3 Things to Consider About Yoga Teacher Training

As many Massage Therapists are trying to figure out how to structure their businesses and use their love for healing moving forward into a world where we have to account for COVID, many are wondering if getting trained in yoga might be a good option. 

Before making such a sizable investment in both money (usually around $2000) and time (generally 200 hours), here are 3 things to consider before signing up for a yoga teacher training program. 

1. Do I need to find an accredited yoga school?

Massage Therapists are used to finding an accredited school and going through a licensing process to practice. It’s important to note that there is no such thing as an accredited yoga school. While Yoga Alliance does approve schools, if someone wants to open a yoga teacher training this is all that is required of them:

-Take an approved 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training.

-Sign up for the membership and pay a $50 application fee + $65/year.

-After two years, you can become an E-RYT and be qualified to facilitate a training.

-Create a syllabus that meets the Yoga Alliance standards.

-Pay $400 for the application + $240/year to stay registered.

-Get approved, and start collecting $2,000-$4,000 per person.

There is no oversight by Yoga Alliance for these programs. They do not require tests from participants, and Yoga Alliance does not check in on the programs and make sure they are adhering to the syllabus. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know if a yoga school is a quality one. 

Our recommendation

Find a school through word of mouth, that way you know the quality prior to making the investment. 

2. Do I need to attend a Yoga Alliance approved training to get a job teaching yoga? 

The practice of yoga in the United States is unlicensed and unregulated. This means that unlike physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists, there are no standards or state regulations that govern yoga teachers.

Many people think they need to take a Yoga Alliance approved training, but there are no requirements for your training in order for you to practice. Some yoga studio owners want a Yoga Alliance teacher, but many know that just because someone took a Yoga Alliance approved training, doesn’t mean they received a quality education. 

Our recommendation

If you hear about a phenomenal training that isn’t a Yoga Alliance approved program, you will still want to consider it! 

3. What do you want to specialize in?

There are many different types of yoga teacher training programs- some focus on a specific type of yoga - Hatha, Vinyasa, Bikram, Ashtanga, Yin, etc. Some are 200-hour trainings that include a heavy emphasis on yoga philosophy, others on anatomy, and others on how to teach.  Know exactly what you want to do with your training so you know which training will best suit you. 

Our recommendation

If you’re looking for a way to combine your passion for massage with your interest in yoga you might consider Yomassage! Yomassage is a training specifically for Massage Therapists, and is inspired by restorative yoga. You will learn the science behind Yomassage, our philosophy, all about the nervous system and mind-body connection, and how to structure and effectively teach Yomassage classes. You’ll become skilled in body mechanics, offering variations, and knowing contraindications for each Yomassage position. You’ll also learn how to incorporate self-massage techniques into your classes! Learn more here. 

Yomassage is a 25-hour training offered virtually and is both NCBTMB and Yoga Alliance approved. 

Learn more

If you want to join the Yomassage community, you can do so through our free Yomassage Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/yomassage. 

For more info about Yomassage, follow us on Instagram and listen to our podcast!