Yoga teacher training: what it is and who it’s for
Thinking about doing a Yoga teacher training but not sure? Find out what you learn, how long it takes and whether this training is really for you.
More and more people come to BeYoga with the same question: “I want to deepen my Yoga: is teacher training for me, even if I don’t want to teach?” The short answer is yes. But it’s worth understanding why, and what actually happens during a Yoga teacher training.
This article answers the most common questions, honestly, without romanticising and without unnecessary complication.
What is a Yoga teacher training?
A Yoga teacher training, also called a Teacher Training or YTT, is an in-depth study programme that goes far beyond the physical practice of postures. It covers Yoga philosophy, applied anatomy, teaching techniques, pranayama, meditation, history and the ethical foundations of the practice.
In Portugal, the most internationally recognised trainings follow the Yoga Alliance curriculum. The 200-hour training (RYT 200) is the entry level and represents the international standard for those who want to teach Yoga in a recognised way.
What do you learn in a 200-hour training?
The 200 hours are spread across five main areas of study:
Area 1
Personal practice techniques
You deepen your practice of asanas, pranayama and meditation to a level that regular classes rarely offer. The aim isn’t to master more postures. It’s to understand what you’re doing when you practise, and why.
Area 2
Philosophy and history of Yoga
You study the classical texts: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. You understand how Yoga developed over millennia and how those teachings apply to contemporary life.
Area 3
Applied anatomy and physiology
You learn how the body works in the postures: joints, muscles, connective tissue, nervous system. This area is essential to prevent injuries, adapt Yoga to different bodies and teach responsibly.
Area 4
Teaching methodology
You develop skills to plan and teach classes, create sequences, use your voice effectively, give safe hands-on adjustments and guide students clearly. This is where personal practice meets teaching.
Area 5
Ethics and lifestyle
You explore the Yamas and Niyamas, the ethical principles of Yoga, and how to integrate them into daily life. Practical issues are also covered, such as the teacher-student relationship, professional boundaries and the responsibility of teaching.
A cohort graduating from BeYoga School, Lisbon, 2026
Intensive or progressive: which format is right?
Intensive training
It concentrates the hours into a short period, a few weeks. Demanding, immersive and effective for those with full availability who want an accelerated experience of transformation.
Progressive training
It spreads the curriculum over several months, usually on weekends. Compatible with a professional life. It allows a more gradual integration of the content. The dominant format at BeYoga.
There’s no better format: there’s the right format for your moment in life. What matters is the quality of what happens inside and outside the room.
Is the training only for those who want to be teachers?
No. This is probably the most common misconception about Yoga trainings.
Although the formal goal is to qualify you to teach, the vast majority of people who take teacher trainings do so for other, equally valid reasons: to deepen their personal practice, to move through a period of transformation, to explore the philosophy of Yoga, or simply to understand what they’ve been doing on the mat for years.
Read the stories of Danahe Garrido and Luís Sanchez — both arrived at the training with no intention of teaching and left with a mission.
BeYoga training class, Porto, 2026
How to choose the right school for you?
After checking the certifications and the curriculum, there are less obvious aspects worth considering:
What is your goal: personal practice or professional teaching?
What prior experience do you have with Yoga?
Do you identify with the approach and values of the school?
Is there real support during and after the training, or are you left to your own devices?
What are the testimonials of former students like? Are they concrete and honest?
Does the school have Yoga Alliance, DGERT and IPDJ certification?
About the Yoga teacher training
Do I need many years of practice before enrolling?
BeYoga recommends at least 1 year of regular practice, but what matters most is consistency and intention. The exact number of years matters less than the regularity of practice. What the training assumes is that you already have a real personal relationship with Yoga, not that you’re an advanced practitioner.
Is the training internationally recognised?
Yes. BeYoga’s trainings follow the Yoga Alliance curriculum as an RYS (Registered Yoga School), which means you can register as an RYT 200 and teach anywhere in the world. The school is also accredited by DGERT and IPDJ, the leading national bodies.
Can I do the training and not register with Yoga Alliance?
Yes. Registering with Yoga Alliance is optional. Many people complete the training without ever registering, because their goal was personal growth or because they teach in a context where registration isn’t required. The school’s certificate is issued regardless of international registration.
How long does the training take and how does it work in practice?
The foundation training is 200 hours, delivered in modules over several months, usually intensive weekends. BeYoga also offers the 300-hour training for those who have completed the 200h and want to go even deeper. The calendar is designed to be compatible with a professional life.
Is there support after the training ends?
Yes. At BeYoga there’s an active community of graduates. After the training, you have access to workshops, retreats and the network of teachers who have already taken this path. The support doesn’t end on the last day of class. It’s one of the things that sets the school apart.
Can I start teaching during the training?
Yes. The hours of supervised teaching practice are an integral part of the curriculum. Many trainees start giving their first classes, in a controlled setting and with feedback, while still on the training. It’s a fundamental part of the learning.
Where can I do the training: Lisbon, Porto or online?
BeYoga School offers in-person trainings in Lisbon (Bambú studio) and Porto (YogArte), and also an online format for those who aren’t near either city. All formats have the same accreditation and the same curriculum.
Ready to begin your path?
Discover the BeYoga Yoga teacher training and find out how to begin this path — with support, international certification and a real community.
