How Long Does 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Take?

Do you want to share your love of yoga with the world? If you’re hoping to become a certified yoga teacher, you’ll need to take a yoga teacher training course and complete at least 200 hours of learning.

Key Points:

  • To become a certified yoga teacher, individuals must complete a 200-hour course at the minimum.
  • Individuals have 3 options when it comes to completing their yoga certification – 200 hours, 300 hours, and 500 hours.
  • Different approaches to completing these courses include taking them in weekend segments, continuously, or through a combination of both.

But how long does a 200-hour course take in weeks or months?

Let’s find out.

How Long Does It Take To Get Yoga Certified?

The amount of time you’ll need to dedicate to your yoga certification program hinges on the program you choose. You have three options: 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour courses.

Each course varies in the level of information, and understanding brought to the table. The 200-hour course is the foundation, and the 500-hour course is the advanced take.

200-Hour Certification

Often viewed as the foundation of yoga certifications, the 200-hour certification program entails 200 hours of dedicated studies. If you want to teach at almost any studio or gym in the United States, you’ll probably need a 200-hour certification, at minimum.

The 200-hour course usually entails three to four weeks of intensive learning, but students may opt to take the course over several weekends. It’s up to you and your schedule. However, some programs may not allow students to split the course into weekends, as it may require full-time attention. If you need the flexibility of weekend learning, look for a course that allows you to split your learning time over weekends.

300-Hour Certification

Like the 200-hour yoga certification course, the 300-hour course takes approximately 300 hours to complete. The training usually takes five to six weeks, but students may split the course into weekends over three to six months.

This course takes things a step up from the 200-hour course, as there’s extra time to delve into various topics. The goal of the 300-hour course is to hone teaching competencies and advance the individual’s knowledge in varying areas.

If you start with the 200-hour class and take the 300-hour class later, you can combine the two to create your 500-hour course and achieve that certification.

500-Hour Certification

The 500-hour YTT program creates an intricate swirl of understanding and knowledge. The class starts with entry-level information before branching into advanced insights, allowing students to get an obscene amount of information in one go.

The intense curriculum is spread over 500 hours, which takes considerably longer to complete than the other two courses. While you can opt to take the entire curriculum in one go, you can also split your learning into sections.

The most popular way to achieve the 500-hour certificate is by taking the 200-hour course, followed by the 300-hour course later down the road. However, students can also take shorter courses that create a cumulative total of 500 hours of learning time.

Yoga Certification Course Approach Options

Yoga Instructor

Once you decide to start your yoga certification course, you usually have a few options for completion: weekends, continuous, and combination.

Of course, some programs require students to take the continuous approach, while others are more lenient with scheduling, so it can vary based on your program. Here are a few of the most common options:

Weekend Approach

Students with tight schedules might opt for the weekend approach, which allows students to take the class over several weekends instead of through the work week. If you have a full-time job that prevents you from taking school during the week, this option can be an excellent choice.

Most classes take six to nine weeks to complete, but it depends on the course you decide to take and the amount of time you devote each weekend.

Continuous Approach

The continuous approach is the most common among yoga schools, so it’s a standard pick for many students. The course wraps the curriculum into a few weeks of intense studies, bringing students through a whirlwind of information and expert knowledge in just a few weeks.

Some schools, like those in tropical locations, provide on-site accommodations that create a retreat-like feel. Students spend the entirety of their training on-site, immersed in the experience. The school often enforces a strict waking schedule to keep students on track and may even observe silence or other rituals that align with the yogic lifestyle.

However, some schools don’t offer this approach, instead requiring students to come on-site for classes only.

Since students don’t take prolonged breaks during the continuous approach, the curriculum wraps up in a few weeks. Generally, the course takes three to seven weeks of training, although the length hinges on the course.

Combination Approach

Some schools offer a combination approach that allows students to get the best of both worlds. Some weeks, classes take place solely on the weekends, leaving your weeks free for other commitments.

Other weeks focus on a continuous learning approach, requiring full-time dedication. Some schools will let you stay on-site during these periods, but it depends on your school.

These courses are more flexible, offering intensive training weeks meshed with weekend training for a more balanced approach. For some folks, these courses are ideal, but for others, they might not work. Generally, these courses take between two and six months to complete, although it varies based on the course.

What Curriculum Does Yoga Teacher Training Include?

Yoga Pose

The curriculum in a yoga teacher training course varies slightly based on the program, but nearly every program shares a few crucial focuses: anatomy and physiology, techniques and training, methodology, and practicum.

These meet the guidelines set by the Yoga Alliance, so once you complete your training, you can tack an RYT (registered yoga teacher) onto the end of your name!

Anatomy And Physiology

As a yoga instructor, it’s essential to understand anatomy and physiology. This part of the course covers basic human anatomy and how the body works, which is incredibly valuable when teaching yoga.

A general understanding of anatomy and physiology is crucial, as it allows you to understand how certain flows and postures impact the body and which body parts should be activated while doing so. In addition to the basics of anatomy and physiology, the course may include a focus on the energy body, including the nadis and the chakras.

Techniques And Training

This aspect of the yoga curriculum encompasses the physical yoga asana. The spotlight varies, focusing on hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, restorative yoga, ashtanga, and more. In this part of your education, you’ll learn the Sanskrit name of each pose, plus its common western name.

You’ll learn about the physical and emotional benefits of each pose and sequence, diving into the specifics of how each posture benefits the body and mind. In addition, this section usually includes techniques for pranayama courses, such as kriyas, mantras, meditation, and chanting.

Methodology

As you make your way into the world as a yoga teacher, you’ll probably fall back on the curriculum you learned through the methodology section of the course. This part of the course outlines the why and how of creating sequences for your yoga classes.

While anyone can combine a sequence of yoga moves to create a sequence, it takes skill and knowledge to create a smooth, sensible, beautifully flowing sequence. The know-how is the difference between a 90-minute vinyasa class that bumps along and one that smoothly flies by. So, this is where you’ll learn how to create sequences.

On top of that, you’ll learn about the business aspects of yoga, which are highly beneficial for those interested in opening their own studios.

Practicum

Last but not least, practicum! While many students warily regard the practicum part of the training course, it’s not as bad as they might think! This part of the course allows you to display your newly acquired experience by teaching yoga in front of your classmates.

You get the opportunity to let your creative sequences out, receiving feedback on your teaching skills and approach. You and your classmates spend hours observing, teaching, giving feedback, receiving feedback, and repeating the cycle.

For a new yoga teacher, this experience is invaluable. It gives you a chance to start your teaching journey in a supportive environment with genuine feedback from your peers and instructors, allowing you to hone your skills before you bring them to your studio.

How Much Does 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Cost?

On average, a 200-hour yoga teacher training course costs between $500 and $3,000. The drastic price range is due to the variation in programs, as some are more involved than others. For example, an online training course is usually considerably less expensive than an in-person, on-site, learning-intensive yoga course.

Find more about yoga teacher training costs here.

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