Several DU students are taking yoga instructor certification courses to become certified in various yoga styles like Bikram, Vinyasa, and yoga sculpt. They are motivated to share their passion for yoga and its benefits for flexibility, stress relief, fitness and spiritual wellness. Some students plan to teach yoga as a career while others see it as a lifelong practice and way to stay active even with other career pursuits.

1. DU students become
certified yoga instructors
Yoga is becoming increasingly popular among
students at DU. In fact, Several DU students
are taking their passion for yoga to the next
level and becoming certified yoga instructors.
They are registered in various yoga
styles, from Bikram, a hot yoga, to Vinyasa, a
style focused upon synchronizing movement
and breath.

2. According to the recent Yoga in American study by
Yoga Journal, about 8.7% of U.S. adults (18+)
practice yoga, more than 20.4 million Americans.
Approximately 82.2% of these yogis, or yoga
practitioners, are women.

3. The top reasons that people take yoga are, to improve flexibility, for stress relief and spiritual
reasons, and to improve general health and fitness levels. American yogis spend an estimated
$10.3 billion each year on yoga between classes, equipment, clothing and other products.

4. “Yoga is a great workout,
and something that
everyone should try,” Sam
Pihl, a freshman DU
student said.

5. “Yoga is a way of life, it’s a spiritual practice,” Steph Winsor said. “I can feel it
in my mind and my body when I miss a class.”

6. According to KCFitnessLink, the
average yoga instructor is
between 30 and 40 years old.
However, current participants in
yoga teacher training are
anywhere from 19 to 75 years
of age.

7. Steph Winsor (top), a sophomore
double majoring in biology and public
policy, is currently four weeks away
from completing her certification in
Vinyasa.

8. Basic yoga teacher certification requires 200 hours of training. Training includes much
more than just attending classes, observing classes, and teaching classes. For some
styles of yoga, training includes taking an anatomy lab, reading about the history of
yoga, writing essays, and attending lectures.

9. Katie Elles (right), a
senior at DU, wanted to
become a certified
instructor because she
loves reading about
meditation and yoga
philosophy, and wanted
to teach others about
body acceptance. After
achieving her Bikram
certification through an
intense training
program, Elles now
teaches twice a week at
CorePower studios.

10. CorePower Yoga offers teacher training in a variety of yoga styles. Sam Pihl, a
freshman at DU, achieved her yoga sculpt teacher certification through CorePower.
Sculpt yoga is a full body workout that incorporates free weights into the yoga poses.

11. When Steph Winsor started
her teacher training, she was
unsure if she actually
wanted to teach. Now,
almost done with her
training, she offers free
weekly yoga classes at her
sorority house, Delta
Gamma.

12. Although Katie Elles
plans to pursue a
career in public
health policy and
management, she
intends to keep
teaching.
“Yoga will always be
a part of my life,”
she said.