What Degree Do You Need to Teach Yoga?

LRW Marketing Department
Nov 29
3 min read

You do not need a college degree to teach yoga.

Not in psychology. Not in exercise science. Not in kinesiology. Not in anything. Yoga is a professional field rooted in lineage, lived experience, philosophy, equity, ethics, trauma awareness, and heart-centered teaching, not academic degrees.

The only recognized industry standard is:

A Yoga Alliance–accredited 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT).

And that’s something anyone can begin, at any age, with any background, including military spouses, caregivers, and women who’ve been supporting their families for years without putting themselves first.

Let’s break it down clearly.

So… You Don’t Need a Degree? Truly?

Correct. There is no college degree required to teach yoga anywhere in the United States or globally.

What you do need is a comprehensive, accredited training that covers:

Technique & practice
Anatomy & physiology
Yoga history & philosophy
Teaching methodology
Trauma-informed awareness
Ethics & professionalism
Safety & accessibility
Cultural respect

This is exactly what a Yoga Alliance–approved 200-hour program provides.

A degree may support your journey, but it is never what qualifies you to teach yoga.

Why Yoga Alliance Matters More Than a Degree

Yoga Alliance determines the standards for yoga education, not universities. To become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), you must complete:

A 200-hour Yoga Alliance–accredited school (like LRW)
Required philosophy, anatomy, methodology, and practicums
Elevated Standards introduced in 2023–2024
Additional teaching hours (such as LRW’s 10-hour unsupervised practicum)

This credential is what studios, gyms, nonprofits, military programs, wellness centers, and insurance companies look for, not whether you earned a bachelor’s degree.

LRW’s Perspective: Lived Experience > Academic Credentials

A degree does not make you a better yoga teacher. A deeper understanding of humanity does.

At Lotus River Wellness, we see some of the BEST teachers come from backgrounds like:

Military spouses navigating deployment, reintegration, or transition
Caregivers carrying invisible stress and emotional load
Women returning to themselves after years of sacrificing for their families
Those healing from trauma, burnout, or identity shifts
Individuals who simply feel called to serve
Students with no college experience at all

Your training teaches what degrees cannot:

Trauma-sensitive language
Cultural respect
Real-world accessibility
Teaching across communities with diverse needs
How to support military families
How to make yoga a career
How to show up with integrity and presence

This is why so many spouses thrive in your program, they’re not starting “behind.” They’re starting with real-life tools.

Case Studies: Who Thrives Without a Degree?

Case Study A: The Spouse Who Didn’t Finish College

One LRW graduate joined with zero college experience. She felt intimidated at first, convinced she wasn’t “qualified.” By graduation, she was teaching confident classes, completing all coursework, and using her lived experience as a military spouse to support her students with empathy and clarity. Her success had nothing to do with a degree, and everything to do with heart and effort.

Case Study B: The Caregiver Who Returned to Learning After Years Away

Another student enrolled during a season of caregiving fatigue. She hadn’t been in a classroom in over a decade. YTT became her entry point back into learning, empowerment, and personal identity.Now she’s teaching community classes and using her military family experience to help others feel safe and supported.

These examples are exactly why YTT is so powerful, it meets people where they are.

Common Misconceptions (Debunked the LRW Way)

Misconception: “You need a kinesiology or exercise science degree.”

No. A strong, accredited YTT covers the anatomy you need, safely, ethically, and accessibly.

Misconception: “You need a psychology degree to offer trauma-informed yoga.”

No. Trauma-informed awareness is its own skill set, taught inside LRW without overstepping into clinical territory.

Misconception: “You need a degree to be credible.”

No. Credibility comes from training, ethics, practice, and professionalism, not academia.

Misconception: “Yoga teaching isn’t a real profession without a degree.”

Yoga is a multi-billion-dollar global industry.Wellness professionals with accredited training are hired every single day, in military programs, nonprofits, studios, corporate wellness, and therapeutic settings.

Degrees can be wonderful…But they’re never the barrier or the defining qualification.

So What Do You Need?

Here’s the honest, encouraging answer:

You need a Yoga Alliance–approved 200-hour training…
and a willingness to show up for yourself.

No age limit. No college requirement. No “perfect body.” No athletic background. No prerequisites. No degree needed.

Just readiness, curiosity, and a program that supports you through the entire journey, especially if you’re juggling military life, parenting, caregiving, or transition.