I get up just before dawn, pull on bike pants and a tank, and head over to the beach. The celebs, a crescent Moon, and Venus are starting to fade, and the soon-to-rise Sun creates a panoramic skyscape of magenta, cerulean, and navy. The surf may be very high this morning. The ocean’s rhythm makes it seem as if the very Earth is respiration within the day. I slip into pranayama, then meditation, with ease.

I’ve come to a resort on the Pacific coast of Mexico to show yoga on a weeklong teaching “vacation.” In that moment just before daybreak, I’m at peace and infused with shiny gratitude.

Once more, I’ve merged my love of travel and the enjoyment of sharing yoga. I feel blessed, blissed, and able to teach the 8 a.m. class when 12 sleepy people step onto the mats I’d arrange earlier.

I learned about teaching vacations a number of years ago on a girls’ trip at a resort in Jamaica. After attending a yoga class overlooking the Caribbean, I asked the teacher how she landed this #goals gig. She told me about “teacher travel” firms that allow yoga and fitness instructors to spend weeks at luxury resorts in exchange for a number of hours of teaching. I used to be intrigued.

Traveling and teaching, a dream vacation

I reached out to Suzelle Snowden, owner of Fitness Pro Travel. She’s been matching yoga instructors and fitness pros (including Pilates, aerobics, and Zumba teachers) in addition to DJs—with all-inclusive resorts within the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South Asia for 30 years. In exchange for teaching a day by day class or two to other travelers, you receive per week of luxury lodging. The actual fact that you may bring a guest without spending a dime? That’s just like the last, best moments of savasana.

“There are limitless possibilities to travel in luxury and share your passion for yoga with the world,” she says. “It’s a really unforgettable experience; you’ve to go to know.”

I went.

Here’s how yoga vacations work

Firms like Fitness Pro Travel, NRG2GO, and Fitness Vacation Exchange screen teachers online. They require at minimum a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification and one to 2 years teaching experience. It’s possible you’ll also need a current CPR/AED certification.

When you’re on board, the corporate offers guest teachers ongoing support with travel questions, and sets clear guidelines and expectations. A sturdy chat board offers location info and suggestions from other teachers who’ve visited the resort. Some travel teaching firms offer training opportunities so you’ll be able to accrue continuing education hours toward certification maintenance. They might also offer concierge service if you desire to host your individual yoga retreat.

On the resort, guest instructors are considered an extension of the fitness and entertainment staff. Your job is to plan and teach one or two 45- or 60-minute classes a day, and to speak up your classes to other vacationers. You arrange your space with on-site mats and props and, in the event you prefer to play music at school, bring speakers and a playlist.

Your yoga “students” are prone to be individuals with various levels of yoga experience. A surprising variety of persons are trying yoga for the primary time after they come to your class. Be prepared to show beginners–check for injuries or health issues, offer an array of variations, and do not forget that most persons are here to have time, not take part in a yoga intensive.

When your class is over, the remainder of your time is your individual to explore the country you’re visiting or lounge across the resort to your heart’s content.

After teaching, I prioritize rest. My companion and I laze about in hammocks, get free massages, and go parasailing and upright paddle boarding. Meals on the resort are free and plentiful, with an array of restaurants that provide various cuisines. I pile my plate high with local fruits vegetables, and the very best of local cuisine. (Drinks flow freely, too, but my drink of selection is sparkling water with a twist of lime.) We wander into town to buy groceries, sample local eateries, visit museums and art galleries, and learn concerning the local culture. It’s a wonderful vacation and, because I’m doing yoga each day, I treat it like my very own wellness retreat.

What to know before you go

If there’s a caveat, it’s this: You don’t receives a commission. The truth is, you pay a program fee that ranges from $500 to $750. And you’re accountable for your airfare and expenses involved in attending to the resort. But whenever you calculate rates for all-inclusive resorts, the fee amounts to a fraction of what per week’s stay would cost, and that features your companion.

For my first yoga teaching trip, I returned to the resort in Jamaica where I first learned concerning the program. I’ve since taken my husband on a visit to have fun our anniversary and shared the experience with girlfriends.

Now, my goal is to go on multiple-week vacations to maximise the price of airfare. Your minimum stay at a resort is one week, but you’ll be able to plan and book back-to-back weeks. “You may decide to stay at the identical resort for multiple week, if it’s available, or resort-hop around a particular area to build up different experiences,” says Snowden.

Either way, it’s a great approach to treat yourself to the deep rest and adventure you long for while sharing the practice you like. Go to know!

About our contributor

K. Anoa Monsho is a contract author and yoga teacher based in Atlanta, Georgia.