If you are thinking of becoming a yoga teacher, you may be wondering whether it is important or not to become certified, and perhaps who grants the certification.

The Yoga Alliance was established in 1999 to recognize and promote teachers with basic and advanced trainings that meet their minimum training standards. The Alliance is a non-profit organization with an emphasis on mutual respect, sensitivity and support of the many different approaches to yoga.

To be a certified teacher, you must complete at least 200 hours of education in techniques, teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, and practicum as well as yoga philosophy and ethics for yoga teachers.

How do you know which yoga teacher training programs are certified? Yoga Alliance maintains a Registry of Yoga Schools to recognize yoga teacher training programs of at least 200 or 500 hours. Registered schools must satisfy or exceed Yoga Alliance’s minimum training standards.

By choosing a yoga teacher training program that is registered with Yoga Alliance, you will receive training in the minimum training standards set by the Alliance. (Just to note we are registered with the Yoga Alliance). After successfully completing the program, you can then promote yourself as a teacher that has been certified with an excellent yoga education.

After you are certified, you may choose to register with Yoga Alliance. As teachers progress in their careers, Yoga Alliance continues to recognize the significant milestones in education and experience. Designations are at the 200 hour and 500 hour levels of study and teaching experience.

More and more people are choosing yoga to improve the quality of life, and yoga is included in many organizations’ wellness and fitness programs. Teachers that are certified help take the guess work out of hiring a yoga teacher.

As a teacher you will find it quite fulfilling as students experience benefits such as stress relief, more flexibility, and inner peace.

To find out more about our Yoga Teacher Training click here.