Yoga Alliance certification

What is Yoga Alliance Certification and Why It is Necessary?

For centuries, yoga has been a part of Indian culture and tradition. It is the best way to unlock your true potential. The yogic lifestyle takes into account not just your physical but also your mental and spiritual growth. The Yoga Alliance Certification gives you a chance to completely transform your inner and outer being using the right breathing techniques and yoga asanas.

The art of yoga is sacred, so it is important that you seek the guidance of a true yoga guru to master this ancient art. You must train under a teacher who has completed the same journey and experienced the bliss that the long-time practice of yoga offers. For this reason, many yoga schools around the world offer yoga teacher certification affiliated with Yoga Alliance, USA.

Let us begin by understanding a bit about different Yoga Alliance abbreviations you would come across when searching for a Yoga Alliance certified teacher training course.

Yoga Alliance Abbreviations

Given below is the complete list of different Yoga Alliance abbreviations with their meaning.

1) RYS – Registered Yoga School

2) RYS 200/ 300/ 500 – The different yoga teacher training programs set by Yoga Alliance.

ERYT – The Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher certification

YTTC – Yoga Teacher Training Course that takes place according to the standards set by guidance Yoga Alliance

RYT – Registered Yoga Teacher course

Now, let us dive a bit deeper and understand what exactly is Yoga Alliance and why having a Yoga Alliance certification is good for you.

Yoga through the ages

Yoga Alliance Certification – In Brief

Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization that represents a wide yoga community around the world. With 7,000 RYS (Registered Yoga Schools) and 10,000 RYT (Registered Yoga Teachers), the organization works toward supporting high-quality and safe yoga practices.

However, Yoga Alliance does a lot more than ensuring safe yoga practices around the world. The other roles are undertaken by the Yoga Alliance include;

  • Providing support to different yoga styles and traditions
  • Working towards self-regulation in the yoga industry with access to safe and quality yoga education
  • Giving yoga community members the necessary tools for personal growth and working for the development of yoga schools and teachers around the world
  • Safeguarding the yoga community from unnecessary governmental regulations
  • Helping yoga schools and teachers follow safe business practices

In short, Yoga Alliance is the ultimate authority when it comes to knowing anything about yoga. Yoga Alliance does not offer any specific yoga courses but provides a set of standards that every RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) and RYS (Registered Yoga School) has to follow.

Yoga Alliance has a set of protocols for every type of yoga program you choose to undergo for yoga teacher training. These include;

RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher)

The RYT certification includes standards and rules set by Yoga Alliance for future yoga teachers. You become eligible for the RYT after completing either the 200 hours, 300 hours, or 500 hours yoga teacher training program.

RYS (Registered Yoga School)

These are specific yoga schools and studios registered with Yoga Alliance. Each RYS follows guidelines set by Yoga Alliance and offers yoga certification courses to those seeking to explore their inner.

Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Providers (YACEP)

To keep your Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification, you have to fulfill at least 30 hours of continuing yoga education every three years. It is in addition to 45 hours of experience in teaching yoga. Yoga Alliance certification has strict standards set for these programs.

With that said, let us understand what exactly is RYT and the different yoga teacher training programs it includes.

RYT types

What is the RYT – Know Here

The RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) is the designation given to yoga teachers whose training and yoga teaching methods match the requirements set by Yoga Alliance. An RYT has to first complete training under an RYS (Registered Yoga School) and gets a confirmation from Yoga Alliance.

There are three major RYT programs under Yoga Alliance certification. Let us understand what each of these includes;

RYT 200

The 200-hour yoga teacher training course is a beginner-level yoga course organized by many RYS (Registered Yoga Schools) around the world. It lays down a solid foundation for your career as a certified yoga teacher in the long run.

As a student of the RYT 200 course, you get to learn not just the different styles of yoga but also

Human Anatomy and Physiology

  • Pranayama techniques
  • Yoga history and philosophy
  • Yoga asana alignment and modification
  • Introduction to the Chakra system
  • Lessons on different yoga styles including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Hatha among others

The 200-hour yoga teacher training course helps you understand the basics of yoga before moving onto advanced yoga classes.

RYT 300

If you have completed the beginner-level 200-hour course and want to advance yoga practice, the RYT 300 is for you. The 300-hour yoga teacher training course is intense and goes much deeper than the 200-hour yoga course. It is also known as an advanced yoga teacher training course.

The 300-hour course includes lessons on primary yoga asanas as well as advanced yoga poses. You get in-depth lessons on Shatkriyas and Mantra chanting among others.

  • Given below is what you learn as a student of the 300-hour yoga teacher training program;
  • Lessons on Advanced meditation and yoga asanas
  • Classes on Yoga Mudras, Bandhas, and Kriyas
  • Advanced classes on history and philosophy of yoga
  • Sessions on psychology and ethics of yoga practices
  • Classes on the therapeutic benefits of yoga

RYT 500

The 500-hour yoga teacher training is an advanced Yoga Alliance Certification course that helps you become a top-level yoga teacher. It is the best course for you to dive deeper into not just the physical practice of yoga but also understand its spiritual aspects.

Completing the 500-hour RYT course provides you the necessary skills to evolve on a physical, mental, and spiritual level as an individual and yoga instructor. Given below is what you learn during this course;

  • Introduction to yoga mantras
  • Theoretical and practical sessions on advanced yoga poses
  • Sessions on how to organize a yoga class
  • In-depth understanding of Yoga Bandhas
  • Classes on different types of Yoga Mudras

However, Yoga Alliance also offers you other certifications such as;

E-RYT 200

If you are a yoga teacher who has completed the RYT 200 course, have taught for 1000 hours, and passed the YTT course 2 years back, the E-RYT 200 course is for you. This yoga teacher certification provides you the skills and confidence to lead others during the yoga teacher training session.

E-RYT 500

An E-RYT 500 certification is perfect for you after you complete the 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher certification and have taught yoga for 2000 hours. You should have experience in teaching yoga for 4 years after completing the 200-hour yoga teacher training course.

Children’s Yoga Teacher

For you to teach yoga to children, it is compulsory you complete the 200-hour yoga teacher training along with at least 30 hours of teaching experience.

You might feel skeptical about spending time finding a Yoga Alliance certified yoga school. However, the perks offered by taking a yoga teacher certification are worth your time and effort. Let us find out why it is important for you to get a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher training course.

Why a Yoga Alliance Certification is Necessary?

Yoga alliance necessary

Yoga Alliance certification does a lot when it comes to helping you become a certified yoga teacher. You do not just get trained under globally recognized yoga teachers but also develop the mindset and confidence to teach a class of future yoga teachers. You start the journey towards becoming a certified yoga instructor according to global standards for yoga teaching.

However, first, let us understand how completing this Yoga Alliance yoga teacher training course helps you on an individual level.

Growth on Personal Level

After completing your yoga certification under an RYS (Registered Yoga School), you gain mastery over advanced yoga poses. It improves your comfort level and also takes your yoga practice to a whole new level.

Reconnect With Your Inner

Practicing yoga requires you to use proper breathing which is the gateway between your body and mind. The yoga meditation and breathing techniques you learn under the guidance of yoga teachers help you dive deeper into your being and unlock true potential.

Learn to Embrace Change

The yoga teacher training course teaches you the physical aspects of yoga and develops a new perspective toward the world around you. You become more open-minded and accept the shortcomings in yourself and other people. Thus, yoga teacher training helps your body move beyond the physical aspects of yoga.

Form Lasting Connections

During yoga instructor certification sessions you connect with other like-minded individuals who also want to explore themselves on a mental and spiritual level. You form connections with other fellow beings during this journey which helps you form not just new but everlasting connections.

However, doing yoga teacher training not only helps you develop as an individual but also opens up the door to a bright future as a certified yoga teacher and assists others in learning this sacred art.

Therefore, a Yoga Alliance certification does offer you some major benefits to help you move ahead in your career as a yoga teacher;

More Credibility

A Yoga Alliance certification helps you become a certified yoga instructor. You become eligible to conduct yoga classes and help others move from beginners to advanced yoga levels. Every yoga teacher training program offers you extensive training including complete education of yoga theory and philosophy, yoga asanas, and principles among others.

Thus, the Yoga Alliance label has global recognition and is known for holding the top standards when it comes to imparting yoga education.

Chance to Connect with Top Yoga Gurus

When you complete your yoga teacher certification from an RYS (Registered Yoga School), you not just possess exceptional yoga teaching skills but also become part of an active yoga community. You get the opportunity to connect with some of the best yoga teachers from around the world.

What this does is give you a chance to share your knowledge of this sacred art and also get updates related to the yoga industry. It helps you modify a class as per any recent changes in yoga to teach different groups of yoga practitioners.

Legal Support

It might happen that one of your class participants gets injured during a yoga session and decide to take legal action, although no fault of your own.

Legal proceedings carry a lot including the costs and unnecessary litigation. It is an expensive affair especially if you do not carry a Yoga Alliance certification. Becoming an active member of the Yoga community with a Yoga Alliance certification provides you legal protection. Yoga Alliance offers you a lot of legal counseling at such a time.

Access to Unlimited Online Resources

Online resources help a lot when it comes to the yoga instructor course, you choose to advance from a beginner yoga practice to a fully-trained and certified yoga teacher.

Earning the Yoga Alliance certification gives you a chance to keep yourself updated by getting access to a lot of online resources. It gives you access to online yoga-related resources and reading material to keep yourself updated with any recent changes in the yoga industry.

Yoga Alliance Directory Listing

The Yoga Alliance certification provides you a chance to have a registered yoga instructor profile which is created at the time of your registration with Yoga Alliance after completion of the course. Your name is visible on the Yoga Alliance directory listings which increases your chances of employment with various yoga studios around the world.

Insurance for Safety

With yoga, the risk of injury is much less as compared to other types of workouts. However, it is extremely important to carry insurance. A Yoga Alliance certification offers you general and liability insurance.

Yoga Alliance FAQs

Is there a Difference Between Registered and Certified Yoga Training Programs?

In your search to find an RYS (Registered Yoga School), you will come across yoga teachers or studios who claim to be “certified” by Yoga Alliance.

Yoga Alliance does not certify teachers but has registered yoga teacher training programs that meet its minimum requirements. On the other hand, these yoga teachers training programs include the 200, 300, and 500-hour, prenatal, and children’s yoga courses.

What Yoga Alliance does is break down how many hours you need to spend in each of the yoga courses mentioned above. These hours include the teaching methodology, yoga philosophy, yoga physiology, and much more.

What About the RYT?

After you complete the yoga certification course from a Yoga Alliance RYS, you can register yourself as a yoga teacher. However, you need to connect with Yoga Alliance in order to register. Post-registration you can use the acronym RYT after your name.

RYT

Is It Important to Consider Yoga Alliance?

A core principle of Yoga Alliance is promoting minimum standards for safe teaching of the sacred art of yoga. The success these have provided to many yoga schools is evident that registering with Yoga Alliance is a win-win situation for both the teachers and the schools.

What are the Requirements to Become an RYT?

To become an RYT, you need to complete the basic 200-hour yoga teacher course that includes the foundational concepts to help you get started on the path to becoming a recognized yoga teacher. Therefore, after the completion of the 200-hour course, you become eligible to be recognized as an RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher).

You can then decide if you want to pursue the intermediate 300-hour yoga teacher course to get in-depth knowledge of everything about yoga and become a professional teacher.

What are the Benefits of RYT Credentials?

You earn the Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) credential by completing the yoga teacher training that meets the Yoga Alliance standards. However, you need to complete the RYT course from a Registered Yoga School (RYS) under Yoga Alliance.

Given below are some major benefits of earning RYT credential;

  • RYT is an internationally recognized basic yoga teacher training course that shows you have met the minimum yoga training standards as set by Yoga Alliance.
  • An opportunity to get a directory listing on the Yoga Alliance website and share it with your potential employers in case of any concerns.
  • Chance to become part of a yoga community and take part in yoga workshops and events in your area.
  • The RYT gives you the chance of a lifetime to connect with other yoga gurus around the world.

All in all! There seems to be a lot more than a Yoga Alliance RYT course can offer you. It is not just about mastering yoga on a physical level but also working towards your mental and spiritual growth.

Summary

To sum up, Yoga is a natural way to develop your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The various yoga asanas and breathing techniques help unite the body, mind, and soul. Thus, it helps you reconnect with your deeper self. Earning the Yoga Alliance Certification is not rocket science. As a result, your chances of becoming an internationally recognized yoga teacher increase under the guidance of the right yoga teacher and school.

Read More:- Yoga Teacher Training

FAQs

Ques 1) Can I teach yoga without being certified?

Ans) If you want to teach yoga at a registered yoga school, you need to enroll in a Yoga Alliance certification course. That is going to help you earn the certification that you can use to teach in a yoga school. However, you can teach without certification while giving private lessons or teaching in a non-registered yoga school.

Ques 2) Does a yoga certification expire?

Ans) Yes! There is an expiration date of a Yoga Alliance certification course. Therefore, you need to keep a check whether your certification has expired or not. If it getting near to an expiration date, fulfill all the requirements to increase its deadline. 

Ques 3) How do I prepare for 200 hour yoga training?

Ans) You can make a yoga routine at your home. Thus, it will prepare your mind and body to practice yoga when you enroll in a 200 hour yoga teacher training course. Further, you can start eating healthy so that you can lose fat and live a fit life.