How to become a Yoga Teacher? A Quick Guide

Yoga is a global phenomenon with over 300 million practitioners worldwide, with the USA alone accounting for 36 million practitioners.

There are different styles of yoga such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Bikram, each with its unique focus and approach. With such a huge following, yoga teaching has emerged as a popular career choice. Why not get paid to stay fit yourself while helping others to stay fit? I made this choice 14 years ago, and my life has since changed for the better.

I am Shikha Sundriyal, and I call myself an accidental yoga teacher. I started doing yoga because I had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For me, skipping even a day of yoga meant gasping for breath the next day. From compulsion to passion, yoga became a part of my daily life.

One day, someone suggested that I take a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) course to further deepen my practice and ensure I wasn't dependent on other teachers for my condition. This made sense—it was like carrying my own DIY kit all the time. I ultimately choose to become a yoga teacher and left my job in a marketing firm.

It proved to be a tough decision since I struggled to maintain a stable income and made limited growth. I struggled because I had no career guidance or a clear path to pursue my passion for yoga.

So I’m writing this article for all those young aspirants who want to become confident and financially independent yoga teachers.

Here is the guide to becoming a yoga teacher:

As of today, when I write this article, there is no license required to become a yoga teacher in the US, UK, or Asia. You can pursue any certification course to become a yoga teacher. You can go for courses accredited by Yoga Alliance, which is accepted in 190+ countries. Yoga Alliance offers 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour certification courses.

For a beginner, the 200-hour course is sufficient to start practicing as a yoga teacher. Yoga Alliance is an internationally recognized education and accreditation organization that has established a system of requirements for teachers and schools. There are many different teacher training programs available worldwide, offering certification in a wide array of yoga styles and traditions, including the RYT-200 online.

In India, there are diploma and graduation courses available that take at least two years to complete. However, for most yoga enthusiasts, the 200-hour Yoga TTC is the preferred choice.You can say it is a stepping stone for most people in their yoga career.

Why choose the 200-Hour Yoga TTC?

It's not the time you put in, but what you put into the time that counts."— Tony Robbins

How can someone teach yoga in 200 hours? Is it even possible? Rishis and yogis took an eternity to understand it, and today people claim to teach it in 200 hours. Remember, today we learn yoga with a limited scope; the objective is not to achieve Samadhi (salvation) but to acquire the skills to teach people asana, pranayama, meditation, anatomy, or philosophy.

These courses teach you the essential skills to conduct a yoga class safely and without injury. Some Courses even teach you to market your yoga classes and every other skill to run your studio/classes effectively.

200 Hours YTTC typically take 30 days to complete, during which you go to a shala in Rishikesh or another location. You stay there, practice and learn yoga, and then get certified after an examination. Today, schools also offer online courses that can be completed at your own pace with lifetime access. So my recommendation goes to 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training for anyone aspiring to become a Yoga Teacher. (Also read "How to choose Best Yoga Teacher Course for you!")

What's next after the course?

“What we learn to do, we learn by doing” – Aristotle

The most effective way to learn is by actively engaging in practice; you'll truly master the craft of teaching through the experience of teaching itself.You can align yourself with a senior yoga teacher or teach within your community to gain experience. We usually conduct classes for new teachers within the community so that they get the experience of teaching. That's the power of community.

The journey to becoming a yoga teacher has its ups and downs, but the destination is beautiful and fulfilling. Along the way, you'll discover not only the art of teaching but also the depth of your own practice. Every challenge shapes you into a more compassionate and knowledgeable guide, and every milestone brings you closer to the profound joy of sharing yoga with others. Embrace the process, trust your growth, and remember that the path itself is as rewarding as the goal.

Check out our courses on our website : https://www.bmaschoolofyoga.com/