The 7 BEST Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses, According to …

Looking for an online yoga teacher training course, but flooded with listicles and promises that this yoga school is “the best”?

Yeah. I see them too.

And for a long time, I didn’t want to enter that space. I just wanted my online training to speak for itself and let the right students find me when they were ready.

The problem?

SO many of those students FIRST tried other online yoga instructor training courses that were listed on these blog posts, before eventually joining mine!

Why?

Because those listicles dangle the “certified yoga instructor” label in front of you for less than what a 1-unit college class would cost (like “get certified as a yoga instructor for $300” – or less! ?). We know that the cost of yoga training varies widely, but be very cautious with any training you can buy for less than $1000.

Low-cost training offers may be enticing, but they lead many students to impulse-buy, only to find that what’s behind the “buy now” button isn’t what they expected, leaving them under-prepared and searching for a true yoga teacher training.

Let me explain.

Historically, a legitimate yoga teacher training would cost upwards of $3,000, with top tier schools costing $4,000 or more. Trust me: finding a cheap online training course and entering your credit card details is the easiest part of the process. 

Up next, you actually need to (newsflash!) complete 200-Hours of yoga education across a variety of categories (regardless of which training you buy). This is when many students realize that after the shopping cart screen they are totally “on their own”:

The truth is that most of these online YTT programs rely on volume—they expect lots of people to aspirationally enroll, but less than 25% to certify. The sheer number of hours it takes to certify (yes, 200 Hours, people!) takes stamina and a lot of leg work.  Inexpensive  programs are counting on the fact that you won’t actually finish. By the time you realize that you’re in over your head, they’ve already collected your money.

And that’s when students inevitably come to me for an online training that not only teaches them traditional yoga philosophy and alignment, but also hand-holds them through the entire certification process, step-by-step. 

In my cohort model, you move through the training—start to finish—with the same peer group, just like an in-person training. You have the same teachers, the same peers, resulting in accountability and support. Everyone graduates together and completes their 200-Hours within 4 months in a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. I also offer extensive education about how to run a yoga business and earn a living as an online yoga teacher in my curriculum.

Look, I’m not trying to sell my course to you (though it’s on this list because I genuinely believe it’s the best, and I’ve been in this space the longest).

What I’m trying to do is provide you with some context on the inherent value provided in a professionally structured online yoga teacher training…

…and the major downfall of DIY programs that don’t provide that value simply because, at best, they don’t have the team, tech, experience and resources, or at worst, because they can hide behind a computer screen.

So below, is my vetted list of online yoga teacher trainings that I actually know to be worth the value.

DISCLAIMER: Unlike most of the other websites that list online yoga teacher trainings based on the affiliate commission they make from them (please explore WHO is the authority/author behind the lists you read), I DON’T make an affiliate commission from these trainings. If I do, then I’ll be up front about it.

Instead, I share my insights as an industry veteran and make genuine recommendations based on my experience, knowledge, and relationships with the lead yoga instructors in this space.

Why?

Because I believe in yoga. I think anyone who cares about their body or loves personal development work should do yoga teacher training. I believe in the power of yoga as a transformative, healing modality. I know for a fact master teachers can be trained fully online, and I know what makes a good online yoga school. 

I am the very first yoga instructor to have an online yoga school, after all (since 2015!).

So, let’s go deeper than the affiliate listicle sites that are out there. Brett Larkin has entered the chat and I’m breaking down what I feel provides the best 200 hour teacher training online. Let’s do it!

I’m an industry veteran and have been leading online yoga teacher trainings for over 7 years. I’ve been in this space the longest, so I’ve been able to watch the industry grow and adapt to online learning.

In fact, the online version of my YTT wasn’t Yoga Alliance certified until COVID hit because, well, there was a stipulation that a yoga school had to provide in-person yoga instructor training in order to be Yoga Alliance certified. Never mind the actual quality of the program or the success rate of its students.

We are now a registered yoga school with Yoga Alliance, thanks to COVID, but that means so is everyone else with an internet connection and a promise that they’ll teach all of the required topics…

…which may have you scratching your head on how to suss this all out. 

That’s what I’m here to do.

Look, I’ll recommend my course because, like I said, I really think it’s the best. I have literally dedicated my life to creating a transformative, intimate YTT that provides the utmost value to my students, and truly qualifies them to certify (96% of our students graduate, completing all 200-Hours with eligibility to join Yoga Alliance).

But I’ll also break down other courses that I believe in too. My course isn’t for everyone and I get that. I just want to connect yoga lovers to quality schools.

Most lists you read take snippets from the training sales site and regurgitate them. They don’t actually tell you what’s in the course, why it’s worth paying for, or what qualities the lead registered yoga teacher offers. They definitely have not taken the course. 

I’m promoting trainings in which I either know the owners well, have taken myself, vetted through my professional network, or my alumni have seen behind the scenes on.

I also polled my network, alumni, and yoga enthusiast community for the most comprehensive insider view.

But I don’t recommend that you just take my word for it. Investing in a yoga teacher training is a big decision. It is so personal to your own personal practice, goals for teaching yoga, and which style or tradition you’d like to study.

I’ve got tons of resources to help you make that decision:

Otherwise, let’s review what to look for in an online 200 hour teacher training course or online yoga school. I know you want to get to my list, but all of this backstory is critical to know, ahem, enter…

For a full breakdown on Yoga Alliance and what it means to be Yoga Alliance certified, then head over to my post: What is Yoga Alliance and Do I Need an RYT Certificate to Teach Yoga?

Basically, Yoga Alliance is an organization that streamlines the certification process in the yoga industry. The idea is that when a “registered yoga teacher” applies for a teaching job at a yoga studio, yoga retreat, or any other yoga teaching job, the employer can be sure that the teacher has a general understanding of yoga and how to teach.

Just like law schools and medical schools have to follow certain standards to ensure that graduates are actually equipped to practice in their field of study, the Yoga Alliance attempts to do the same. 

Key word “attempts.” 

Yoga Alliance has always been controversial as they operate off the fees students and teachers pay them in order to be part of their registry. 

So if a “yoga school” pays the fee and provides whatever (potentially bogus) documentation of their curriculum, then they are registered. Because of the fraud that exploded in recent years, YA has promised to more thoroughly vet programs as a result.

In order for a yoga school to be registered with Yoga Alliance, it must demonstrate that it adequately covers the following topics:

You can review the Yoga Alliance online yoga teacher training requirements here.

One of my biggest recommendations on how to know if an online training is legit, way more than a Yoga Alliance stamp, is to actually look at the curriculum.

Remember: being a Yoga Alliance registered yoga school only means that you’ve submitted the appropriate paperwork for approval and paid a fee. It does not mean that the training itself is high quality or a good fit for what you’re looking for. Reviewing the course curriculum will help you learn more about what the respective course has to offer.

One of my BIGGEST recommendations to students is to get to know the lead yoga teacher trainer before purchasing a course. After all, just because you’ve paid a fee to Yoga Alliance to be a registered yoga teacher doesn’t mean that you’re a good yoga teacher.

It’s also important to know that the yoga teacher trainer has a style and philosophy that you vibe with.

Think about it: the lead teacher is the one who is teaching you not only the fundamentals of yoga—like yoga anatomy and yoga history—but he/she will also be teaching you how to teach yoga.

And whether you’re interested in doing a yoga training for your own personal practice or to become a yoga instructor, it’s important that you actually like the style in which the lead trainer teaches yoga.

If you’re unable to attend their yoga class at a brick-and-mortar yoga studio, then find them online, on Youtube, and attend a virtual yoga class. Get to know their style and their voice. See how it feels and if it is aligned with the kind of yoga you would like to learn.

And if the lead trainer doesn’t actually teach yoga publicly or online?

Well, that can’t be a good sign, can it?

Alright, so now you know the underbelly of the new and exploding online YTT industry and the potential drawbacks of online yoga teacher trainings. (Or any online course, for that matter.)

How do you know which is the best yoga teacher training for you?

Take a look at the curriculum and manual. Talk to other students who’ve completed the course. Get to know the lead certified yoga instructor. Look at how the online course is structured. And then read through this list.

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrettLarkinYoga  Where to get more info: https://www.brettlarkin.com/online-yoga-teacher-training 

I love our training because of its focus on the individual. Despite being an online course, my students still get the same immersive experience that an in-person 200 hour teacher training program offers since we put you in a weekly call with the same students each week. You get a thorough asana review by one of my 500-Hour E-RYT master trainers in the poses you struggle with the most, through our proprietary system. We’re anatomy and alignment nerds, so we love drawing on each other’s photos and bodies! 

Uplifted YTT is the best of the “live” cohort model fused with the best of “on-the-go learning.” I’ve honed all this over 7 years, iterating after each cohort. I filmed myself, world-renowned yoga teachers, and anatomy experts and broke the content up into 20-30 minute videos that are downloadable on your mobile phone. Not only that, but I also send you a 600-page color paper manual with workbook content that corresponds to each video you watch.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Watch Home Study Video Curriculum instantly  

Step 2: Transformational Live Call Experience 

PROS

CONS

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On YouTube: none How we reviewed: Anna is a respected colleague with whom I’m very familiar. She is truly an expert and has dedicated her life to studying the science and history of Yoga.  Where to get more info: The Kaivalya Yoga Method

Alanna’s training is next on my list since she’s been in the online YTT business as long as I have. Back in 2015, it used to be just me and her. I love Alanna because she’s a true yoga expert and a beautiful person (we talked on phone a few times and she was so supportive).

Like me, she brought yoga teacher training online mindfully through apps and a proprietary system before anyone else.

She’s also an author with a PhD, meaning that she is an established certified yoga instructor, not some random school that just threw their stuff online once Yoga Alliance started accepting yoga teacher training online.

I also really like these points about her training:

How it works: You watch content in a vault and then submit all your homework and quizzes in another area. You’re assigned a mentor. So it’s like a private 1-on-1 training. You watch videos, submit homework and videos of you teaching in an online portal, and get occasional feedback from a mentor. 

PROS

CONS

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RodStryker  How we reviewed: I’ve taken Rod’s trainings. So have other master teachers in my faculty.   Where to get more info: https://www.parayoga.com/experience/certification/

Yogarupa Rod Stryker is the yoga philosophy expert behind most of the talented teachers you know. Now you can certify with him fully through Zoom (although it’s at a high price point). I love studying with Rod since he’s a true Tantric expert, has an incredible knowledge of Vedic texts, and still teaches most of his trainings himself (as opposed to handing it over to staff, like most big name teachers). Like me, he clearly loves being “live” with students and is passionate about truly connecting with them.  

How it works: To certify, you first must submit a short application and pay a non-refundable $150 fee. After that, you complete different ParaYoga® Master Trainings (PYMTs for short), either in-person or online. Think of these like 4-day intensive modules, like a yoga retreat over Zoom with an AM and PM session (usually in Colorado time zone, where Rod is based). 

Example PYMT modules you might complete include, 

For 200-Hour certification, the modules must equate to the correct educational categories needed for Yoga Alliance certification. There are 4 foundational 200-Hour modules which are pre-recorded, but you have choices after that on what modules you might pick based on your interests. This training is perfect for the philosophically advanced student who is ready to dive deep into Vedic wisdom with an established teacher. 

PROS

CONS

On YouTube: only their paid membership offers a glimpse of classes How we reviewed: Several of my Uplifted alumni took this program after my Uplifted training due to their interest in either weight lifting, cross-conditioning with yoga, and arm balances, and sat down with us for tea for a debrief.   Where to get more info:  https://authenticmovements.com/online200hr/ 

Authentic Movement Yoga school was an in-person yoga school based in Costa Rica until Covid. AM provides a flow based teacher training, pulling from the Lead Trainers (Stef Gongora, Erin Kelly, and Bianca Scalise) background in gymnastics, dance, barre method, fascia, and weight lifting to create their own style of yoga. This training focuses on anatomy, alignment, philosophy, introspection and plants the seed of integrating strength and conditioning to your physical practice. 

How it works:  Once you sign up, you log into the AM hosted dashboard. As a full 200 hour student, you move through the course in a linear fashion, and can’t skip around. You must complete each lesson within the chapter and pass 1 – 3 quizzes before you can move forward. You then must complete 4 live practice teaching sessions, complete the lessons, turn in written assignments, pass the quizzes and final written exam. You then submit a final video practicum of you teaching a 1 hour class. 

PROS

CONS

On YouTube: Kundalini Yoga Playlist Where to get more info: https://www.brettlarkin.com/online-kundalini-yoga-teacher-training

Yes—this is also one of my trainings that I run in partnership with Guru Singh, a 75-year old Kundalini master. I put it here since Kundalini is an energetic, nuanced style of yoga that is growing in popularity. If you’re looking for a spiritual transformational journey, intensely loving community, and are addicted to the Kundalini style of yoga, this is the program for you. 

When the Yogi Bhajan scandal of 2020 rocked the Kundalini Yoga world, it resulted in many students not wanting to do the 3HO and Kundalini Research Institute yoga teacher trainings (since all the manuals, materials and kriyas are from Yoga Bhajan, who is now known to have left two generations of followers reeling from alleged sexual and emotion abuse). To create a new way forward, I partnered with my beloved mentor Guru Singh to create a brand NEW, modern and inclusive Kundalini curriculum online. We’ve already graduated over 1,000 Kundalini Yoga teachers under our Kundalini University 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Approved program. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Guru Singh, he is the beloved teacher of yogi celebrities like Tony Robbins, Seal, Carrie Anne Moss, and many others who want to practice Kundalini Yoga, but distance themselves from Yogi Bhajan.

How it works: Similar to my Vinyasa-based training, you start watching the Home Study Video curriculum the second you enroll. The high-quality training videos with me & Guru Singh cover all of Kundalini’s most complex (and controversial!) topics. This sets the foundation for our intimate, transformational Live Sessions. Download videos via our mobile app for easy on-the-go learning. Videos are 20-30 minutes each. You get lifetime access to the pre-training videos, krya library, and Live Call replays. Three four-hundred page manuals (woah!), including 22 original kryas by Guru Singh (not Yogi Bhajan) and journaling prompts serve as a companion to the training videos.

Next, you progress with the same students each week in a 6-month transformational journey with Live Q&A, a dedicated Support Trainer and direct access to me and Guru Singh. Real Time Feedback and mentorship is a key part of the training, and you practice teaching Kundalini Yoga with fellow students LIVE multiple times (training space is limited to ensure everyone gets a chance to teach more than once).

PROS 

CONS 

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MyVinyasaPractice How we reviewed: We have several alumni who attended this training prior to purchasing ours, and they provided an intimate look at what it’s like to go through the course. Where to get more info: https://myvinyasapractice.teachable.com/p/200-hour-online-ytt 

This Austin studio led by Michelle Young pivoted quickly to online YTT during COVID, and grew rapidly through their robust affiliate program and Google ads. 

MyVinyasaPractice uses the educational site Teachable to host their YTT, which is great if you like the Teachable platform (and not great, if you don’t – Teachable does not have a great mobile experience and it can be challenging to download the videos for on-the-go learning). Their curriculum includes a healthy dose of yoga philosophy, some alignment training, and self-paced practice. The entire curriculum is viewable on their website. They also offer specialty YTT courses in Yoga Therapy at extremely low price points. 

MyVinyasaPractice is a totally self-paced training. You can start anytime, and finish anytime. You watch the Teachable video content and get a downloadable PDF manual, but the majority of the 200-Hour training is Live Zoom calls you must attend with different instructors teaching different educational categories. 

With MyVinyasaPractice, you are truly “on your own.” You’re basically given access to a Google Drive folder that has shared documents on all of the topics outlined in the curriculum. It’s also your responsibility to attend the correct calls, fill out what calls you attend, do the math on your hours to add up properly in each educational category, and track your own progress. 

PROS

CONS

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithkassandra  How we reviewed: Several hundred of our alumni have taken this course. I’m also in a part of the course!  Where to get more info: https://www.yogawithkassandra.com/yin-ytt-brett 

This is not a full 200-Hour course, but I just had to include it because I love Kassandra so much. We started our yoga Youtube channels at the same time and brought all our offerings online in 2012. We “grew up” in the online yoga industry together, when teaching online was still extremely controversial (which is funny to think about now). Kassandra is an incredible teacher with a passion for Yin yoga, a slower style of yoga that focuses on holding therapeutic postures for longer periods of time. 

Kassandra teaches the Yin modules within my 200-Hour YTT, which we filmed together at Youtube in Los Angeles. Many of my Yin-enthused graduates complete her full 30-Hour training after graduating (for this reason, this is the one training on the list that I have an affiliate code for, simply because my alumni receive a discount!). While many choose to complete a 200-Hour training first and then specialize in Yin, Kids Yoga or PreNatal, Kassandra’s course is so comprehensive that if you know “Yin is your thing,” I’d suggest leaping into her course right away. 

How it works: Kassandra’s Yin training is hosted on Teachable. Everything is pre-recorded, however Kassandra answers questions monthly, in writing, in her student forum, plus you get to see her answers to all past questions, so it’s very comprehensive. 

PROS

CONS

So, how do you know which yoga course is right for you? Well, just think about what you want from it.

Even with all of this information, you might still be wondering how to know which yoga teacher training program is right for you. I’ve written all about that too (and more!). Take a look at my resources for getting your yoga instructor certification and how to choose a yoga course:

If you want some outside perspective, then I recommend these guides and perspectives on the best online yoga teacher training courses:

With so much love,

X Experience 3 Training Videos from Inside My 200-Hour Online YTT NAMASTE!

The Best Online Yoga Teacher Training Courses

How to Choose a Yoga Teacher Training

Is an Online Yoga Teacher Training Worth It?

What is the Yoga Alliance?

Difference Between 200, 300, and 500

200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Requirements

Yin Yoga Teacher Training

How to Become a Yoga Teacher

How To Know If An Online YTT Is Legit: 8 Things To Look For

Yoga Instructor vs. Yoga Teacher

The Truth About Being a Yoga Teacher

How to Know You’re Ready For a YTT

Hatha Yoga Teacher Training

Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training

Is an Advanced YTT Worth It?

300/500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Requirements

Best 300 Hour YTT Courses

How to Choose a 300-HR YTT Course

What To Do After Your YTT

Kids Yoga Teacher Training

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training