How to Become a Certified Yoga Instructor in 2024

Do you know how to become a certified yoga instructor in 2024? If you nod yes, you are in the right place.

Yoga is a widely adopted physical, mental, and spiritual practice. Many people are out there trying to become yoga instructors. However, the practice demands a consistent and dedicated approach. The absence of these parameters may lead to unmet dreams and expectations. 

In this article, we’ll explain Yoga, the essentials to becoming a yoga instructor, its importance, and a step-by-step guide to becoming a successful certified yoga instructor. 

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is a physical practice that includes meditation, alignment of body postures, and breathing techniques to ensure an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Originating in India, yoga has become a worldwide practice ever since. 

Yoga is as old as human history. Humans from the hunter-gatherers’ era also performed activities to heal their physical, mental and spiritual lackings. 

In this modern era, you may have watched movies where an old monk teaches Yoga to students. So, to make you clear, yoga is not a newly invented practice. Instead, it has huge physical, psychological, and spiritual bearings, while its history spans thousands of years.

1. Physical Aspects Of Yoga: Yoga increases the flexibility of the spine and has the potential to heal several injuries. Physiotherapists emphasise the continuous practice of yoga, irrespective of its type. For example, yoga reduces the chances of heart failure and strengthens muscle flexibility.

2. Psychological Aspects Of Yoga: If you are suffering from Amnesia or facing stress, anxiety, and depression, yoga has the all-in-one package. From reducing anxiety and stress to ensuring quality sleep and a peaceful mind, yoga is one of the best meditating practices one can have. So, stop procrastinating and adopt yoga practice for a quality life.

3. Spiritual Aspects Of Yoga: Sadhguru, a renowned Indian Yugi, has repeatedly mentioned the importance of yoga for spiritual well-being. He says one must ensure yoga in one’s life to stay connected with the mysteries of this universe.

Logically speaking, 70% of psychological and spiritual shortcomings are self-created, and yoga can minimise these sufferings to a much greater extent.

What Is A Yoga Instructor?

The yoga instructor is dedicated to teaching learners the benefits of yoga and its proper techniques. The instructor also suggests different alignments for different bodies, also known as Asanas. However, the role and responsibility of a yoga instructor go far beyond just taking classes. Read till the end to learn how to become a certified yoga instructor in 2024.

Responsibilities Of A Yoga Instructor

1. Teaches Yoga Asanas: Doing yoga with the correct posture and proper body alignment takes a lot of work to learn. Here comes the guardian angel. A certified yoga instructor teaches students about accurate postures and body alignment to prevent the chances of injury.

2. Suggesting modifications: Also, a yoga instructor is responsible for any injuries caused to students. To avoid this, s(he) suggests what are alternative body postures to minimise the pain of injury.

3. Promoting mental and physical well-being: Approximately 280 million people across the world are going through depression. In this regard, a yoga instructor teaches students how to manage their stress and depression by practising the right Yoga practices.

Owing to their deep understanding of yoga’s philosophy and history, yoga instructors often discuss mindfulness and stress management to reduce their impacts.

What Is Yoga Teacher Training Certification?

Yoga Teacher Training certification is the process of becoming a certified Yoga instructor. You may have heard about it online or on websites offering free yoga instructor courses. The point is to ensure that anyone teaching yoga also has certified training in the pocket.

So, if you aspire to be a yoga instructor, you must go through the process. 

First, you must enrol in a course offering 200 hours of rigorous Yoga training. Many of the best Yoga certification programmes are available online for free.

Secondly, you must be patient because it demands money and time. After completing a 200-hour Yoga course, you will be allowed to teach people about Yoga.

The Difference Between RYT And YTT Certifications

Let’s briefly understand the difference between RYT and YTT certifications.

RYT(Registered Yoga Training)

RYT is the Yoga training process in which a learner must complete the 200-hour course to fulfil the Yoga Alliance certification demands.

As Yoga Alliance Certification is a proof that you have completed the yoga training course, it can also help you get a yoga instructor job.

Similarly, you can also go for an advanced yoga training course that spans from 300 hours to 500 hours. By completing this course, you can quickly get a yoga instructor job with a handsome salary.

However, it is worth mentioning here that RYT only deals with physical training, such as correct body postures, accurate body alignment, and minimising injury exposure.

YTT(Yoga Teaching Training)

YTT, on the other hand, is also linked with yoga training. However, to get the certificate, students have to undergo 200 hours of yoga training.

What distinguishes YTT from RYT is its proper teaching of yoga’s history, philosophy, and anatomy, which a student learns during his(er) training duration.

There are many yoga courses available on Coursera that can help you gain valuable insight into the field of yoga.

RYT(Registered Yoga Training)	YTT(Yoga Teacher Training)
Chances to land a job after completing the 200-hour training programme.	Students have to undergo a training session of 200 or 500 hours to become certified yoga instructors.
Focus only on the physical orientation of yoga, such as body alignment	It focuses on the complete history, philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodologies of yoga, along with training.

Why Become A Certified Yoga Instructor?

This section is probably the most important part of this article, as it’d be the turning point in your career growth. People aspire to be doctors, engineers and, at the very least, gangsters. However, Yoga instructor is completely a different domain.

Yoga Instructor Salary And Career Growth

As for the Yoga Instructor salary, in the Western world and somewhere in South Asia, it is highly competitive. For instance, the Indeed survey has demonstrated that the average national income on an hourly basis is just $37. In more developed areas such as New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles, the annual salary is as high as $100,000 per year. So, if you are striving to become a certified yoga instructor, it is assured that you’ll be earning a handsome salary in the near future.

Along with this comes the big question of landing a job. Economically speaking, Yoga instructor jobs are plentiful across the world. As per the survey of ASSOCHAM

Currently, there are 300,000 vacant positions for a yoga instructor in Bihar and Mumbai, let alone the entire India. The situation in the Western hemisphere is not ideal either. Evident in this regard is the fact that more than 200,000 jobs are available for yoga instructors in Eastern Europe.

As in Third-world countries, certified yoga instructor jobs in Pakistan are posted daily on many platforms. If you are confused about pursuing a certified yoga instructor as a career and uncertain about its future, the aforementioned evidence is enough to change your mind. And do what you need to do.

Personal Growth

Yoga also influences a person’s personal, psychological, and spiritual life. Let’s examine how.

Physical Aspects: 

Yoga increases the flexibility of the spine and has the potential to heal a number of injuries. Physiotherapists emphasise the continuous practice of yoga, irrespective of its type. For example, yoga reduces the chances of heart failure and strengthens muscle flexibility.

Psychological Aspects Of Yoga: 

If you are suffering from Amnesia or facing stress, anxiety, and depression, yoga has the all-in-one package. From reducing anxiety and stress to ensuring quality sleep and a peaceful mind, yoga is one of the best meditating practices one can have. So, stop procrastinating and adopt yoga practice for a quality life.

Spiritual Aspects Of Yoga: 

Sadhguru, a renowned Indian Yugi, has repeatedly mentioned the importance of yoga for spiritual well-being. He says one must ensure yoga in one’s life to stay connected with the mysteries of this universe.

Logically speaking, 70% of psychological and spiritual shortcomings are self-created, and yoga can minimise these sufferings to a much greater extent.

How To Become A Certified Yoga Instructor:  Step By Step

In this part, we’ll discuss how to become a certified yoga instructor. This pretext addresses your concerns regarding certified yoga instructors by shedding light on some important steps. Below is the complete guide on how to become a certified yoga instructor step by step.

Step 1: Understanding The Fundamentals Of Yoga

First things first, unless you have in-depth knowledge about the theoretical aspects of yoga, you can’t experience its true essence. Be it philosophy, anatomy, history, or other meditating techniques, you should learn what yoga is and how it can transform your life. 

When done, move to the next step: Develop a personal connection with yoga.

Step 2: Developing A Personal Connection With Yoga

Understanding why you want to do yoga is important. You aren’t learning it just because you were inspired by somebody out there. Hence, if you are seeking to heal your physical and spiritual shortcomings, you must develop a connection with yoga.

This can be done only by observing the positive changes yoga brings to your body and soul. Doing this will automatically start the benefits of yoga in your life.

Step 3: Meet The Minimum Age Requirement

As for age requirements, you don’t need an athletic body or years of yoga practice. This means that as long as your body is physically fit and has the stamina to train for yoga, you can join this as a career. 

According to Yoga Course Coordinator Siead Corcoron’s evaluations, “Everyone’s bodies are different, and not all bodies will be able to do certain poses. And that’s completely normal. As long as you have good fitness/stamina and a willingness to challenge yourself, you are definitely good enough to join a yoga teacher training.”

In the same way, this will be like hitting two shots with one arrow. This means that you have not only a yoga practice but also strong mental health.

Step 4: Practising Yoga Regularly

Regarding your dream of becoming a certified yoga instructor, regularly practising yoga is the prerequisite that I need to do. No matter which type of yoga instructor you aspire to be, you only need to practise yoga daily. This will enhance your stamina and physical well-being and prepare you for rigorous registered training and yoga teacher training programmes.

Step 5: Completing 200-hour Yoga Training:

Moving forward, when you feel all set to practice yoga, you must complete at least a 200-hour yoga training course to get registered with the Yoga Alliance. You don’t need to practice yoga for years to get registered with the Yoga Alliance, but completing a 200-hour training course is a must.

Your commitment to continuing education plays a pivotal role in your yoga career. You will be able to teach and train others only when you have a deep understanding of every detail of yoga. 

In this technological era, you can even get yoga instructor certification online. Many websites on the Internet provide online yoga courses where you can enrol.

RYT-200 and RYT-500 are said to be the most authentic and valuable yoga training courses and are available online on many platforms. 

Step 6: Getting Certified

Next to it comes the need to get certified and registered with the Yoga Alliance. Yoga instructor certifications are available online to become a yoga instructor. Additionally, a 200-hour yoga course is a must for having a certificate. 

Certification is important because you’d have to train and teach people. Without valid credentials, there is hardly any chance that any yoga school will hire you. Also, this will teach you the basics of yoga poses, philosophy and overall body alignment. So, experts suggest that a learner should get 6-months of rigorous yoga training. This will allow the learner to learn the basics of yoga.

In the succeeding section, we will also discuss how to become a yoga instructor for free. Be there!

Step 7: Choose a Right Yoga Instructor Program

Amidst all this, the thing that demands your utmost attention is selecting the right yoga instructor program. Because everyone on the internet offers online yoga courses, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the best and the good.

Therefore, you must be in your senses while choosing your yoga instructor program. This is because you won’t want to waste your time and energy due to rush.

Therefore, before joining any certified yoga instructor online, certain things should be kept in mind:

• Are you feeling a connection with your instructor? Instincts are usually right, so if you feel disconnected from your instructor, you may want to find another one.

• Asking for credentials: This can’t be emphasised more. You have every right to investigate if your instructor has completed a 200-hour yoga course and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. You can also check the Yoga Alliance directory to see if they are registered.

• Not only this, but you also have to evaluate whether you are learning from what your instructor is teaching. If not, the teacher you need most is right around the corner. All you need to do is find the right course and instructor for you.

Yoga Teacher Training

Yoga teacher training is a wholesome experience, provided you pay attention to what is told in this section.

Choosing A Yoga Teacher Training Programme

Before choosing any yoga teacher training programme, you must consider certain suggestions.

Identify Your Goals

If you want to foster your personal growth and development, you should be clear in your mind and look for programs that focus more on philosophy, self-awareness, and practice.

However, if you plan to become a certified Yoga instructor, you must complete the 200-hour course and register with the Yoga Alliance. You have to find a course that emphasises training and yoga teaching skills.

Location And Format

It is also important to consider whether the course you are trying to enrol in offers online, in-person, or hybrid classes. Depending on your interest, this information can help you find a course that best resonates with you. Explore this fitness course catalogue on Coursera to learn more about yoga and fitness.

Cost and Payment Plans

Before enrolling in any course, it is advised to consider cost and payment plans. If you are moving from a remote area, experts suggest that an online course is the best option, given that their prices are comparatively lower than in-person classes. 

What To Expect In A Yoga Teacher Training Program

Yoga is a learning process. The more you learn, the more there is to learn. So, owing to its diverse nature and potential to give insights into yourself, yoga may be a wholesome experience for you.

Basic Knowledge And Foundation Building

If you have basic knowledge about yoga, you will gain more insights into different types of yoga, including Hatha, Vinyasa, and Vinyasa-Ashtanga. Together, these Asanas (physical postures) will introduce you to the mysteries of yoga.

Furthermore, yoga has been adopted as a medium for learning about the functioning of the human body. So, the more you practice, the greater your knowledge about anatomy and self-awareness will be. 

That’s why Saadhguru, in one of his speeches, has urged everyone to incorporate yoga into their lives to understand the philosophy of life.

Teaching Methodology

This part of the training focuses on how to teach yoga effectively. In this session, you’ll learn what techniques and postures to stick with. As a result, it will not only increase your teaching experience but will also strengthen your profile as a certified yoga instructor.

Practicum

Practicum involves practical teaching experience that includes hands-on experience, leading classes, and helping students to learn more about yoga. So yes. After enrolling in any yoga course, you will learn how to teach yoga and its best practices.

Significance Of Yoga Alliance Certification And Its Benefits

• Yoga Alliance is a recognised yoga institute worldwide. In this regard, Yoga Alliance has set a certain set of rules that are mandatory to follow. Because of that, its credentials and certifications have immense validity worldwide.

• Yoga Alliance certifications ensure that teachers have undergone comprehensive training and have covered not only the physical postures (Asanas) but also a deep understanding of yoga history, philosophy, and anatomy. As a result, these credentials play an important role in enhancing a teacher’s professional profile.
• Moving forward, many learners want to learn yoga from a person having Yoga Alliance certification. This means that the more connected you are with the Yoga Alliance, the more credibility you’ll have.
• In addition, Yoga Alliance certifications provide a chance to connect with a broader yoga community. Although you don’t need a certification or testimonial from Yoga Alliance, it is highly recommended, given the organisation’s global footprint in yoga.
• Not only this, but Yoga Alliance Certification also puts students under confidence. Obviously, why would you learn from a person without official credentials to do his job? Hence, with Yoga Alliance certifications, you can easily stand out in your professional journey.
• Next to it comes the opportunity to land a certified yoga instructor job. Given Yoga Alliance certifications have immense value across the world, any yoga school will hire you with welcoming gestures.

Registration

It is here to mention that although Yoga Alliance is a backbone for aspiring yogis, it is not mandatory to register with It. You can be a freelancer, providing yoga services to people, or you can open a yoga school. Well, that may be so. You should be registered with Yoga Alliance. 

Expert yogis suggest that registering with Yoga Alliance can be a turning point for your career as a yoga instructor. This in a way that not only increases your credibility and trustworthiness but also highlights you in the circle of yoga professionals.

Process Of Registering With Yoga Alliance 

To register with Yoga Alliance and be eligible for its certifications, you must meet all the requirements and pay the fee.

1. First of all, go to Yoga Alliance and click Join.
2. After that, create your teacher profile account by entering the details in the picture.
3. Now, select register as a teacher
4. Right after that,t select the type of credential you want to enrol in (RYT-200, 300, 500)
5. Enter your start and end date along with the yoga school location by checking it in the Yoga Alliance directory
6. So far, so good. Now upload your teaching certificate, apply and wait for the email from Yoga Alliance. (this can take 10-14 days)
7. Now log back into your account to pay the fee.

However, to keep your registration valid, you must continue getting education through short courses and workshops for 30 hours annually.

Cost

You may be wondering if the fee is as per your budget. It is worth mentioning here that prices vary from course to course. For yoga teachers, the initial registration fee is $50, and the annual fee is $65. For the record, the cost is the same for all hour courses.

Time Commitment

You may or may not be a fully committed aspiring yoga instructor. So, to your benefit, try choosing the time frame that suits you best. Many yoga schools offer flexible timings during the day and even at night. 

Statistically speaking, classes are held 2 times a week or 4 times depending on the schedule of a learner.

Curriculum

Before proceeding, it is important to highlight that yoga is not just about correcting physical postures and accurate body alignments. Its scope goes far beyond this. 

While its history spans thousands of years, yoga consists of philosophy, anatomy, and a way to be aware. Hence, having a deep knowledge of all its domains is significant. Let’s explore different domains of yoga.

Anatomy

The human body is made of different tissues, muscles, bones, and body structures. Hence, it is necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of these body parts. Yoga helps refine your body and mind. So, when aspiring to become a certified yoga instructor, you should know how yoga changes muscles and overall body structure.

Philosophy

In simple terms, the philosophy of yoga is about three things that seem different but are inherently unified: mind, spirit, and body. Yogis believe that yoga is the ultimate way to self-awareness and internal transformation.

Spiritual ignorance creates suffering and binds us to Samsara (the cycle of rebirth), so it is important to dive deep within ourselves to make it lively for our beings.

Advantages Of Online And In-person Yoga Classes

• Online Yoga Classes: As technology has taken place and people have become more comfortable with remote work, access to yoga online should not be a surprise. Let’s roll back to the advantages of online yoga classes.

1. First of all, flexibility. Whether you are at home or at the cinema, you can take classes online. Irrespective of your routine schedule, you can practice yoga anywhere and anytime. 

2. When talking about online classes, variety is one of the most admirable advantages. For example, you didn’t like the style of an instructor. No biggie. You just have to go to that website and cancel your subscription. 

Within seconds, you’ll be taking classes from another mentor. Therefore, online courses offer a wide variety of instructors worldwide.

3. Last but not least is the budget-friendly payment plan. When enrolling in online yoga classes, you always have to pay something less than people joining in in person.

Advantages Of In-Person Classes

• Contrastingly, in-person classes have their own perks and privileges. However, on-campus classes are not a signal of old school but the epitome of immersion and interaction.

1. You can survive only when you keep interacting with your fellow beings. Similarly, when you join an in-person yoga course, you get familiar with many strangers. 

Making connections is one of the biggest advantages of in-person classes. Later in life, this will play a vital role in your journey as a certified yoga instructor.

2. Next is lasting motivation. Meeting with like-minded and like-profession people keeps you going. This is a unique feature of in-person classes that solo sessions usually miss.

5 Tips For Success As A Yoga Instructor

In this section, we will explore 5 tips for becoming a yoga instructor, given yoga’s ability to mould human lives.

Tip 1: Increase Your Asana Practice

You may have enough knowledge about asana or posture to date. Yet, its importance can’t be ignored, as it is the building block of yoga. Doing this will benefit you in your yoga teacher training program. 

Hence, if you want to become a successful certified yoga instructor, you better start growing your asana. When you join the YTT programme, you’ll have enough knowledge of yoga practices. 

Tip 2: Making Connections With Yoga Professionals

Nothing can be more emphasised than making connections with yoga professionals. No matter how hard you try and how hard you strive, if you are not making connections, you might be outperformed by those making one.

This will not only help you grow your yoga expertise but also put you in the league of pro-yogis. Therefore, connecting with professionals is the key to becoming a successful yoga instructor.

Tip 3: Understanding Yoga Teacher Training 

Your yoga teacher training program is much different from other educational programs. Yoga is not just a course but a continuous process, so you have to understand its multidimensional nature. Unlike other classes, yoga demands a persistent approach.

You just can’t let it be. You have to carry on. Therefore, you have to have a strong grasp of yoga’s basic principles, including philosophy, anatomy, and asanas.

Tip 4: Getting Credentials From Yoga Alliance

Your yoga instructor certifications pave the way for successful career growth. If you are hitting the mat without getting registered with Yoga Alliance, your sweating may go futile, provided that you follow the legal procedures and go with the flow. This will help you get nominated as a certified yoga instructor.

Tip 5: Advancing Your Yoga Education Continuously

Last but not least, you need to advance your yoga education continuously. This doesn’t mean that you have to enrol in courses or attend regular yoga classes. You just have to take occasional yoga workshops and understand the fundamentals of yoga more deeply. If you are looking for a free certified yoga instructor, following the guidelines will let you find one.

Final Thoughts

To summarise what has been stated so far, yoga is a widely adopted physical practice worldwide.

Suppose you aspire to be a certified yoga instructor online or in person. In that case, you must consider certain facts, including understanding yoga, practicing yoga regularly, registering with Yoga Alliance, and considering commuting options. That was all about how to become a certified yoga instructor in 2024.

All in all, yoga is a continuous practice. The more you learn, the more there is to learn. You may also like to learn more about self-awareness and personal growth. Well, Eduta is offering a free course on self-control and self-awareness where you can dive deep into your inner self.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Become A Certified Yoga Instructor