How to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) Course

So, I finally took the plunge and applied for yoga teacher training.

As with any commitment that is going to take time and energy, it must be something you really want to do.

In this article, I’ll share my thoughts on how I decided which school and course to apply for, and explore the following:

1. Which yoga teacher training course should I do?

2. How to compare courses using a spreadsheet

3. Online versus in-person yoga teacher training courses

4. When will I be qualified to teach yoga?

5. What type of yoga should I teach?

6. How much does it cost to train as a yoga teacher?

7. What qualification will I achieve when I qualify as a yoga teacher?

8. How much experience do I need before I do the 200-hour YTT course?
   

There’s a lot to consider before you sign up, so let’s jump in and explore the decisions you will need to make before you part with your cash and sign up for a course.

Which yoga teacher training course should I do?

When you first ask Google to find yoga teacher training courses, you might be surprised at how many results come back.

I started searching in 2023 but was so overwhelmed with the choices that I was unable to make a decision.

It was only when I returned to it this year with a clearer plan of action to whittle down the choices, that I was able to make an informed decision that I was happy with.

Buying a course is a big investment of time and money, so getting it right is imperative and shouldn’t be rushed.

How to compare courses using a spreadsheet

My first tip for you is to use a spreadsheet to collate information.

It seems somewhat anti-yoga to be analytical and concise about this process, but bear with me: this was the best decision I made to cut through the noise of the search results on Google.

I looked at so many sites and was scribbling down notes and prices and dates on paper that quickly became unmanageable and hard to compare.

Create a spreadsheet of columns that include something like the following:

• Start date

• End date

• Location / online

• Price / deposit / payment schedule

• Hours

• School

• Course / qualification

• Website

• Contact name / number / email

• Class size

Next, we will explore the considerations, which are not necessarily in priority order, because I found it was a mix of these which led me to choose the course I finally booked.

Online versus in-person yoga teacher training courses 

If you have decided to do home learning, this opens up more options for you.

I considered an online course, but because I work from home full time, it was important for me to get out and be around others on the same journey as me.

Being away from home in a dedicated study and practice environment means I can immerse myself in every single minute of the course.

There is something special about starting a journey with a group of others, and I wanted to be with them in person, to share our highs and lows and support and be supported.

I think you learn so much more in person than online, but if you commute or travel a lot for work, an online course might serve you better.

It’s a personal decision to make and it needs to fit in with your current lifestyle.

For me, I’m looking forward to being part of an in-person group, sharing the excitement and energy, and making new friends.

When will I be qualified to teach yoga?

I discovered that many courses in my area start early in the year, so when I was looking in April, most of them had already begun and I had missed out.

Some courses are longer than others, so it depends on how soon you want to be qualified to go out and teach.

The course I eventually chose started six months from my search, meaning I would qualify a lot sooner than any of the others available to me locally.

There was another course I preferred, but because it was a longer course, I would not be qualified until June 2027, and I want to be teaching as soon as I can.

As well as working out when the course will start and how long it will last – to give you an idea of when you will qualify - you will also need to check training dates to ensure you can attend classes.

The course I opted for holds most classes over the weekend, so it fits in with my day job.

I’ll also be travelling for my in-person course, which is another time and cost factor, as I’ll likely stay away over the weekend.

What type of yoga should I teach?

As you already know, there are many yoga styles to choose from.

Hatha is based on classic yoga poses, making it a good base to learn and then develop your style on top of. The course I have chosen is 200 hours of Hatha and Vinyasa training, and the school I booked with also offers 40-hour top-up courses on Yin and Restorative yoga making it easy to create a foundation and build on it.

I noticed a lot of training centres and individual teachers offer short courses specialising in a niche area.

Yoga for menopause is gaining popularity, which is wonderful to see, and pre- and post-natal yoga is another avenue for specialising in.

How much does it cost to train as a yoga teacher?

The 200-hour course that I chose was not the cheapest but assuming I pass, I will be qualified six months sooner than if I had waited for another course starting February 2025.

Course prices do vary, so this is where your spreadsheet will help. Higher priced courses may include more study or classes, or a different qualification.

On average, you're looking at around £2,500+ for an in-person 200-hour course.

Online training will be cheaper, but you will sacrifice the hands-on experience of a teacher and miss out on the group energy and community bonding that arises from being on a journey with others.

What qualification will I achieve when I qualify as a yoga teacher?

Before signing up for YTT, I researched whether I needed to have a certificate to teach.

While you can teach without a recognised qualification, I decided I wanted to learn how to hold poses correctly and have the ability to guide my students into the correct post, the history of yoga, and how to create classes.

I think the qualification will give me the confidence to teach, and while I could probably self-learn and figure it out, I’ll bring a quality to my classes that I don’t think I can achieve on my own.

Having a qualification is also required by many insurance companies, so it’s good to have!

The course you choose is most likely to be a 200-hour or 500-hour course, with a foundational certificate or a diploma awarded at the end.

The aim is for you to leave with the Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) recognition given by the Yoga Alliance professionals, or a similar body of accreditation.

Some places want you to do a shorter foundational course before starting a longer course, and you may need to do the 200-hour course before doing additional courses.

Yep, need that spreadsheet for comparing all these variations.

How much experience do I need before I do the 200-hour YTT course?

The consensus is that you need a minimum of 200 hours of training before you can teach, and a minimum of two years of practice before signing up for a YTT course.

Some schools will also accept experience as a personal trainer.

When you come towards the later part of your course, you will need friends, family, or colleagues to practise on before leading a class for your final assessment. This is when it all gets very real!!

When you book your course, it’s a good idea to start thinking of some volunteers who could help you out by being your student.

Hopefully, it won’t be too difficult to find yogis willing to attend a free class.

Choosing the right yoga teacher training course

I was on the fence and undecided over two courses, and when I finally decided on the one I thought was best, I slept on it for a few days to make sure I was comfortable with it.

I narrowed this down to two big factors: geographical location, as it was essential that I could attend the course in person, and the date when I would qualify so I could teach.

Now that you have a spreadsheet of possible schools you can start the decision-making progress to narrow down the options.

By comparing a few choices, it helps you work out what your priorities are.

Please let me know how you get on with your search for the right yoga teaching training course and share any experiences you had that I might have missed.

Good luck with your search!