In this guide we will outline the steps to becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, what Yoga Alliance is, and the value of a Yoga Alliance membership ☝
It is generally accepted that to become a yoga instructor and teach yoga you need three things: a teaching certificate, accredited status from a yoga association and insurance. In this guide we will outline the steps to becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, what Yoga Alliance is, and the value of a Yoga Alliance membership.
While registration with Yoga Alliance is entirely voluntary and is not required to teach yoga, many studios do require their instructors to hold a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT®) credential and maintain a registration with Yoga Alliance. This is a way for studio owners and Yoga Teacher Training coordinators to understand the quality of education that you as the Yoga Teacher have received.
When considering any Yoga Teacher Training Program it is important to check whether the course is registered with Yoga Alliance if you know you’d like to register with them. This will ensure that your program meets the program standards of Yoga Alliance. Training taken with a school that is not recognised by Yoga Alliance will not be eligible for registration with them.
All of School Yoga Institute’s 200hr, 300hr, Prenatal, Yin and continuing education YACEP courses are accredited by Yoga Alliance.
With the popularity of yoga rising so much in the last few decades governing bodies such as Yoga Alliance have established themselves in an effort to foster and support the high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable teaching of yoga.
Yoga Alliance is the largest nonprofit association representing the yoga community, with over 7,000 Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) and more than 100,000 Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT). Yoga alliance is an international regulating agency to ensure the quality of Yoga Teacher Trainings and the consistency of education that trainees receive from a Registered Yoga School.
Yoga Alliance’s work includes:
If you've been searching for training programs it's likely you've stumbled upon a dizzying variety of course formats and opportunities. Yoga Teacher Training programs can range from 20hr - 500hr, with courses spread out over months or packed into an intensive few weeks.
Choosing the right one for you can feel overwhelming, check out our tips on what to look for when booking a Yoga Teacher Training.
The 200-hour YTT is the foundational level of training where you will be introduced to yoga anatomy & physiology, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy, asana, teaching methodology and more. It is an in-depth offering where serious students and eager-to-be teachers are ready to take their practice to the next level.
For many, it marks a commitment to self-growth, spiritual growth, and transformation. A rite of passage for those wanting to go deeper into the study of yoga. If walking the path of a Yoga Teacher is your goal, the first question you will be asked when applying for jobs is if you have completed a 200-hour YTT. The second is if you are registered with Yoga Alliance.
A 200hr Yoga Teacher Certificate is generally required to develop your career into more specialized areas of Yoga Teaching such as 300hr YTT’s, and continuing education programs. Click here to read more about our 200 hour yoga teacher training programs.
This is the foundational course for all Yoga Teachers. The 200hr YTTC is a prerequisite for a 300hr YTTC. Teachers can register as an RYT 200 if they have successfully completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance. All training hours must come from the same school, and multiple trainings cannot be combined to meet the 200-hour requirement.
Teachers can register as an RYT 500 if they have successfully completed a 500-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance. The 500 hours of training can either come from one school or can be a combination of a 200-hour teacher training plus an additional 300-hour advanced teacher training* from a different RYS. Applicants must also submit 100 teaching hours that were completed after their RYS 200 or RYS 500 training.
Once registered, an E-RYT 200 is able to provide Continuing Education workshops to RYTs and can be a Lead Trainer of a 200-hour teacher training for an RYS 200 up until February 2022*.
Teachers can register as an E-RYT 200 if they have successfully completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance and have taught a minimum of two years after completing training. All training hours must come from the same school, and multiple trainings cannot be combined to meet the 200-hour requirement. Applicants must submit 1,000 teaching hours for this designation, which must be completed after finishing their training with an RYS 200.
Once registered, an E-RYT 500 is able to provide Continuing Education workshops to other teachers and can be a Lead Trainer of a 200-hour, 300-hour, or 500-hour teacher training.
Teachers can register as an E-RYT 500 if they have successfully completed a 500-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance and have taught a minimum of four years since completing training with an RYS 200. The 500 hours of training can either come from one school or can be a combination of a 200-hour training plus an additional 300-hour advanced teacher training* from a different RYS. Applicants must submit 2,000 teaching hours for this designation, 1,500 of which must have been taught after completing training with an RYS 200 or RYS 500. The remaining 500 teaching hours must have been taught after completing training with an RYS 300 or RYS 500.
Teachers can register as an RPYT if they have successfully completed both a 200-hour yoga teacher training and an 85-hour prenatal yoga training—in either order—that are registered with Yoga Alliance. Applicants must submit 30 teaching hours in prenatal yoga, which must be performed after completing a training with a Registered Prenatal Yoga School (RPYS).
Need more help? Have questions about our yoga trainings or Yoga Alliance certification?
As a Registered Yoga Teacher, you gain access to all Yoga Alliance membership benefits, including:
As a graduate of School Yoga Institute’s 200-hour yoga teacher training you can register as an RYT 200. This is the foundational course for all Yoga Teachers. The 200hr YTTC is a prerequisite for a 300hr YTTC.
You can register by following this link:
Application and upgrade fees are non-refundable. For questions, please contact Yoga Alliance.
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Wherever you are on your journey as a yoga teacher, thank you for listening to your inner heart’s call! If we can support you in any way please message info@schoolyogainstitute.com.
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