| Alyssa began dealing with chronic back problems after | | | | one? She asked herself what was most important to |
| the birth of her daughter. Her pain was so intense, she | | | | her in an instructor training course. Once she |
| was unable to embark on a post-baby weight loss | | | | developed her criteria, she hoped it would be easier to |
| program as she'd planned. | | | | narrow down her choices. Alyssa looked for qualities |
| Subsequently, she was unable to return to her | | | | such as: |
| pre-pregnancy weight. Within months, Alyssa had | | | | * Comprehensive written material that is easy to |
| gained five more pounds. More weight put more stress | | | | understand. It should include the principles of yoga, as |
| on her back. Her worsening back problems prevented | | | | well as anatomy and kinesiology training. |
| her from exercising. Alyssa began to feel depressed | | | | * DVDs with clear, simple to follow demonstrations of |
| and anxious. In desperation, she visited a chiropractor | | | | positions and techniques. |
| who began treatments to alleviate her pain. He also | | | | * Information on how to teach yoga, not just how to |
| suggested that Alyssa would benefit from doing | | | | do yoga. |
| regular yoga. | | | | * Affordability. Having a baby meant more expenses |
| To her delight, Alyssa's health improved dramatically | | | | than ever before, and her money had to stretch as far |
| after she began yoga classes. Not only did her | | | | as possible. |
| physical symptoms diminish, her mental health | | | | * Flexibility in completing assignments. With a new baby |
| experienced a tremendous boost. Within a year, | | | | and a job, she would need it! |
| Alyssa had not only returned to her normal weight, her | | | | She knew that it was important to find a program with |
| back pain was gone. | | | | access to an instructor. After all, there would be times |
| Alyssa was excited about the changes in her life | | | | when she would need to clarify things that she didn't |
| brought about by yoga. So much so that she began to | | | | understand. She also knew that having an instructor |
| contemplate becoming a certified yoga instructor. | | | | would help motivate her to complete the course. She |
| Before having her daughter, Alyssa had felt that her | | | | was baffled to find that many home study courses did |
| current career had reached a dead end. | | | | not include access to an instructor at all. Others |
| After returning from maternity leave, she felt more | | | | offered only limited access. Feeling that support was |
| than ever that a change was in order. She had gained | | | | critical to her success, Alyssa decided she wouldn't |
| so much from her yoga classes that she wanted to | | | | settle on a course unless it offered unhindered access |
| share that experience with others. However, since | | | | to an instructor. |
| she'd only been back at work a few months, Alyssa | | | | Her determination paid off. She was able to find a |
| knew that taking time off to take a yoga instructor's | | | | distance learning course that met all of her criteria. In |
| course would be impossible. But unwilling to give up on | | | | fact, it offered more than she'd been seeking. The |
| her new dream, she began to investigate alternative | | | | home study course that she settled on covered |
| plans. | | | | business training, something that most others she'd |
| She soon discovered that she could become a | | | | looked into did not. Not only would Alyssa become a |
| certified yoga instructor through a home-study course. | | | | certified yoga instructor, she would have the ability to |
| Though studying yoga at home sounded unusual at | | | | run her own yoga business. |
| first, she knew that was her only alternative. She | | | | One year later, Alyssa had quit her old job and was |
| wondered if she would be able to get the same quality | | | | teaching yoga at a local fitness center. She was |
| of instruction in a home study as she would in a | | | | working closer to home and able to spend more time |
| classroom. She worried that not having a live teacher | | | | with her daughter. Instead of coming home from work |
| to demonstrate things like the yoga positions would | | | | tired and stressed out, Alyssa came home calm and |
| make it harder to learn the material. | | | | relaxed. Her new job was better than she'd ever |
| However, Alyssa was still determined not to give up | | | | dreamed. Plus, she knew she was a better mother |
| on her dream. So she began comparing home study | | | | because of it. She even hoped to start her own |
| courses for yoga instructors. She realized that there | | | | fitness business one day. Grateful that she had been |
| were more home study training options than she had | | | | choosy when searching for a home study course, she |
| expected. In fact, the number of courses available was | | | | knew she had made the right decision in becoming a |
| almost overwhelming. How would she choose the right | | | | certified yoga instructor. |