The 200 hour program sets a strong foundation for your future yoga knowledge. Choosing the right program is essential—you want instructors you trust and who are credible. You’ll learn the basics, deepen your practice, and build a network of fellow yogis who are on the same mission. Here are some things to consider:
Online vs. In-Person
Not all 200 hour yoga teacher training programs are the same (especially online). Trainings can be completed locally at a studio or online, the latter growing increasingly popular. Your choice depends on your learning style, schedule, and personal goals.
Benefits of an In-Person YTT:
- Hands-on assists in real time
- Having a designated space to practice
- Getting the essence of a true yoga studio
- Meeting fellow students face-to-face
- Staying accountable to your studies
Benefits of an Online YTT:
- Move at your own pace
- Access materials anytime, anywhere
- Gain digital literacy for online teaching
- Immediate access to extensive resources
- Generally more affordable than in-person options
Any 200-hour yoga teacher training is a truly immersive experience, often times reaching far beyond just your physical practice. A yoga teacher training program equips you for teaching while also refining your personal practice. While no official license is required to teach yoga, certification ensures you have studied both the practice and safety of yoga, which is essential for leading confident, fulfilling classes. After completing 200 hours, you can continue with advanced training or specialized areas like prenatal yoga, kids yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga, or meditation/mindfulness and so much more.
In a 200 hour yoga teacher training, you’ll learn a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including:
- Yoga philosophy and history
- Teaching methodology
- Anatomy and physiology for safe practice
- Class sequencing and structure
- Meditation and pranayama techniques
- Chakra therapy and energetic alignment
- Adjustments and modifications
- Yoga business and marketing basics
A 200 hour training is intensive, whether online or in-person. You’ll engage in lectures, workshops, practical teaching exercises, and personal practice. The program emphasizes both personal growth and professional development, giving you confidence to lead classes and share your love of yoga effectively.
Learning the Lingo
You’re probably wondering what “ytt” stands for. At least I did when I first started publishing pieces about the yoga practice. This acronym, I noticed, was also placed after numbers often. I started to ask the yoga teachers around me, “What does E-RYT 500 mean?” and, “What is 200 hour versus 300 hour versus 500 hour?” Here’s what I learned…
- YTT stands for Yoga Teacher Training.
- A 200 Hour YTT is the first certification along your journey. A 200 hour ytt sets you up with the foundation of a strong understanding of the ancient practice. In a 200 hour yoga teacher training, you will most likely learn about the physical practice (yoga asana), ancient yogic texts (the yoga sutras), Ayurveda (a relative science to yoga), and other branches and elements within the yogic sphere. This varies from training to training, but most yoga teacher trainings will at least touch on these subjects.
- A 300 Hour YTT is a continuation of your 200 hour studies. A 300 hour yoga teacher training builds upon the 200 hours to fully certify you at the maximum amount of hours, 500. A more in-depth look at the practice is what the 300 hour is for, and you’ll usually go a layer deeper into anatomical phrasing, further into Ayurveda and how it intertwines with yoga, and learn more about how this practice made it ways over to the west. It’s not always a continuation of a 200 hour yoga teacher training, but a 200 hour yoga teacher training is recommended before enrolling – however you complete the hours is up to you.
- A 500 Hour YTT is the final amount of hours necessary to register through Yoga Alliance as a RYT 500. If you continue to enroll in more trainings (i.e. specialized trainings in the different “genres” of yoga such as: restorative, yin, Hatha, Yoga Nidra) your hours will count towards being an E-RYT 500. However, you can only obtain the status of E-RYT if you continue to have 2,000 hours of experience teaching yoga.
How Long Does it Take to Complete a 200 Hour YTT?
Typically, a 200 hour YTT can be completed over several weekends or a few months, depending on the program format. Online programs, like YogaRenew, allow you to study at your own pace, providing resources, mentorship, and virtual support as needed.
Topics covered in our online yoga teacher training:
- Philosophy
- Anatomy
- Asana
- Pranayama
- Meditation
- Business of Yoga/Yoga Marketing
- Teaching tips
- Sequencing
- Practicing yoga beyond the mat
- The Chakras
- Different styles of yoga
What does a 200 hour ytt typically look like?
Well, for starters, you must complete 200 hours of yoga. This is typically broken up through modules on the weekend days (given most modern day people have jobs they tend to throughout the week). Usually, the different topics throughout the training are segmented into different weekends. For example, the first weekend may take a look at yoga asana, the physical practice. In this module, you’ll probably be responsible for looking at the poses and determining where the alignment and structure of the pose come from. Depending on which lineage you choose to study (Iyengar, Jivamukti, Bikram, Ashtanga, etc.), you’ll learn the foundations of the poses, their Sanskrit names and meanings, and what to focus on physically when teaching classes (or even taking classes – completing a 200 hour ytt can be solely to advance your personal yoga practice and not to even teach at all).
Throughout the training you’ll advance through other aspects of the yoga practice and learn about the eight-limbed path (depending on which lineage your training comes from). Usually each weekend will be dedicated to a different subject matter and within those subjects lies more granular topics. There will be space to ask questions, perform the physical parts of the practice and homework will typically be assigned. The homework will have to be done in your own time, and most programs will assign you a mentor who will check over your work and make sure you are on track/grasping the concepts.
What does a 200 hour graduation look & feel like?
Every 200 hour yoga teacher training will look and feel different — but the journey is the same. The path towards understanding yoga, its roots and the many avenues it spans across is truly a gift and each studio/online yoga program will treat that in their own special way.
I’ve seen huge celebrations with tons of flowers and incense and comfortable meditation pillows. I’ve seen online certifications with warm language centered around the program they’ve completed and a repost to LinkedIn on how they plan to share their studies and learnings. All in all, the way you celebrate this huge accomplishment deeply personal, but also part of a strong community. It is imperative to find a way to honor both as you set out into the world with your new insights and profound knowledge.
5 Things to Ask Yourself Before Enrolling in a 200 Hour YTT
1. How much time do I have to dedicate to being in school again?
It’s important to know your daily routine… even if you’re not a routine person. Having a good understanding of your schedule and your personal time management will help you decide where you can allot time for learning. While online yoga teacher training tends to be more flexible because you don’t have to include travel time, it’s still crucial to figure out where you can carve out the time.
Yoga students just starting their journey towards becoming a certified yoga instructor usually begin with a 200 hour training course. This is the baseline course and allows you to explore what time management might look like for you. After a 200 hour certification, you can build upon it and move to 300 and 500 hour.
Look into calculating when you’d like to be certified, then determine how many hours a week you can dedicate to practicing and learning. Organizing and planning out your yoga schedule and seeing how it fits with other aspects of your life (hours-wise) will make it easier to see how much time you realistically have to put towards enrolling in school again.
2. How much do yoga teacher trainings typically cost?
Enrolling in an online yoga teacher training course tends to be more cost-efficient. You don’t have the added fees that come with being in and commuting to a physical studio. Completing your yoga teacher training online also provides the added benefits of virtual learning materials (i.e. Zoom meetings, downloadable PDFs and collaborative documents online). Online yoga teacher trainings also offer promos and deals to attract students to committing to an online program versus a physical program.
You should commit to purchasing items necessary for the course if you don’t already have the basics. Here are the average costs of yoga items you may need for your teacher training course:
- Yoga blocks: $10-$40
- Yoga mats: $30-$100
- Yoga blankets: $40-$60
- Clothing & gear: $15-$200
Not all of these items are necessary; as long as you have stretchy, breathable clothes and a mat and blocks, I’d say you’re more than prepared for a 200 hour yoga teacher training program.
Yoga teacher trainings can be expensive, but why?
A lot goes into a fully baked yoga teacher training, and to put it simply: You need to pay the teachers in the training for their time and wisdom. The price of a yoga teacher training is usually dictated by the quality of the training and the overhead it costs to stack up a fire staff to teach you about each respective area they are an expert in.
Over the pandemic, yoga teacher trainings became popular online (hello, us!) and some of that accessibility has remained. Though not ideal if you’re really looking forward to hands on adjustments and physical assistance throughout your learnings, an online yoga teacher training still gives you all of the benefits of an in person training at a fraction of the cost (because the teachings are recorded).
Other costs that are factored into the training (online or in-person):
- Physical handouts & items to track your work — Sometimes the school will gift you with a binder full of information. The binder will house important info and act as a calendar to move through the modules, annotating anything you find important.
- Special workshops — You’ll have access to fellow teachers who the leader of the ytt thought were imperative to your learning and potential networking
- General maintenance of the studio & access to props — The yoga studio becomes your home, and that home usually comes with yoga mats, bolsters, blocks and other items necessary to learning about the yoga asana practice
- General maintenance of digital course materials — A lot of online yoga teacher training platforms will continue to improve their training material. They will assess what works well & what doesn’t and find ways to cater to the yogi student in the best ways possible.
3. Why do I want to become certified in yoga?
What inspired you to take this journey? A lot of people believe that a yoga certification is just simply something good to have – they have been passionate about yoga and see a certification as a way to engage deeper with the meaning of why they practice yoga. Other people are on their path towards owning their own studio. Whatever your reason is for enrolling, make sure that it comes with purpose.
A 200 hour yoga teacher training is the perfect place to start. Through a 200HR YTT, you can determine how far you want to take your yoga journey. Just like any other school, there is always more to learn. A yoga certification is always a good thing to have if your passion for yoga is something that will always be a part of your life.
4. What are the topics covered in most 200 hour yoga teacher training programs?
Practicing regularly will obviously enhance your flexibility, movements, flow, etc. But enrolling in a 200HR YTT will give you the educational aspects that will assist you in developing classes and deepening your understanding of the history of yoga. Most 200HR YTT include all of the basics:
- Breathwork
- The history of yoga
- Basic yoga poses
- Meditation
- Anatomy
- Sequencing
- The 7 Chakras
5. Once I complete the training, can I teach yoga classes?
Yes. When you commit to a 200 hour yoga teacher training, you will be well on your way towards fulfilling most, if not all, of your yoga dreams. A 200 hour course is the perfect way to get serious about your yoga teacher certification goals and determine what types of materials and teachings would be best for your very own class.
How to Use a 200 Hour Yoga Certification
After completing your 200-hour certification, you can begin teaching in studios, gyms, or online. Many graduates also continue with advanced trainings to specialize or deepen their knowledge. Certification demonstrates your expertise and dedication, helping you build credibility as a yoga teacher and reach a wider audience.
The 200-hour standard was established to ensure teachers have a solid foundation before instructing students. Programs certified by Yoga Alliance maintain high-quality standards, emphasizing both traditional yoga knowledge and modern teaching methods. Today, 200 hours remains the benchmark for entry-level certification worldwide.
Completing a 200-hour YTT is transformative. You’ll emerge equipped with practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and the confidence to lead yoga classes. At YogaRenew, we provide the tools, mentorship, and support to help you succeed. Our program aligns with Yoga Alliance standards, allowing graduates to become Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) and obtain certification recognized globally.
For guidance on insurance and teaching safely, explore our detailed article: How to Become a Yoga Instructor.
Benefits of Enrolling in a Yoga Teacher Training
What brings anyone to do anything? Usually, general interest, right? Or is it that we seek fulfillment? Maybe it’s for the sheer fact that something random piqued our interest and it seemed attainable…
Usually when people decide to step into their 200 hour yoga teacher training, it’s by some random bit of fate — literally the right place at the right time.
Whatever your reason, here are the top three reasons (in our opinion):
Your learnings will translate off the mat & into your daily life
The things you learn in a yoga teacher training course stretch beyond the mat and into everyday life. You’ll not only learn all the major poses, but you’ll also learns what it actually means to be living in the present moment (and how to be conscious of it).
Your learnings inside your training can span beyond just the physical practice, creating space for you to find peace within yourself (a feat that not too many feel comfortable coming to terms with). Some of these teachings may even spill onto the relationships you’ve cultivated in a healthy way; a more patient you can make for a more patient and peaceful circle of people around you. They say, “If you want to change the world, you must start with yourself.”
It’s a great workout for your body and mind
On a basic level, yoga serves as an excellent form of exercise. A lot of times, this is what initially brings people to at least try yoga — they want to be more flexible, they want to touch their toes, they want to have more mobility in their shoulders to crush it on the tennis courts, etc.
One of the most transformative benefits of practicing yoga is the fact that it bridges the connection between the body and the mind, fluidly. You may have never thought of it this way before, but the breath is the one thing we do actively when we are awake and subconsciously when we are asleep. It is the one thing that we do both consciously and unconsciously and plays an integral role in the yoga practice.
You’ll find a community of like-minded individuals
A 200 hour yoga certification can also lead to valuable personal and professional connections. Regardless of whether you’re looking for new friends or are interested in networking opportunities, yoga training is an excellent setting to form such connections. There are many tales of yogis who go on to make lifelong connections from their teacher trainings, remembering their teachers/mentors along the way and the knowledge they provided them with.
It’s hard to encapsulate the feeling and speak on behalf of everyone who embarks in their 200 hour journey, but this much we know is true: the experience is more delightful than it is painful and the enlightenment that we achieve brings us that much closer to existential bliss.
It might change your life entirely; you can live a life of longevity
A 200 hour yoga teacher training is the first step toward a journey inward. While you’ll meet some incredible people along the way, it is always for you. We always encourage yogis to do their research before deciding where to enroll in their YTT, and usually it tends to be at a studio they are loyal to. However, in recent years, it’s become increasingly popular to enroll in a yoga teacher training online. Both options will provide you with all the information necessary and any good online platform will offer the support, look and feel of an in-studio teacher training.
Here at YogaRenew, we adhered to the qualifications necessary to be a Registered Yoga School (RYS®) with Yoga Alliance. This means that if you choose to enroll in any of our trainings or courses, you will receive Yoga Alliance accreditation. Be mindful when deciding where to complete your yoga teacher training as this extra layer of accreditation can help speak to the validity of the information you’re learning and teaching.
Will I regret taking a yoga teacher training?
To put it simply: You’ll never regret taking a 200 hour yoga teacher training. We’ve had thousands of students all over the world, and some of them don’t even start the program until they’ve had it for a bit, but one commonality we find is that no one ever completes the studies and says, “Wow, I wish I never learned all of this quality information about yoga.”
Chances are, if you’re a dedicated practitioner, or even slightly interested in furthering your yoga practice, there will be at least something you will take away from enrolling in a training. The amount of information that is covered spans out far across the landscape of yoga, and you may even find that a lot of the material can assist other aspects of life. Whether it’s a deeper appreciation for meditation or a better understand of how your bones work and function in your body, a yoga teacher training will give you that insight. From there, you can choose what you do with that information.
I’ve completed my 200 hour ytt journey, now what?
The choice is yours! Either continue on to a 300 hour training to obtain your RYT 500 or take some time to ruminate in your learnings. You can look into specialized trainings in the areas that ignited something in you and sparked a specific interest, or you could let everything from your 200 hour marinate and let that be enough for your yogic journey.
If you are trying to become a teacher — look for places to teach! Having a 200 hour certification is a great way to get started leading classes. You’ve learned an immense amount about the practice, and there are so many veins within the “yoga umbrella” that are sure to find something that resonates. Overall, let yourself be proud of your accomplishment ~ you’ve accumulated 200 great hours of one of the world’s most ancient studies! That is something to be happy with.
Finding the right online yoga teacher training can be quite a cumbersome task. Be sure to do your research and make sure the school has everything you are looking for and you feel comfortable with the curriculum. At YogaRenew, we offer online yoga teacher trainings and courses that explore many different branches of yoga, meditation and more.
