What Is Yoga Teacher Training?

Yoga teacher training is, as it sounds, a program where people can acquire key knowledge and skills they will need to become a yoga instructor with no prior experience teaching yoga. It can take a variety of different forms, from fully in-person to fully online and anything in-between. You may be able to take a yoga teacher training course from the comfort of your home on your own schedule, or you may choose to attend a yoga teacher training retreat in another country, where you can immerse yourself in practice with other trainees.

Who Is Yoga Teacher Training For?

Despite the name, yoga teacher training is not just for those who want to become instructors. There are plenty of benefits to yoga teacher training, and it can be a great way to deepen your knowledge and practice of yoga, as well as to connect with others in the space.

However, if you are looking to break into yoga teaching as a career option, the hours of training and Yoga Alliance certification can be an invaluable addition to your resume, and are even required by many potential employers.

How Does Yoga Teacher Training Work?

The standards for yoga teacher training are created and maintained by an organization called the Yoga Alliance. These standards ensure that you can get quality education and training. They also help employers to know what skills and experience to expect from those who have completed registered training.

Schools and instructors who meet the Yoga Alliance’s requirements can provide registered training courses. This seal of approval from the Yoga Alliance allows trainees to access the education they need to succeed in a variety of ways.

What Type of Course Should I Start With?

Generally, if you’re preparing for your first yoga teacher training experience, you’ll want to look into a 200-hour course registered with the Yoga Alliance. There are other, longer training experiences, but the 200-hour version is generally recommended for those who have not yet completed a training.

The main thing that these courses have in common is 200 hours of dedicated learning, covering specific topics specified by the Yoga Alliance. The organization also requires these programs to assess participants’ skills and knowledge before issuing a certificate of completion.

Different programs will spread out these 200 hours in different ways. Depending on your schedule, learning style, and interests, if you’re willing to do the research, you can likely find a yoga teacher training experience that fits your needs.

Topics Covered in 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

So, what exactly is it that you get out of a registered training program? According to the expectations set forth by the Yoga Alliance, any of their registered 200-hour yoga teacher training courses should cover the following areas:

Training in Practice

The Yoga Alliance requires registered yoga schools to provide 75 hours of a 200-hour training course in the “Techniques, Training, Practice” module, which includes specific asana or poses, meditation techniques, and more.

The Human Body

Another key module in a 200-hour yoga teacher training course is “Anatomy & Physiology,” which is allotted 30 hours and covers an anatomical understanding of joints and muscles as well as the various systems which keep the body running.

Humanities

The Yoga Alliance’s “Yoga Humanities” module is comprised of another 30 hours, which are spent on unpacking the history of yoga, as well as how it relates to philosophy and ethics.

Key Professional Skills

The final core module for 200-hour yoga teacher training is “Professional Essentials,” which takes up 50 hours and covers the essential tools you will need to practice as a yoga instructor, including interpersonal skills, business savvy, and the basics of running a class.

Choosing Your Experience

While these standards should be met in any recognized 200-hour yoga teacher training program, there is still plenty of room for variation. Every experience will be different, with different schools and trainers applying different approaches. When planning to attend yoga teacher training, it’s important to do your research and see how they describe the course to get an idea of if it’s right for you. Here are some factors to consider:

• Is the course recognized by the Yoga Alliance?
• Is the training in-person, online, or hybrid?
• Will you be expected to complete some of the training on your own time?
• How large or small are training groups?
• What specific yoga lineage or style will the training focus on?
• What does the daily schedule look like?

Highlight: Yoga Teacher Training in Costa Rica

Whether you’re seeking to become a yoga instructor with no experience, deepen your knowledge and technique, or just embark on a new adventure, a yoga teacher training retreat in Costa Rica might be just what you’re looking for. Home to a variety of spiritual retreat venues and eco-friendly travel destinations, Costa Rica is an ideal place to begin a transformative journey in the renewing energy of the rainforest.