Becoming A Yoga Teacher Over The Age Of 50

Scroll through social media or walk into any inner-city yoga studio, and you'll find endless ultra-flexible twenty-somethings in handstands and pretzel-like poses. Add to that the societal belief that career changes are reserved for the young, and it's easy to see why older aspiring yoga teachers wonder if there's space for them.

If that’s you, know that there absolutely is space! In fact, becoming a yoga teacher over 50 can be one of the most powerful and rewarding decisions you ever make. Changing careers and pursuing something new later in life takes COURAGE, a quality that will inspire your future yogis.

Moreover, your depth of life experience, calm energy, and grounded perspective are exactly what many students are looking for. So if you're dreaming of becoming a yoga teacher, read on as I dispel the limiting beliefs that hold many older adults back.

Why Age Is Actually Your Advantage

My very first yoga teacher was in her 60s. I was drawn to her over the younger teachers at the studio because watching her move with such grace, strength, and mindfulness was awe-inspiring.

When you embody vitality and physical fitness later in life, people pay attention. You are living proof that yoga works and that it's never too late to prioritise your well-being.

In addition, emotional maturity and a calm, grounded presence come with age, which are essential qualities in a good yoga teacher. Personally, I come to my yoga mat to relieve stress, so I prefer the calm energy of older teachers over the excitable, energetic vibe of younger ones.

There's also a growing demand for older, relatable yoga teachers, especially in communities catering to midlife and senior students. I remember when my mother first started practising yoga. She asked me for recommendations for older teachers because she felt intimidated walking into a class run by someone young enough to be their child.

We naturally gravitate towards people our age, so many older students, like my mother, prefer older teachers who understand ageing bodies and life experience. You see, your age isn't a barrier; it's a superpower. You naturally command more respect and authority when your age matches or exceeds that of your students. While younger teachers may need to work hard to gain credibility, you step into it simply by showing up as you are.

Common Concerns About Becoming A Yoga Teacher Over 50 (& Why You Shouldn't Let Them Stop You)

It's natural to have doubts about becoming a yoga instructor in your 50s or beyond, especially when the image of the "typical yoga teacher" doesn't look like you. But while these concerns are valid, they don't have to hold you back. So let's reframe these doubts together. 

“I’m too old to be in a room full of 20-somethings.”

It can be daunting to think about training or teaching alongside much younger people—no one wants to be the oldest trainee in a YTT. But instead of seeing your age as a disadvantage, recognise how much value it brings. You offer emotional maturity, lived wisdom, and a calm energy many people (young and old) are drawn to. 

Your age also gives you a uniqueness that stands out in the saturated market of yoga teaching. Many yogis are fed up with the same 'cookie-cutter' twenty-something instructors and seek someone more authentic and relatable. That someone is YOU!

“I won’t be able to keep up physically.”

Despite what social media shows, yoga is NOT about performance. A good yoga teacher is one who oozes presence, clarity, and connection, not one who can do all the flashy poses. You will not be required to master a headstand or arm balance to pass your yoga teacher training. Instead, your course facilitators will be looking for someone who can modify poses and guide others safely, things teachers of any age can do.

Moreover, there are many yoga styles beyond the popular fast-paced vinyasa flow and power yoga. You can specialise in slower styles of yoga like Yin, Restorative, and Hatha. These styles don't require as much from you physically, and they tend to attract an older demographic of students.

“The TTC (Teacher Training Course) seems too intense.”

Many yoga teacher training courses are 200-hour intensives crammed into a few weeks. I did this type of training in my mid-twenties, and it was physically and mentally exhausting even then.

So, of course, for an older person who may not have been in a learning environment for a while, these courses can be extremely nerve-wracking. However, intensives are only one format of teaching training. There are many gentle-paced courses (online or offline) where you study part-time over several months. Yes, they take longer to complete, but they allow rest and integration, so you might find them a better fit for your lifestyle and body. 

“I’m not tech-savvy enough to promote myself online.”

Nowadays, it can feel like yoga teachers must be social media marketers, website designers, and content creators. This part can feel overwhelming if you didn't grow up with tech. But it doesn't have to be. You can start small: a simple website, a basic Instagram page, or simply just word-of-mouth through your local community.  There are countless free tutorials and courses that can teach you the basics, or you can enlist help from someone who enjoys the digital side of things. 

Meet The Yoga Teachers Who Took A Yoga Teacher Training After 50

If you're still unconvinced, take it from these yoga teachers who began their careers in their 50s or beyond.

Let's start with London-based yoga teacher Yvonne O'Garro, who swapped her career in HR for yoga teaching at 50. While the transition was scary at the time, looking back, she shares, "I enjoyed my 19-year HR career, but the joy and sense of purpose I feel in sharing the practice of yoga with others cannot be compared."

Even more impressive, Susan Teton took a 30-day yoga teacher training retreat in Mexico at 67! Recognising the benefits of yoga for ageing gracefully, she decided to commit to integrating yoga into her self-care routine.

Then there is French yoga instructor Charlotte Chopin, who is now 102! Charlotte didn't even start practising yoga until she was 50, yet she went on to teach for five decades and run her own studio! In 2024, at the age of 101, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the president of India for her contributions to yoga and promoting holistic well-being.

Conclusion

In the yoga teacher world, age is not the limitation—lack of self-knowledge is.

The only real requirement to teach yoga is having a committed self-practice and a desire to share what you've learned. So, whether you're 51 or 71, if yoga has changed your life, you're qualified to teach it.

You don't need to be the youngest, bendiest, or most "Instagrammable" teacher in the room. You just need to be you!