Congratulations! You’re considering a yoga teacher training program. You’re about to embark on a life-changing journey of education, service, and self-discovery. Whether you’re already teaching yoga or you’re a passionate student ready to take your practice to a new level, a teacher training program will open doors to new opportunities.

There are many things to consider when you’re researching a yoga teacher training (YTT). Of course, you must know the time frame, budget, style, location, etc…but the most important thing to remember is: it’s all about what you do with the training that matters. 

Contrary to the name, you don’t have to teach at the end of it! You may choose to deepen your practice through a YTT, you may use a YTT to connect deeply to a small group of like-minded people, or you can simply be curious to learn more about yoga. There’s no good or bad program, only a yoga teacher training that is best for you.

Different Types of Yoga Teacher Training to Consider

It can quickly become overwhelming when you begin the research process only to discover that there is an infinite number of yoga teacher trainings. Here are some options you should consider when picking the perfect YTT for you. 

200-hour vs. 300-hour vs. 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs

First off, there are a few “levels” of teacher training. Different schools highlight various specializations in their training programs, such as Vinyasa vs Hatha or Power vs Philosophy focused, but the basics are: 200-hour, 300-hour, or 500-hour.

1. The 200-hour training is the minimum required when registering as a yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, which is signified by “RYT 200” next to a teacher’s name, and is usually what studios look for when considering teachers for their schedule or sub list.
2. The 500-hour training (500 RYT) means you have completes 500 hours of yoga teacher training which covers more in-depth modules on things like anatomy, sequencing, spiritual texts, or ayurveda, depending on the program. 500 hours is a big commitment, and the cost of the program usually reflects this as well. Time and budget are important things to consider when it comes to choosing your yoga teacher training.
3. A 200-hour teacher may become a 500-hour teacher by completing a 300-hour bridge training. This is a great option for people who would like to become a 500-hour teacher but, for whatever reason, chose to complete the 200-hour training first. A benefit to this, also, is that you can take the two trainings at different schools. This way, the 300-hour YTT can suit you even as your teaching matures.

Note: You can’t start off with a 300-hour yoga teacher training because the completion of a 200-hour YTT is a required prerequisite. If you’re choosing a different school to complete your 300-hour, be sure to check that the 300-hour training will accept your 200-hour certification.

In-Person vs. Online Yoga Teacher Training

Online vs in-person training is a new dilemma, which you are lucky to face. Before online YTTs were available, if you fell in love with a curriculum at a school which is located in California but you live in New York, you would have to uproot your life to get your certification! Now, there are many online YTTs, each as unique and valid as the in-person trainings. 

When looking at an online yoga teacher training, it’s important to know how you learn. If it’s self-paced, you need to have exceptional time-management skills. If the classes are not pre-recorded then you need to make sure you’ll be available at the right time for your lectures. 

Most importantly, you need to make sure that your teachers are reachable if you have questions. Some of these online trainings have no limit to the number of students they take on, so you may be one in a sea of passionate new teachers or you could be in a small cohort that you get to practice and speak with all the time!

In-person trainings have the benefit of a designated time and place, face-to-face education with your teachers, person-to-person bonding with your fellow teacher trainees, and hands-on practice that you just can’t get online. However, they are not self-paced and require you to show up at the training location even if you were hoping to get out of town or spend a late night celebrating a birthday.

Intensive vs. Non-Intensive Yoga Teacher Training

If you have a full-time job, you may worry that you won’t be able to complete the time commitment of a yoga teacher training. We’re happy to say that is not the case! Non-intensive YTTs may meet over weekends or in the evenings, outside of a regular work schedule. These trainings do take a few months to complete but you have the flexibility to hold down a job (or family, or other aspects of life) throughout the process. 

If you’re between jobs, have seasonal work, or are fresh out of school, you may want to choose an intensive yoga teacher training. These YTTs can be completed in a matter of weeks but require all-day-every-day schedules. You may even live on-site if you’re completing an intensive YTT abroad! These trainings can be really intense emotionally and physically since you’re completely immersed in the program but, in just a few weeks you can be a certified yoga teacher. 

Specialized Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Lastly, there are hundreds of specialized yoga teacher trainings to explore! Once you’re a certified teacher, the education can continue forever. Some popular options may include: Prenatal YTT, Restorative YTT, Accessible Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Trauma Informed Teaching, Yin Yoga, Acro Yoga, Chair yoga, and Yoga Therapy (an 800-hour program) among many others.

Here’s a simple checklist to help you decide which YTT is for you:

• How much time can you commit?
• What is your budget?
• Can you learn online or is in-person a better option for you?
• Do you have a school or style of yoga in mind?
• Are you able to take multiple weeks off from work for your training?
• Can you spend your weekends in training?
• Check in with your body; how does it feel when you imagine investing in the program?

If you do decide to teach, make sure you’re covered by a good yoga teacher liability insurance. Yoga liability insurance has your back so you can focus on being the best yoga teacher you can without any concern about financial or professional repercussions if the worst happens. Keep your peace of mind, get coverage.