Turning careers on their head

WORKERS are leaving the office and heading to the barre, with yoga, pilates and barre instructors among the hot new career choices.

Yoga Australia chief executive Shyamala Benakovic said the number of people training for a career in yoga had roughly doubled in the past three years.

About 2000 teachers trained in Yoga Australiaregistered courses in the past year and about 600 teachers were registered with the peak industry body.

Ms Benakovic said yoga was being applied in new areas, with corporations introducing wellbeing programs and schools hiring instructors trained to teach yoga to children.

“We are also seeing the therapeutic application of yoga — post-surgery yoga, post-cancer yoga, yoga for mental health,” she said.

“In aged care centres as well, yoga is becoming more prevalent because you can do it at any age and adapt it to anyone, even if they can’t walk or they have disabilities.”

Barre Body managing director Matt Kane said enrolments in his barre and pilates instructor training courses had increased about 200 per cent in the past six months.

“Demand (for pilates and barre) is growing, not only in city centres but other places like Geelong and Toowoomba and Ballarat,” he said.

The number of fitness instructors increased by about 45 per cent in the five years to November, 2017, according to Department of Jobs and Small Business figures.

Amy Kreminski began her career as a recruitment consultant but swapped heels for yoga pants after happening upon Bikram yoga in her quest to de-stress.

“The idea of sitting in an office nine to five was not me any more,” she said.

Ms Kreminski, 45, said people were drawn to zen jobs as younger generations wanted more out of their career than just money.

“We are now looking for happiness, we are looking inside,” she said.