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If you love yoga and have been practicing consistently for some time, you may start to consider doing a Yoga Teacher Training course. If you want to teach yoga professionally, this is a must, but even if you don’t plan to teach, a good Yoga Teacher Training will deepen your knowledge of yoga alignment, sequencing, anatomy, and philosophy.
Here’s what to look for in a 200-hour Yoga Alliance-registered training program.
What is Yoga Teacher Training (YTT)?
A Yoga Teacher Training is a deep dive into the practice of yoga, including alignment, anatomy, meditation, pranayama, philosophy, history, and teaching methodology. It will prepare you to teach yoga and/or enrich your personal practice.
The industry standard minimal qualification is a 200-Hour credential. The 200 hours can be distributed in a number of ways, for example, a 4-week intensive, over 6 months of weekends, or as a self-paced online course. The cumulative hours include classroom instruction, personal practice, and student teaching.
The Yoga Alliance (YA) Explained
The Yoga Alliance is a United States-based organization that, among other functions, maintains a list of registered YTTs that meet its standards for 200 hours of training.
Is Certification Required to Teach in the US?
There is no federally mandated yoga teacher certification process in the US. However, most studios require at least a 200-hour training and prefer one that is registered with the Yoga Alliance. Also, the Yoga Alliance does not certify any teachers or YTTs, but rather allows them to register with the YA if they meet its criteria.
What is RYT?
RYT, which stands for Registered Yoga Teacher, is a Yoga Alliance designation. After you have completed a 200-hour teacher training at a Registered Yoga School (RYS), you can submit your qualifications, pay a fee, and be approved to use the credential RYT 200. If you want to keep your registration current, you must pay the YA an annual fee.
RYT 500 and E-RYT
The Yoga Alliance also has several classifications for more experienced teachers. For an RYT 500, you must complete an additional 300-hour advanced training course, plus have at least 100 hours of teaching experience.
E-RYT denotes experienced teachers. You can qualify as either an E-RYT 200 (200-hour teacher training at a RYS plus at least two years teaching and 1000 hours experience) or an E-RYT 500 (500-hour teacher training at a RYS plus at least four years teaching and 2000 hours experience). Yoga Alliance also offers an alternate pathway for teachers who have extensive experience outside the YA system.
What Will I Learn in a 200-Hour YTT? (The Curriculum)
The Yoga Alliance requires that RYSs cover topics in four categories.
Techniques, Training, and Practice
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Yoga poses, sequencing, alignment, variations, and modifications
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Depending on the style of yoga, may also cover meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) techniques, and the subtle body (chakras, nadis, etc.)
Anatomy & Physiology
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Muscular and skeletal systems
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Nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, and respiratory systems
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Joints
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Contraindications
Yoga Humanities (Philosophy, History, Ethics)
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Definitions of yoga
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Yoga history
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Historical philosophical texts and how to relate them to modern practice
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Yoga equity and ethics
Professional Essentials (Teaching Methodology & Business)
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Teaching methodology
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Credentialling
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Professionalism
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Marketing
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Insurance
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Mentorship
How to Choose the Right YTT for You
Training with your regular studio often makes the most sense. If there aren’t YTTs in your area or if you have time constraints, there are other options. To choose a program that aligns with your lifestyle and teaching goals, consider:
Format
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Local/Commuter: Weekends or evenings over several months.
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Intensive: Full-time, 3-4 weeks (often destination/residential).
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Online/Hybrid: Flexibility with synchronous (live) vs. asynchronous (pre-recorded) hours.
Style Focus
Pick the style of yoga that you have been practicing and want to teach. For more prevalent styles, this may still allow you to do a destination training.
Lead Trainers
If you are considering a training with teachers you don’t know, check their credentials (E-RYT 500 status) and years of experience. It’s not unusual for a training to have multiple teachers, each leading their area of expertise.
Reputation
Look for testimonials, alumni networks, and ask about post-graduation support/mentorship.
How Much Does Yoga Teacher Training Cost?
Typical Range
$1,500 to $5,000+, depending on the location, time frame, style of yoga, and reputation of leaders
What is Included/Excluded?
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Included: Tuition, manual, unlimited yoga classes during training.
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Excluded: Books, travel/lodging (for intensives), Yoga Alliance registration fees (annual and application fees, roughly $115 total in the first year).
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Financing Options: Many programs offer payment plans, early-bird discounts, and scholarships.
The Yoga Teacher Training Journey: Prerequisites and Commitment
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Prerequisites: Each YTT sets its own prerequisites, but generally a practice of some duration and depth is preferred.
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The Commitment: The biggest commitment is time. Make sure you can attend most YTT sessions, or you risk failing to qualify. Also, allow time for studying outside of classroom hours, as you will be tested on your knowledge.
Time to Grow
Participating in a YTT is often a profound experience for yoga students because it provides the time to deeply explore this ancient practice and your relationship to it in community with other yogis. If you want to teach, it’s essential, but even if you don’t, this opportunity to learn and grow is often life-changing.
Yoga Teacher Training FAQs
How long does it take to become a certified yoga teacher?
The industry standard is a 200-hour teacher-training program. The 200 hours can be achieved in a variety of ways. For instance, you can do a one-month intensive training or spread it out over six or more months if you have other work or family commitments.
Do I need to be able to do advanced poses to start YTT?
Not necessarily. Each YTT sets its own prerequisites. Most require a strong commitment to the practice, which may or may not include specific advanced asanas.
Is the Yoga Alliance certification required to get hired in the US?
Yoga Alliance is very particular about stating that they register, not certify, yoga teachers. That said, reputable yoga studios like their teachers to be at least a RYT 200. However, this is not legally required, and some gyms may accept other certifications. Some styles of yoga also run their own teacher training programs outside of the Yoga Alliance system.
What is the difference between RYT 200 and RYT 500?
RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher. 200 and 500 refer to the number of hours you have trained. 200 hours is the first level of teacher training. If you do an additional advanced training, those are usually 300 hours, for a total of 500 hours. These are all Yoga Alliance terms.
What are the main career paths for a yoga teacher?
Yoga teachers often work in yoga studios and gyms, take on private and corporate clients, and lead yoga retreats. Some may manage or own yoga studios and eventually run teacher training programs themselves. They can also offer instruction via digital platforms and apps.
