To become a yoga teacher, you usually need to complete a certified yoga teacher training course. This is the most common way to get ready to teach yoga to others. Most people start with a 200 hour yoga teacher training. This type of yoga instructor course gives you the basic skills you need to teach safely and well. Getting a yoga certification from a good yoga school shows you have the right training.
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Figuring Out Your Yoga Training
So, you want to teach yoga? That’s great! Becoming a yoga teacher is a rewarding path. It lets you share something you love with other people. The first step is usually finding the right yoga teacher training. This is where you learn more than just the poses. You learn how to guide others safely.
What is a Yoga Teacher Training?
A yoga teacher training is a special course. It teaches you how to be a yoga teacher. It covers many things. You learn about yoga poses (asanas). You learn how to teach them to others. You learn about breathing exercises (pranayama). You also learn about the history and ideas behind yoga.
These courses are different from regular yoga classes. In training, you study and practice teaching. You learn how to help students. You also learn about the body and how it moves.
Choosing the Right Path: Training Types
There are different kinds of yoga teacher training. The most common one is the 200 hour yoga teacher training. This is seen as the basic level.
The 200 Hour Course
The 200 hour yoga teacher training is the starting point for most teachers. It usually takes several weeks or months to finish. It covers the main parts of yoga teaching.
What you learn in a 200 hour course:
- How to teach basic yoga poses
- How to plan a yoga class
- How to help students in poses (adjustments)
- Yoga breathing exercises
- A bit about yoga history and ideas
- Basic body knowledge (anatomy)
- How to teach safely
Finishing a 200 hour course usually gives you a basic yoga certification. This lets you teach yoga classes.
Higher Level Training
After the 200 hour course, you can do more training. There are 300 hour courses. There are also 500 hour courses. These go deeper into teaching and yoga study.
You can also take special training. This could be for teaching kids, older people, or pregnant people. These need extra study and practice.
Finding a Good Yoga School
Picking the right yoga school is important. It’s where you will spend a lot of time learning. You want a school that fits you.
Checking for Yoga Alliance
Many people look for a yoga school that is registered with Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance is a group that sets standards for yoga teacher training. They don’t give the yoga certification themselves. Schools give the certificate. But schools registered with Yoga Alliance follow certain rules.
If you train at a Yoga Alliance registered school, you can register with them later. This is not a must for all teaching jobs. But some places ask for it. It shows you trained at a place that met certain standards.
What to look for in a yoga school:
- Is it registered with Yoga Alliance?
- What style of yoga do they teach? (Like Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga) Choose a style you like.
- Who are the teachers? Do they have experience?
- How long is the course? Is it full-time or part-time?
- What is the cost of the training?
- Where is the school? Is it easy for you to get there?
- Do they help you learn to teach? Do you practice teaching?
Visiting a few yoga schools helps. You can feel the energy there. Talk to the teachers. Ask questions.
What Happens During Training
A yoga instructor course is a big step. It’s not just doing yoga poses. It’s about learning how to teach them.
Learning the Ropes
Most yoga teacher training courses have classes every day or several days a week. You will practice yoga yourself. This helps you feel the poses in your own body.
You will also study. You will learn about how the body works. This is called anatomy. You need to know this to help students safely. You will learn how to plan a class. This includes how to start and end a class. You learn how to order the poses.
You will also learn about the old writings and ideas of yoga. This helps you understand why we do yoga.
Practicing Teaching
A big part of yoga teacher training is practice teaching. You will teach small parts of a class to other students. Your teachers will give you feedback. This helps you get better. It can feel scary at first. But it’s a very important part. It helps you feel ready to teach real classes.
Many programs also ask you to watch other teachers. You learn a lot by seeing how others teach.
Getting Your Yoga Certification
After you finish your yoga teacher training, you get a yoga certification. This paper says you finished the course. It shows you have the needed skills from that school.
Steps to Certification
- Finish all parts of your yoga instructor course. This means going to classes. It means finishing any homework or tests. It means doing your practice teaching.
- Pass any tests the yoga school has. Some schools have written tests. Some have teaching tests.
- Get your certificate from the school.
Once you have your certificate from a Yoga Alliance registered school, you can register with Yoga Alliance if you want. This makes you a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Most people start as an RYT 200 after a 200 hour yoga teacher training.
Registering with Yoga Alliance needs a yearly fee. You also need to show you have taught classes and done more learning over time. This is not required to teach yoga. But it can help with some jobs.
How Much Does Yoga Teacher Training Cost?
The cost of yoga teacher training can be different. It depends on many things. It’s a big investment.
What Affects the Cost?
- Where is the school? Training in big cities or popular places might cost more.
- How long is the course? A 200 hour yoga teacher training costs less than a 300 or 500 hour course.
- Is it full-time or part-time? Full-time courses often cost less per day but are paid all at once. Part-time spread out over months might feel less costly each month.
- Is it online? Online yoga teacher training is often cheaper than in-person training.
- Is food and housing included? Some schools, especially for full-time or travel programs, include where you stay and what you eat. This adds to the total cost.
- Who are the teachers? Famous or very experienced teachers might mean a higher cost.
Here is an idea of costs:
| Type of Training | Estimated Cost Range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Hour (In-person, local) | $2,000 – $4,000 | Does not include travel or housing |
| 200 Hour (In-person, retreat) | $3,000 – $5,000+ | May include housing and food |
| 200 Hour (Online) | $300 – $1,500 | Can be much lower than in-person |
| 300 Hour / 500 Hour (Add-on) | $2,500 – $5,000 | For teachers with 200 hours already |
| Specialty Training | $300 – $1,000+ | For kids, older adults, etc. |
Remember to also think about other costs. These can be books, yoga mats, or travel if the school is far away.
Many schools offer payment plans. Some might have early bird deals if you pay early. Ask the school about ways to pay.
Learning Online: Online Yoga Teacher Training
Today, you can also get your yoga certification through online yoga teacher training. This was less common before. But it is now a good choice for many people.
How Online Training Works
An online yoga instructor course lets you learn from home. You often watch videos of classes and lessons. You might join live online calls with teachers and other students. You do homework and practice teaching online too.
Yoga Alliance has temporary rules allowing online 200 hour training to count for registration. Check their website for the latest rules.
Good Points of Online Training
- Lower Cost: Online yoga teacher training is usually much cheaper.
- Study from Anywhere: You don’t have to travel to a yoga school. You can learn from your home.
- Flexible Time: Many online courses let you study when it works for you. This is good if you have a job or family.
- Learn at Your Speed: You can often rewatch lessons. This helps if you need more time on something.
Things to Think About with Online Training
- Less In-Person Help: You don’t get direct, hands-on help from teachers. Learning to help students with their poses (adjustments) is harder online.
- Need to Stay Focused: You need to be good at studying by yourself. There are no teachers watching you every day.
- Less Community: You miss out on the daily contact with teachers and other students. This can be a big part of the learning experience in person.
- Need Good Internet: You need a stable internet connection and a computer or tablet.
Online yoga teacher training can be a great choice if you need flexibility or a lower cost. Just make sure the program is good and covers everything you need. Look for programs with live parts and chances to interact.
Requirements to Become Yoga Teacher
What do you need to become a yoga teacher? The main requirements to become yoga teacher are tied to getting trained and certified.
Key Requirements
- Complete a Yoga Teacher Training: As we talked about, a 200 hour yoga teacher training is standard. Finishing this course is the main requirement.
- Get Your Certification: Receive the certificate from your yoga school.
- Be Old Enough: Most training programs ask that you are at least 18 years old.
- Have Your Own Yoga Practice: You should have been doing yoga yourself for some time before training. This helps you understand the poses and what it feels like to do them. There’s usually no set time (like 1 year or 2 years). But having some experience is key.
- A Desire to Share: You need to want to teach and help others.
There are usually no strict body type or fitness level requirements to become yoga teacher. Yoga is for everyone. Teachers come in all shapes and sizes. What matters is your knowledge, skill, and passion.
Some places you want to teach might have extra needs. They might ask for Yoga Alliance registration. They might want teachers with more experience.
After Certification: The Path Continues
Getting your yoga certification is a big step. But it’s just the start of your yoga teaching career.
Keep Learning
Good teachers never stop learning. Yoga is a deep subject.
Ways to keep learning:
- Take workshops: Learn about specific poses, teaching skills, or yoga ideas.
- Do more training: A 300 hour course goes deeper.
- Study on your own: Read yoga books, listen to talks.
- Keep doing your own yoga practice: This is very important.
Get Experience
The best way to get better at teaching is to teach.
Ways to get experience:
- Teach friends or family.
- Offer free or low-cost classes to build skill.
- Volunteer to teach at community centers or gyms.
- Start teaching at a yoga school or studio.
Don’t wait until you feel perfectly ready. No teacher feels perfect. Start teaching small groups. Get feedback. Learn from it.
Building a Yoga Teaching Career
You have your yoga certification. You’re getting some experience. Now, how do you make teaching a yoga teaching career?
Finding Teaching Jobs
Where can you teach yoga?
- Yoga Schools/Studios: This is a common place. You teach classes for the studio. They handle the space and payment.
- Gyms and Health Clubs: Many gyms offer yoga classes.
- Community Centers: Often look for teachers for different age groups.
- Companies: Some businesses offer yoga for their workers.
- Schools and Universities: May have yoga programs.
- Hospitals or Clinics: Yoga for health conditions.
- Online: Teach classes through video calls or pre-recorded videos.
- Private Clients: Teach one-on-one sessions.
- Your Own Space: Rent a space or use a park to hold your own classes.
Getting Hired
When you look for a job, studios or gyms will want to see your yoga certification. They will likely ask about your training. They might also ask about your experience. They might ask you to teach a short practice class for them.
To get hired:
- Have a simple paper (resume) about your training and experience.
- Write a short letter about why you want to teach there.
- Be ready to talk about your teaching style.
- Maybe offer to teach a test class.
Teaching as a Business
If you teach classes on your own or online, you are running a small business.
Things to think about:
- Setting your price.
- Finding a place to teach (if not online).
- Getting people to know about your classes (marketing). Use social media or local flyers.
- Getting insurance. This protects you if someone gets hurt.
Many yoga teacher training programs now include some business basics. But you might need to learn more on your own.
A yoga teaching career can be full-time or part-time. Many teachers teach part-time while doing another job. Others teach many classes a week to make a living. It takes time to build a full yoga teaching career.
Thinking About Challenges
Being a yoga teacher is great. But it has challenges too.
Common Challenges
- Finding Work: It can take time to find regular classes to teach. Many places might want experienced teachers.
- Making Enough Money: Pay for teaching classes can be different. You might not make a lot per hour at first. You might need to teach many classes.
- Irregular Hours: Classes can be early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends.
- Physical Strain: Teaching many classes can be tiring for your body. You are doing some of the poses or moving around a lot.
- Burnout: Teaching takes energy. It’s important to care for yourself too. Keep up your own practice.
Handling Challenges
- Be Patient: Building a yoga teaching career takes time. Keep teaching and learning.
- Teach Different Places: Don’t just look at studios. Look at gyms, schools, online.
- Keep Your Own Practice Strong: This helps your body and mind.
- Connect with Other Teachers: Share ideas and support each other.
- Know Your Worth: As you get better, you can ask for more pay.
Is a Yoga Teaching Career Right for You?
Before you jump into a yoga instructor course, ask yourself some questions.
Thinking It Over
- Why do you want to teach yoga?
- Do you enjoy helping people?
- Are you ready to keep learning and studying?
- Are you okay with possibly working odd hours?
- Are you excited to talk in front of groups?
- Can you handle feedback and use it to get better?
- Do you have the time and money for the training? (Remember the cost of yoga teacher training varies.)
Becoming a yoga teacher is more than doing poses. It’s about guiding others. It’s about sharing knowledge. It’s about being a student yourself, always learning.
If you feel a strong pull to share yoga, if you love your own practice, and if you are ready for the work, then it might be the right path for you.
Putting It All Together
Becoming a yoga teacher starts with getting trained. A 200 hour yoga teacher training is the usual first step. You learn how to teach poses, breathing, and more. You get a yoga certification from a yoga school after you finish. Many schools meet standards set by Yoga Alliance. The cost of yoga teacher training can be different based on where you go and if it’s online (online yoga teacher training is often cheaper).
After training, you need to get experience. Teach friends, volunteer, or find small jobs. Building a yoga teaching career takes time and work. You keep learning and practicing. The main requirements to become yoga teacher are finishing a good training and having a desire to share yoga.
It’s a journey of learning, teaching, and growing. If you love yoga and want to help others, becoming a yoga teacher could be a wonderful choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 200 hour yoga teacher training enough?
Yes, a 200 hour yoga teacher training is usually enough to start teaching basic yoga classes. It gives you the needed skills and knowledge to guide students safely. Many jobs ask for at least 200 hours of training.
Do I need to register with Yoga Alliance?
No, you do not have to register with Yoga Alliance to teach yoga. Yoga Alliance is a group that sets standards. Registering with them shows you trained at a school that met those standards. Some yoga places like teachers to be registered, but many do not require it. Your yoga certification comes from the yoga school, not Yoga Alliance.
How long does it take to become a yoga teacher?
The time it takes depends on the training program. A full-time 200 hour yoga teacher training can take 3-4 weeks. A part-time course might take 2-6 months. An online yoga teacher training might be faster or slower depending on how you study. After training, becoming a good teacher takes practice over months and years.
Is online yoga teacher training good?
Online yoga teacher training can be good for some people. It is often cheaper and more flexible. But you miss the in-person help and community. Make sure the online course has live parts and good ways to learn hands-on skills safely. Check if it meets standards if you plan to register with Yoga Alliance later (they have rules for online courses).
How much does a yoga teacher make?
How much a yoga teacher makes is very different. It depends on where they teach, how many classes they teach, and their experience. Teachers might make from $20 to $80 or more per class. Private classes or workshops can pay more. Many teachers teach part-time. Making a full-time yoga teaching career can take time and effort.
What are the requirements to become yoga teacher besides training?
Besides finishing a certified yoga teacher training, the main requirements to become yoga teacher are often being at least 18 years old and having your own regular yoga practice before starting training. You also need a wish to share yoga with others. No specific body type or fitness level is needed.