a more effective teacher?
23. What types of yoga do you have the most experience instructing?
24. What do you feel is the most important skill a yoga instructor should possess?
25. What makes your yoga classes unique?
26. What do you know about our yoga studio?
27. What is your greatest achievement as a yoga instructor?
28. Why should we hire you?
29. How can you tell that you taught a successful class?
30. How do you handle stress and pressure?

Yoga Instructor Interview Questions

1. Where do you see yourself in five years?

2. If a student was disruptive in class, what would you do?

3. What is your yoga philosophy?

4. How has yoga changed your life?

5. How do you stay up to date in the yoga industry?

6. Have you ever taught pre-natal yoga?

7. How important is meditation to your yoga practice?

8. How do you ensure the safety of your students?

9. Do you prefer to instruct small groups, large groups, or one-on-one?

10. How would you respond to a student with an injury?

11. What style do you most enjoy teaching?

12. What has helped you improve your classes since you first started teaching?

13. Tell me about your yoga teacher training.

14. What have you done in the past year to improve yourself?

15. How do you manage your teaching schedule?

16. Why do you want to be a yoga instructor?

17. Who has been your greatest influence?

18. What are some of the challenges you've experienced as a yoga teacher?

19. Why did you start practicing yoga?

20. How do you build relationships with your students?

21. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

22. What is your greatest strength? How does it help you be a more effective teacher?

23. What types of yoga do you have the most experience instructing?

24. What do you feel is the most important skill a yoga instructor should possess?

25. What makes your yoga classes unique?

26. What do you know about our yoga studio?

27. What is your greatest achievement as a yoga instructor?

28. Why should we hire you?

29. How can you tell that you taught a successful class?

30. How do you handle stress and pressure?