Yoga Teacher Training and Certification

Last updated 04/07/24

Choosing the right yoga teacher training course is crucial.

With numerous options available, it's essential to take the time to research and identify a course that meets your personal and professional goals.

Here are some key steps and considerations to help you find a quality training course and understand why thorough research is vital.

1. Identify Your Goals

Before you start researching training courses, clearly define your goals. Are you looking to deepen your personal practice, or do you aim to teach professionally? Knowing what you want to achieve will help narrow down your options.

2. Gather Course Information

Once you've identified your goals, gather as much information as possible about potential courses. Here are some important aspects to consider:

• Syllabus: What topics are included in the course? Ensure that the course covers areas of your interest.
• Course Duration: How much time is dedicated to each area of study?
• Business Module: Does the course include a module on the business aspects of teaching yoga?
• Practice Teaching: Will you get opportunities to practice teaching during the course?

3. Evaluate the Syllabus

The syllabus should be comprehensive and cover a variety of topics, such as:

• Yoga philosophy and history
• Anatomy and physiology
• Teaching methodologies
• Practical teaching sessions

Ensure that the course dedicates sufficient time to each area and aligns with your learning objectives.

4. Review the Lead Teacher’s Qualifications

The experience and qualifications of the lead teacher are crucial. Consider the following:

• Familiarity: Do you know the lead teacher? Have they taught you before?
• Experience: What is their teaching background? How many years of experience do they have?
• Training: Where did they receive their training, and do they continue to pursue professional development?

To give you a benchmark, Yoga Alliance Professionals requires the lead teacher to have been teaching for at least 8 years, with at least 4,000 teaching hours.

5. Consider Contact Hours and Learning Mode

Determine the amount of direct contact you will have with the lead teacher and the mode of instruction:

• Contact Hours: How much face-to-face time will you have with the lead teacher?
• Learning Mode: Is the course offered face-to-face, online, or as a hybrid?

If you're looking for guidance, we only accredit courses with 180 contact hours. Contact hours are any teaching that is done face-to-face or live online. Pre-recorded courses are not recommended and is best avoided.

6. Check Accreditation

Accreditation ensures that the course meets certain standards. Check if the course is accredited by a recognised organisation such as Yoga Alliance Professionals. Understand the criteria for accreditation and how it benefits you. Since yoga is unregulated, there are no ‘governing bodies’ for yoga. Even though all of the yoga accreditation organisations have the same purpose, they are all built differently.

Different standards. Different benefits. Different goals.

It’s worth looking into the various organisations out there. 

For instance, Yoga Alliance Professionals sets high standards for the lead teacher and the course itself (without creating 'cookie-cutter' courses). Graduates from these accredited courses will receive trainee membership and a discount to become accredited yoga teachers.

7. Investigate Past Graduate Experiences

Past graduate experiences can provide valuable insights. Look for reviews on the course website, social media, and other platforms. If possible, get in touch with past graduates to ask about their experiences and outcomes.

Yoga Alliance Professionals makes this super easy. You will see a list of approved graduates on the training school page, and you can private message them directly.

It may seem like a lot, but most Teacher Training Courses are a significant investment of time and money. You need to find the right course for you! Completing the course could lead to you supplementing your income or changing your career! Learn more about how to choose a TTC for you.

Most training courses will give you a graduation certificate, but consider whether the course will give you the ability and confidence to teach yoga.

Want more guidance? 

Yoga Alliance Professionals offers a matching service. We will take your training request and identify the best accredited training schools for you! From there, you can start a conversation with the training school and ask your questions.