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How to Become a Yoga Teacher in the UK
IN SHORT
Thinking about becoming a yoga teacher? This is my guide on where to start: exploring your options, experiencing the schools, choosing a format that suits your life, and finding the 200-hour training that feels right for you.
By Allie, founder of yogahaven · Training yoga teachers since 2007 · 1,500+ graduates
Could I actually teach yoga?
So, you've been practising yoga for a while and you've started to wonder… could I actually teach yoga? Maybe you've had that little voice in the back of your mind for months, or perhaps you've just finished a class where something clicked and you thought, I'd love to share this with other people.
Whatever has brought you here, welcome. Choosing to become a yoga teacher is a really exciting journey, but knowing where to start can feel a little overwhelming.
If you've been searching “yoga teacher training UK”, you'll already know there are a lot of options out there. Different schools, different styles, different locations, different lengths, different prices… and lots of very beautiful-looking websites!
So how do you know which yoga teacher training is right for you? We think the best place to start is not by choosing a course straight away, but by taking a little time to work out what kind of experience you're looking for.
Next
Choosing your teacher training
Everything you need to know about choosing a yoga teacher training, from researching your options and visiting studios to deciding between an intensive or part-time course.
• Yoga school name
• Location (UK or abroad)
• Course dates
• Course length (intensive or part-time)
• How many years they've run teacher training
• Style of yoga taught
• Course cost
• What's included (manuals, online support, etc.)
• Accommodation (if relevant)
• Lead teachers
• Course content overview
• Reviews and accreditation
• Your personal first impressions
01
Start by exploring your options
When you first start looking for a yoga teacher training, Google can feel like a bit of a minefield. There are hundreds of courses, and at first glance they can all look quite similar.
Our advice? Make a spreadsheet. Honestly, it really helps. It makes it much easier to compare your options without getting lost in beautifully designed websites and marketing language.
And remember: the course that looks best online isn't always the course that will feel best for you.
• Take a class (or a few!)
• Experience different teachers
• Notice the style of teaching
• Observe the atmosphere in the studio
• See how welcome you feel
02
Go and experience the yoga school first
If you're considering a specific yoga teacher training course, go and practise there first. This is one of the most valuable steps you can take. Speak to the company and ask to visit the studio.
After class, speak to the teachers or studio team. Ask about their training, their experience, and what the course is really like beyond the website.
Because you're not just choosing a course. You're choosing a community to grow within. And that matters more than you might think.
Intensive (including abroad)
You're fully focused on learning, surrounded by like-minded people and living and breathing yoga for a set period. But think about time away from work and family, travel and accommodation costs, and how you take in a lot of information quickly.
Part-time (6 to 12 months)
You learn gradually, practise between training weekends and keep your normal life going, building confidence step by step: learn, practise, reflect, return.
03
Choose the right format for your life
There is no one "right" way to complete a yoga teacher training. Some people thrive in an immersive intensive. Others need more time to absorb and integrate what they're learning.
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is a lot of information. You'll be learning, and you'll also be practising teaching, which is a completely new skill in itself.
So it's worth asking: how do I learn best?
• Do I love dynamic, flowing classes?
• Am I drawn to slower, grounding practices?
• Am I interested in anatomy and movement?
• Do I enjoy philosophy and meditation?
• Do I want to teach strong, energetic classes or more restorative ones?
04
Think about the kind of teacher you want to become
You don't need to have this fully figured out yet; most people don't. But it can help to reflect on what you currently enjoy in your own practice.
When researching a yoga teacher training, look closely at what is actually being taught. Teacher training is not just about learning poses. It's about learning how to share yoga in a meaningful, safe and authentic way.
• Who are the teachers? What's their experience, how long have they been teaching, and do you connect with their style?
• What is the teaching philosophy? Does it resonate with you and feel aligned with your values?
• How much teaching practice is included?
• What support is available, during the training and after you graduate?
05
Look beyond the certificate
It can be easy to compare courses based on price, number of hours and location. But we'd encourage you to go deeper than that.
Reading about teaching yoga is very different from actually doing it, and a supportive community can make a huge difference when you're starting out.
• Be the most flexible person in the room
• Be able to do advanced poses
• Have years of experience
• Have everything figured out
It's about learning how to hold space, guide others, communicate clearly, observe and support students, and share yoga in an accessible way.
06
You don't need to feel "ready"
One of the most common questions we hear is: "Am I good enough to do a yoga teacher training course?" And the honest answer is: yes.
Yoga teaching is not about being the "best" at yoga. And you will keep learning long after your training ends. That's part of the beauty of it.
• Teaching full-time
• Teaching part-time alongside another job
• Teaching privately
• Working in studios
• Running workshops or retreats
• Teaching online or in corporate settings
07
Think about your future as a yoga teacher
It can also help to gently consider what you might want your teaching life to look like.
You don't need a fixed plan. But having a sense of direction can help you choose the right yoga teacher training course for you.
• Where do I feel most at ease?
• Which teachers inspire me?
• Where do I feel excited to learn?
• Where do I feel like I belong?
08
Trust your gut
After you've done your research, taken classes and spoken to teachers, you'll usually find a few courses stand out. This is where intuition matters.
Because becoming a yoga teacher is not just about completing 200 hours. It's about starting a new relationship with yoga, and with yourself.
1. Explore yoga teacher training options
2. Create a shortlist
3. Experience the schools in person
4. Choose your training format
5. Select a reputable 200-hour course
6. Immerse yourself in the learning
7. Start teaching
Recap
So, how do you become a yoga teacher in the UK?
In simple terms, your journey might look like this. Your first class won't be perfect, but you will LOVE it.
If you've been thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, maybe this is your sign to explore it a little further. We'd love to welcome you into the yogahaven community.
Yoga Alliance certified · Flexible payment plans · Teach at our studio
Ready to train?
Choose your 200-hour course
• Yoga asana
• Anatomy and physiology
• Teaching methodology and sequencing
• Yoga philosophy
• History and roots of yoga
• Breathwork
• Meditation
• Chanting and sound
• The subtle body
• Practical teaching experience
• The business of yoga
• Yoga off the mat: applying yoga in everyday life
?
What is a yoga teacher training UK qualification?
There isn't one single government qualification required to teach yoga in the UK, in the same way there is for some regulated professions. However, if you want to teach yoga professionally, completing a reputable 200-hour yoga teacher training course is the most common and widely recognised starting point.
But choosing a yoga teacher training is about much more than gaining a certificate. Your training will shape how you practise yoga, how you teach yoga, and often how you see yoga as a whole.
That's why it's worth taking your time and doing a little research before committing.
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