Yes, you can. None of the 50 US states require you to have a license to teach yoga, and you do not need to be a member of the Yoga Alliance. The question is not whether you should register; it is where you want to teach.
What makes someone a qualified yoga teacher?
A qualified teacher is someone who understands what to teach and how to make sure everyone is safe. That includes mastering the postures, adapting them to various bodies, having some knowledge of anatomy, leading the breath and rest, and knowing when to ask a student with a sore knee to move on.
Most people get this in a 200-hour yoga teacher training. The hours are less important than who the teachers are, how many students there are, and whether you will be teaching real live people before you graduate. There are some schools out there that are not Alliance registered, but their standards match or surpass ours, a Yoga Alliance representative said.
Is yoga alliance registration mandatory to teach yoga?
No. It is a private, voluntary system, so nobody can prevent you from teaching without it. While some states have laws governing vocational schools that impact yoga schools, the law applies to the school, not to yoga teachers.
To register later, you need to complete your training at a Yoga Alliance registered school and all 200 hours of training must be completed at the same registered school. If you train at an unregistered school, that option is no longer available. Make up your mind before you pay.
Will a yoga studio hire you without an RYT certification?
Some will, and many would not. Job listings frequently say “RYT 200 needed” as a fast way to screen prospective candidates. Even more liability insurance companies will require registration and that can settle things for a studio.
Smaller facilities, gyms, community centers, and private/corporate classes may be more concerned about your teaching style. They may want you to teach a 20 minute class.
To increase your chances do these:
- Record a short demo class.
- Teach free community classes to build experience.
- Ask your trainer for a written reference.
- Always ask the studio what they take before you apply.
How much money will it take to become a yoga teacher?
Most 200-hour trainings in the US range from about $1,200 to $5,000 or more, depending on your training style, format and location, and what is provided. Online courses are around $2,850, retreat style training in the US can be $130 to $240 per day.
If you register, you will need to pay a one-time $50 application fee and $65 annually. You will also need books, a great mat, and a liability insurance policy for your instructor.
When to renew yoga teacher certification?
The certificate you receive from the school has no expiration date. Yoga Alliance registration does.
- Every year: pay the $65 membership fee.
- Every 3 years: You must renew your continuing education. Yoga Alliance’s guideline itself is 75 hours and training that occurred before you registered does not apply. Other websites cite lower amounts, so review your dashboard for the updated policy.
And if you let it lapse, you will lose your directory listing and access to use the RYT designation.
If you skip registration, you have nothing to renew. But do a workshop every year, keep your CPR and first aid up to date and renew your insurance annually. Good teachers keep learning, no matter what badge they have.
