Yoga has become one of the best wellness activities over the years and has transcended boundaries to spread its benefits all over the world. It is not only about physical postures but also about a journey towards internal development, complete awareness, and overall balance. In order to become a certified yoga teacher, you have to complete at least your foundational 200 hour YTT program that is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, USA. After graduating from this, you will be able to register yourself as a certified yoga teacher and pursue this as a professional career.
Yoga Alliance, USA is a global non-profit organization which is responsible for setting standards for different yoga schools across the globe. Completing your yoga teacher training from these accredited yoga schools will ensure that you have met all the standards as a yoga instructor.
A registered yoga instructor is a big goal to achieve as it helps you to ace your own practice and deepen skills that will build a stable career for you in this wellness industry. This journey of yoga teacher training has a structured program to follow, wellness workshops, daily yoga asana sessions, and teachings on yogic philosophies so that you are aware about every aspect of yoga.
If you are planning to pursue the career of yoga teacher professionally, then you need to understand the process of completing the training. It is a transformational journey which requires you to have strong commitment and discipline. In this article, you will be understanding the 7 steps that will make you a registered yoga teacher.
Who can become a yoga instructor?
Yoga is one of the best wellness activities for people of all age groups or medical backgrounds. If you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher, there are no hard and fast rules for it and any individual with a keen interest in yogic knowledge can become a certified teacher. Some qualities that you must possess if you aspire to become a yoga instructor are provided below:
- You should be immensely passionate about yoga and wellness activities along with teaching.
- You should have some basic understanding of a few common yoga styles and pranayama series.
- You must be ready to have open communication with your instructors and other individuals in the class. This will foster a sense of community and belongingness within you.
- You should have a strong mind and body connection which will ultimately help you with the different dynamics of yoga.
- You should be open and flexible to adapt to new surroundings and different environments and must have a sense of inclusiveness.
Now, let’s understand who all can become a yoga instructor in detail.
Passionate Yoga Practitioners
Passion for yoga is a must if you are considering it as a professional career option. The undying love for yoga will help you in being consistent with the practices and improve with a faster pace. Whether you have just begun with the understanding of the yogic world or are already familiar with it, joining a yoga teacher training course will increase your interest and provide you even deeper insights to have a comprehensive approach to overall wellness.
Career Opportunity Seekers
Becoming a yoga teacher is emerging as a popular career option these days. The YTT program is extremely rewarding as it teaches you major yoga skills and also train you to become a great yoga instructor in the future. As a certified yoga teacher you will be able to teach yoga in any part of the world, which gives you access to freedom and independence. If you are looking to switch professional roles and wish to have a more flexible career path, then this is the perfect opportunity for you.
Newbie with a desire to Learn
If you are a complete beginner and have a strong desire to learn different aspects of yoga, then partaking in the foundational yoga teacher training program is the best opportunity for you. There are numerous beginner-friendly courses that help all the newbies to get familiar with the concept of yoga and how it helps in overall wellness. The Yoga Alliance, USA has the fundamental 200 hour yoga TTC program that will give you a brief understanding about the different yogic aspects.
Individuals wanting Personal Growth
If you are someone who wishes for better personal growth along with becoming a certified instructor, then YTT programs are a perfect opportunity for you. The daily sessions on yoga asanas, pranayama, deep meditation, adjustment and alignment, yogic philosophies, and teaching methodologies will help you master the skills required as a certified yoga instructor.
Yoga teacher requirements
In order to become a yoga instructor you have to fulfil some prerequisites that are important for this profession. The requirements are different according to some of the factors like the yoga school you are choosing, yoga style, and the level of certification. There are a few yoga programs which require you to have specific qualifications in order to teach them. One of such programs is the 300 hour YTT course that can be only attended if you have graduated from the foundational 200 hour yoga program.
Regardless of these, let’s understand some of the basic needs that you must fulfil in order to become a certified yoga instructor.
- If you wish to join a yoga teacher training program, then make sure that you are above 18 years old.
- You should be extremely passionate and consistent about your yoga practices in order to ace them.
- For the advanced level yoga programs, you need to first graduate from the foundation yoga teacher training course, i.e, the 200 hour YTT program from a Yoga Alliance certified yoga school.
- You must have a brief understanding and knowledge about the different yogic aspects.
- You will have to maintain all your yoga certifications and should renew them as needed.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher in 7 Steps
Becoming a yoga instructor requires a lot of hard work, discipline, dedication, consistency, and immense passion. Understanding this journey of yoga teacher training will make it easier for you to take the first step without any hesitation.
Start Yoga Practice
Prior to your yoga teacher training journey, you must make your body and mind familiar with yoga practices. Build a decent foundation for yourself so that it is easier for you to adapt in the training period. Learn about the basics of yoga philosophy and what asanas have which alignment. This way it will be convenient for you to grasp things during your training period, ultimately helping you to refine your skills in a better way. Make a consistent routine of yogic practices so that your body get habitual of the daily movement and doesn’t get shocked on the first day of your yoga training. Although it is not a necessity to learn anything before your program, understanding some brief aspects of yoga will give you an edge in your learning.
Choose Yoga Style
Once you have started practicing yoga daily, explore the different styles of yoga and find the one that aligns with your goals perfectly. Take your time and figure out what your body requires and what will help you with your overall wellness. Understand your body’s flexibility and the dynamics it can tolerate easily with these yoga styles. There are different styles of yoga that focus on different aspects of wellness.
Hatha Yoga- Hatha yoga is a slow paced yoga style that is traditionally used for correcting posture, overall balance, and mental concentration.
Ashtanga Yoga- A fast paced yoga asana that emphasizes mainly on elevating your physical strength, mobility, flexibility, and provides you philosophical learning.
Yin Yoga- Yin yoga is also a slow paced style that focuses on training your body to hold a specific posture for a longer period of time. This helps in targeting your connectivity tissues and increases mobility in your muscles.
Vinyasa Yoga- Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic yoga style that links your bodily movements with synchronized breathing and gives you versatility while practicing.
Find out the right Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) Programs
Once you have decided the yoga style and also started your daily practice, the next step is to pick the right yoga teacher training program according to your body requirements. There are different levels of YTT programs, all accredited by the Yoga Alliance, USA, that are categorized according to your yogic understanding.
If you are an extreme beginner and wish to learn the basics of yoga, then the foundational 200 hour YTT program is the perfect option to consider. You will be learning all the basic aspects of yoga along with daily practices of asanas and meditation. If you have graduated from the 200 hour YTT program and wish to refine your skills even more, then the 300 hour YTT program is the best for you. Here you will get all the advanced lessons about yoga asanas, meditation, adjustment and alignment, teaching methodologies, etc. Once you have mastered both the programs, you will be eligible for the 500 hour YTT certificate, which includes the curriculum of both 200 and 300 hour YTT programs.
Picking out the right yoga teacher training program depends on several factors such as if you want an in-person class or online sessions, duration of your course, the level of your program, yoga style, destination of your yoga schools etc. These factors play a crucial role in deciding what program is the perfect one for you. An important point to consider while picking out your yoga teacher training program is to check whether the curriculum is accredited by the Yoga Alliance or not. Make sure that the school you choose has all the standardized programs that are curated by the Yoga Alliance, USA.
Enroll and Complete at least 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training Course
After these steps, enroll yourself in the yoga teacher training program which you picked and immerse yourself completely in practicing yoga mindfully. The basic 200 hour YTT program will have an all rounded curriculum that will teach you all about human anatomy and physiology, different asanas, yogic philosophies, alignment and adjustment and teaching methodologies that will help you in the future. This program covers everything and trains to you sequence your yoga class efficiently along with providing you some in-hand teaching experience. Through this, you will feel encouraged and will incorporate these teachings in your regular life to increase personal growth as well.
Get Certified
After graduating from the yoga teacher training program, make sure to apply for the certification. You will have to complete an assessment once you have attended all the required sessions. This test signifies that whatever you have learnt in your sessions, you are ready to apply them in your personal life as well as yoga teachings. Once you pass the assessment, you are eligible for the certificate that ensures that you can now teach yoga professionally at any corner of the world. This RYT certificate will be provided to you by your yoga school and is going to be accredited by the Yoga Alliance, USA.
Apply for a RYT & CPR Certification
Apply for the RYT and CPR certifications as they will help you in enhancing your professional career as a certified yoga instructor. RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher and is provided by the Yoga Alliance to prove your credibility as a yoga teacher. After completing the teacher training program, you are required to register and submit your documents so that you receive the RYT certification. CPR certification signifies that you have been given correct training to perform CPR in any case of emergency. Though this certification is not very important, it increases your credibility and makes you a more reliable yoga instructor.
Launching Your Yoga Teaching Career
The final step is to launch your yoga teaching career as a certified trainer. Make yourself open to opportunities and don’t hesitate with whatever comes your way. Make sure to curate a portfolio, highlighting all your specialities and the courses you completed. You can kickstart your career by teaching at a local yoga centre or taking small workshops in your area. After this, you can expand your career by taking online sessions and promoting your classes on social media. If you started your yoga teaching career just after completing the foundational program, continue your further yoga education as it will refine your skills and will make you an even better instructor in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a yoga teacher without certification?
Certifications ensure your credibility and reliability as a yoga instructor. Although in some areas you can teach yoga without the certificate, it is still an important step to fulfill in major parts of the world.
What is the difference between RYT 200, RYT 300, and RYT 500?
The full form of RYT is Registered Yoga Teacher and it is a certificate that ensures that you have successfully completed Yoga Alliance certified YTT program. Different RYT implies different levels of certifications. You are eligible for RYT 200 once you have graduated from the foundational 200 hour YTT program. RYT 300 certificate is provided when you have completed the advanced level 300 hour YTT program successfully. After completing both 200 hour and 300 hour teacher training programs, you are eligible to apply for RYT 500, which is considered as the highest level of certification.
Is online YTT as valid as in-person training?
If your yoga teacher training program is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, USA, then it doesn’t matter if it is online or in-person. The validity depends on the school’s certification and not on the mode in which the sessions are conducted. So if the YTT program you choose is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, then both online sessions and in-person sessions are valid.
How long does it take to become a yoga instructor?
If you are a beginner and start with the fundamental 200 hour program, then you will have to give 3-4 weeks of time to finish the course. The duration of your YTT program depends on what program you choose, the type of yoga style you are learning, mode of the sessions, etc.
How much do yoga instructors make?
A yoga instructor roughly makes around $20 to $35 per class if they are a beginner. The income of yoga teachers depends on what area they are teaching, the level of experience, credibility, and services they provide.
How much does it cost to become a yoga instructor?
The cost of becoming a yoga instructor depends on the level of program you have chosen. The 200 hour foundational YTT program can cost anywhere between $1200 to $2500 and the advanced level or comprehensive yoga teacher training programs are going to cost higher than this.
