Who can be a Yoga Teacher?

Can I be a Yoga Teacher? Should I perform handstand to become a Yoga Teacher? Should I be super-flexible? I do not know Sanskrit names of the postures... I don't even know the philosophy of it... But I love practicing Yoga... I am passionate to teach and spread Yoga. I practice what I teach. I am introduced to Yoga recently. Do I need to wait for a few years to be a proper yoga teacher? 

These are a few questions that arise in the minds of people when they start practicing yoga.

People expect you to be super-flexible, Sanskrit scholar etc when they try to perceive Yoga through the lens of other fields of knowledge. You do not need to be flexible (of course, it helps if you are flexible), you are not required to know Sanskrit names of the postures or the vinyasa counts (remember Pancha!) and so on... If you have those skills, it helps you in teaching yoga in a more beautiful way... 

Being a Yoga Teacher

What you need to teach Yoga is something different. When the main treatise "Meemamsa Sutras of Jaimini" starts the discussion on Purva Meemamsa philosophy, it lays down the eligibility of the student as the one who has sufficient knowledge in Sanskrit grammar, Nyaya (Indian Logic) and interested in exploring the Purva Meemamsa philosophy can start his journey with Jaimieeya Sutras". But when Patanjali begins his Yoga Sutras, he starts with "Atha Yoga Anushasanam" i.e. Now the exposition of Yoga to be made" Vyasa commentary explains the sutra that, now the person who is INTERESTED in understanding the union, can start his journey in the path of Yoga. 

The basic eligibility criteria is (genuine) Interest to lead yoga life.  

Of course, this does not mean that  you can teach yoga without proper understanding, without flexibility and etc. After having all the required factors, if you are not passionate of being yoga teacher, if you are looking for a professional career, do not take it. Yoga is all about living your life in a beautiful way. 

Here is a Video of an inspiring yoga practitioner who had a dream of taking yoga teacher training in India for forty years and finally did it and now she teacher yoga back home.. 

Yoga can be defined in a simple way like this. Yoga is a way of life enhancing the beauty of life, by building the right balance in all the actions, reducing the difference between who we really are (character) and whom we really show as we are (personality). All practices, on and off the mat making our life beautiful is Yoga. 

Be passionate to live your life beautifully. Beauty comes with right balance between freedom and responsibility. It expects us to understand what we need and what we crave for. Reduce craving for things and have all that is needed for the beautiful life. Cherish every moment of your life with discipline. Share the light manifested inside you. . .

Teaching Yoga is not a profession, it's a passion that is full of love and light...