In the past, many people who had enough free time took up some kind of hobby. Nowadays, with advancing technology and other distractions such as social network sites and computer gaming, hobbies are far less popular. However, there are some people who still collect things such as stamps, football stickers and cards, make things or study subjects just for fun rather than to advance their education. A very popular kind of hobby is any in the form of exercise, as activity hobbies such as these improve one's health while also giving them a break from daily life. There comes a time in one's hobby life when they consider taking the next step and taking up more of the activity than just a hobby. It is not always a success, but if it does work, that person can then lead a very fulfilling lifestyle. For example, to go from a novice or low level in something like yoga or tai chi, to actually making a living out of it after taking a teacher or yoga instructor course. Now, living yoga might not be every yoga fan's cup of tea, as it may be oversaturation and therefore no longer a hobby. But for most it would be wonderful to enjoy one's work so much. Being an instructor can also open up other doors for you as many teachers get the chance to train others on YTTC in places like Nepal, India and even Ibiza.

Imagine doing something that is so beneficial to your health and relaxing for your mind as your chosen occupation. To take up yoga teaching would involve more than just you quitting a job and finding your market and starting yoga courses for your customers. It would require reaching a high level of consciousness and a higher level in the art in advance, and also performing pure yoga in the right environment for a reasonable length of time. Then, once the appropriate level has been reached, one can start to teach. Living yoga really would be a great lifestyle in circumstances allowed it. Of course, there are other hobbies which can lead to careers. For example, scuba diving is for most people a sport that can be practised just once or twice a year. But there are also plenty of people who become addicted to it quite quickly and want to move up the ladder of different levels, until reaching Divemaster or Instructor.

Normally, making a hobby into a career is a big step and it is usually only possible if that hobby can be taught or instructed. Yoga and scuba diving are just two simple examples, but there are plenty of others, such as hang gliding, golf, mountaineering or climbing. Of course, one must bear in mind that to maintain a constant income one needs to have regular customers and this can often require moving away from one's home town or country. In addition, after a year or two, many people become bored of the activity that they once loved.