Hey future yoga teacher! When I was deciding between doing yoga teacher training in-person or online, one thing I asked myself was if online yoga teacher training is worth it. I dug in and came up with reasons why an online YTT could be a better fit for me or not. After a lot of contemplating and comparing online vs in-person yoga certification courses, I decided that online YTT aligned with my needs more. In this article, I share how I came to that conclusion to help you decide if online yoga teacher training is worth it for you, too.
If you want to become a yoga teacher but have been holding back due to time or money constraints, I think getting your certification online is definitely worth your consideration. An online YTT could be the perfect solution for you to fit yoga teacher training into your life and budget.
I am a RYT-200, and I graduated from Briohny Smyth's Aligned Online Yoga School. So yes, I actually got my yoga teaching certificate online!
If you've been wondering if online yoga teacher training might be the right fit for you, keep reading to discover why I think it's an ideal choice for yogis of any age or level!
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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 ⬇
Is online yoga teacher training worth it?
Today's online YTT courses 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 teachers to your laptop! Here are ten reasons why I think online YTT is worth it:
1. Online YTT is more affordable
2. You can make lifetime connections around the world during the live calls
3. You can get long-term community support from your school
4. You have the ability to train with esteemed yoga teacher trainers from around the world
5. You can train on your own schedule
6. It's more convenient
7. You can study and learn at a pace that works best for you
8. You'll get to learn different styles of yoga in a multi-style online YTT
9. You can join lectures and workshops by amazing guest teachers
10. You'll get a Yoga Alliance certification at the end
What makes a good online yoga teacher training?
First and foremost, the yoga teacher trainers leading the course are critical in differentiating a great yoga teacher training course 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 its worthwhile.
You want to look for schools with lead trainers who are certified at the 500-hour level. This ensures that the teachers leading the class have extensive real-world experience teaching yoga students. Here are five questions to ask yourself to help you ensure you're choosing a great online yoga teacher training:
- Do you feel a connection with the educators? (yes, even with online learning!)
- Do you want to teach the style/lineage of yoga that is being taught in the course?
- Does the syllabus look robust, interesting & thorough?
- Does the format (self-paced or cohort) work with your lifestyle and schedule?
- How long can you access the course?
It's nice (and important) that you feel a connection with the instructors, even when doing online yoga teacher training.
In my online yoga certification course with Briohny Smyth, I felt her sincerity and authenticity in the 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.
How to find a suitable online yoga school
Choosing the right yoga school is crucial for your training and development. By evaluating a school, you can select a school that aligns with your goals and provides a high-quality education. Research these five things about yoga schools you're interested in to make sure they're worthy:
- How long the online yoga school has been running yoga teacher training online
- If the school is registered with Yoga Alliance
- The school's Yoga Alliance reviews
- What's included with the training (a training app, books, yoga classes, replays of live classes, etc)
- How long you have access to the course
Additionally, I recommend that you look at the materials that are included in the course. Some materials an ideal online YTT course includes are:
- 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 10% 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 yoga teacher training online
If you’re working full-time or even part-time, have kids at home, or attend school, doing your training online might be the more suitable option because it offers more flexibility.
It took me over six months to complete my 200-hr yoga certification.
Use the table below to estimate, based on your availability, how long it will take you to complete a 200-hour online yoga teacher training course.
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 |
Takeaway on why online yoga teacher training is 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 yoga teacher training.
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, but of course, you want to look out for red flags to choose a good one.
Aside from that, the flexibility of online yoga teacher training gives working individuals and primary parents the chance to finally fit YTT into their busy lives. If you still have questions, read our guide to becoming a yoga instructor or how to prepare for YTT.
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!
