A yoga teacher training certification is the training yoga teachers complete in order to teach most yoga classes, according to Kay Kay Clivio, a yoga ambassador for Equinox and PURE Yoga. A standard yoga teacher certification requires a minimum of 200 training hours, a guideline set in place by the Yoga Alliance, a non-profit association representing the yoga community in an effort to ensure high-quality, safe and accessible yoga classes.
“[A yoga teacher training certification] should be the first of many trainings to come,” says Clivio. “Continuing education as an instructor is incredibly important to stay inspired in your teaching and continue to put tools in your tool belt,” she adds.
Unlike trades, such as massage and esthetics, yoga isn’t regulated in the U.S., which means someone doesn’t technically need a yoga teacher training certification to teach yoga, explains Sage Rountree, Ph.D., co-owner of the Carolina Yoga Company and author of The Art of Yoga Sequencing. “Generally, your yoga teacher gives you the certification, and then you can choose to register with the Yoga Alliance [as a registered yoga teacher] for a fee if your school is registered with the Yoga Alliance,” she adds.
Over 7,000 yoga schools are registered with the Yoga Alliance, which can make finding one that feels like the perfect fit tricky, says Clivio. She recommends first considering whether you want to pursue a 200-hour program or a more advanced 500-hour program.
RYT 200 Certifications
In order to be a registered yoga teacher recognized by the Yoga Alliance, Clivio reiterates that the minimum requirement is 200 hours of training through a yoga school registered with Yoga Alliance. All 200 hours must come from the same school.
The “RYT” component of a yoga instructor’s credentials signifies “Registered Yoga Teacher.” These instructors completed training with a yoga teacher training certification program recognized by the Yoga Alliance. Sometimes, certified yoga instructors have an “E” in their credential as well—for example, “E-RYT 200”—which signifies “experienced” and indicates that the person has taught at least 1,000 hours of yoga.
Experts say not all 200-hour yoga certification programs are the same. They may differ based on the style of yoga they teach, as well as the curriculum they follow. But in general, a 200-hour yoga teacher training certification program teaches students the fundamental elements of yoga, including its origins, philosophy and basic yoga postures.
“To study any subject, you must know and honor its roots,” says Clivio. “The teachings of yoga go far beyond the poses and were originally written in Sanskrit. All 200-hour trainings include teachings of the Vedas (a set of practices, ideas and concepts derived from ancient Hindu texts) the Sutras (ancient Hindu texts providing spiritual wisdom) and other important ancient yogic texts.”
RYT 500 Certifications
A 500-hour yoga teacher training certification program is the highest certification level recognized by Yoga Alliance. These programs offer more in-depth knowledge of yoga’s history and philosophies, as well as additional instruction on how to teach yoga to a wide range of ages and experience levels.
Those who enroll in this type of yoga teacher training certification program can also expect to learn more about human anatomy, different yoga styles and how to teach them, how different yoga postures affect the body, how to teach yoga effectively (including demonstrating postures and assisting with alignment), yoga as a lifestyle (such as the concept of karma) and business aspects of teaching yoga (such as how to market yourself).
Teachers who already completed a 200-hour training program can take an additional 300-hour training program to earn their “RYT-500” credential.
The Difference Between RYT and YTT Certifications
While some yoga instructors are registered yoga teachers, meaning they completed their training at a yoga school recognized by the Yoga Alliance, other instructors may have “YTT” credentials, which stands for “Yoga Teacher Training.” These credentials signify that they completed a yoga certification program specific to one style of yoga and potentially through an independent yoga studio not recognized by Yoga Alliance.
Teachers with a YTT certification still learn many of the same principles covered by a 200-hour RYT certification program, including the history of yoga, yogic philosophies, anatomy and teaching tips.
