ryt 200 meaning

Are you looking to become a yoga teacher but still have questions about what an RYT 200 is? You’re in the right place, then!

This article will answer your questions about what an RYT is, what RYT 200 means, and everything else you have to know about yoga teacher training programs!

What is an RYT?

RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher.

This acronym is used when discussing yoga teacher training and programs online and in person. In these courses, students learn about yoga philosophy, practical skills, and how to develop and plan an entire yoga practice for themselves and others.

What is a registered yoga teacher?

There are many courses about yoga around the world.

When you become a registered yoga teacher, you receive a certificate so that other people can know you followed a specific path and have certain knowledge.

The most popular yoga teachers’ institution is Yoga Alliance, which is recognized at an international level. If you have a Yoga Alliance certification, you can teach yoga worldwide.

Which yoga teacher training offers Yoga Alliance?

Yoga Alliance offers a variety of paths to follow.

The certifications available for yoga teachers are the RYT 200, 300, or 500 hours. These will give you the fundamental knowledge to teach yoga to your practitioners.

After that, you will become an E-RYT 200 or an E-RYT 500. But only after having taught yoga for a specific time frame.

The path is similar for the children’s yoga teacher training and the prenatal yoga teacher training.

Below is the complete list of all the yoga teacher training programs explained:

  • Registered Yoga Teacher 200: you must have successfully completed a 200 hours yoga training program with an RYS 200. You don’t need previous experience.
  • Registered Yoga Teacher 500: you must have successfully completed 500 hours of yoga training program; either all at once or 200 hours and 300 hours of courses combined from different RYS. You must have reached yoga for at least 100 hours and two years.
  • Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200: you must have successfully completed a 200 hours yoga training program with an RYS 200. You must have reached yoga for at least 1000 hours and two years.
  • Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 500: you must have successfully completed a 500 hours yoga training program; either all at once or 200 hours and 300 hours of courses combined from different RYS. You must have reached yoga for at least 2000 hours and four years.
  • Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher: you must have successfully completed a 200 hours yoga training program with an RYS, and a 95 hours teacher training with a Registered Children’s Yoga School (RCYS).
  • Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher: you must have successfully completed a 200 hours yoga training program with an RYS, and a 95 hours teacher training with a Registered Prenatal Yoga School (RPYS).

How can I find the proper yoga teacher training for me?

Choosing the right course can feel overwhelming, but after reading about it, you can find the perfect course for you.

The most mainstream choice is to start with the 200h YTT because it is the shortest teacher training that allows you to practice and teach yoga right after the course.

Hosting classes as soon as possible is vital to developing your experience and self-confidence as a certified yoga teacher.

Can I do the online yoga teacher training and obtain the RYT?

Recently many teachers started developing online yoga teacher training courses.

And the good news is that with yoga teacher training online, you can obtain your RYT and start teaching yoga and host classes.

Also Read>>> Best Online Yoga Classes 

What is the difference between RYT and YTT?

women practicing yoga outdoor on  sand ryt

Are you confused with all these definitions and acronyms?

Let’s clear that up.

As mentioned, the meaning of RYT is: Recognized Yoga Teacher, so it is the title you acquire when you attend a yoga teacher training and receive a certification. Like the Yoga Alliance one, you are officially recognized as a yoga teacher.

And what about YTT?

YTT stands for Yoga Teacher Training, the acronym for the actual course or program you must attend to join the yoga community.

What is the difference between RYT and ERYT?

What about ERYT, then?

Well, the “E” in the acronym stands for Experienced, so the whole meaning is Experienced Recognised Yoga Teacher.

According to Yoga Alliance:

Teachers can register as an E-RYT 200 if they have completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training that is registered with Yoga Alliance and have taught a minimum of two years after completing training.

What is the difference between RYT and RYS?

RYT’s definition has already been covered in detail. Now let’s learn what RYS stands for.

RYS meaning: Registered Yoga School.

Those who want to start a yoga school and must exhibit an official certificate are granted this certification. So, if you want to teach yoga while simultaneously starting your yoga school, getting one certification won’t cut it.

To apply for an RYS, the teacher, along with his team, must provide these requirements:

  • Minimum hours of experience, depending on the certification l (all trainers)
  • E-RYT 200 certification or above (lead trainer)
  • strictly count only yoga practice classes
  • CPR and First Aid Training training

What is the meaning of: 200-hour RYT?

Every course has specific hours of classes, depending on the topics and level of each program.

The RYT 200 certification is a designation assigned to anyone who has completed 200 hours of yoga instruction.

In the 200-hour yoga teacher training, you will learn the basic knowledge you need to know how to teach and practice yoga at a higher and more profound level.

What is the RYT credential?

Do you want to enroll in yoga teacher training but don’t know what experience or requirements you need to start your yoga teacher journey?

Well, you will be happy to hear that some of these programs don’t need any requirements and are also suitable for beginners.

All yoga teacher certifications only require you to complete the training hours indicated in your certificate.

Where should I attend my yoga teacher training?

Yoga teacher training near you

If you want to do your teacher training where you live but don’t know where to start looking, I have a simple solution for you:

  • Go to the Yoga Alliance “list of schools” page
  • Insert the area where you live in the first box
  • Select in the last box the kind of yoga teacher training you are looking for
  • Click “SEARCH” to discover what courses are available near you!

The option to attend a course near your house gives you the opportunity to continue with your day-to-day routine but still experience the atmosphere of teamwork, direct feedback from teachers and trainers, and become a part of the yoga community.

Yoga teacher training abroad

If you want an unforgettable experience, you could take the opportunity and attend your yoga teacher training abroad!

Many places offer packages that include the course itself, fantastic accommodation options, and delicious meals. Joining this full-immersion course is an entirely different experience you will remember for life!

Some of the best places to attend yoga teacher training abroad are:

  • India: the best place to go in India is Rishikesh, the hometown of yoga. Here is where the first yoga schools are based and the most important yoga gurus were born. Goa is another Indian city that offers many quality yoga teacher training courses.
  • Bali: Ubud is the most popular destination for yogis in Bali, so many of the most popular teacher training courses are held near this city, immersed in jungles and rice fields. Other beautiful destinations in Bali are Canggu and Uluwatu.
  • Costa Rica: If you want to stay in America Costa Rica is the perfect place to become a yoga teacher. Look for the best courses in Puerto Viejo and the Guanacaste province.
  • Thailand: this is another amazing and cheap destination for your YYT. The most popular destination is Chiang Mai; but also the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui are becoming yoga centered spots.

Yoga teacher training online

If you have a tight schedule but want to make this dream happen, then I have the perfect solution.

A yoga teacher training online!

Nowadays, there are so many yoga teachers training online, including lessons with very qualified teachers and many video classes, ebooks, and notes available to you at any time.

Most of them are prerecorded, so you can attend the classes anytime you want; anyway, some courses provide live online classes intended to allow the student to have direct feedback from the teacher and vice-versa.

How long does it take to become a yoga teacher?

woman being adjusted in yoga class ryt

We discussed how long it would take you to become an RYT. You will be a recognized yoga teacher with only 200 hours of physical practice and theoretical study.

But when do you become a professional and reliable yoga teacher?

Becoming a yoga teacher is a journey that never ends.

The first thing you have to do is not fear your lack of experience.

A big part of teaching is your relationship with your students and your love for your education, which transpires through your yoga routine and classes.

As long as you teach with passion and are kind and compassionate with the people you teach, you are doing a good job.

How do good yoga teachers act?

Yoga teachers listen more than you think.

Even if you could imagine a teacher as someone who delivers knowledge to their students, most of the time, it is also helpful to hear what the students have to say, their questions, their comments, their concerns, their doubts, and their needs.

Yoga teachers are kind and passionate.

Many people start doing yoga because they see it as a calming and grounding activity. So keep that in mind when you prepare your class when you choose your environment, when you select the music or sounds you want to use when you decide which voice tone you will use, and so on.

It is essential to express the atmosphere you want to give to the class, and if you do your best to create a welcoming environment, your students will notice and appreciate it.

Yoga teachers are humble.

Yoga is a journey, not a destination. If you don’t believe it, you will never be able to transmit it to your classroom. Yoga teachers may be more experienced, but everyone is still a student, and acting as you know better will only scare people away.

Share your experience and knowledge with kindness and listen to what others say.

What is the highest level of yoga instructor?

people students in yoga class RYT

There are not very specific levels in yoga like in other disciplines. But we can define some levels of expertise depending on a few factors:

Hours of training

The highest level of training available to yoga instructors worldwide is 500 hours. After completing this course, you can register with Yoga Alliance as an Advanced Yoga Teacher, or RYT-500.

As we said before, institutions offer a recognized title like ERYT for those yoga teachers who have attended a 200-hour yoga teacher training and have held yoga classes for a minimum of two years after completing the yoga teacher training.

Recognition & Feedback

When you start holding your first classes, you will begin to have your first followers.

But not like Instagram followers. These will be people who like the way you work and teach and will continue to practice with you because it is what they want and need.

With time, you must understand your teaching style and yoga practice and see what kind of people like to follow.

This awareness will lead to higher consideration of yourself as a yoga teacher and help you focus on the growth in your life and your practice.

Specialization

Like in many disciplines, sometimes it is a good idea to specialize in a specific field.

The yoga method can be applied or combined with other practices in various fields and activities.

As we said before, there are two main specialized courses that the Yoga Alliance association recognizes: the children’s yoga teacher training and the prenatal yoga teacher training.