Yoga is raw, vulnerable and real.
We think it’s one of the purest forms of humanity.
To pour one’s heart out on a rubber mat, lying shoulder to shoulder with other imperfect beings; there is not a single thing purer than that….and that is often why individuals become yoga instructors.
Yoga instructors were once eager students who were looking for something that was already inside of them but needed to be surfaced through self-discovery.
During the process of becoming a yoga instructor, one must surrender to the possibility of discovering another side of themselves. It may be a side of yourself that you have never seen or a side of yourself that you’ve ignoring or avoiding.
Becoming a certified yoga instructor requires intense teacher training to advance your knowledge of yoga. This article will teach you how to get certified as a yoga instructor, as well as the different training required, and the benefits of having your yoga certification.
One may ask what the process of becoming a certified yoga instructor entails. The process requires quite a large chunk of one’s time for a specific time period.
During the training, there will be lessons from books and lessons in life. Individuals enter and exit yoga instructor training a changed person; transformation is inevitable.
Yoga Instructor Career Summary
| Education | Certified yoga instructors are required to complete a teacher training program. Yogis are not required to complete college courses or obtain specific college degrees. |
| Certification | Most yogi employers, for example, studios, fitness centers, and gyms will prefer or require a certification. Some employers also require yogis to obtain CPR certifications as a preparedness technique. |
| Skills | Physical strength, good communication skills, patience, and the ability to motivate students. |
| Salary Expectations | According to payscale.com, certified yoga instructors make approximately $24.94 per hour. Total annual compensation ranges from $18,087 – $104,736 USD depending on the number of hours worked. This data represents 395 certified yoga instructors, 91% female, with between 1-4 years of yoga teaching experience. |
How to Get Certified as a Yoga Instructor
In order to become a certified yoga instructor, you must have a few years of yoga under your belt, an understanding of what yoga is and the incredible benefits of the consistent practice.
One key aspect to this process is to find a yoga studio that you feel comfortable with and research to see if the studio does yoga teacher training.
It is a good idea to do the training at the studio you practice most consistently at because you know that you are comfortable with the atmosphere and with the instructors.
Yoga teacher training should never be classified as “easy” because hard work and dedication are the two main components. There will be days that you may wonder if the training is for you because the challenges that arise are not only physical but mental and emotional as well.
Yoga Instructor Certifications
In order to become a certified yoga instructor, you must take and complete intense training for a certain number of hours, spread out over the course of a specific time period.
The specifics on which particular day of the week and the material covered vary at each studio; you will just need to check your local studio for the specific training schedule.
200 hours of teacher training is the first class requirement, although no previous yoga training is required. The only requirement to this training is that you have practiced yoga consistently in the time leading up to your enrollment in the training.
Once you have completed your 200-hour yoga teacher training, you can register as an RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance, which stands for Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).
500 hours of teacher training is the next step in a yoga teacher’s career if they wish to continue to advance their practice.
The requirements for this teacher training are to have completed the 200-hours of training plus another 300-hour training hours along with experience as a yoga teacher, at least 100 hours of teaching yoga. RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance is what you will receive after completing your 500 hours.
After completion of the training or both training curriculums, you may continue on to teach at a local yoga studio or gym, after of course, you register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher. We do recommend choosing a niche as a yoga teacher (see this article to learn more).
Both the 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training curriculums can take six months to one year, combined, to complete and this all depends on the program and the individual.
The Benefits of Becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor
After taking numerous yoga classes you may begin thinking of how else to experience yoga on a different level. Becoming a certified yoga instructor is the answer to gaining that experience on a different level.
Mental, physical, emotional and spiritual changes occur for yoga students turned yoga instructors.
It’s hard not to have those transformations because you experience yourself on a different, new level. Growth is inevitable.
The benefits of becoming a yoga certified yoga instructor:
Becoming a certified yoga instructor enhances your personal practice.
The most prevalent benefit is that one’s personal yoga practice will enhance tremendously. As a yoga instructor, aside from teaching classes, you are also taking classes of your own to stay up to date and to always be prepared for your own students.
Being a yoga instructor is quite possibly the best thing to happen for one’s yoga practice.
Creates healthy relationships.
The art of being more connected to oneself is one of the greatest gifts. Yoga allows you to connect to yourself because of an increased awareness of your emotions, feelings, personality and much more.
This increased awareness not only improves the relationship you have with yourself but also improves the relationship you have with others. This improvement also helps when yoga instructors are teaching their own classes because you can connect with others and meet them right where they are on their yoga mats.
Increases gratitude.
The practice of yoga opens your heart to gratitude and allows you to practice this not only on the mat but also off the mat. Gratitude is greatly accessible when you are asking your students to practice and you, in turn, want to practice what you preach as well.
Meditation will also become a regular habit as a yoga instructor, which in turn increases gratitude.
Shares true passion.
If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
If you are truly passionate about yoga and teaching yoga, you will never feel as though you are “going to work” but that you are living our your true passion every single time you stand in front of your students teaching them on the mat.
If you’re living out your passion on a daily basis you will attract positive vibes and other amazing occurrences in your life.
Creates mental stability and growth.
Mental stability and growth are inevitable once you become a yoga instructor. Our atmosphere creates our reality and if you are in a positive atmosphere, your reality will reflect that.
Being around students every day who are eager to learn how to quit their minds and how to let things go the no longer serve them is the most incredible atmosphere to be in if you want to live a positive lifestyle.
Teaching yoga will definitely increase mental stability and growth.
Commonly Asked Questions
What’s the typical income for a yoga instructor?
When instructors have a consistent workload, they can easily earn over $5,000 each month. To bring in this kind of income, an instructor needs to teach approximately three classes each day, five days each week. The earnings per class will have to be about $85. The cost for each student will largely depend on the number of students that you have in your class.
How much time will it take if you want to become a yoga instructor?
A 200-hour training course can be completed in about three to five months. A course that’s 500-hours can be completed in anywhere from six months to one year. Ultimately, the amount of time that it takes to achieve your yoga certification will vary based on how committed you are to the curriculum. If you want to get through your training quickly, you’ll be able to do that.
Do yoga instructors require certifications?
The majority of yoga studios and gyms require all of their instructors to have a certification. In some cases, instructors won’t need any education beyond that. However, there are some yoga studios that may require their instructors to complete a Yoga Alliance training program or to be registered with Yoga Alliance. Some studios and gyms also require CPR training for registered yoga teachers.
Do yoga instructors need a college education?
A college degree isn’t necessary if you want to become a yoga instructor. However, you will have to obtain a specialized certificate or complete a training program. One of the most popular options is Yoga Alliance’s 200-hour program. After graduating from the program, students can register with the Yoga Alliance and become an RYT, or Registered Yoga Teacher.
What do yoga classes typically cost?
The cost of yoga classes varies based on location. It’s common to see fitness centers and yoga studios charge about $12 for a yoga class. However, prices can be higher in coastal regions and metro areas; it’s not unusual to see studios charging $16-$20 for a class. Some gyms also include unlimited yoga classes in their membership packages.
What are yoga instructors called?
Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word, “yuj.” The word means to bind or yoke, but it can also be translated as “union” or “join.” Women that practice yoga are referred to as yoginis, while men are called yogis.
What is the typical length of a yoga class?
There aren’t many rules and restrictions regarding yoga; a class can be as long or as short as you want it to be. That said, it’s normal for classes to last for about 60 minutes. Some classes may run for 90 minutes or more.
Conclusion
Students of yoga often times wonder how to increase their yoga practice on a different level. Some students explore yoga training to become a certified yoga instructor, which has amazing benefits in their lives.
In order to become a yoga instructor one must complete a 200-hour teaching training course and if you would like to advance in your career a 500-hour teaching training course is also available. Yoga is more than poses on a yoga mat, rather it’s how you live life when you’re not on the mat.