10 Factors you should consider
Committing to a Yoga therapy training is a big investment of time, energy and money. It is important to choose the right training for your needs and goals. This guide will give you confidence to evaluate your options!
1. YOGA THERAPY TRAINING ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION
Accreditation is the most important criteria to consider. Choosing an accredited training ensures that the course meets professional standards for yoga therapy education.
YOGA THERAPY ACCREDITATION IN AUSTRALIA
In Australia, yoga therapy training courses are mostly accredited with Yoga Australia and AUSActive which operates in partnership with the Australasian Association of Yoga Therapists. In Australia, accredited training courses are a minimum of 650 hours.
INTERNATIONAL YOGA THERAPY ACCREDITATION
The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) registers yoga therapy training courses from a range of countries, mainly North America. Their accredited training courses are a minimum of 800 hours.
YOGA THERAPY ACCREDITATION IN BRITAIN
In Britain the accrediting body is the British Council for Yoga Therapy.
YOGA ALLIANCE
Yoga Alliance does not accredit, certify or register Yoga therapists or Yoga therapy training courses.
Be cautious of yoga therapy training courses that are not accredited with a professional body. These generally do not meet the rigorous standards set out for yoga therapy training by the accrediting bodies.
WHAT ABOUT GOVERNMENT ACCREDITATION IN AUSTRALIA?
Occasionally yoga therapy training providers register their courses with the Australian government (ASQA). These courses tend to be more expensive due to the costs of complying with government regulations. As a result, they often find it hard to compete with courses that are registered with yoga associations. At the time of writing, there are no Australian government accredited Yoga therapy training courses currently accepting enrolments.
2. REPUTATION OF THE YOGA THERAPY TRAINING PROVIDER
It is important to find a well established organisation.
Ask:
- How long have they been running accredited yoga therapy training programs?
- How many students have successfully completed the training?
- How many times have they delivered the entire training?
- Who are the teachers? Are they actively practicing yoga therapists with real world clinical experience?
- Are the teachers experienced educators?
- For opportunities to speak to past students
- For testimonials from graduates
If the trainers are not yoga therapists, consider if they are the best people to be teaching trainee yoga therapists.
3. CURRICULUM QUALITY AND DELIVERY
Ask:
- Will you be actively engaged in case study work, client observation and practicums?
- How are new skills assessed?
- Will you receive feedback during the course?
- Are you encouraged to reflect on your learning?
- Will you receive a certificate of completion?
- What is the size of the cohort?
Too few students in a cohort leads to limited discussion and fewer perspectives whereas too many students can lead to reduced engagement and participation, leading to poorer learning outcomes.
4. TRAINING DELIVERY AND TIME COMMITMENT
Effective yoga therapy training requires interaction with the teacher and peers. It requires practice, discussion and assessment.
Ask:
- Is the course delivered in-person, online (live/ in real time), or blended?
- How much self-directed learning is expected?
- Is the course interactive and experiential, or are you mostly passively watching and listening to the content being delivered?
- Is the time commitment clearly outlined?
Is peer to peer interaction and discussion encouraged and facilitated? Remember your fellow trainees will become your future professional community.
5. LINEAGE VS. CONTEMPORARY APPROACH
Do you prefer a more inclusive, multi-tradition approach or do you want to study with a particular lineage or tradition? This is a very personal decision.
Contemporary training allows you to apply your existing yoga practices and tools therapeutically while still learning new tools from other styles.
Lineage-based training offers depth and tradition but may require the student to undertake a bridging course or learn new practices that are different to your current style of teaching.
Ask:
- Will you be required to adopt practices from a particular tradition?
- Will you be allowed to bring your own yoga practices, tools and approach into the learning?
- How will you feel if you have to adopt a new approach and leave aside the tools that you are familiar with?
- Will you find it difficult to integrate your current teaching style with a completely different tradition?
6. COST AND VALUE
It is important to find out about the full financial commitment.
Ask:
- How much does the course cost?
- Are there extra costs, such as, textbooks, mentoring, or other resources?
- Does the investment reflect the depth and quality of the program?
- Do they offer payment plans?
7. MENTORING AND POST-COURSE SUPPORT
Mentoring is a critical part of yoga therapy training. What happens after the training is also important.
Ask:
- Is mentoring available during and after the course?
- Will you still have access to the trainers after you complete the course?
- Is there an active community of yoga therapy graduate or a professional network that you can join?
- Does the training provider offer ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development specific to yoga therapists to support your continuing growth.
- Do they offer resources to help you set up and market your yoga therapy practice?
- Is the organisation connected to the broader yoga therapy community?
8. COURSE MATERIALS AND LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Look for:
- A well organised learning management system (LMS)
- Accessible, high quality course materials
- Clear instructions and regular communication
9. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RELIABILITY
Note how the training provider treats you before you enrol. It can be a good indication of future support and customer service.
- Do they respond promptly to emails and questions?
- Is there a clear process for contacting the admin team or teachers if you need help?
- Are training dates set in advance?
- Is there a guaranteed start date or could the course be cancelled if numbers are low?
10. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
If you plan to work with clients in different parts of the world check if the course offers a pathway to certification with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
This may be important to some yoga teachers, particularly if they are planning to move to another country at some point in their career.
Final word of advice: Yoga therapy courses may be called Masters or Diplomas. These terms are often used for marketing purposes. The use of these words doesn’t guarantee that the course is government accredited or conducted by an institute of higher learning.
I encourage you to do your research, ask the right questions and explore your options before enrolling in a course. Find a training course that supports your journey to becoming a confident, skilled, accredited yoga therapist so you can make a difference, change lives and have a sustainable yoga career doing what you love!
Explore our Accredited Yoga Therapy Certification and take the next step in your professional journey!
Author:
Trina Bawden-Smith is the founder and director of the Yoga Therapy Institute, which has trained over 420 Yoga therapists. She has been overseeing the development of the Yoga Therapy Institute’s Accredited Yoga Therapy Certification since 2012, has conducted 8 Yoga therapy conferences and directed numerous professional development programs for Yoga therapists and Yoga teachers since 2003.
Whether you’re already a practicing yoga therapist or a yoga teacher exploring your next step, this conversation is filled with wisdom, practical insight, and gentle encouragement.