Is A Yoga Alliance Certification Necessary To Teach Yoga?

Getting your certificate by the yoga-alliance is kind of like getting a college degree. Not every teacher has one, and it is NOT necessary to teach yoga. In fact, some of the best teachers don’t have them. However, the vast majority of teachers teaching yoga in the west do have their certification. In a lot of ways, it’s the most basic, standardized way to evaluate a yoga teacher, but it is certainly not the only or even the most important factor. As more teachers enter the market, and teaching becomes more competitive, studios increasingly select teachers based on their experience level, uniqueness, and passion. Increasingly, the yoga-alliance-certifications become less important.

For many larger studios, having your 200-hour-certification at least is a basic requirement, the same way having an undergraduate degree is a necessity for working in many corporations. Similar to the job market, there are always exceptions however for extraordinary candidates.

Generally, a certificate from an Indian school like the Sivananda school, albeit not certified by the Yoga-Alliance, can actually be a significant leg up in the job market. The Yoga-Alliance-Certification is not the only one available. Studios and employers usually just look for some sort of certificate or distinction to show that you are serious and have invested yourself in becoming a teacher. That dedication and commitment is more important than the certifications you are given.

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