How to Become a Yoga Instructor in 6 Steps

To become a yoga instructor, you need comprehensive knowledge of yoga philosophy, postures and techniques. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to start your own yoga studio, you also have to meet training requirements and ensure you have the right mix of entrepreneurial skills.

Read on to learn how to become a yoga instructor.

What Does a Yoga Teacher Do?

A yoga instructor guides individuals or groups through yoga practice, helping them to enhance their physical, spiritual and mental well-being. As teachers explain how to carry out specific yoga postures, or asanas, they provide support and ensure students practice in a safe manner.

Yoga instructors work with students of all skill levels and adapt class curriculum to match the needs of their pupils.

Yoga Teacher Requirements

To become a yoga teacher, you need to:

Know about different techniques and styles of yoga

Before you spend time training, make sure you know more about yogic philosophy and training techniques. If you find that you love yoga as more than a hobby, then it could make sense for you to pursue teaching the practice as a career.

Train with a yoga school

A yoga teacher training program is an important component. To become Yoga Alliance-accredited, you must complete a 200-hour program (there are also 500-hour courses) with a registered yoga school. Depending on the program you select, you will also need to complete teaching requirements. For example, for the Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200, you will need to complete the 200-hour training as well as have 1,000 hours of teaching experience. Learn more about Yoga Alliance's requirements here.

Register as a yoga teacher

After you have finished your training, you can register as a yoga teacher. You will have to pay an application fee — depending on what training program you completed — and your yearly dues.

Get CPR-certified

Different studios might require you to get CPR and first aid certification.

How to Become a Yoga Instructor in 6 Steps

If you want to pursue a career as a yoga teacher, here is what you need to do:

1. Explore yoga styles

From hot yoga to yin yoga to vinyasa yoga, there are different types of yoga. Take time to explore which ones more resonate with you and what type of classes you would like to teach.

2. Find a training program

Find a yoga school where you can complete your 200-hour yoga teacher training. Schools will cover techniques, training and practice (asanas, historical context, meditation); anatomy and physiology (types of bones, nervous system, biomechanics); yoga humanities (history of yoga, philosophy, ethics); and professional essentials (teaching methodology, professional development).

3. Train and get certified

Get your 200-hour certificate or 500-hour certificate to earn your yoga teaher certification. After you finish your hours of training, take CPR and first aid training courses, so you are ready in case of an emergency.

4. Get teaching experience

Lead yoga classes so you can get the necessary teaching experience. (Note that some training programs require teaching hours as part of the process). Teaching gives you the opportunity to develop your teaching style and let you determine what sort of class size works best for you.

5. Pursue continuing education

Your job is not done once you receive a yoga teacher certification. To stay on top of your skills, take education courses — both on technique and to grow as a teacher — and refresh your skills.

6. Stay up-to-date on certifications

You will need to pay an annual fee to maintain your certifications, but you might also need to take extra classes to maintain your certifications.

4 Tips for Running a Yoga Business

If you want to open a personal practice, there are a few things you can do to set your business apart:

1. Sell short yoga routines online

Digital products allow you to get clients in any location, so as a yoga teacher, you can sell short yoga routines that people can easily squeeze into their days. Noodle's Byte feature, allows you to sell digital content on your account. You can include video, audio, text, PDFs or other types of media.

2. Provide personalized advice

Teachers guide students through their yoga journey. You can have students send you videos of themselves carrying out different asanas, and you can then provide feedback on proper technique to help them improve. With Noodle, you can use the chat feature to provide personalized feedback. The way it works is you set a price for potential clients to send you questions. When they have asked their question, you can answer via video, audio or text. It's a quick way to connect with others.

3. Make it easy for students to book you

Whether you choose to teach classes virtually or in person, make sure that clients can easily access you. Use Noodle's scheduling service to give possible customers access to your calendar and daily schedule — it cuts out the need for back-and-forth communication and complicated logistics.

4. Create a membership class

While you can offer one-off videos, you can also offer a membership plan. For example, you can sell a three-month program that helps a beginner gain the skills and confidence to practice yoga. You can set this up right on your Noodle account.

How to Become a Yoga Instructor: Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to become a yoga teacher?

To become a certified yoga instructor, you must complete a training program and become CPR-certified. You should also dedicate time to becoming knowledgeable on the art of yoga.

How quickly can I become a yoga teacher?

You will need to complete at least 200 hours of training before you can become a yoga teacher. Different certifications can require 500 hours of training, as well as teacher training.

Can I complete yoga teacher training online?

You can complete yoga teacher training in person or online. Do your research before finding a school to ensure that the school you choose is part of the Yoga Alliance.