If you are wanting to start a career in yoga, it is likely you’ll have wondered, how long does it take to become a yoga teacher? With so many different course lengths out there, we’ve got all the answers you need!
We’ll cover:
- How long does it take to train to be a yoga teacher? Course lengths explained
- How your course provider can affect how long it takes to become a yoga teacher
- Personal factors that affect how long it takes to become a yoga teacher
- FAQs
Before we get into it, start your career as a yoga teacher today with OriGym’s Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga. Enquire today, or download our free yoga course prospectus here for more information about what we offer.
How long does it take to train to be a yoga teacher? Course lengths explained
If you’re wondering how long it takes to become a yoga instructor, it is likely you’ll have come across a wide range of different yoga courses, ranging from cheap and short, to more expensive and longer courses.
We’ll explain the difference between these two types of yoga teacher training courses, and how they can affect how long it takes you to become a yoga instructor!
Cheap and short yoga teacher training course
First up, let’s address the question, ‘how long does it take to be a yoga teacher with cheap and short courses’?
If you’re excited to become a yoga teacher, there are lots of cheap or even free online courses out there that can be super tempting. These kinds of courses sound too good to be true- and that’s because they are!
If you’re serious about starting your own yoga business or getting any kind of job as a yoga professional, you should be wary of these courses making far-fetched claims.
For example, on Reed, there are lots of extremely cheap yoga courses for as little as £10.
However, despite the appealing price tag, let’s take a closer look at one of these £10 yoga training courses.
The first thing to note about this course is that it lasts just 1 hour. This in itself is a red flag. There is such a vast amount of skills and knowledge to learn about yoga and being a yoga teacher, that it can’t possibly all be covered in just an hour.
The answer to the question, ‘how long is yoga teacher training?’ is certainly not 1 hour!
It is therefore pretty much impossible that this course- and other short courses like it, will cover all the content you need to become a yoga teacher.
The other issue with this course is that it gives you ‘no formal qualification’. Further down in the description, it also states the following:
As you can see, you only get an ‘E-certificate’, rather than any kind of regulated, formal qualification. It is highly unlikely that you will get a job as a yoga teacher with just an E-certificate!
Even the slightly more expensive courses on Reed, such as the one below for £75, still offer no formal qualification:
This lack of formal qualification is common across lots of short, cheap yoga courses, and reflects the fact that they are not regulated by an Ofqual-approved awarding body.
Ofqual is the official regulating body for qualifications in the UK.
Ofqual regulation ensures that all vocational courses, qualifications, and exams, meet a set standard of criteria, so that regardless of the course provider that they study with, all qualified yoga instructors have the same level of knowledge.
So, look out for some of these logos on the course providers website:
In order to have this regulated status, course providers have to pay a fee to the awarding body, which is usually at least £50-£70 for every student.
As you can probably see, this fee alone is already more than the cost of some of the cheap courses out there, so it’s fair to assume that these courses are unregulated and won’t truly set you up to be a good yoga teacher.
If you’re going to spend the bare minimum on a course, then you can’t be surprised when the course quality matches that cost!
So the answer to how long it takes to become a yoga teacher with a free course, is that it takes a lot longer than these kinds of courses claim!
Before you get drawn in thinking you’re getting a good deal on a course that will get you qualified in a day, learn everything you need to know about free yoga teacher training courses here.
How long does an Ofqual-regulated yoga teacher training course take?
So, we have established that if you want to get a high quality of yoga teacher training, you’ll need a qualification that is regulated by Ofqual.
Here at OriGym, we know the importance of having an Ofqual-regulated qualification. That’s why our yoga teacher training courses are backed by Focus Awards- an Ofqual approved awarding body.
So, how long does it take to train as a yoga teacher with OriGym?
On average, our Level 3 Yoga Teaching Diploma takes an average of 3-4 months to complete.
If you’re looking for a concrete answer to the question, ‘how long does it take to become a yoga teacher in the UK?’, you may be wondering why this is just an average time.
This is because at OriGym, our yoga teacher training courses are taught via blended learning. This means that it combines the freedom of self-taught online modules, and attending in-person practical workshops.
We choose this study option for our yoga training courses because we know that everyone has other commitments in their life, such as family or work. By being able to study at your own pace, you can fit your yoga teacher training around your existing schedule.
With this in mind, every student will study at different speeds, which is why the course completion time can only be an average figure.
There are several personal factors that can affect this study speed and how long it takes to become a yoga instructor, which we will discuss later in this article!
Level 4 Yoga Teacher Training Course Length
Once you have completed your Level 3 yoga teacher training course with OriGym, you can then work as a yoga teacher.
However, if you want to increase your expertise and specialise in a particular type of yoga, you can then go on to take a further Level 4 qualification in yoga teaching. There are several benefits to this, including:
- It allows you to specialise in a particular type of yoga
- Expand your knowledge and skills
- Increase your earning by becoming a specialist
- Increase your employability.
This course takes a further 3-4 months on average to complete. Like our Level 3 course, it is taught via blended learning, so this time is just an average.
So if you take both the Level 3 and 4 courses, that is an average of 6-8 months to become a fully-qualified, Level 4 yoga teacher.
With this in mind, whether you stop at Level 3 or go on to take a Level 4 course too, will of course affect how long it takes you to become a yoga teacher.
But since a Level 4 Yoga Teacher Diploma allows you to specialise in a particular type of yoga, we highly recommend doing this if you want to increase your employability and earning potential.
Whilst 6-8 months seems a lot longer than some of the free, unregulated courses you may have seen, this amount of time ensures that you qualify with all the skills and knowledge you need to enter the yoga teaching industry with confidence.
How your course provider affects how long it takes you to become a yoga teacher
As well as whether the course is Ofqual regulated, there are other ways in which the course provider that you choose can determine how long it takes you to qualify, such as:
#1 Their resit policy
In the event that you don’t pass an exam or piece of coursework for the first time, you’ll of course want to resist.
When choosing a course provider, you should therefore ask them what their resit policy is, as some providers will charge for resists or have a limit on the amount of times you can resit.
Here at OriGym, we know that sometimes you can have a bad day and need to resist an exam. That’s why we offer unlimited, free resists to all our yoga students, helping you become a yoga teacher as easily and quickly as possible.
#2 How long it takes them to mark your work
It doesn’t matter how quickly you get through the coursework, if the course provider isn’t efficient in getting your results and feedback back to you, then there will be delays to you getting qualified.
When you’re enquiring for a course, ask the enrolment team about the turnaround time for coursework feedback.
The longer this process takes, the longer it will be until you can get started with your new career.
If you take your yoga instructing course with OriGym, our expert team of tutors and assessors are committed to marking your work as quickly as possible, so there are no delays to your learning!
#3 The amount of support during the course
Similarly, an important factor to consider when choosing your course provider is the amount of support you will receive during the course.
When you’re enquiring about the course, ask about what student support is available from the tutor team. For example, you’ll want to know how you can get in contact with them, when you can get in touch, and how often.
If the help and advice of the tutors is only available Monday to Friday from 9-5, and you work the same shift pattern, this will delay your progress if you need to contact them for any reason.
Fortunately, OriGym’s tutors are available during business hours, as well as on evenings and weekends!
So if you take your yoga teacher training course with us, you can get in touch with an expert fitness tutor over the phone, via email, or through our instant chat box service 7 days a week.
#4 The amount of post-course support
As well as support during the course, the support offered after you qualify is also a determining factor for how long it takes to become a yoga teacher.
This is because having a strong post course support can help you find a job as a yoga teacher after you qualify.
For example, OriGym’s post-course support includes features such as:
- CV advice
- Access to our network of partner fitness companies across the UK
- Access to our fitness jobs board
- Help writing your yoga teacher business plan
- Interview preparation help
- Advice on starting your own busines
Having help from experts in all of these areas will naturally speed up the time it takes you to become a yoga instructor compared to trying to break into a whole new industry by yourself!
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Personal factors that affects how long it takes to become a yoga teacher
Even if you choose an Ofqual-regulated, reputable course provider based on the points outlined above, there are also some personal factors that can determine the answer to the question, ‘how long will it take to become a yoga teacher?’.
#1- How motivated you are
As we have said, with blended learning, the online aspects of the course are taken at your own pace. And this pace is largely determined by how motivated you are to get the work done!
If you’re asking ‘how long does it take to become a yoga teacher?’ because you want to get qualified quickly, remember that this is only possible if you get your head down and complete the course.
So, how can you get motivated to study? Here are some tips for staying motivated during independent study:
Organise your time
When faced with a certain amount of work to do, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and stressed. But if you organise your time effectively, even a large workload can seem more manageable.
A good way to do this is by setting yourself small deadlines throughout the week or even within a day.
For example, you could plan your time out by writing down a to-do list for the day, or set yourself the goal of completing a module by a certain time.
This helps you stay motivated, as you will feel a sense of achievement when you reach small deadlines more often. It will boost your confidence and encourage you to carry on!
Give yourself breaks and rewards
Studying can be hard work, so remember not to be too hard on yourself!
When organising your time, schedule in breaks as well as study sessions. This helps you avoid burning out, and motivates you to work towards the reward of a break.
You could also treat yourself with a reward such as your favourite food once you have completed a certain amount of work, which will also motivate you to do that.
Remove distractions
When studying in your own time, we know that there are so many distractions that can hinder your studying. Whether it’s your phone or the temptation of watching TV, all of these things are a form of procrastination.
The best way to avoid this is to remove the source of distraction completely from where you are studying.
For example, if you find that you get distracted by your phone, put it away in a drawer, or even leave it in a different room!
Without these distractions at hand, you’ll be much more focused and motivated to study.
#2- Your starting point
Here at OriGym, our Level 3 Diploma in Yoga Teaching is an entry-level course, meaning that there are no entry requirements.
However, everyone will begin their yoga teacher career at different starting points, depending on factors such as:
How long you have practised yoga
For example, someone who has practised yoga themselves for several years will naturally have a stronger foundation of knowledge and skills to start with, compared to someone who has only just started yoga!
Although you don’t technically need any previous experience or qualifications to take a yoga course with OriGym, one of the things that makes a good yoga teacher is a passion for yoga.
So we definitely recommend at least going to some regular yoga classes before becoming a yoga teacher yourself, so you can develop this passion! This could help you become a yoga teacher quicker because:
- You will become familiar with poses and different types of yoga classes
- You can observe and learn from yoga teachers
- You will become familiar with yoga class etiquette
- You will become comfortable in a yoga studio setting
All of these things will naturally give you an advantage over other students who have not experienced these things, as well as making you a better yoga instructor in the long-run!
Previous education
Again, there are no prerequisites for OriGym’s Level 3 yoga teacher course. However, if you have a fitness or sports-related educational background, you certainly won’t be at a disadvantage.
For example, if you have an A-Level or even degree in Sports Science, you will already be familiar with a lot of the course content, such as human anatomy.
This means that you should be able to complete these aspects of the course quicker than someone who has no previous knowledge of human anatomy.
Other fitness qualifications
As well as education, having other fitness qualifications can help speed up the process of becoming a yoga teacher.
For example, if you have previously taken a personal training course, you will already have taken modules on things that are also in a yoga course- such as anatomy and physiology.
Having this previous knowledge means that you should be able to work through these aspects of the course quicker than someone who has never taken a fitness course before.
#3- The amount of free time you have
When wondering, ‘how long does it take to become a yoga teacher?’, many students forget to think about how much free time they have to spend studying.
Before you vow to dedicate every evening and weekend to your studies, we recommend being realistic.
In other words, make sure that you have a suitable work-life balance. For example, if you are planning on working full-time alongside the course, make sure that you map out some time to relax as well as study!
But it goes without saying that ultimately, the more free time you have, the more time you have to spend on the online study, which helps speed up the time it takes you to qualify.
#4- Whether you need to resit
Having to redo a piece of coursework or wait to resit an exam is another factor that can unexpectedly add some time onto how long it takes you to complete your qualification.
Fortunately, here at OriGym, we have a 98% average pass rate, so this is rarely a problem for our students!
However, something like a bad day during an exam can mean that even the most hard-working of students don’t pass the first time.
As we have said, depending on your course provider, booking another assessment or waiting for coursework to be remarked can take a while, which leaves you waiting a little longer for your certification.
This factor is largely out of your control, however, you can minimise this waiting time by asking the course provider about their turnaround time for marking or the availability of assessments before you sign up.
#5- How long it takes you to find a job
The final factor to consider when asking how long does it take to become a yoga teacher, is that not everyone will walk straight into employment right after qualifying.
Even if you qualify quickly, if you don’t find a job as a yoga teacher, this will delay the time it takes for you to start working as a yoga teacher.
So, how can you speed up the time it takes you to find a yoga teacher job?
Start looking for a job during your course
Instead of waiting until you have qualified to find a job, why not start your job hunt while you are studying?
We’re not saying that you need to be spending lots of your time doing this. After all, you should be focusing on your studies and getting qualified as a priority.
But starting to casually look for jobs during your course means that when it comes to qualifying, you’ll have a better idea of the kind of jobs out there. Some students even time it so that they have a job lined up for as soon as they finish the course!
With OriGym’s yoga courses, since it is taught via blended learning, you have the flexibility to spend time searching for jobs alongside your studies!
Get your CV and cover letter ready
Perhaps the easiest way to speed up how long it takes to become a yoga instructor is to start working on your CV and cover letter as soon as possible.
This means that if a job comes up that you love, you have your application ready to send straight away!
Use the post-course careers support
As we mentioned, any good course provider such as OriGym should provide post-course support, including careers advice.
If you want to speed up the process of finding a job as a yoga teacher, make sure that you take advantage of this!
Of course, this only applies if you are looking to get employed by a yoga studio or a gym. If you are wanting to start your own yoga business or work freelance, then you aren’t as reliant on employers to start work.
FAQs
How long does 200 hour yoga teacher training take?
When searching for ‘how long does yoga teacher training take?’, you may have come across courses with titles based on hours, such as 200, 300 or even 500 hours courses.
These are simply courses that meet the criteria set out by the Yoga Alliance, which is an American yoga organisation.
They stipulate their yoga courses by the amount of hours the training takes, hence the titles such as ‘200 hour yoga teacher training course’ that you may have found.
However, the important thing to be aware of is that these courses are not Ofqual-regulated. And as we explained in this article, this means that you won’t be educated to the industry standard.
So in answer to the question, ‘how long does 200 hour yoga teacher training take?’, the answer is what it says on the tin- it will take 200 hours!
But these courses are not worthwhile if you want to be a successful yoga teacher in the UK. Having the backing of the Yoga Alliance may sound impressive, but in fact, the only ‘stamp of approval’ that is worth looking out for is Ofqual!
Before you go!
So, we hope you now have a clearer answer to the question, ‘how long does it take to become a yoga instructor in the UK?’.
Start your path to becoming a yoga teacher today with a OriGym’s Level 3 Yoga Teaching Diploma. You can also download our free yoga course prospectus to browse our full range of yoga courses!