What Is Yoga Alliance and Do You Need an RYT Certificate to Teach Yoga?

If you’ve discovered the joy of yoga and the positive impact it has on your life, you might begin to think about taking the next step: becoming a yoga instructor. 

You’ve probably also heard of the Yoga Alliance and the various certifications most instructors have. Before you begin this new journey, learn more about the YA, what it does, and how important it is to become certified through this internationally recognized organization. 

What is the Yoga Alliance? 

The Yoga Alliance is the world’s largest nonprofit yoga organization. It represents the international yoga community and sets standards for yoga teacher training and yoga instruction. YA sets standards for instructor training programs. It certifies more than 7,000 Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) and over 10,000 Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT). 

The goals of the Yoga Alliance are to support the yoga community and to ensure the safe practice and teaching of yoga. It emphasizes equitable instruction, safety, and accessibility. For yoga instructors, the YA offers several levels of certification: 

• RYT 200. The first level is all you need to become an RYT and start teaching. To register, you must complete 200 hours of training in a Yoga Alliance-approved course. 

• RYT 500. A second level of certification requires 500 hours of training plus 100 hours of teaching. 

• Experienced RYT 200. With E-RYT 200 certification you can lead continuing education courses for other RYTs and teach in RYT 200 programs. You must have RYT 200 certification and 1,000 hours of teaching experience. 

• Experienced RYT 500. E-RYT 500 certificate holders can teach continuing education and RYT 500 courses. You must have RYT 500 certification and 2,000 hours of teaching experience. 

• Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT). The YA also offers specialty certifications. To teach children, you need RYT 200 certification, 95 hours of approved children’s yoga training, and 30 hours of relevant teaching experience. 

• Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT). To teach prenatal clients, you must have an RYT 200 certificate, 85 hours of approved prenatal training, and 20 hours of relevant teaching. 

Still unsure whether yoga instruction is the right career move for you? Check out these pros and cons of working as a yoga teacher. 

Do You Need an RYT Certificate to Teach Yoga? 

Strictly speaking, you do not need RYT certification to teach yoga to other people. The government does not regulate the industry or require licensing or any other credentials. This means that, legally, anyone can teach yoga. 

Clearly, this lack of regulation can be an issue. If anyone can claim to be a yoga instructor, there is a lot of room for abuse of the system. This is one of the most important reasons that serious yoga teachers should be seeking out certification. 

Of course, there is a choice of credentials. However, the most widely recognized and most likely to be required for employment is RYT certification through the Yoga Alliance. This is the premier group for setting standards to ensure yoga professionals are appropriately trained to provide safe, effective, and inclusive instruction. 

Personal experience is valuable, of course, but it isn’t always enough to make you a good teacher. Certification classes give you the fundamentals of yoga and the philosophical background of the practice. It shows you how to break down asanas, teach them to others, and make modifications as needed. It gives you confidence that you can instruct others safely and effectively. 

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The Benefits of Becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher

Some reasons people might avoid becoming certified include cost, time, and an inability to see the value in a credential. The cost of an RYT 200 course is not as much as you might think, and if you choose an online program, you can complete it in your own time. In terms of value, consider all the benefits of earning RYT certification. 

On the fence about online yoga teacher training? Learn more about online yoga programs and why they are increasingly popular. 

Hold the Most Widely Accepted Yoga Credential

If you research yoga certifications, you’ll find some other options, but the YA’s RYT credential is the gold standard. It is more widely accepted by potential employers and recognized by clients than any other certification. If you want people to recognize the hard work you put into training, this is the credential you need. 

If you are going to spend time and money on a yoga certification, YA is the one to get. Other credentials might have value, but they just don’t carry the same weight. In other words, you get more for your investment when you become a YA RYT. 

Enjoy Yoga Alliance Member Benefits

As an RYT, you also get to join the YA as a member. Membership in the world’s premier yoga organization comes with several benefits: 

• Free online workshops for continuing education

• A listing on the directory of yoga teachers searched by potential clients

• Opportunities to network and join online and in-person meetups with the yoga community

• Discounts on some yoga products or gear and liability insurance for independent instructors

• Supporting an organization that advocates for issues of relevance to the yoga community

Find More Work More Easily

From a practical standpoint, RYT certification will get you work. You might plan to find employment in a gym, spa, yoga studio or work independently. Either way, certification can make the difference between being busy and struggling to convince people to work with you. 

You might find that yoga studios require YA certification. Not all do, but even when it is not a strict requirement, a studio will often hire an RYT over a non-certified instructor. 

The same goes for independent instructors looking for new clients. Yoga consumers are educated and savvy. They know about certifications and are more likely to hire teachers with the RYT credential. 

Command Higher Rates

If you have an RYT certification, especially if you go beyond the 200 hours and get a more advanced credential, you can charge more for your services. Credentials have value, and employers and clients know this. If you want to make a real career out of teaching yoga and earn a good living, certification is a must. 

Expand Your Career

By building your credentials, you can go well beyond teaching yoga classes or one-on-one sessions. YA certifications give you the chance to specialize and offer more to clients. You can earn certificates to work with children or pregnant women, for instance. You can also become an instructor guiding new yoga teachers. 

Become Part of Your Community

You found yoga, it changed your life, and not everyone gets it. One of the less tangible benefits of RYT certification is finding your community. These are your people, and they make up a large, international community. It’s a great feeling to belong to like-minded yoga enthusiasts. 

What Happens if You Try to Teach Yoga Without Certification? 

You certainly won’t be in trouble if you try to make a go of a yoga career without Yoga Alliance certification. But you might find it more difficult. There are practical matters to consider, like the fact that employers and clients seek out a certified yoga teacher. 

There are also less tangible factors to consider. If you haven’t completed a training course, do you really know how to teach others? Even with years of personal practice, you might not be ready to be an instructor. Doing and teaching are separate skills. You need to understand principles of teaching asanas and the philosophy of yoga to do it well and with confidence. 

How to Become a Registered Yoga Instructor

If yoga has changed your life, why not share it with others? Yoga instruction can be a rewarding career. It can also be lucrative if you do it right, and that begins with the right certification. 

To get started, find a registered yoga school with a registered yoga teacher training program that fits your needs. YouAligned provides a detailed breakdown of the top online yoga teacher training programs to help you sift through the options.

The ISSA Yoga & Wellness Academy offers a Yoga 200 course, a convenient online course that provides a comprehensive curriculum and is approved by the Yoga Alliance. It can help prepare you for your first yoga teaching job, regardless of the method used to pursue it.