Namaste and welcome to the world of yoga teacher training! If you’re here, it’s likely that you’re looking to deepen your yoga practice, learn how to teach yoga, gain knowledge in yoga or perhaps even become a yoga teacher. Whatever your reason may be, we’re thrilled to share with you a guide to the best fully online yoga teacher training courses. Online learning is the future, with instant access to hours of tutorials and teachers who are available whenever you need any questions you may have. Gone are the days when you had to travel to a far-off location to attend yoga teaching courses.
With the convenience of technology, you can now learn and be taught yoga from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace. The typical 200-hour online yoga teacher training course is the perfect way to begin your yoga journey or take it to the next level in becoming a teacher. A good teaching training course will cover everything from the history and philosophy of yoga to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. You’ll learn about different yoga styles, with a special focus on Hatha yoga, and practice various asanas (yoga poses) to deepen your own practice. It will be holistic, meaning it takes into account the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of yoga.
Teacher trainers are experienced yoga teachers who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and helping you grow on your yoga journey. With so many yoga courses in the UK popping up on the internet, the challenge lies in choosing the appropriate course for you that will transform your life. Below are our top picks of yoga schools graduating quality instructors from an online classroom.
Importance of training with a Yoga Alliance Accredited Online Yoga Instructor
Many online yoga teacher training courses are accredited by Yoga Alliance, which means that upon completion, you’ll be a certified yoga teacher with a recognized qualification that will enable you to teach yoga classes, whether online or in person. You’ll have lifetime access to the course materials, allowing you to revisit and review the content at any time. If you’re looking to become a certified yoga teacher, it’s worthwhile that you get trained through an accredited Yoga Alliance-certified program. The Yoga Alliance International is an international governing body that sets the standards for yoga teacher training programs. A Yoga Alliance-certified program ensures that the training meets the industry standards and covers all the necessary aspects of yoga, including asana, anatomy and physiology, philosophy, teaching methodology, and ethics. The certification is recognized globally, which means that you’ll have the credentials to teach yoga anywhere in the world. In addition, being trained through a Yoga Alliance-certified program shows your commitment to the practice and the profession. It gives you credibility and sets you apart from other yoga teachers who may not have gone through a rigorous training program. So, if you want to become a well-rounded and respected professional yoga teacher and join other yoga alliance professionals, then getting trained through a Yoga Alliance-certified program is a must.
What Yoga Style is Right for Me when Training Online?
There are many different styles of yoga training, each with its own unique approach and focus. Here are some of the most popular styles of yoga, and how they differ from one another:
Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is a gentle, beginner-friendly style that focuses on holding poses for longer periods of time to build strength, flexibility, and balance. It’s a great starting point for beginners who want to get a feel for yoga.
Iyengar Yoga: Iyengar yoga is a precision-based style that emphasizes alignment and proper form of a yoga asana. It’s great for those who want to learn the correct alignment in each pose and develop a deeper understanding of the body.
Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga yoga is a fast-paced, physically demanding style that involves a set series of poses performed in a specific sequence. It’s great for those who want a challenging, structured practice.
Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa yoga is a fluid, dynamic style that emphasizes linking breath with movement. It’s great for those who want to move and flow with their breath and build strength and flexibility at the same time.
Yin/Restorative Yoga: Yin yoga is a slow-paced, passive style that involves holding poses for longer periods of time to stretch the deep connective tissues of the body. Restorative yoga is similar but involves more supported poses with the use of props. Both styles are great for those who want to release tension and relax deeply.
Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini yoga is a spiritual, meditative style that involves chanting, breathing techniques, and specific poses to awaken the energy at the base of the spine. It’s great for those who want to connect more deeply with their spiritual practice.
In summary, each style offers its own unique benefits of yoga and approach. It’s important to explore different styles to find what works best for you and your individual needs and goals. Whether you prefer a gentle, restorative practice or a more physically demanding one, there’s a style of yoga teacher training online out there for you.
Is a 200-hour teacher Training online course enough?
When it comes to yoga teacher training, there are several different lengths of courses available, including 100 hours, 200 hours, and 500 hours. Here’s a comparison of the different lengths:
100-hour Yoga Teacher Training: A 100-hour yoga teacher training is a shorter course that provides a basic understanding of yoga philosophy, asana practice, pranayama, and meditation. It’s a great option for those who want to deepen their own practice or for yoga enthusiasts who want to learn more about yoga but don’t necessarily want to teach.
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training: A 200 hour yoga teacher training is the industry standard for becoming a certified yoga teacher. It provides a comprehensive understanding of yoga philosophy, anatomy, teaching methodology, and ethics. It’s a great option for those who want to teach yoga professionally or who want to deepen their own practice and knowledge.
500-hour Yoga Teacher Training: A 500-hour yoga teacher training is an advanced course for experienced yoga teachers who want to take their teaching to the next level. It provides a deeper understanding of advanced asana practice, yoga philosophy, anatomy and physiology, and teaching methodology. It’s a great option for those who want to specialize in a specific style of yoga or who want to expand their knowledge and skillset as a teacher.
In summary, the length of yoga teacher training you choose will depend on your goals and experience level. If you’re just starting out, a 200hr training is a great option for becoming a certified yoga teacher. If you’re already teaching and want to deepen your knowledge and skills, a 500-hour training may be the right choice. If you’re not interested in teaching but want to deepen your own practice, a 100-hour training may be sufficient. Regardless of the length, make sure to choose a training program that is accredited by a recognized organization, such as Yoga Alliance, to ensure that you receive a high-quality education.
Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses – UK – Our Top 10 Picks
Yoga Farm
Yoga Farm offers both 200 and 300-hour Yoga Alliance certificated teacher training programs which are open for enrolment in early 2021. The school prides itself on their highly interactive approach; offering live contact with trainers and classmates weekly to ensure optimal understanding and support. The training includes live virtual classrooms, more than forty recorded videos with lifetime access, daily yoga and meditation classes, and a one-year subscription to their online community database.
Length: Self-paced (6 weeks to 1 year)
Cost: $1499 (Approx. £1,125)
Refundable: Full refund minus deposit until 2 weeks before course commencement
Yoga Technique: Vinyasa Yoga & Hatha Yoga
Teachers: Christopher Grant, Daniela Hess & Jeannie O’Neill
Sampoorna Yoga
Sampoorna Yogais based on the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga philosophy and offers monthly enrolment for those wishing to graduate as a Yoga Alliance certified 200-hour teacher. The school is known for their dedication to the Ashtanga primary series lineage, which has been regarded for centuries as beneficial in the repair, realignment, and strengthening of the entire physical and mental systems within the human body. The online yoga teacher training course includes daily virtual practices with teachers as well as pre-recorded sessions to offer scheduling flexibility throughout the entire twenty-four-day course.
Length: 24 days (+10 study days to prepare for a written exam)
Cost: $1069 (Approx. £800)
Refundable: Non-refundable
Yoga Technique: Ashtanga Vinyasa
Teachers: Eli Aguilar, Rowena Johnson, Karen Marsh, Dr. Pallavi Kavhane & Dr. Neelima Nalawadey
Himalayan Yoga Institute 
Himalayan Yoga Institute offers 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified online teacher training which is designed to graduate quality instructors whilst encouraging the embodiment of an authentic yogic lifestyle. Past students sing praise for a profound immersion in the very practices of traditional yoga, as well as lifelong mentoring from respected mentors in their field. The course is balanced between live conferences, pre-recorded videos, telephone calls with certified yoga teachers, written theory, and group discussions.
Length: Self-paced (3 weeks – indefinite)
Cost: $925 (Approx. £690)
Refundable: Non-refundable
Yoga Technique: Tantric Rajadhiraja yoga
Teacher: Ganga Devi
Ulu Yoga
Ulu Yoga offers accredited Yoga Alliance certification within various disciplines of yogic science through their well-regarded online course curriculum. Upon enrolment, students have one full month to complete their selected course via Livestream classes and pre-recorded videos with the exception of classes on Sundays, the new moon, and the full moon. The best part? Online tuition fees serve as a credit to attend future training in Thailand and Bali; offering participants a special incentive to learn and teach aerial yoga, acro yoga and SUP yoga internationally.
Length: 30 days – 1 year depending on course style
Cost: Starting at $499 (Approx. £375)
Refundable: Credit towards international courses in Thailand/Bali
Yoga Technique: Hatha, Ashtanga & Vinyasa
Teachers: Shashi Mahler, Manjeet Mathur, Kehkashan Nadeem & Dr Kalpana Karia
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is a Canadian-based ashram priding itself on making the practice of yoga inclusive and accessible to everyone, everywhere, of every skill level. Their personalized teacher training programs offer participants the unique option to choose which discipline of yoga they wish to study; ranging from Yin Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Therapy Yoga, Special Needs Yoga and many more with one-on-one support from industry-leading instructors. The curriculum is offered as a combination of both live and pre-recorded videos, as well as written manuals and home reading.
Length: Self-paced up to 1 year
Cost: $999 (£750)
Refundable: Non-refundable $300 deposit
Yoga Technique: Hatha, Yin/Restorative, Yoga Nidra, Kids Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and Kundalini Yoga
Teachers: Solace & Jennifer
Uplifted Yoga
With thousands of satisfied graduates and more than five years of experience offering Yoga Alliance-certified online training, Uplifted Yoga is amongst the top in their field to virtually educate yoga teachers. Lead instructor, Brett Larkin, claims that the course has been intricately designed with full-time employees and parents in mind; requiring a weekly commitment of just eight to ten hours for participation in video lectures, live calls, and at-home reading. The Uplifted Yoga difference? Fun, approachable videos with accessible content allow even the most beginner of practitioners to establish a solid foundation in yoga and meditation.
Length: Self-paced up to 18 months commencing Jan 2021
Cost: $2850 (Approx. £2, 140)
Refundable: Non-refundable
Yoga Technique: Hatha & Vinyasa
Teacher: Brett Larkin
Yoga International
In alignment with Yoga Alliance specifications, Yoga International has developed an online 200-hour teacher training consisting of both live and pre-recorded lectures over a three-month duration. The Maze Method of practice, developed by course founder Noah Maze, places emphasis on human anatomy, kinesiology, and applied biomechanics to deconstruct yoga poses in a manner that optimizes health and well-being. Maze encourages anyone suffering from physical pain, challenges with meditation, injuries, and health issues to enrol in the online training program; not just to teach others but an effort to improve the quality of their own lives in the process.
Length: 10 weeks commencing Spring 2021
Cost: $1899 (Approx. £1,420)
Refundable: Non-refundable
Yoga Technique: Hatha & Vinyasa
Teachers: Noah Maze, Rocky Heron & Nichol Chase
My Vinyasa Practice
My Vinyasa Practice offers some of the most affordable Yoga Alliance-accredited training available online in 200, 300, and 500-hour platforms. The Texas-based school vows to transition students more seamlessly into the instructor role post-graduation by offering career counselling and job placement as part of its syllabus to help you start your yoga business. Additionally, participants can expect unlimited personal coaching with lead instructors, podcast content, group discussions, and a welcomed invitation into a diverse online community of past graduates and teachers from around the globe.
Length: Self-paced, lifetime access
Cost: $450 when paid in full, $300 / month with a payment plan (Approx. £340)
Refundable: Full refund within 30 days of commencement
Yoga Technique: Vinyasa & Yin/Restorative
Teacher: Michelle Young
Yoga Shanti
Yoga Shanti’s 200-hour online teacher training boasts an opportunity for students to dive deep into the very practices of ancient yogic wisdom with a unique live sessions stream approach. This two-and-a-half-month, direct-study program offers a unique “real-time” approach; requesting participants to commit to an initial five-day intensive syllabus followed by six-weekend sessions. The curriculum includes skills to develop an at-home practice for personal benefit, as well as sequencing, anatomy, and adjustment courses to facilitate graduates in instructing yoga as a profession.
Length: January 26th, 2021 – April 11th, 2021
Cost: $2660 (Approx. £1,995)
Refundable: Refund minus $300 deposit until January 8th, 2021
Yoga Technique: Iyengar & Ashtanga Yoga
Teachers: Colleen Saidman & Rodney Yes
Akasha Academy
Akasha Academy prides itself on over a decade of heart-centred teachings in the yogic tradition with its 200-hour Yoga Alliance-accredited online course. Past students reflect on the overall supportive nature of their experience through direct communication with teachers, mentors, and fellow students. The school believes so confidently in the content they’re sharing, that they’ve committed to offering a free trial of thirty-two lessons to anyone interested in becoming a yoga teacher under the Akasha tradition.
Length: Self-paced (up to 1 year)
Cost: $1700 (Approx. £1,275)
Refundable: Free trial before commencing
Yoga Technique: Hatha
Teachers: Burkhard, Devdas & Kirsten
Yogahaven Teacher Training
Established in 2006, the Yogahaven 200-hour Teacher Training (TT) program has been successfully nurturing new yoga teachers and has become one of the leading institutions in the UK.
The team of experienced tutors, handpicked by Yogahaven founder Allie Hill, is known for their exceptional ability to teach, foster growth, inspire, and empower trainees. These accomplished instructors have collaborated closely with thousands of yoga teacher training students, assisting them in enhancing their understanding of yoga instruction through a compassionate, non-dogmatic, and pragmatic approach.
Under Allie’s guidance, numerous exceptional yoga teachers have emerged, many of whom are likely to have instructed at a studio in close proximity to various locations. A flourishing yoga community in itself has led to several of these accomplished graduates having even ventured into establishing their own businesses and conducting teacher training courses in recent years.
Length: 200 hours
Cost: £1950
Yoga Technique: Hatha
Final Thoughts about Yoga Teacher Training Online
In conclusion, online yoga teacher training is an excellent way for individuals to become certified and skilled yoga teachers and pursue teaching as a new career. So, whether you’re looking to teach yoga professionally, or simply deepen your practice and knowledge of yoga, the above online yoga teacher training courses are a perfect option for you.
The online training experience is designed to help students create a flexible and convenient schedule to learn at their own pace, and from the comfort of their home or gym and learn how to become a confident and skilled yoga teacher.
We also have a lot of yoga and meditation product guides to help you set up a comfortable space at home to practice, such as our article on meditation cushions and eco yoga mats or Product Guides.