What Do You Learn in Yoga Teacher Training? 

Updated on March 19, 2025
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Yoga is one of the oldest forms of education that teaches us how to move, live, breathe, and be fully present. It is not only about learning the poses but knowing ourselves. Yoga teacher training is where –

  • Your education and experience merge
  • Yoga philosophy is applied in your physical practice
  • Ancient wisdom becomes a way of living 
  • Conscious breathing turns your lifestyle 
  • By studying the postures, you can study yourself 

What Do You Learn in Yoga Teacher Training?

You learn how to structure a class, guide students safely, adapt yoga as per different bodies and their needs, develop the confidence to teach, hold space for the self and students, and use holistic tools to integrate yoga into modern lifestyles. 

Now, let us understand in detail what do you learn in yoga teacher training

1. The Soul of Yoga – More Than Poses 

Yoga as a Lifestyle

  • Beyond the Mat: You will learn that yoga is not just a form of movement but a way of living, thinking, and interacting with the world.
  • Mindful Choices: You will develop an understanding of mindful eating, speaking, breathing, and responding in daily life situations. 
  • Internal Alignment: Practicing yoga will help align your internal thoughts, emotions, and mind.

Yoga Asanas 

In yoga teacher training, you will learn the alignment, benefits, and asana variations, and understand about each posture during your practice.

The Philosophy & History of Yoga

You will learn about the Yoga Sutras for mental discipline, the Bhagavad Gita for purpose, and the Eight Limbs of Yoga for ethical living. It includes Yamas & Niyamas (truthfulness, self-discipline), Asanas (postures), Pranayama (breath control), and practices like Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi for self-realization.

Cultivating Mindfulness 

YTT will help you question your limiting beliefs and shift perspectives. As an aspiring teacher, it will help you build emotional resilience and gain mental flexibility. You will also learn to adapt to life’s challenges with grace and courage, build emotional resilience, and develop mental flexibility. 

2. The Science of Movement 

As you move ahead, you will learn more about what does yoga teacher training involve

Muscles, Joints, and Breathwork

You’ll learn how muscles, joints, and breathwork work together in yoga. Muscles provide you with strength and flexibility, joints support you with mobility and stability, and your breath connects it all with balance, control, and a calm nervous system.

Injury Prevention and Safe Movement

YTT will teach you mindful movement, proper alignment, and verbal adjustments for your students’ safety. This will improve your understanding of your body’s limits and strengths.

Mind-Body Connection

You will learn conscious movement and breath awareness that will help you recognize tension and areas of ease in your body.

3. The Beauty of Breath: Pranayama

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Breath – A Bridge Between Body & Mind

Breath is the life force (prana) that fuels our every move, thought, and emotion, helping you bring mental clarity and internal connection. 

You will learn about different types of breathing activities, how to do them, and their effects on our health, like – 

  1. Kapalabhati 
  2. Bhastrika 
  3. Nadi Shodhana 
  4. Bhramari 
  5. Sheetali 
  6. Sheetkari 
  7. Ujjayi 
  8. Plavini

Learning pranayama helps to create a connection with our inner rhythm and flow. You can understand your highest potential with the right breathing techniques. 

4. Chakras & Meditation

chakras-and-meditation

Chakra System – The Energy Treasure 

You will learn about the chakra system with seven main energy centers and how they affect different emotions, physical functions, and states of mind. For example, an imbalanced heart chakra indicates trust issues, and a blocked throat chakra indicates suppressed emotions.

Meditation – The Road to Conscious Mindfulness

YTT teaches that meditation is not about emptying the mind but building awareness and observing thoughts without reacting. Some of the meditation techniques that you will learn are: 

  1. Mindfulness Meditation (Vipassana) – It focuses on observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment.
  2. Concentration Meditation (Focused Attention) – It puts attention on a single point like breath, mantra, candle flame, or sound.
  3. Mantra Meditation (Japa Meditation) – It focuses on repeating a sacred word, phrase, or sound like “Om” or “So Hum”.
  4. Transcendental Meditation – It focuses on using a specific personal mantra assigned by a teacher or spiritual guru. 
  5. Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta Bhavana) – It focuses on awakening compassion and love for yourself and others.
  6. Body Scan Meditation – It focuses on bringing awareness to different parts of the body.
  7. Chakra Meditation – It focuses on balancing the body’s energy centers.
  8. Zen Meditation (Zazen) – It focuses on sitting in stillness and observing thoughts without attachment.
  9. Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) – It focuses on deep relaxation while remaining conscious.

5. Your Job as a Yoga Teacher

Teaching yoga is not only about instruction. It’s about guiding your students in their practice. As a growing teacher, you will learn to be empathetic so that your students feel seen, supported, and empowered.

  1. Cueing- The cueing class will help you give clear and concise instructions to the students, which will help them move safely into other poses or hold the poses.   
  2. Sequencing – You will learn to build well-structured sequences for balanced practice and injury prevention. 
  3. Adjustments – Knowing when to give adjustments is a skill. As a yoga teacher, you will learn to improve students’ learning experience with physical and verbal corrections.   
  4. Methods & Language – You will learn how to use the right language, words, phrases, and tone of voice while teaching a class. And at Siddhi Yoga, our teachers will be a perfect example of it!
  5. Unique Teaching – By exploring different teaching skills, you will find your special teaching style, like using stories to explain concepts. 
  6. Safe Space – You will learn to create a better environment for the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of your students. 

6.  The Business of Teaching Yoga

  1. Yoga teacher training will help you learn skills to teach yoga classes authentically, which will help you attract loyal students. 
  2. YTT will help you set fair pricing, offer memberships, organize yoga retreats, and so much more for better financial stability. 
  3. As an aspiring yoga teacher, you will be advised to keep investing in advanced studies to upgrade your knowledge. 
  4. To market yourself as a yoga teacher, you will receive tips and tricks to create your yoga brand. 

YTT – More Than A Certification

YTT is more than a course. It brings a mindset shift, helps you develop a purposeful career and build good connections in a global community.

  1. You will find yourself self-inquiring, asking questions, receiving answers, and moving towards your purpose.
  2. You will start integrating yogic wisdom into your daily life by responding better, embracing solitude, and living with greater awareness.
  3. You will realize that teaching online yoga classes or group classes is a gift of helping others improve their health, find balance, and know themselves. 
  4. YTT offers an alternative path from a traditional job to where your passion meets purpose.
  5. You will realize that we are all interconnected beyond borders, beliefs, color, speech, and backgrounds. 

Conclusion 

Yoga teacher certification shapes teachers and mindful leaders who embody the core of yoga. You will enter expecting to learn how to teach, but soon you will realize that yoga has been teaching you all along. 

For all the lovely aspiring yoga teachers – 

  • There is no such thing as a perfect class. Some days, it will be the best sequenced class and other days it may not go as planned. Teaching is about presence, not perfection. 
  • You are never going to know everything and that is where the beauty lies. Yoga is a lifelong study. Your job is to remain curious, humble, and open to learning. 
  • You can still tell your class “what I learned from yoga teacher training” because it’s about sharing your real experiences, too. 
  • Every class, student, and experience will add another layer to your wisdom and personal practice.

If you’re ready to step into this experience, choose a yoga teacher training program and a yoga studio that aligns with your heart and vision. 

Or you can simply choose to study the multistyle 200-hour TTC by Siddhi Yoga in the comfort of your home.

Start your journey to becoming a yoga teacher now!

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Meera Watts
Meera Watts is the owner and founder of Siddhi Yoga International. She is known worldwide for her thought leadership in the wellness industry and was recognized as a Top 20 International Yoga Blogger. Her writing on holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, CureJoy, FunTimesGuide, OMtimes and other international magazines. She got the Top 100 Entrepreneur of Singapore award in 2022. Meera is a yoga teacher and therapist, though now she focuses primarily on leading Siddhi Yoga International, blogging and spending time with her family in Singapore.
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