Did you know, that for roughly the same price as some online trainings, you can join our Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher Training at an all-inclusive resort in Bali or Costa Rica?
East+West brings together master level yoga teachers from India to teach with leading Western teachers creating a truly life-changing experience. See why LA Yoga Magazine called East+West the:
During the Covid-19 crisis, the Yoga Alliance has made a special provision for yoga certifications to be completed online. You can now get the exact same Yoga Alliance Registration you’d receive on an in-person training 100% online. Yes, that’s right! Yoga teachers all over the world are jumping on this trend in record numbers, and online yoga teacher training continues to improve in both quality and quantity.
Below is some helpful information to guide you in finding the right online yoga teacher training program.
First…BEWARE searching for a yoga teacher certification online via Google…
Doing yoga teacher training is a sacred endeavor, and as teacher trainers ourselves, we feel a responsibility to bring this to your awareness. Please be aware that the online yoga teacher training courses you find on Google articles titled “Best Online Yoga Teacher Training” are not all objectively verified schools. Online Yoga Schools pay these sites to be featured in these articles. It’s not like this is some evil conspiracy, but it’s simply something to be aware of in your search. In our experience, the best yoga teacher training is not from schools with the most marketing dollars, but the ones with teachers and staff deeply dedicated to embodying yoga.
Online yoga certification Schools pay significantly to be placed on the top-ranking Google lists, as much as $100,000 per month! I’ve attached screenshots below just to show you what I’m talking about. I’m not talking about just one of these articles, I’m talking about all of them. So please be aware that this isn’t really the best way to determine its quality. Oftentimes the best schools are the lesser-known ones that don’t have huge marketing budgets. We wrote this article to share an unbiased evaluation of quality online teacher training free from the shackles of big business.
How to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher Online…
There are so, so many misperceptions about the process of becoming a certified yoga instructor.
First of all, there is no legal certification required to become a yoga teacher anywhere on Earth. Yoga is an “open profession” which means it’s unregulated. The law in most countries looks at it exactly the same as a life coach or health coach. That means that certification is not legally required to teach. Anyone who can convince students to stand in front of them can legally teach yoga.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not helpful or even necessary to do teacher training. The main reason you want to do yoga training is that any studio you walk into is first going to ask you if you have a 200-hour certification or equivalent. The 200-hour yoga teacher training certification is a professional (not a legal) requirement. There are of course many exceptions to this, as many great teachers are able to prove their value as teachers just by their presence and their previous study. Overall for the vast majority of students, getting a 200-hour certification will be a requirement for any job at a yoga studio.
Do I need to do a Yoga Alliance Certified Online Yoga Teacher Training?
This is another misperception, that the Yoga Alliance is a certification body. The Yoga Alliance is not a certifying body, but an online registry of yoga teachers. That’s a significant distinction. Yoga Alliance does not verify the quality of their teacher, nor do they take any significant measures to verify their training entry qualifications are being maintained.
In my experience, any studio I’ve ever walked into accepts any 200-hour training as a valid certification, regardless of if it’s certified by the Yoga Alliance. In 2020, the yoga industry has largely woken up to the fact that the Yoga Alliance is not required, or even particularly helpful to the process of becoming a certified teacher. In short, the Yoga Alliance is NOT required in almost all circumstances to teach yoga.
How We Evaluated Yoga Schools For This List:
As yoga teachers ourselves, we wanted to curate a selection of training you likely won’t find while searching on Google. These are some of the best & most influential teachers in the US. Many of these are “godmothers” and “godfathers” of yoga, direct descendants of the great Indian masters who first came to the West.
Together, our team of teacher trainers came up with a list of key characteristics for a quality teacher training program. In so doing, we arrived at a list of ten of the most well-rounded, highly regarded 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training programs. Below are a few things to look for when researching yoga schools and online programs:
Our yoga teacher trainers went through and selected all these online yoga teacher training programs from the hundreds of options as the ones we feel should be put forward as the best. We largely considered the following as the most important aspects of the program:
1. Teacher Experience
There’s HUGE variability in the experience level of yoga instructors who lead yoga certification courses, particularly in the online space, as anyone can legally run a yoga teacher training regardless of their experience level. So we took the time to add an extra layer of vetting to the programs we put on here. We feel great yoga teacher certification teams are made up of multiple team members who can give students different approaches and bring different skills to the table.
2. Program Design
As a new student, it can be hard to truly grasp what makes a good program. Admittedly, there is an art to spotting a good program. For us, a great program design means it’s well-considered, well-tested, and very CLEAR about what the program is about. In truth, you can’t cover everything in a 200-hour introductory teacher training, so it’s essential that a great program design is clear on what they are and are not offering.
3. Integrity & Authenticity
We are inclined to favor programs that honor the traditions and ancient teachings of yoga, rather than turning it into a physical fitness practice. We believe this is one of the primary responsibilities of yoga teacher trainers, to introduce students to this beautiful, ancient, transformative history of yoga.
What separates good from GREAT certifications?
Our group of teachers has now run 7 full programs online since Covid started, and we’ve definitely developed some great insights into what makes a great online yoga teacher training. we’ll give you some of our best guidance toward important considerations, and programs to do your 200-hour YTT online.
Many of our students who initially signed up to train with us in person were hesitant to do their certification online because they didn’t feel they’d receive the same level of instruction as they would on an in-person teacher training. They also feared they would miss out on the community bonding aspect of teacher training, which is so crucial to the experience overall.
Frankly, this was our concern also when COVID started and we began running training. We were downright resistant to the idea of running a sacred teacher training online. However, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the level of teachers we’ve been able to train thus far, but more importantly, the way the groups have been able to bond in our training. There are adjustments we’ve had to make, and a few subjects (like hands-on adjusting) that are simply harder to cover. But by and large, our groups have been enormously successful.
The difference between good online yoga training, and a GREAT one, is the dedication and togetherness of the teachers and team. Teacher training should not be repetitive, or run on rigid principles, they should be run as a unique and sacred group endeavor to journey together.
Our #1 tip for doing online teacher training is…
Choose a program run LIVE Online via Zoom or Skype. It’s hard to overstate the importance of this.
Training that runs on a recorded loop tends to be stagnant and heady. It’s important to understand that yoga is different from other subjects. It’s not an intellectual pursuit; it’s a life journey. If you’re trying to do a yoga teacher training online on recorded videos, you risk missing the real juice of yoga.
When you do a LIVE online teacher training, you do actually feel the connection to the group. You do feel the presence of your teacher trainers. You do get to ask questions and get your unique body worked on. Recordings can be useful to cover certain topics, but teacher training is not just about receiving information, it’s about the journey that you go on with your fellow students and with your guides.
Live teacher training tends to be more important, but they are 100% worth it. This seems like a small point, but it makes all the difference in the world as you go on your journey. If you see schools that are less than $500, it’s likely they are all 100% recorded.
What is it like doing Yoga Teacher Training Online:
First of all, it’s important to keep in mind your first yoga training is just a foundational experience, meaning you’ll likely do many, many more continued yoga education throughout your life. The important thing in your initial 200-hour is to set strong foundations for your practice, get clear about what yoga is, and get established in a great support community as you continue to grow.
Doing a 200-hour online will vary depending on the specific program, but will generally include portions of the following subjects, as outlined by the Yoga Alliance Standards:
- Correct and safe way to perform Yoga Asanas
- Yoga Philosophy
- Basics of Yoga Anatomy
- Basics of Meditation
- Creating a regular yoga practice
- Business of Yoga & ethical considerations of Being a yoga teacher.
With an online yoga teacher training schedule, you’ll usually have between 60 minutes – 3 hours of class a day. With most schools, you’ll be studying on a part-time basis. For most students, the first couple of weeks tends to be about just relaxing their nervous system, and establishing a regular routine of yoga. This can be a bit of a challenge in the beginning, but usually by weeks 2-3 your body will be conditioned and ready to go.
After the first 2-3 weeks, you’ll continue to move deeper and deeper into the process. Most of our students see a HUGE transformations in many unexpected areas of their life. They often report being totally shocked by how much their lives change while doing the yoga teacher training online. It’s hard to pinpoint specifically what it is that makes teacher training so transformative, but by my estimation, it’s some combination of the healthy physical movement, the positive group atmosphere, the realignment of life according to Yoga Philosophy, and the guidance and space holding of your teachers.
Advantages of doing Yoga Teacher Training Online:
Many people think that doing yoga certification training online is going to be a “lesser” experience when compared to training in person. That’s not necessarily the case, in our experience. The online teacher training is just different. Some things to consider:
1. Usually, when searching for teacher training, you only have the options available to you locally. That might be only a small handful of studios. Now, with almost every yoga teacher moving onto Zoom yoga, you have access to literally any teacher in the entire world to train with. That’s a HUGE revolution that gives you as students access to some of the best teacher trainers in the world.
2. We actually find many subjects are better taught online. That may sound surprising. But actually, the teachers we train online tend to be MORE prepared than the teacher we train in person because we have more time. On online yoga teacher training, you have space between classes and you can practice teaching on your own time in a way you simply cannot on intensive yoga teacher training. Our students tend to get 50+ hours of practice teaching in the online format, and it might be only 30-40 in person.
3. You can do everything on your own schedule. We can’t tell you how nice it is to have students in the class who are also working full-time jobs or studying. The online format, it makes it possible to do this even when you are working full-time.
Disadvantages of Online Yoga Teacher Training:
1. There are a few subjects that are a little harder to cover online. Primarily we find alignments and hands-on adjustments are harder to teach online. It’s just simply harder to check every posture correctly in great detail online. However, contrary to many students’ beliefs this isn’t the most relevant aspect of being a yoga teacher and is far from the most important thing you will learn in teacher training. Your 200-hour training is about entering this beautiful, sacred path of wisdom and setting foundations for how you will live and practice for the rest of your life.
2. Group connection. One of the best aspects of in-person training is the community connection. All those juicy, emotional moments of bonding with your classmates. If you do a RECORDED online yoga teacher training, you will certainly not get that. Our recommendation is to consider doing one of the LIVE training options. For example on our 200-hour online yoga teacher training, students connect outside of class via a WhatsApp group. It’s difficult to explain how much community and love is shared, but you can maybe get a taste of it by watching this video:
10 Of The Best Online Yoga Teacher Certifications
Our team took a lot of time to put this list together. Again, unlike the rest of the entire first page of Google results, we do not accept any payment to be listed here. We wanted to provide this to students simply because we value the responsibility of guiding students toward great online yoga teacher training programs.
1. SADHANA TEACHER TRAINING With Janet Stone
For those looking to explore yoga as a living practice, on and off the mat
Website: https://janetstoneyoga.com/
Cost: $2,388 (payment plans, sliding scale options, and scholarships available)
Program Length: 10 months
Yoga Style/Tradition: Bhakti, Vinyasa
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): This training offers a combination of pre-recorded modules, virtual practices, and live sessions with Janet and guest teachers and musicians.
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Philosophical perspectives of the 8-limbed path
- Foundational anatomy & alignment based upon both anatomy and energetic connection
- In-depth study of vinyasa, slow flow, and restorative techniques
- Sequencing as story-telling
- Teaching from your own personal practice
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special:
Janet is everything a student could want in a yoga teacher and spiritual guide. She’s lesser known in the online ether but is a legend in California. We believe that in order to be a great teacher you must be steeped in your own personal practice (Sadhana). Janet Stone’s training focuses on this idea perhaps more than any other foundational training out there. This training is broken up into six modules that all relate to personal practice and how to embody these teachings so that they can be shared authentically. The course also brings in guest teachers such as anatomy expert, Harvey Deutch, and musicians to add to the Bhakti experience Janet is known for. This training invites students to live the practice of yoga and to apply the teachings to their everyday lives.
2. RADIANT BODY YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION With Kia Miller
For those looking to apply the roots of yoga to modern-day life
Website: https://www.kiamiller.com/
Cost: $3,200 (payment plans available)
Program Length: There are 2 tracks you can choose from: The Live Immersive Track (6 weeks total) or the Extended Track for “weekend warriors” (12 weeks total)
Yoga Style/Tradition: Hatha, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Yoga Nidra
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): This training offers a mix of pre-recorded content, online e-manuals, discussions, and live training.
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Safe and thoughtful Vinyasa sequencing
- The science and practice of Kriya and the mantra
- Pranayama and meditation techniques
- Trauma-based practices and Inclusivity
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special:
It won’t take you long to start absolutely idolizing Kia Miller. Another legend of the California Yoga world, Kia Miller is known for her ability to weave the traditional practices of Yoga with modern Vinyasa and Kundalini. As a result, this training offers students a well-rounded understanding of the roots of yoga and how to apply these teachings in today’s world. The mix of teachers also offers students the opportunity to explore yoga as a practice far beyond the mat, which we believe is an important teaching in itself.
Her training are a great mix of East & West, and she and her team do just about everything at the highest level. Kia is a perfect role model for new students who will be in your life for a long, long time.
You can get to know Kia from her classes on YogaGlo.
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3. PRAJNA YOGA 200-HOUR Online Yoga Certification With Tias Little
For the more experienced student eager to embody the teachings of yoga.
Website:https://www.prajnayoga.com/
Cost: $2,550-$2,850
Program Length: 3 months
Yoga Style/Tradition:
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): Live sessions with recordings available
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Yoga Anatomy
- Nadis, Chinese Medicine Meridians and Chakras
- The Eightfold Path of the Buddhist Teachings
- Mindfulness Meditation
- The Yoga Sutras & Yoga Philosophy
- Yin, Restorative, and Intro to SATYA
- Understanding trauma and the brain
- Sequencing, Props, Conducting a Class
- Women’s Health & Yoga
- The Language of Yoga (Sanskrit)
Why we chose this training& what makes it special:
Tias is the legendary author of the famous book Yoga of the Subtle Body.
This is a unique training that requires that all students have at least two years of experience practicing yoga. Tias is a true master who brings together multiple disciplines ranging from classical Hatha yoga to Chinese medicine and Buddhist practices to yoga therapy. He is also the founder of SATYA, a somatic awareness practice similar to Yin. This training is special because it is atypical. It is for the student looking to delve into self-inquiry and explore the more subtle layers of the body-mind connection. We believe this is a more “advanced” foundational training that goes beyond preparing students to become teachers; it is life training for embodied wisdom.
4. AWAKEN THE TEACHER ONLINE YTT With Noah Mazé and Rocky Heron
For those looking to become a skillful, thoughtful, and confident teacher.
Cost: $1,899 (payment plans available)
Program Length: 3 months (14 weeks)
Yoga Style/Tradition: Vinyasa
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): Pre-recorded classes and lectures with opportunities for live “office hours” with Noah and Rocky
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Detailed alignment and anatomy knowledge
- Applied biomechanics and Kinesiology
- Therapeutics
- Intelligent Vinyasa sequencing
- Yoga Philosophy and Mythology
- Leadership skills and inclusivity
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special:
Noah Mazé, the founder of The Mazé Method, is known for his precise and detailed understanding of the body and how to bring anatomy and biomechanics to life in the yoga practice. Together, he and Rocky create an environment for learning and developing tools to be a skillful, confident, and thoughtful teacher for all. In our opinion, this training is one of the most comprehensive and precise programs when it comes to understanding the human body and how to apply this knowledge as a teacher of yoga.
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5. YOGA SHANTI 200-HOUR Teacher Certification With Rodney Yee & Colleen Saidman Yee
A teacher training for those looking to embrace the traditional roots of yoga and apply the teachings to everyday life
Website: https://www.colleensaidmanyee.com/
Cost: $2,660
Program Length: 2.5 months
Yoga Style/Tradition: Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): Live sessions with recordings available
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Anatomy and Alignment
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Asana, Pranayama and Meditation
- Individual attention and mentorship are available
- Sequencing and Adjustments
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special:
Aside from the opportunity to study with these senior teachers, this training offers a deep dive into all things yoga. The program begins with a 5-day intensive and includes live classes and discussions throughout the 2.5 months. Upon graduating from this program you will have learned how to guide Shanti-style signature classes and have a deeper understanding of how to apply the teachings in everyday life.
6. SANTOSHA ONLINE YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION
Santosha’s Online Yoga Teacher Certification offers you comprehensive online training for a fraction of the price of a regular YTT, giving you a fusion of Classical Yoga, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Krama Yoga, and Iyengar poses woven together by a unique blend of vinyasa flow. The experience of the training is aimed at enabling students with all the knowledge and tools they need to become ethical teachers while providing the confidence necessary to teach yoga skillfully.
Important to note that although this is a 200 hr training, it is not acknowledged by the Yoga Alliance for registration purposes. A course is a convenient option for anyone with time constraints, giving you the option to begin learning from the comfort of your home within a 12-month period at the start and end date of your choice.
Training covers a range of techniques including asana, pranayama, mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques. Lessons also delve into teaching methodology using principles of demonstration, assisting, teaching styles, and qualities of a yoga teacher as well as the business of yoga.
Core modules include anatomy, yoga philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics. Practicum and asana require students to attend yoga workshops of their choice and practice teaching their family and friends. A video of the student teaching a yoga class is then submitted for assessment. Each module contains checklists that need to be completed before moving on with 1) the final open book exam at the end of the course, 2) a journal of your Asana, Meditation, and Pranayama Yoga Practice, and 3) a final video of you teaching a yoga class at home or in a studio.
Two 2 hour Skype sessions with one of Santosha’s senior teachers are included to assist you with developing your own Asana, Mediation, and Pranayama practice, as well as a Q and A session.
Website: https://santoshayogainstitute.edu.au/online-yoga-training/level-1-ytt-200-online/
Cost: $1,750 USD (payment plans available)
Program Length: 24 days with flexibility
Yoga Style/Tradition: Vinyasa
Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): Live sessions, recorded videos & downloadable course material
Yoga Alliance Approved: Yes
Key Focal Points:
- Personalized daily yoga practice
- Building Confidence as a Teacher
- Sequencing and alignment
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special:
This is a flexible program that can be taken as an intensive or at your own pace. With a wide variety of pre-recorded course material and downloadable information mixed with live sessions, you’ll have a team supporting you every step of the way. One perk is that you get a free week at the studio upon completion of the program
7. SOUL ASCENSION 200-HOUR ONLINE YOGA TRAINING
SAHA’s online teacher training is for anyone wanting to deepen their practice but lives remotely or has a very busy schedule. SAHA is a Registered Yoga School through the Yoga Alliance. After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate that will allow you to teach anywhere in the world as a certified teacher but if you wish to officially register with the Yoga Alliance you will need to join in person for approximately one week of teaching to fulfill the Yoga Alliance’s requirements of contact hours.
The course is broken down into 30 lessons and evaluation will be done with work assignments during the course and one final exam. The entire online teacher training can be purchased for as little as $888 and SAHA allows you to apply the full cost of your online teacher training towards any of their live training or retreats.
- Time Commitment: 3-12 Months
- Price: $888 USD
- Website: http://www.soulascensionhealingarts.com
- Yoga style: Hatha
- NOT Yoga Alliance Approved
8. HEART OF YOGA ONLINE TRAINING With Mark Whitwell
A teacher training for those looking to integrate the essence of personal practice
- Website https://www.heartofyoga.com/
- Cost: $700 USD
- Program Length: Self-paced, broken into 3 modules
- Yoga Style/Tradition: Hatha
- Structure of Training (Live/Recorded): Pre-recorded
- Yoga Alliance Approved: No
- Key Focal Points:
- Yoga as Participation in life
- Yoga as a relationship
- Developing your own personal practice
- Yoga philosophy
- Traditional Hatha Yoga
Why we chose this training/What makes this training special: This is not your average 200-hour teacher training, but it sure is a journey into the heart of yoga! This training offers the opportunity to study with and learn from a true master of yoga! Heart of Yoga’s online education is a condensed communication of the school’s essence, from its ancient origins through to modern times. It promises to teach you the tools for self-practice and to develop good yoga teachers in every community around the world.
9. Check out these training that could also crack this list:
JIVAMUKTI SPIRITUAL WARRIOR 75-HOUR FOUNDATION COURSE
https://jivamuktiyoga.com/teachertraining/75hour-teachertraining/
KRIPALU 200-HOUR TRAINING ONLINE – online TT details coming soon*
https://kripalu.org/schools/yoga/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training
Jason Crandell – One of the best for professional preparation