What Type of Online Yoga Teacher Training is Best for You?

by Alberto G. Güitrón April 20, 2021

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Would you like to become a yoga instructor? Then, completing a yoga teacher training course is a very important step to take!

By completing an online yoga teacher training you’ll be able to take your yoga practice to a new level with the guidance of qualified instructors. But don’t be discouraged if you can’t attend an in-person yoga teacher training right now, because thanks to technology, nowadays you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Just like any other yoga retreat or teacher training, there are different types of programs to choose from. Want to know what’s on the shelf? From the hours of training to the different types of instruction and the certifications, here you can find out what’s the kind of course that better suits you!

Hours of training

The Yoga Alliance has various standards for their certifications of Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) 200-hour, 300-hour or 500-hour. So, when picking a yoga teacher training –either online or face-to-face– the first thing to consider is the number of hours you’re willing to commit to it.

200-Hour

A 200-hour course can be considered the first step to become a yoga instructor. During a 200-hour training, you’ll be introduced to all aspects of yoga; this means that you’ll study all the basics any teacher should know, expand your knowledge beyond the mat and learn how to transmit it to your students.

Things like proper alignment, teaching methodology and yoga philosophy will be part of the curriculum. You’ll also learn about the benefits of each pose, create a yoga sequence, and improve and nurture your own practice.

Half of the hours will be dedicated to polishing your technique through guided repetition and analytical training so that you know how to structure your own classes.

If this is what you’re looking for, here’s a list of some of the best 200-hour online yoga teacher training courses:

300-Hour

Once you become a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200), you can do a 300-hour course and complete the RYT 500 certification. You must know that a 500-hour teacher training is a life-changer that requires lots of effort, plenty of time and a genuine love for yoga. It’s a certification made for truly committed practitioners.

The most common path to becoming an RYT 500 is to first register as an RYT 200 and then join a 300-hour yoga teacher training. On this course, you’ll study all concepts of the 200-hour course more in-depth, for you to develop your own teaching style by choosing whichever category you want to focus on

If you already have an RYT 200, check out the following 300-hour online teacher training to become a really experienced instructor:

100-Hour or less

The Yoga Alliance also offers other types of certifications that usually take 100-hour or less. With these courses, you won’t be able to get an RYT certification. However, this modality is a good option for instructors who want to expand their knowledge in a specific area, like a particular yoga style, or that want to continue with their yoga education.

This could be a good option if you don’t want to become an instructor and just want to add a new dimension to your practice.

Here are a few great options if you’re interested in one of these courses:

Certified courses

Whether you go for a 200-hour or a 300-hour course, the standards to get a Yoga Alliance certificate are divided into 5 main areas:

Techniques, training and practice
Teaching methodology
Anatomy and physiology
Yoga philosophy, lifestyle and ethics
Practicum

All these topics are part of the curriculum for any yoga teacher training you choose. However, not all of them are registered with the Yoga Alliance. That said, most of them do, which means that you can get a certification upon completion of the course for you to start teaching right away.

>>READ MORE: Take a break with an online yoga retreat.

If you’re not certain about the certification, it’s always good to ask all your questions to the instructor before booking. But here are a few that do offer a Yoga Alliance certification:

Self-paced or live classes

Image credit: Sacred Paths Yoga

In addition to the hours of instruction and certification, when booking an online yoga teacher training, you’ll have to decide whether you want to do a full-time or a self-paced program. This decision mostly depends on your current availability and preference. These are the main differences:

Self-paced

A self-paced online yoga teacher training is the perfect option for those who have been postponing their wish to become a yoga instructor due to lack of time.

During a self-paced course, you’ll only need to set aside a special time during the day for the practice itself. One advantage of this kind of program is that it works for all time zones as the lessons are pre-recorded; there’s no need to set a determined time to do your practice (it can even vary from day to day).

Just keep in mind that each program has a different minimum and a maximum of days to be completed, which means that you can’t take forever but you can still do it at your own pace. Even with this independence, most of them offer personal assistance with instructors and some “contact hours” for you to get the most out of your training.

Take a look at the following options for a self-paced online yoga teacher training:

Live classes

For a full-time online yoga teacher training, it’s important to truly commit to it throughout the course. Since it consists of a live stream program, you must consider the time zones of the instructors and your own schedule. Most of the programs require that you fully commit to the course calendar from 3 to 4 weeks.

These kinds of courses are perfect for yogis who have the time and want to get a similar experience to a face-to-face course. You’ll get to interact with fellow yogis, get live advice, and join group discussions to spice up your practice.

The schedule for each program is different, but in general, it could look like this:

06:00 Meditation and pranayama
07:00 Yoga practice
09:00 Break
10:00 Philosophy and anatomy class
11:30 Asanas, methodology and teaching practice
13:00 Break
16:00 Workshops
17:30 Yoga practice
19:00 Meditation and pranayama

Thus, it is important that the people you live with are aware of your schedule and that you have a dedicated space to participate in the program.

Here are some options for a live online yoga teacher training program:

Looking to spend some time nourishing your mind, body and soul without stepping out of the comfort of your home? Check out these online yoga retreats!

About the author Alberto G. Güitrón

Alberto is a writer for BookYogaRetreats.com. He is a committed yoga practitioner, big enthusiast of winter activities. He's performed downward dog bare-footed in the snow... his feet still burn.