Starting a career in yoga is incredibly exciting! But it can also be confusing when you try to understand the training you’ll need and the different types of yoga certifications available.
I’m Anna Passalacqua, a Co-Founder and Teacher at Breathing Deeply. With advanced training and decades of experience at my disposal, I’m here to help you understand your options. Keep reading to learn about the right yoga training for you and how to get started.
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The first question you need to ask yourself is what you want to get out of yoga training and certification.
Earning a yoga certification can open up new opportunities in your career. Some of the advantages of yoga training and certification include:
Interest in yoga only continues to grow in the U.S. You can make a living doing what you love and help others support their own health and wellness. The first step is acquiring the knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials you need through quality training.
There are 7 types of yoga training that are offered. The right one for you will depend on your goals and whether you have already completed any yoga training. But the most important distinction is whether you want to work as a yoga instructor or a yoga therapist.
If you want to teach yoga poses to a group of students, perhaps in a specific style of yoga like vinyasa or yin yoga, then you should pursue a career as a yoga instructor. While you only need a 200-hour teaching training to become an instructor, there are several other training programs available if you want more education.
It is important to note that you do not need the 85-hour prenatal training or 95-hour children’s training to work with these demographics as a yoga therapist. Yoga therapists learn the skills they need to work with a wide variety of populations and health conditions, and they do not need additional teacher training to specialize in those areas. Keep reading to learn more.
If you want to work with people one-on-one and use yoga to help them treat physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health conditions, you will be better suited as a yoga therapist. You will learn how to apply yoga techniques therapeutically for a wide range of issues. Yoga therapists can maintain a more general practice or choose to focus on a particular population in the course of their yoga training—without the need for additional training.
It is not always necessary to earn a specific certification or designation when completing yoga training, which is why I’ve outlined training types above.
Yoga therapists, for example, only need their 200-hour as a prerequisite for yoga therapy training. They don’t need to worry about becoming a Registered Yoga Therapist (RYT)® because such a designation is relevant for yoga instructors, not yoga therapists.
Read about 8 types of yoga certifications and designations below to see if any are relevant to you:
Click any of the FAQs below to see more information, or contact us if you have a question that doesn’t appear in this list.
Yoga therapy is a growing field that pairs traditional yoga practices and knowledge with a therapeutic approach to health and wellness. It is individualized to focus on a person’s unique physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual needs.
A yoga therapist works with a client to understand their individual needs and how yoga techniques can be applied therapeutically to meet their goals. We use asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, and other practices to address specific health challenges, which can range from chronic pain to depression. Eventually, our clients learn how to use these yoga practices to heal on their own, and our work is done.
We often work alongside other medical professionals, offering a complementary modality to conventional treatment plans, advancing the holistic side of healthcare. A yoga therapist can start their own private practice or find employment in hospitals, mental health departments, addiction centers, chiropractors’ offices, wellness centers, school districts, and other public settings. In some cases, healthcare workers will complete yoga therapy training in order to gain new skills so they can better serve their clients as a physical therapist, nurse, massage therapist, occupational therapist, psychotherapist, mental health professional, or social worker.
Becoming a yoga therapist is a unique path that allows you to make a significant impact on individuals’ health and wellbeing. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your expertise in yoga is used to help people not just maintain but improve their physical and mental states, often in conjunction with medical treatments. For those who are struggling to find relief through conventional means, yoga therapy offers a more holistic, tailored approach that can provide the healing they seek.
By addressing specific health concerns with tailored yoga practices, you can help alleviate symptoms, promote recovery, and improve quality of life for your clients. For those passionate about the healing power of yoga, yoga therapy is a meaningful and fulfilling career choice that’s both personally rewarding and professionally respected.
Legally, there is no requirement for yoga instructors to be certified. However, it is much easier to find a job teaching yoga if you are certified. Many studios prefer or require teachers to have certifications, as it provides credibility and indicates a formal education in teaching yoga safely. Without a certification, your opportunities to teach yoga may be limited.
In general, I would recommend maintaining a consistent yoga practice for at least one year before starting a yoga teacher training program. This helps build a strong foundation in your personal practice and understanding of yoga. Having more experience tends to be even better!
You must complete a 200-hour yoga teacher training in order to be considered a certified yoga teacher (CYT). Some yoga instructors choose to undergo additional training, such as a 500-hour yoga teacher training, an 85-hour prenatal yoga teacher training, or a 95-hour children’s yoga teacher training. This can signal that they have more advanced or specialized knowledge when looking for a position. While it is not required for yoga instructors to train with a Registered Yoga School (RYS)®, those who wish to register with the Yoga Alliance will need to do so.
RYT® stands for Registered Yoga Teacher, and it is a designation given by Yoga Alliance to qualifying yoga teachers. RYTs must complete at least a 200-hour yoga teacher training at a school recognized by Yoga Alliance and maintain their continuing education.
YTT, or Yoga Teacher Training, refers to the actual courses taken to learn how to teach yoga. It does not involve registering with any governing body. YTT includes training at Registered Yoga Schools® (RYS) as well as training at yoga schools that are not associated with Yoga Alliance.
If someone is a CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher), it means that they have completed a yoga teacher training program consisting of at least 200 hours of instruction. They have received formal training on yoga instruction and have been assessed to ensure that they are capable yoga teachers. Many yoga instructors choose to clarify the level of training they have completed, such as CYT-200 or CYT-500.
An RYT® (Registered Yoga Teacher) is a CYT who is registered with Yoga Alliance. This means that they completed their yoga teacher training with a Registered Yoga School® (RYS) and maintain their required continuing education hours. RYTs have access to ongoing education, networking, and the credentials provided by Yoga Alliance.
For yoga instructors, the highest level of certification is the E-RYT® 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 500-hour), indicating a strong grasp of yoga. This means that you have completed a 500-hour training program and have taught for at least 2,000 hours over 4 years or more.
For yoga therapists, the highest level of certification is the C-IAYT, which indicates that you are a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). C-IAYTs must complete 200-hour yoga teacher training, 800-hour yoga therapy training with an IAYT-accredited program, pass the IAYT’s exams, and become members of the IAYT. They have undergone advanced training, demonstrate expert knowledge in yoga therapy, and adhere to a strong code of ethics.
The best yoga certification for you will depend on your goals and career. In general, a 200-hour certification is widely recognized if you want to teach yoga. Specialized yoga teacher designations, like children’s or prenatal yoga, can help prepare you for jobs working with these audiences. You may want to get your 500-hour teacher training if you seek advanced knowledge of yoga. For a yoga therapist, the most advanced and widely recognized option is to become a C-IAYT.
While it certainly doesn’t hurt to earn a college or master’s degree in yoga, it is far from required for most professions in the field. If you want to become a college professor in yoga or otherwise work in academia or research, it may be beneficial to obtain a graduate degree in yoga studies. Otherwise, you should be able to gain the knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials you need to become a yoga teacher or yoga therapist through a reputable training program.
Typically, a 200-hour yoga teacher training takes about 2 months. A 300-hour teacher training usually requires an additional 1–2 months. A 500-hour teacher training can range from several months to a year, often involving extensive coursework and hands-on practice. Specialty certifications like prenatal or children’s yoga can vary, generally taking several weeks to several months. Yoga therapy training can be completed in as little as 1 year, with the C-IAYT taking at least 2 years total to account for additional advanced training. Programs like ours allow students to work at their own pace so you can easily fit yoga training into your schedule while juggling other responsibilities.
Look for a reputable school with experienced teachers and a curriculum that aligns with your yoga philosophy and career aspirations. Consider the teachers, feedback from graduates, coursework, and opportunities for real-world practice. Ensure the program is well-established and provides comprehensive, up-to-date training that fits your schedule and needs.
Thank you for learning more about the types of yoga certifications with me. I hope it has been helpful to you!
If you want to become a yoga therapist, I encourage you to apply to our school. We have spent years mastering yoga therapy and crafting an online training program to best meet the needs of today’s students. With self-paced learning, flexible payment plans, real-world experience, and regular access to highly qualified teachers, I can confidently say there is no better way to become a yoga therapist than through our program.
Whether you need your 200-hour prerequisite or you’re ready to begin yoga therapy training, we have the options to meet your needs immediately. Apply today or contact us if you have any questions.
Brandt talks about common questions applicants have about the Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy Program. Tune in to get the full program details.
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