If you want to become a yoga teacher but time or money has been holding you back, then I think online yoga teacher training is definitely worth it for you. An online YTT could be the perfect solution for you if you want to become a yoga teacher but haven't been able to due to time or financial constraints.
If you’re on the fence about yoga teacher training, this article will help you make a definitive decision about whether taking that step of becoming a certified yoga teacher is right for you.
If you've been wondering if online yoga teacher training is the right fit for you, keep reading.
I am a RYT-200 after graduating from Briohny Smyth's Aligned online yoga teacher training. In this article, I’ll answer some common questions about online yoga teacher training.
Article content:
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10 reasons to choose an online yoga teacher training
What makes a good online yoga teacher training
How long it take to complete 200-hr yoga teacher training
How long should you practice yoga before yoga teacher training
Should you seek out a Yoga Alliance registered online yoga school?
Takeaway on is online yoga teacher training worth it
FAQ about yoga teacher training
IS YOGA TEACHER TRAINING ON YOUR RADAR?
Online Yoga Teacher Training Offers
- Affordability
- Flexibility
- Certification
- Lifetime access
⬇Click below to discover the best Yoga Alliance registered online YTT's to join now ⬇
10 reasons why you should choose an online yoga teacher training
Here are my top 10 reasons why I think online yoga teacher training is worth it:
- Affordability – online YTT is more affordable (by a long-shot)
- Make lifetime connections around the world during the live calls
- Longterm community support from your school
- Ability to train with esteemed yoga teacher trainers online
- Flexible scheduling – train when it suits your schedule
- Convenience – online YTT is more convenient (no need to take a flight)
- Study and learn at a pace that works best for you (pause, rewind, replay)
- Discover different styles of yoga in a multi-style online YTT
- Special guest lectures and workshops are included
- Yoga Alliance certification – option to register with YA after your YTT
The online courses of today are high-quality and high-touch learning experiences with beautiful presentations and lectures that you can revisit over and over again.
Think of it this way, online learning brings the world’s best yoga educators to your laptop!
What makes a good online yoga teacher training
First and foremost, the educators leading the course are a critical component in what differentiates a great yoga teacher training from a mediocre one.
These days, it's not a bad idea to have some familiarity with the instructors of the course you choose and to know that they are well-qualified and experienced.
Choosing a yoga school with an excellent reputation and highly-qualified lead instructors is one way to ensure that your online yoga teacher training will be really worth it in the end.
Questions to ask yourself before choosing an online yoga teacher training
- Do you feel a connection with the educators (yes, even with online learning!)
- What is the style/lineage of yoga being taught
- Does the syllabus look robust, interesting & thorough
- How long is the course duration
- How long are you allowed access to the yoga teacher training
- Is it a self-paced or cohort/group learning format
- Is the course augmented with live learning sessions
It's nice to feel a connection with the instructors, even when doing an online yoga teacher training.
In the yoga teacher training online I did with Briohny Smyth, I felt her sincerity and authenticity in the very first video. I felt a connection.
Briohny's Aligned Yoga School offers highly engaging 200 hour and 300 hour online yoga teacher training courses.
Read about my yoga teacher training experience with Bri at Aligned Yoga.
Research these things about yoga schools you are interested in
- How long has the online school been in existence?
- If it’s an online yoga teacher training, does the school also have a physical location, and if so, how long have they been conducting in-person teacher trainings?
- Is the school registered with Yoga Alliance?
- How do the Yoga Alliance reviews look?
- Really you want to ask yourself, does this yoga teacher training speak to me? Is it calling me?
- What's included with the training?
Here are some materials an ideal online YTT course includes:
- A YTT manual (this can be a digital or printed manual, but honestly, I prefer both)
- Yoga pose guide
- Yoga cueing guide
- Sample yoga sequences
- FB group to interact with other trainees and the instructors
- Journal prompts to guide you deeper on your self-discovery through your training
↓Great Yoga Alliance approved yoga teacher trainings you should look into↓
• 2,400+ reviews
• Self-paced
• $1,200 in free bonuses
• Offers 12+ yoga certifications
• Founded in 2016
• Learn 4 yoga styles
• Self-paced
• Expert educator
• Use code
YOGATIQUE
FOR $100 OFF
(If paid in full)
• Deep & transformational
• Curated certification paths
• Online or in-person in Bali
• Use code
THEYOGATIQUE
FOR 5% OFF
How long it takes to complete 200-hr online yoga teacher training
If you’re working full-time or even part-time, have kids at home, are attending school, or even training for an Iron Man, an online yoga teacher training certification course might be the more suitable option for you.
Use the table below to estimate how long it will take you to complete 200 hour yoga teacher training online based on your availability.
Online yoga teacher training completion timeline estimator
| How many hours/week you can dedicate to online YTT | How long it will take you to complete online YTT |
| 55hrs/week | 4 weeks |
| 25-30 hrs/week | 8 weeks |
| 20 hrs/week | 12 weeks |
| 12-15 hrs/week | 3-4 months |
| 10-12 hrs/week | 5 months |
| 9-10 hrs/week | 6 months |
| 6 hrs/week | 9 months |
How long should you practice yoga before yoga teacher training
To be honest, all levels of yogis can do yoga teacher training, even beginners.
The most important part is that students have an established, strong, dedicated, and passionate yoga practice before embarking upon a yoga teacher training journey.
Why? Because it will be helpful to be very familiar with the foundational yoga postures so that rather than just learning or seeing the poses (or asanas) for the first time, you are more in the stage of refining your yoga postures. You're at a place where you're nearly ready to teach your future yoga students how to do the same.
Does this mean that you need to be a practicing yogi for decades? No. Rather, it means that you are very committed to your yoga practice now. And you envision a consistent and evolving yoga practice for years to come in life.
You should feel curious to learn more about the lineages of yoga and the yogic way of life.
Should you seek out a Yoga Alliance registered online yoga school?
Yoga Alliance IS the biggest association of yoga teachers and schools, there's no doubt about that. Yoga Alliance currently has over 7,000 Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) and over 100,000 Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT's).
But even though Yoga Alliance is very popular and widely known in the industry, it's actually not necessary to complete your yoga education with a school that is part of Yoga Alliance.
However, there ARE benefits to attending a Registered Yoga School for your training. In order for a school to be part of Yoga Alliance, its curriculum needs to be approved, and it needs to meet certain educational requirements, which could be looked at as a good thing.
Yoga Alliance also provides a lot of transparent information about yoga schools based on the feedback given by past trainees who have attended trainings. Transparency is always a good thing in my mind.
But, Yoga Alliance also charges fees to both yoga schools and yoga teachers (which many teachers and schools don't agree with).
Ultimately it is up to you to decide how much you value Yoga Alliance and specifically want to seek out schools registered with Yoga Alliance. With over 7,000 registered schools, it's certainly not hard to find Registered Yoga Schools!
Takeaway on is online yoga teacher training worth it
I believe that there are advantages to opting for an online yoga teacher training course that in-person yoga teacher trainings simply cannot offer. As with anything, there are pros and cons to consider when choosing your YTT!
The opportunity to study under world-class educators for a fraction of the cost is one of the reasons why my answer to ‘is online yoga teacher training worth it' is yes.
Aside from that, the flexibility of yoga teacher training online offers working individuals and primary parents the chance to finally fit yoga teacher training into their busy lives. Read our full guide to becoming a yoga instructor if you've still got questions!
Discover THE PERFECT online yoga teacher training FOR YOU and begin your yoga teacher training journey today!
FAQ about online yoga teacher training
Can you make a living teaching yoga online?
Yes, you can make a great living teaching yoga online. Here are a few ways online yoga instructors make serious money: 1. Launching their own online subscription-based yoga membership 2. Creating digital courses 3. Creating online yoga teacher training certification courses.
Is yoga teacher training worth it if you don't want to teach?
Absolutely. Any yogi will gain a lot of knowledge about proper alignment, anatomy, and the history and philosophy of yoga in YTT. I personally loved learning more about the origins of yoga and the 8 limbs of yoga when I went through online yoga teacher training.
Some online yoga studios, online yoga teacher training programs, and brands that we write about may offer us a small commission should you decide to make a purchase or signup after reading our content. Thank you for enabling us to exist!
