By Faye Martins
The cost of becoming a yoga instructor varies by the school and the qualifications required of instructors. To become a yoga teacher in specialized schools like Bikram or Iyengar can cost much more than training for certifications at other schools.
For example, Iyengar instructors must study Iyengar for three years before being eligible to begin training to be a level 1 Iyengar instructor. Even without factoring in the cost of those three years of classes, the certification program, which is two years for introductory level Iyengar, in addition to the cost of assessments and exams, the total expense can add up easily to more than $5,000. On the other hand, completing a 200-hour certified yoga teacher training by a reputable school could be done for less than $3,000 depending on the school you select.
Distance Learning Options
There are also distance-learning options from wellness centers and some fitness-based associations. While some who aspire to become yoga instructor may still hold onto traditional connections between guru and student, the cost of online or distance learning will cost you far less money. The average online or distance-learning yoga instructor course will cost you around $600 or less.
Online yoga certification won’t require you to drive for hours, leave your children or take time off from work. Do you have an employer that would understand your passion and let you take months off? If your boss is that understanding, you already have an ideal job.
Determine the Right School
Since different types of yoga require different certifications, your first step in figuring out what the cost will be in deciding which type of yoga you want to teach. My friend Ali grew up practicing various forms of yoga but fell in love with hot yoga in her mid-twenties. After doing some research, she decided it would be worth the $10,900 it costs to take the nine-week yoga teacher training “boot camp” out in California.
If, on the other hand, you prefer hatha or vinyasa, your total cost of this yoga certification, will likely cost much less. A check with the schools in your area can point you to schools that offer training that typically costs around $3,000. Different schools have different admissions guidelines, and you typically need to have practiced yoga for a certain amount of time before being considered eligible to apply to a teacher training program.
Time is Money
In your consideration of how much does it cost to become a yoga instructor, don’t forget to factor in the cost of time. The nine-week yoga teacher training program that some hot yoga styles offer might cost more than the cost of four terms of Iyengar training, but the amount of time you commit to each school will vary. Some instructors teach part time, but others hope to make a living off teaching yoga, so be aware what a yoga teacher training program will cost in terms of income lost during process.
Return on Investment
Thinking from a pragmatic point of view: Some of us have money to burn and most of us don’t. If we invest money in education, most of us are going to want a return of some kind. Most of us know what multiple recessions, lost jobs, and a pandemic can do to our pocketbooks. It’s a lot easier to recover $600 than it is to recover $10,000. My friend, Ben, attended a “soup to nuts” RYT 200 program for more than 20K. He travelled to an exotic location, paid extra for lodging and course materials. They didn’t give him a clue about how to find a teaching position. When he got back home, he was on sub-lists for years. Luckily, he networked with other teachers who gave him leads. The point here is, you can spend a little or a lot, but you need to have a plan and it helps if the course you take has some business and marketing materials.
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The blog post is very detailed for those of us who want to know about the best yoga instructor courses offered in the field. Your information is crisp and to the point. A must visit blog for yoga lovers and teachers. Thanks for the insightful information. Please keep posting!