An Open Letter to All Serious Hot Yoga Students Who Want to Become Yoga Alliance Certified Teachers in the

Next 2-16 Months!

Dear Yoga Student, If you LOVE Hot Yoga and are ready to take your practice to the next level by becoming a certified yoga teacher, then sit down and listen up because this letter could be the first step on an amazing adventure in mind, body, and spirit. Im talking about changing your life! My name is Lucas Rockwood, and after my first Hot Yoga class, I remember standing on the corner of Broadway and Spring Streets in New York City, smoking a cigarette while I called my brother to tell him what had happened. I took this class, I told Ryan. And it was like a zillion degrees in the room, and I barely survived I mean, I think I almost died and I liked it! So I joined the studio for a month! Needless to say, my brother wasnt excited. And when my instructor walked by and saw me sucking down that cigarette, he wasnt too thrilled either. But me? I was grinning like an idiot totally hooked on Hot Yoga from day one because I knew that this was the beginning of a whole new lifea whole new me! It was the simplest recipe in the world: 90 minutes Mirrored walls A room full of people (who neednt have anything in common) And a steady, knowledgeable voice to guide us Fast forward 3 months and 41 lbs later (lost weight). Same me, same yoga, but a whole new world had opened up. Id quit my corporate job, quit smoking, quit drinking, and literally changed my life 180 degrees for the better. My clothes didnt fit me, and neither did a lot of my old, negative friends. Come to find out, most things in my old life didnt fit anymore, but I wasnt bothered. I was floating! I started studying nutrition and cooking, yoga history and philosophy. I was the geek who stayed after every yoga class just to listen in on the teachers conversations (at that time, I didnt even know what questions to ask, so I just listened).

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TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

If youd told me then, in 2002, thatd Id become a certified yoga teacher in Thailand, that Id teach students in 5 different countries; that Id own my own studio and run training programs that would produce hundreds of graduates from 26 countriesI would have laughed out loud! But thats exactly what happened.
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Let me be clear though: yoga did NOT come naturally to me. For the first two years, it was a constant struggle. But I kept at it because every time I moved through some physical hurdle in my practice, Id see parallel benefits in my day-to-day life. I treated people better. I was more creative. I slept and ate better. Sounds cheesy, I know, but I was just an all-around better person! So how can yoga do this? Im not entirely sure, but after taking hundreds of classes and practicing for thousands of hours, I do know that there is a special magic that happens in a hot room filled with students practicing yoga in synch. And I also know that this magic can NEVER happen without the trusted voice of a well-trained teacher. And this, my friend, is why Im writing you today. If youve gotten to place like I did where yoga is the most important thing in your life; if youre more interested in whos teaching the 7 p.m. class at your local studio than what new movie just came out; and if you spend half your workday surfing yoga websites (addicting, isnt it?); then perhaps its time you stop kidding yourself and think about making some BIG changes. Yoga instructors today live amazing lives! Whether your goal is to teach part time in your hometown or to go fulltime and travel the world like I did; a yoga teacher training course is the first (and most important) next step along your path. Our annual Hot Yoga course fills very quickly, so Id like to cordially invite you to apply now if you think this is the right choice for you. Ive learned though yoga that opportunity is all around us, all the time, but the doors dont open themselves. When you see what you want, when the stars align, youve got to make a bold move. Clench your fingers into a tight fist, raise your arm high in the air, and say: Yes, this is who I am! I hope to see you in October on Koh Samui! Keep practicing,

Lucas Rockwood Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200) Absolute Yoga Samui

TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

10 Things You Must Know Before Enrolling In A Yoga Teacher Training Course
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This report is designed for yoga students who are considering taking the next step and becoming yoga teachers. This will help you understand what yoga trainings are like, and what you can expect as a yoga teacher.

I. Why cant I just take lots of classes and then start teaching? The truth is, practicing yoga and teaching yoga are two completely
different things. If you dont take a proper training course, you wont know how to safely and effectively lead a yoga class.

II. Why cant I just ask my instructor at my home studio to teach me? Heres how it works. Teacher trainers are teachers who have taught
a minimum of 1,000 classes, and have taken at least 500 hours worth of training courses themselves. Your instructor at home might have this experiencebut most likely not. Teaching might look simple, but dont be deceived. To do it well, you really need to be properly trained.

III. Ive heard of weekend training courses do I really need to study for a whole month? There are many different lengths of
training courses, and shorter courses can be great for adding to your knowledge or getting introduced to a new style of yoga. That said, a 200-hour certification is the international standard for beginner and intermediate yoga teachers, and a course of that length takes a minimum of 26 days to complete.

TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

IV. What about food and accommodation? Some yoga trainings sound like childrens summer camps! The rumors
youve heard are true! Some yoga teacher training courses only offer dorm-style accommodationsand some even have their students sleeping in tents! This can be fun at first, but four weeks is a long time, and if you dont have your own space, Page | 4 a private bathroom, and a quite place to sleep, it can really make things more difficult than they need be. Food is another important consideration. During training, you will be very busy and wont have time to worry about your next meal. I know one student who did a teacher training in Los Angeles, and there was nothing but fast food restaurants surrounding the training facility. Students either ate junk food or else spend an hour or more each day shopping and preparing healthy food for themselves! Everyone has certain foods that they need to feel healthy and strong, and the best training courses provide a wide range of healthy food options AND are located near shops and restaurants so you can find extra things to meet your particular needs.

V. What about after the training. Will anyone be there to help me find a job? A good way to judge a teacher training is to ask the
instructor how many of the graduates actually go on to become teachers. Youll be surprised at how low most of the numbers are! From a good course, around half of the trainees will go on to teach. The other half are usually either not interested in teaching (they just wanted to learn more about yoga) or already have other jobs that take up their time. A good course also offers assistance to graduates to help them find jobs. Usually, this is done via email and telephone. One of the teaching staff will give you honest recommendations for improving your resume, gaining experience, and finding jobs.

VI. I can do some postures really well, but others are still hard from mecan I teach? If you took twenty of the most famous yoga
teachers in the world and watched them practice, youd be surprised to learn that their postures are far from perfect. Teaching yoga is not about doing prefect poses or advanced asanas. More importantly, you must be committed to and in love with the practice.
TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

VII. There are so many courses offered how do I know which to choose? First, decide what style of yoga you want to teach. Then
choose a course led by a teacher with a great reputation. Youll want to make sure that the course is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, the governing body for teacher training courses. Lastly, and most importantly, choose a course youre excited about. You want this to be fun! Some courses basically sell certifications. If you pay the tuition, you graduate. Excellent trainings sometimes fail students. They do this not to be mean, but to ensure quality. Usually, students who fail either break the rules (skip classes, go out partying) or simply refuse to participate. Someone who loves yoga and gives 100% effort will almost certainly pass. Page | 5

VIII. Is it possible to fail?

IX. How much should it cost?

Training costs can vary, but for high quality courses, the tuition fees are fairly similar. 200-Hour Residential Courses (includes room & board) Average Cost: $5500-6500 200-Hour Non-Residential Courses (no room & board) Average Cost: $3500-4000 You can find courses that are very cheap, but these are usually a waste of time and money. A good course is an investment in your future that will pay for itself many times over, and people who attend cheap trainings usually end up having to take additional courses because they are not really ready to teach. And remember this: an expensive course doesnt necessarily mean its a good course. Make sure the quality of the food, accommodation, and practice facility are up to your standards too. One popular teacher training course currently conducts its classes inside an inflatable circus tentso make sure to do your research!

X. How much does a yoga teacher make?

Your teaching salary will depend on the studio where you teach, the class size, and your level of experience. Starting teachers usually make between $25-50 per class while senior teachers make two to three times that much.

TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

For most people, teaching yoga is not a way to get rich, but it is an excellent way to earn a living, enjoy a flexible schedule, and receive full-time pay for part time work. Its not easybut it is an amazing job. When you teach what you love, its a pleasure to go to work.

UP-COMING COURSES
Hot Yoga Teacher Training (200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certificate) June & October Led by John Anderson & Harreson Martell Evolution of Hot Yoga Bootcamp* (25-Hr Certificate Course for Hot Yogis and Teachers) July & November Led by Tomasz Goetel Flow Yoga Teacher Training (200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certificate) March Led by Michel Besnard 500 Hour Advanced Training (200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certificate) November/December Led by Michel Besnard & Faculty

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TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

TOP 7 REASONS TO TEACH YOGA

Inspire students & change lives Stay healthy & fit Work in a positive environment Travel & work anywhere in the world Enjoy a flexible schedule Have plenty of free time (work less hours) Receive a good salary And guess what? Teaching what you love is one of the most rewarding career choices you can make! Yoga Alliance Certified teachers spend their days sharing the benefits of yoga with the world. Page | 7

ABOUT ABSOLUTE YOGA

Absolute Yoga, one of the first studios to bring yoga to Asia, now boasts 10 locations in throughout Thailand and Singapore including their training center on Koh Samui. We take students and turn them into teachers, says Lucas Rockwood, Director of Training Programs. But we also give people an amazing experience. Its the little things like our beautiful accommodation, delicious food, and jungle excursions that make students want to come back again and again. There are lots of choices when it comes to trainings, but we stand out because we offer an experiencenot just a certificate. Each year, Absolute Yoga conducts Yoga Alliance certified teacher trainings and continuing education workshops taught by the best teachers in Asia. For more information on training programs, please visit: http://www.absoluteyogasamui.com You can also email or call Lucas Rockwood, Director of Training Programs at lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com or +1.310.878.4829 (U.S.A. Number)

TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com

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TEACH HOT YOGA, INSPIRE STUDENTS, CHANGE LIVES 2010 Ananda Yoga Ltd. www.TeachHotYoga.com lucas@absoluteyogasamui.com