Here's What It Looked Like to Take Yoga Teacher Training in 2022

If you’re curious about yoga teacher training, there is no “wrong” reason to take it. Everyone has a different motivation for doing a yoga teacher training (YTT). Maybe you want to deepen your own practice or are looking to teach at a local studio. You may be interested in diving into the philosophy of yoga or the anatomy behind the postures.

But everyone going through YTT has the same experience with the price tag. In-person YTTs typically cost thousands of dollars and require a substantial time commitment.

We spoke to four new recent YTT graduates who completed their 200-hour YTT in 2022 to learn more about the factors and costs that went into becoming a yoga teacher.

Jenna Clark

YTT Location: Denver, Colorado

Cost of YTT: $0 (on scholarship)

I’ve been a fitness instructor for 11 years. I teach Zumba, and I’ve taught barre. Yoga is something I’ve been doing on and off for about 15 years. I always knew I wanted to do a teacher training eventually.

I wanted to deep my own practice, and I knew I wanted to do a program that had an in-person component and shared my values. Coming out of the last few years, there’s been a big push for organizations to put a better emphasis on diversity and inclusion within their programs. I had started taking classes at CorePower last fall. I enjoyed how accessible it was, and I felt like I belonged—despite the stereotype of yoga being skinny white girls in sports bras and shorts.

CorePower had a BIPOC scholarship. I decided to apply for it, and I ended up getting it. That’s how I was able to do my YTT.

How I made the schedule work

The schedule was definitely a factor. I had a full-time, 9-to-5 job, and then I taught Zumba, so I tried to find a program that could work around that schedule. The CorePower format was 6:15 to 9:15 PM on Tuesday and Thursdays, as well as additional time on Saturdays for 13 weeks. I did have to give up my Zumba class during that period because it conflicted with the schedule. 

Why you should look for a YTT scholarship

If you have something unique about yourself or are in some protected class, like a member of the LQBTQ+ community, I would look for YTT scholarship opportunities based on that. Even if you feel like that’s not a factor, it is. I think more companies and organizations are realizing the value of having a mix of individuals in their cohort, and you can help contribute to that. Don’t be afraid from benefiting from that.

Carly Conroy

YTT Location: Metuchen, New Jersey

Cost of YTT: $3,600

I’ve always had a flirtation with yoga, but I didn’t become dedicated until I found a studio that was near my home. I practiced there, at Hot Yoga Revolution, a few times before the pandemic, but I was also getting my Master’s at the time, so I didn’t have a lot of extra time.

Once I completed my degree, I started going to the studio’s outdoor classes more regularly. One day, they were holding a YTT graduation celebration class, and I knew someone who was graduating, so I took her class. That’s when I decided that I really wanted to do a teacher training.

I had looked into teacher training at a couple different places in my area, but I wanted to do it at the studio I practiced at, since I knew the people running it and respected them. However, my studio usually only does YTT once a year, so I had to wait. That time allowed me to save up for the YTT.

How the YTT schedule worked with my schedule

I was used to juggling my full-time, 9-to-5 job with going to school. My YTT was Saturdays and Sundays, every other weekend, from January to April.

Why YTT is (and should be) such a personal decision

Everyone needs to do what works for them. YTTs are not necessarily accessible to everyone. Having a job that provides you with an income to afford YTT is a privilege. I tend to not give too much advice if the financial aspect is what’s stopping someone from doing YTT. It’s a big personal decision.

I’m a working yoga teacher now, and I do make money from being a yoga teacher. If you’re looking at it in terms of an investment, at least for me, I haven’t paid off the full dollar amount yet, but I know I will.

Chase Shriver

YTT Location: Houston, Texas

Cost of YTT: $3,000

I started consistently practicing yoga during quarantine in 2020. I had been doing yoga on and off since college. With not a lot to do and not having work, I needed something to put my physical effort into.

I loved learning about all the different types of yoga and the different facets. I had a hunger for more. I thought it would be cool if I learned how to teach, but I wasn’t really sure if it was for me. The studio I was practicing at during that time had a YTT class of 60 to 80 people, and I knew that was too big for me. I wanted something with a smaller teacher-to-student ratio.

I looked around, and I found a family-owned studio in north Houston called Loveland Yoga. I tried out a few classes and immediately had a great relationship and connection with the teachers and the owners. They mentioned that they were starting a YTT, and I immediately signed up. I knew it’s what I wanted.

Why a once-a-week schedule worked for me

We met every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for 10 consecutive weeks. Luckily, it didn’t impact any of my work because I have a flexible service industry job. I was able to take that one day off a week that I dedicated to my training.

Other options you can consider if the price tag seems too high

If paying $3,000 outright seems crazy to you and you can’t swing that, I encourage you to have a conversation with the people in charge of the program. Maybe you can do a payment plan or a sliding pay scale.

Jasmin Monserrate

YTT Location: Bali

Cost of YTT: $4,500

I was working with a contortionist one-on-one for about five or six months when I decided I wanted to do yoga teacher training. It stemmed from my curiosity. We would do these yoga poses, and I would find myself breaking down and crying. I just felt like I was releasing a lot. I knew I was getting so many of the physical benefits of asana, but I wanted to understand the spirituality behind the practice. So, I decided to do a yoga teacher training.

I wanted to go abroad because I had never really traveled alone or had an experience like that. I went to YouTube and started looking at what a lot of influencers had said. After watching about five videos, I realized that everyone was talking about Yoga East+West. I really liked the mission statement and the combining of customs of the West with teachings of the East. It resonated with me.

It was $4,500 for the 25-day training. The food and my room were included in that cost. I knew I would figure out the cost and make it work, whether it was putting my apartment on Airbnb or subletting it.

How the schedule worked with my life

I’m a personal trainer, so I have a flexible schedule. At that point in my life, it felt like I needed to have this experience. To be honest, I feel like I was also going through a really tough time, so I wanted an escape as well.

The community-building factor

Whatever it is you’re looking for in a YTT, you will find it. During my YTT, I met women from all over the world, of all different ages and races. It was a really beautiful community of people opening up and being so real.