What Is Required to Become a Yoga Instructor?

Becoming a yoga instructor isn’t just about learning poses, it’s about learning how to teach, how to hold space, and how to understand the body, mind, and nervous system in a way that genuinely changes people’s lives.

If you’re wondering what’s actually required to become a certified, credible, and confident yoga instructor, this guide gives you the real steps, from training standards to real-world expectations, through the lens of Lotus River Wellness (LRW) and the military families we serve.

Complete an Acredited 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). This is the global standard.

A 200-hour program teaches you:

• Yoga philosophy, history, & ethics

• Anatomy & biomechanics

• Breath-work and meditation

• Subtle body teachings (chakras, nadis, gunas)

• Sequencing and class design

• Cueing and teaching methodology

• Adjustments, variations, and modifications

• Trauma sensitivity

• Safety fundamentals

• Business & professionalism

LRW’s RYS-200 is accredited through Yoga Alliance and structured with military families in mind, flexible, accessible, trauma-informed, and rich in nervous system education.

1. Choose an Accredited and Reputable School

   1. You can technically get trained anywhere… but it matters where you train.

   2. A reputable school should offer:

      1. Experienced faculty

      2. Comprehensive curriculum

      3. Trauma-sensitive instruction

      4. Ongoing support

      5. A blend of modern science + ancient wisdom

      6. A practicum with real teaching hours

      7. Clear guidelines for graduation

      8. A path to optional Yoga Alliance registration

   3. What sets LRW apart is the military-context knowledge, the nervous-system-focused training, and the direct career support that military spouses actually need.

2. Complete All Assignments, Exams, and Practicum Hours

   1. Quality programs require you to show mastery, not just attendance.

   2. This includes:

      1. Quizzes on anatomy, philosophy, and teaching principles

      2. A final exam

      3. A teaching practicum (teaching real classes)

      4. Recorded or live-session assessments

      5. Sequencing assignments

      6. Class observations

   3. This is where confidence is built, not just competence.

   
   

3. Decide Whether to Register With Yoga Alliance (Optional)

   1. Yoga Alliance registration is not legally required, but it’s often preferred by:

      1. Studios

      2. Gyms

      3. Military wellness programs

      4. Nonprofits

      5. Corporate wellness

   2. LRW’s program meets (and exceeds) Yoga Alliance RYS-200 standards, so any graduate can register if they choose.

4. Start Teaching, Even Before You Feel “Ready”

   1. Teaching is a skill built through:

      1. Repetition

      2. Real students

      3. Clear feedback

      4. Community support

   2. LRW students are supported through teaching hours, mentorship, and practicum opportunities designed to build confidence, not perfectionism.

   3. Military spouses especially benefit from:

      1. Live Zoom practice sessions

      2. Community teaching opportunities

      3. Base and nonprofit partnerships

      4. Virtual teaching options during PCS or deployment seasons

5. Continue Your Education (Highly Recommended)

   1. Once certified, most teachers deepen their expertise through:

      1. Yin Yoga Certification

      2. Restorative Yoga Certification

      3. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga

      4. Ayurveda training

      5. Specialty training for military populations

   2. This is where teachers become in-demand, especially in communities requiring nervous-system literacy and skillful space holding.

   3. LRW graduates often pursue an additional 85-hour certification (Yin or Restorative), becoming even more valuable in military settings.

6. What’s Not Required to Become a Yoga Instructor

   1. Here’s what you do not need:

      1. A perfect body

      2. Extreme flexibility

      3. A gymnastic practice

      4. Decades of yoga experience

      5. A large social media presence

      6. A spiritual “aesthetic”

      7. Fancy equipment

      8. A calm life

   2. You need willingness, commitment, and a desire to help people feel better in their bodies and lives.

7. Special Note for Military Spouses, Veterans, and SOF Community Members

   1. You bring something to yoga that cannot be taught:

      1. Lived resilience

      2. Real-world nervous system awareness

      3. Compassion born from service

      4. Experience navigating trauma, reintegration, deployments, or caregiving

      5. A desire to help others not fall through the cracks

   2. That makes you uniquely qualified, and deeply needed, in the yoga and wellness world.

   3. This is why LRW exists.To train the teachers who understand what the military community truly needs.

So What is Required to Become a Yoga Instructor?

In total, you need:

1. A 200-hour YTT

   1. A credible, accredited school

2. Practical teaching experience

3. A willingness to grow

4. A passion for helping people regulate, restore, and reconnect

That’s it.

The rest: confidence, clarity, and mastery, comes with time, community, and support.