Become a Certified Yoga Instructor in 5 Steps

Becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor can be a rewarding career that allows you to balance what you love while earning income and helping others lead healthier, relaxing and balanced lives. The journey to becoming certified in yoga can be short or long-term, depending on how you pace it with your current schedule and obligations. Here are the 5 steps to becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher, starting today.

1. Decide what your Yoga style is

There are many forms and variations of Yoga including, but not limited to: Gentle Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Power Yoga and Sivananda Ashtanga. It is important to discover what style speaks to you personally, and decide if the demographic for the area you want to teach would be a good fit with the style you want to teach. If, for example, you are in a heavy retirement community a Gentle Yoga might be a great route, whereas something like Vinyasa Yoga might be a great fit in a more youthful, urban setting.

2. Complete a minimum of 200 hours through a school following the Yoga Alliance Guidelines

Starting with a 200-hour program, you will learn everything you need to know about all the yoga forms and postures as well as alternative modified forms, the benefits of yoga, and human anatomy and physiology as they relate to it. You will also learn about the philosophy of yoga according to Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, which dives into the background and meaning behind living a meaning and purposeful life. In addition to learning about the science, techniques and philosophy, you will practice the art of yoga for at least 2 hours daily. While the 200-hour Yoga Certification will allow eligibility for applications as a Yoga Instructor for most establishments, a 300-hour and 500-hour certification may also be obtained. 300-hour yoga certifications can be acquired to learn more advanced techniques and lifelong cultivation of Yoga practice and Yoga philosophy into daily life, while a 500-hour Yoga Certification allows even further advancement, including training new Yoga Teachers.

3. Apply for a RYT Certification

Upon completing the programs that meet the guidelines set by Yoga Alliance, you will have completed the hardest, longest part of the process! Graduates of the Yoga Alliance should then apply for an RYT Credential (Registered Yoga Teacher) through the Yoga Alliance of America. Some employers do not require an RYT Certification, however having one will open you up to an array of greater opportunities as well as grant you the following benefits:

• An internationally-recognized credential
• Access to free online workshops to keep your training up-to-date
• Inclusion into the RYT Directory, which gives you a public profile you can share, allowing you to market yourself
• Invitations to related community events hosted in the area
• Discounts on yoga-related products and services including apparel, insurance and business software
• Plus –subscriptions and access to insightful yoga-related publications

4. As a bonus, become CPR Certified

While CPR certification while not mandatory, many health facilities will require it. For more information on becoming CPR certified, visit RedCross.org.

5. Get some practice and start making money

At Circuit, Yoga classes comprise of a great portion of our fitness classes to residential and corporate communities nationwide.

If you are looking for the best place to practice additional yoga jobs on the side, teach a yoga class flexible to your current schedule, or simply expand upon your experience with yoga, visit our Openings for Yoga Instructors to explore Yoga jobs nearby today.