Becoming a certified yoga teacher is a journey of immense hardwork. First of all, you need to be passionate about your goals and then diligently work on them to achieve them within the right time.

You need to be focused on your yoga practice, enrol in a reputed program, and get a certification to commence your journey as a yoga instructor. During this yoga expedition, you would be required to sign up for 200-hour or 300-hour yoga teacher training courses, which usually last for about three to five months.

Also, the timeline to become a yoga teacher would depend on the yoga style you wish to choose. It is because there are several yoga styles such as Ashtanga Yoga, which require you to be extremely fit and therefore, they need more time in comparison to other yoga styles.

Hence, it can be said that becoming a certified yoga teacher depends upon various factors including your yoga course, yoga style, learning capabilities, fitness, yoga school, expert guidance, etc. Regardless, on average, it takes about 10 months to 1 year to become a certified yoga teacher.

Let’s move on and understand in detail the time commitment involved in the process. If you are someone who is looking forward to becoming a yoga teacher, then here is the brief for you. Further in the article, we would also learn factors influencing yoga teacher training duration and what to do after you have become a certified yoga teacher. So, let’s roll down!

Is It Worth Getting a Yoga Certification?

Well, there is no direct answer to this question. It all depends upon what you seek. If you are someone who wishes to build a strong career in the yoga world, then the answer would definitely be ‘Yes’.

But if you are someone who is just looking forward to understanding the basics of yoga in order to increase your indoor yoga practice, then you would not really require to get a yoga certification.

Having said that, there are numerous benefits and merits of gaining a yoga certification and getting educated. Here are some of the reasons why getting a yoga certification is worth your time and money:

• Learn about various yoga styles, yoga poses, pranayama techniques and more to enhance your lifestyle and register personal growth
• Develop interpersonal and communication skills and build strong connections with like-minded individuals
• Have a high-paying career with great goals to achieve in life
• Transform your mental and physical states and change your overall personality
• Get immense respect from health enthusiasts from around the world
• Contribute to a health-conscious world by inspiring people to stay in shape
• Help others understand the significance of yoga and yoga teaching
• Learn how to manage your time and run a class of students
• Explore various areas of fitness

Duration of Yoga Teacher Training Programs

The duration of a yoga teacher training program can vary depending on various factors including yoga program, yoga style, your fitness, and your learning capabilities. It also sometimes depends upon the yoga school you are signing up with. However, here are the duration of various yoga teacher training programs you should be aware of.

 

Course Name	Duration	Contents
Foundation Course	1 Month	Covers the basics of yoga asanas, pranayama and meditation over a period of 4 weeks
100-hour Yoga Teacher Training	10 to 15 Days	The starter program that makes you aware of the yoga world including yoga asanas, yoga teaching, and more
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training	3 to 5 Weeks	Similar to a Bachelor’s Degree, the training focuses on teaching fundamentals about yoga postures, ethics, methodologies, anatomy, and philosophy
300-hour Yoga Teacher Training	5 to 8 Weeks	Delve deeper into advanced yoga asanas and learn in-depth about yoga anatomy and other aspects of yoga
500-hour Yoga Teacher Training	8 to 12 Weeks	Combines the teachings of 200 hour and 300-hour yoga training with specialised workshops
PG Diploma in Yoga Teacher Training	10 to 12 Months	The specialised yoga training program offered at postgraduate level to enhance your in-depth understanding of yoga
Specialised or Master Yoga Training	8 Months to 12 Months	Specialised training on a specific aspect of yoga, whether it is therapy, meditation, or yoga asanas, to help you master it

Factors Influencing the Yoga Teacher Training Duration

As mentioned earlier, there are several factors which are responsible for defining the duration of a yoga teacher training program. So, let’s discuss them and understand how they influence the duration

Yoga Teacher Training Certification Level

There are usually three certification levels for yoga courses and these include: 200-hour yoga TTC, 300 hour yoga TTC, and 500 hour yoga TTC. As 500-hour yoga TTC involves in-depth learning of yoga asanas, yoga anatomy, and other theoretical and practical aspects of yoga in comparison to the other two, it has a more average timeframe for course completion.

Yoga Training Certification Level	Duration
200-hour yoga TTC	3 to 5 weeks
300-hour yoga TTC	5 to 8 weeks
500-hour yoga TTC	8 to 12 weeks

Intensive VS Extended Formats

The duration of a yoga teacher training program also depends upon its intensive and extended formats. While extended programs spread their training over an extra period to manage schedule and bring balance to routine, intensive formats are a bit concentrated and hence, they allow students to complete their training program within a shorter time frame.

But as intensive formats are immersive and focused, students need to have a strong commitment every day. While the case is quite opposite with extended formats as here, students are a bit relaxed and can maintain other commitments in their life.

Types of Yoga Teacher Training

Another factor is the type of yoga teacher training you wish to go with. If you are looking forward to completing a PG diploma in yoga training, then be prepared to dedicate at least 1 year to the training sessions.

As the course is a bit advanced and allows you to delve deeper into all aspects of yoga, you need to have patience to complete it. However, on the other hand, if you are looking for a specialised yoga teacher training, such as Hatha Yoga teacher training or Ashtanga yoga teacher training, then you can complete the course within a few months.

If you are going with 200-hour or 300-hour yoga teacher training, then you can expect to complete the course within 8 weeks.

Online Vs In-Person Yoga Teacher Training

Yes, the mode of learning also matters and hence, it can influence the duration of your training program in many ways. When you opt for online yoga training, you have the flexibility to learn at your own pace. You can have a relaxed schedule as you need to attend just guest lectures and recorded classes. You are free to take assignments as per your convenience.

And this is what makes online yoga teacher training a bit slower. On the other hand, in-person yoga teacher training has a fixed schedule which you need to follow. It is not a self-paced learning program and requires immense dedication and intensive immersion. That’s why in-person yoga teacher training can be completed within a limited time period.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher?

Becoming a certified yoga teacher is quite a journey in itself. The time duration doesn’t only include the timeframe of your yoga teacher training course. There is a specific duration before and after that as well. Wondering how?

Well, you need to start your practice and have first-hand experience with yoga before you enrol in any program. You need to plan a strategy by selecting your yoga style which aligns with your goals.

And once you have completed your yoga training, you need to go through other sets to get your Yoga Alliance certification, get CPR certification, make new contacts, indulge in networking, and more. Hence, it can be said that it takes at least 1 year to become a certified yoga teacher.

Related - How Much Does Yoga Teacher Training Cost?

What Happens After You Become a Yoga Teacher?

Once you have become a yoga teacher, you need to get your certification to start teaching at yoga studios, fitness centres, hospitals, gyms, and other such institutions. Here’s what you can do once you have completed your yoga teacher training:

• Go through evaluation process and get your yoga certification
• Register with Yoga Alliance or relevant organisation
• Teach classes to gain experience and improve skills
• Connect with other yoga teachers and studios for opportunities
• Consider specialising in specific yoga styles
• Create a professional presence online and offline
• Stay updated with new techniques by attending various workshops or courses
• Get liability insurance in order to protect yourself
• Establish a regular teaching schedule