Are you passionate about yoga, and do you have a desire to share that passion with others? Perhaps you should become a certified yoga instructor.
In this ultimate guide to how to become a yoga instructor, you will learn what it means to become a yoga instructor, what courses to take, how much they cost, and what to expect from them. You will also learn how to officially register as a certified yoga instructor and how to land your first yoga teaching jobs.
Why Become A Certified Yoga Instructor?
Many people choose to complete a yoga teacher training program to deepen their knowledge of yoga and improve their yoga practice. But many complete the program to share their passion for yoga with others as a teacher.
As a yoga teacher, you will be qualified to lead others through yoga sequences, breathing exercises, and meditations, providing guidance and corrections for a safer and more beneficial practice. A yoga teacher might do this in various contexts, from classes in yoga studios, fitness centers, and community spaces, to private lessons, corporate retreat workshops, and therapeutic sessions.
You generally need a few things to become a yoga teacher:
A passion for yoga!
A thorough understanding of various yoga practices, anatomy, and yogic philosophy.
A strong basis in teaching and connecting with others.
Business acumen and marketing skills to procure work.
Flexibility in your schedule and the ability to travel to deliver classes.
First aid training and general liability insurance.
It is also beneficial and required for many job opportunities that you complete a yoga teacher training program, usually a minimum of 200 hours, and register as a certified yoga instructor with the Yoga Alliance or a similar body.
Yoga Alliance: What Is It & What are the Benefits of Getting Certified?
The Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization created by the yoga community for the yoga community to advocate for yoga and create streamlined standards for things such as yoga teacher training and health and safety requirements. There are currently over 7,000 yoga schools and more than 100,000 yoga teachers registered with the Alliance.
While the Yoga Alliance is the largest and most well-known, it is not the only body of its kind within the yoga community. Other organizations include the National Association of Certified Yoga Teachers, the World Yoga Federation, and Yoga Australia.
If you complete a yoga teacher training, you may choose to register as a teacher with multiple organizations. The Yoga Alliance is the largest and has the widest recognition in the United States.
There are a variety of benefits to registering with the Yoga Alliance:
The ability to find work with yoga studios that require Yoga Alliance certification.
Visibility on their directory of yoga teachers to find work.
Access to continuing education courses through online workshops.
Networking and engagement opportunities through community events and social media.
To register with the Yoga Alliance as a teacher, there is a US$50 application fee, an initial US$115 registration fee, and an annual fee of US$65.
How Do 200, 300, and 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs Differ From Each Other?
When you look for yoga instructor training, you will find 200, 300, and 500-hour options. You may also see 100-hour training programs. These are generally considered foundational courses that allow you to “dip your toes in the water” before committing to a 200-hour program.
The 200-hour program is a basic yoga instructor certification program that will allow you to teach yoga in a general way, such as leading standard Vinyasa yoga or Hatha yoga classes. It could be considered like your Bachelor's degree.
The 300-hour program could be considered like a Masters, as you connect with more complex and nuanced yoga postures and dive deeper into meditation and yoga kriyas.
The 500-hour program is like your Doctorate, and you will study the theory and philosophy behind yoga, as well as explore complex issues such as prenatal yoga classes and therapeutic yoga.
The hours are cumulative, so if you complete a 200-hour program, you will only complete another 300 hours of training to obtain the 500-hour yoga certification.
Choosing a Yoga Teacher Training
The 200-hour yoga instructor training program is a prerequisite for the longer programs, so you should look at this first. There are then a number of questions to ask yourself to find the right program.
What type of yoga do I want to study?
While courses may cover various types of yoga, they will usually specialize in one style, such as Vinyasa or Yin yoga. You should choose a style that aligns with your own practice.
How do I want to study yoga?
Your first choice is between an in-person, online, or hybrid program that uses both. There are pros and cons for each. In-person courses tend to be more intensive and rewarding but also more expensive and less flexible.
Online training programs require independent learning and motivation, but they tend to be more affordable and flexible and can give you access to teachers around the world.
Read our full guide to online vs in-person yoga teacher training courses here.
What pace should I study at?
The 200-hour course can take anything from one month to one year to complete. You could sign up for a three-week retreat that delivers the 200-hour course as an intensive in-person residential. While these programs are extremely immersive, they are the most expensive, and this kind of intensive learning style doesn't work for everyone.
Other courses might have you meet on a weekly or monthly basis, so it could take you a full year to complete the course. This slower pace of engagement suits many learning styles.
What courses are available to me?
Once you have answered the questions above, you can start to look at the courses that meet your requirements and that are available to you in terms of cost, location, and timing.
When you find a yoga studio that is giving a teacher course that interests you, it is a good idea to take a few classes at that studio if possible. This will help you to confirm that you have found a great yoga teacher you can connect with.
Looking To Become a Certified Yoga Instructor?
Look no further than ISSA's 200-Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training. It's the perfect starting point to gain the knowledge and skills you need for a successful yoga career. With ISSA, you have access to expert teachers, study at your own pace online, and it's affordable too. Plus, once you complete the program, you can register with Yoga Alliance, opening doors to exciting opportunities in the yoga community.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor: Traditional In-Person Training
When you complete yoga teacher trainings in person, you can expect it to cover five core modules.
Yoga techniques and practice: basically the physical side of yoga, including fundamental techniques and the finer details of important asana.
Anatomy and physiology: the anatomy of the poses and the Chakras and Nadis.
Yoga philosophy: the study of the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita.
Teaching methodology: student learning processes and how to facilitate learning as a teacher.
Practical teaching: leading yoga sessions comprised of the other participants and receiving feedback.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor: Self-Paced Online Study
Online yoga teacher training covers all the same elements as in-person courses, except that you will access materials through an online portal. There will be both pre-recorded classes that you can access at your leisure and live online sessions with an instructor.
The Yoga Alliance does not distinguish between in-person and online yoga teacher training. They are both recognized as the same yoga teacher certification.
Cost and Time Commitment to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor
How much it costs and how long it takes to complete a yoga training course varies depending on how you choose to complete the course.
If you complete your yoga teacher training online, it may only cost you US$500-US$1,000. Since it is self-paced, you could complete the course within a month or over the course of a year. You can find recommendations for the best yoga teacher training online here.
If you complete your training with a local studio with weekly or monthly contact hours, it can take anywhere from three months to one year to complete the course. You can expect the course to cost you between US$1,000-US$7,000.
If you prefer to complete an intensive yoga teacher training residential course, you can expect it to take three to four weeks. The cost of the course itself will be similar to that of local studios and may be lower if you choose to travel to another country. But in addition to the course, you will need to pay for accommodation, travel, and be able to take an extended period of time away from work. You can find recommendations for the best yoga teacher training retreats in Bali here.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor in 5 Steps
How exactly do you become a yoga teacher? Follow these five steps.
Step 1
Have a passion for yoga and develop a consistent yoga practice. You should be practicing yoga for at least a year before considering a yoga teacher training course.
Step 2
Research 200-hour yoga teacher training courses that are available to you and suit your yoga style and learning preferences.
Step 3
Commit to an extended period of intensive study. While you will have 200 contact study hours, you should commit to additional reading, study, and time on your yoga mat.
Step 4
Once you have completed your yoga certification course, register as a certified yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance.
Step 5
Start working! Approach yoga studios and fitness academies for teaching opportunities and offer your own classes.
Finding a Job as a Certified Yoga Instructor
The Yoga Alliance has over 100,000 yoga teachers registered for 7,000 yoga schools. This suggests that it is a competitive market! The best way to stand out is through the quality of your teaching, which comes from dedication and experience. You also need to hustle! Put yourself out there and say yes to opportunities.
Below are some top tips for finding work when you become a yoga instructor.
Practice at various yoga studios. When yoga studios recruit, they often start their search with members of their community. If you are interested in working at a certain yoga studio, make sure you are also practicing there.
Create your own classes. Experience often makes a difference when it comes to landing a job at a yoga studio or fitness academy. Get experience by starting your own class. You can do it at your local park, local community center, or online.
Network. Existing yoga teachers are often the first to know of new opportunities, so network with working yoga teachers and make them aware that you are looking.
Think outside the box. Yoga studios and gyms aren't the only places to teach yoga. Many businesses might like to offer yoga as part of their employee wellness program, or a local cafe or shop might want to offer activities to attract new clients. Be creative.
When you are first starting out, you might need to say yes to every reasonable opportunity. When you get one, make sure you market it widely to ensure it is a success.
How to Become A Certified Yoga Instructor – Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to teach yoga without a certification?
Yoga teaching is an unregulated industry, so you are not legally required to be certified to teach. But many yoga studios that are linked with the Yoga Alliance choose to have yoga certification as a requirement. Fitness centers and other organizations may also choose to ask for a yoga instructor certification as a way of screening potential teachers.
How much can you make as a certified yoga instructor?
How much you can make as a yoga instructor depends on your dedication to hustle for work! Giving a couple of classes a week will only provide a modest side income, but if you teach multiple classes a day at various different studios and for a range of clients, you can make a good income. But this relies on investment in networking and self-marketing.
Research suggests that in the United States, full-time entry-level yoga instructors make around US$40,000 per year, while the average wage of an experienced full-time yoga teacher is US$58,500. The highest-earning yoga teachers earn a little over US$90,000 per year. In the United Kingdom, the average salary for a full-time yoga teacher is £46,118 (US$58,399), and in Australia, it is AUD69,650 (US$47,369).
RYT vs CYT, what's the difference in certifications?
When you complete the minimum number of hours of training that a registered yoga school requires to qualify as a yoga teacher, that school will recognize you as a certified yoga teacher, a CYT. You are then able to register with the Yoga Alliance as a registered yoga teacher, an RYT. This gives your qualification recognition beyond the school where you studied with other organizations affiliated with the Yoga Alliance.
Is there an expiration date for a yoga teacher training certificate?
The yoga instructor certification that you receive from your chosen yoga school at the end of your training never expires. But if you want to maintain yourself as a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance, you must keep your registration current. This requires paying an annual fee and every three years completing a minimum of 45 hours of teaching yoga and 30 hours of continuing education.
Do I need insurance as a certified yoga instructor?
If you work for a yoga studio, they should have appropriate insurance that covers you while you are teaching yoga on their behalf. If you teach independently, you will require general liability insurance to cover you and your students in case of an injury during class.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor – Final Words
Now that you know exactly what is involved, do you still want to become a yoga instructor?
It is a serious commitment to complete the yoga teacher training course and find work as a yoga teacher, but it is impossible to quantify the rewards of sharing your passion with others.
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