How to Become a Certified Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance  

Becoming a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance sets you up on a solid foundation for your career in yoga. Yoga Alliance is considered the primary regulatory body for yoga in the Western world and the gold standard for yoga teacher certifications. With a clear understanding of the steps to becoming a yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, you will be well on your way to success!

Choosing to become a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance can be a confusing process, so it is essential to fully understand the steps to do it right. In this article, we will go over the steps to becoming a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and answer all your burning questions about becoming a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher. So, let’s dive in!

The Steps to Becoming a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher

1.     Find a Yoga Teacher Training Program Registered with Yoga Alliance (RYS)

Before you start your yoga teacher training program, it is crucial to confirm that the yoga school is actually registered with Yoga Alliance. Unfortunately, there is a bit of fraud out in the world, and we must do our due diligence to ensure the training program is properly qualified. Simply go to the Yoga Alliance website and search the training school where you want to study to check their RYS or Registered Yoga School status. With this foundational step, you can ensure that your training program will get you the qualifications you need!

2.     Complete Your Yoga Teacher Training Requirements

Once you have chosen your school and confirmed its Yoga Alliance registration, next comes the fun part of actually completing your yoga teacher training requirements! Take your time to learn the material and apply it to your yoga practice, deepening into your experience both on and off the yoga mat. Although Yoga Alliance has general requirements for certification, each school has its own variation on this, so make sure to check the training requirements directly with your school and complete the required coursework.

3.     Get Your Yoga Teacher Certification from Your Yoga School

Once you complete all of your yoga teacher training requirements, then you can finally get your yoga teacher certification! As a certified yoga teacher, you now have everything you need to start teaching yoga to others and sharing your wisdom with the world. Some yoga teachers choose to stop their process here and not pursue registration with Yoga Alliance (see lower down in the article for why).

4.     Create Your Account with Yoga Alliance

If you choose to register your certification with Yoga Alliance, the next step is to create your account with Yoga Alliance. Once you have your account set up, you will be able to submit your training materials and any supporting documentation that Yoga Alliance needs to confirm your registration.

5.     Submit Your Teacher Certification with Yoga Alliance

The most important thing you need to register with Yoga Alliance is your yoga teacher certification from your yoga school. With a copy of your certification, simply submit it through the Yoga Alliance portal, and they will take any necessary steps to verify it.

6.     Abide by the Yoga Alliance Ethical Commitment, Code of Conduct, and Yoga Therapy Policy

Once your certification is confirmed by Yoga Alliance, you will also have to ensure that you agree to the Yoga Alliance Ethical Commitment, Code of Conduct, and Yoga Therapy Policy. You must abide by these guidelines the entire time that you are registered with Yoga Alliance to ensure that your certification is maintained in good standing.

7.     Pay Your Annual Renewal Fees and Maintain Your Continuing Education Requirement Every 3 Years

There is a fee to register with Yoga Alliance each year, and it is important to stay up to date on the payment of your annual renewal fees. Additionally, Yoga Alliance requires a certain number of continuing education hours every three years. But with the many continuing education yoga courses at our yoga school, you will easily be able to complete this requirement and keep your certification confirmed!

What Does it Mean to be Yoga Alliance Certified?

Yoga Alliance is considered the gold standard in the yoga industry for yoga teachers. This base level of certification ensures that your training has met the minimum level of requirements to become a certified yoga teacher.

However, it is important to note that the term “Yoga Alliance Certified” is incorrect - the actual term related to Yoga Alliance is “Yoga Alliance Registered.” Yoga Alliance itself does not certify yoga teachers; it simply serves as a registry for certified yoga teachers. Each individual yoga school certifies their respective teachers, and they can then bring their certification to Yoga Alliance to join the registry list of yoga teachers.

What is the Difference Between CYT and RYT?

A CYT designates a Certified Yoga Teacher, and an RYT designates a Registered Yoga Teacher. The CYT qualification applies to every yoga teacher because each yoga teacher has received a certification from their respective yoga school, classifying them as a certified yoga teacher.

However, not all yoga teachers are designated a RYT or registered yoga teachers. The RYT designation is only provided to yoga teachers who register with Yoga Alliance. Yoga teachers receive the RYT designation when they register their certification with Yoga Alliance and pay the necessary annual fee.

Registering with Yoga Alliance does not actually change the qualifications of a yoga teacher because their original certification remains the same whether they register with Yoga Alliance or not. Therefore, some yoga teachers choose not to register with Yoga Alliance and simply use their designation as a CYT. There is not necessarily any difference in education between a CYT and a RYT.

Is Yoga Alliance Certification Necessary?

Yoga Alliance certification or registration is not entirely necessary. In fact, many yoga teachers choose not to register with Yoga Alliance at all but continue to teach in yoga studios, gyms, retreat centers, and many other locations.

However, some insurance companies that provide liability insurance to yoga teachers do require that you have an active Yoga Alliance registration in order to ensure that you meet a base level of competency. Some yoga studios may also require it as well.

There is a large variety of yoga teacher training schools in existence, and registering with Yoga Alliance can show others that you have met this minimum level of training and are a qualified yoga teacher. However, at the end of the day, Yoga Alliance registration is not entirely necessary, and you can absolutely continue to teach yoga without completing this registration process.

What is the Benefit of Registering with Yoga Alliance?

The primary reason that many yoga teachers choose to register with Yoga Alliance is because it actually provides many wonderful benefits. Below, we will go over the top 5 benefits of registering with Yoga Alliance:

1.     Prove Your Certification Status

The primary benefit of registering with Yoga Alliance is that it shows to others that you have met a minimum level of certification as a yoga teacher. Yoga Alliance approves each school, and only by completing a yoga teacher training from an approved yoga school by Yoga Alliance can you then register as a teacher with Yoga Alliance.

2.     Improve Your Employability

Some employers require that all their yoga teachers be registered with Yoga Alliance. This registration can provide peace of mind to your students and increase your ability to gain employment at various yoga studios, gyms, or schools.

3.     Gain Access to Liability Insurance

Many liability insurance companies also require that you have a Yoga Alliance registration because it shows them that you have met this minimum level of certification. As the insurance company is taking on the liability of you as a yoga teacher, they want to ensure that you have the skills to safely teach yoga to your students.

4.     Receive Discounts from Various Businesses

Yoga Alliance also has partnerships with many other businesses and provides discounts to members who are registered. Some of the many discounts you will gain access to are for yoga props, accessories, wellness products, insurance, and supportive business tools.

5.     Offer Continuing Education Courses as a YACEP

As a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, you can eventually increase your status and provide continuing education courses to other yoga teachers as a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). With this added status, you can support other yoga teachers and ensure that your courses are also registered with Yoga Alliance.

Become a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher Online in Our Online YTT Today!

The process of registering with Yoga Alliance may initially seem daunting, but it is actually quite simple. By registering with Yoga Alliance, you are showing to your future employers and students that you meet this foundational level of training and can offer yoga classes. But remember, registering with Yoga Alliance is not a requirement for teaching yoga; it is simply a recommendation that can provide some benefits and support to your career as a yoga teacher.

If you are ready to start this process and take the step of becoming a yoga teacher, then make sure to check out our online yoga teacher training courses. Our online YTT is registered with Yoga Alliance and provides you with the training you need to be a safe and effective yoga teacher. So, reach out to us today for more information on how you can sign up for your online yoga teacher training course and take your first step in registering with Yoga Alliance today!

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