The study of Yoga can be a fulfilling experience. There are four main paths of Yoga – Karma Yoga (Action), Bhakti Yoga (Devotion or Love), Raja Yoga (Physical and Mental) and Jnana Yoga (yoga of Wisdom), each suited to a different temperament or approach to life but all leading to the same destination- towards true wisdom.

This practice of duty and disciplined life brings awareness, which brings knowledge and wisdom to discriminate good and bad, right and wrong, pure and impure, true and false. The virtue of Detachment brings the power of concentration, which, leads to the highest stage of self-realization.

Yoga education takes place much more at sub-conscience level. The whole process can transform the person from the gross to the subtlest level of experiences and consciousness.

A Yoga teacher training program aims to provide students a strong foundation on yoga, its related practices from basic to advanced level, as well as other elements like yoga ethics, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga cleansing, Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, Meditation, Mantra Chanting, Mudras, recommended diet and so on.

International organizations like Yoga Alliance offer Registered Yoga School (RYS) designations like RYS 200, RYS 300 and RYS 500 to Yoga schools across India. A RYS 500 could refer to a school that offers 200-hour training and 300-hour advanced training or a separate, integrated 500-hour advanced training course. A student can become a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) at a RYS 200 school, a 300-hour RYT at a RYS 300 and a 500-hour RYT at a RYS 500 by combining a 200-hour and a 300-hour teacher training.

A RYS 200 school:

• Gateway course to become a Yoga Instructor
• Follows a 200-hour syllabus that meets the Yoga Alliance 200-hour Standards
• Issues a 200-hour certificate to trainees who complete the teacher training
• Trainees are eligible to earn the RYT 200 after completing the teacher training
• RYT 200 students can teach yoga or start their yoga school anywhere in the world.

A RYS 300 school:

• Follows a 300-hour syllabus that meets the Yoga Alliance 300-hour standards
• Issues a 300-hour certificate to trainees who complete the teacher training
• Already has a RYS 200 or a RYS 500 in place (schools are not permitted to apply for a RYS
• 300 directly unless they are already a RYS 200 or a RYS 500)
• Trainees are eligible to earn the RYT 300 after completing the teacher training
• Trainees are eligible to earn the RYT 500 after completing the RYT 300 and RYT 200 training (can be different schools)

A RYS 500 school:

• Follows a 500-hour syllabus that meets the Yoga Alliance 500-hour standards
• Issues a 500-hour certificate to trainees who complete the teacher training
• Does not accept transfers into the training at the 200-hour mark
• Does not issue a 200-hour certificate at the 200-hour mark
• Trainees are eligible to earn the RYT 500 after completing the teacher training

Here is a better understanding of the difference between 200 hour, 300 hour and 500 hour teacher training courses.

2oo hour Yoga Teacher Training

This is the basic teacher training module spread over 200 hours. A 200-hour course covers all the basics of yoga teaching and provides the student with the skills and knowledge to structure and teach a class confidently. It covers basic yoga anatomy and physiology and sufficient practical teaching practice.

A standard 200-hour program will cover:

• how a class is structured
• understanding Asanas, Pranayamas, and meditation techniques
• anatomy and the mechanics of yoga poses
• Bandhas, Mudras, chakras and other yogic concepts
• history of yoga

Eligibility

• Open to any level of Yoga practitioner
• At least one year of regular practice prior to the start this course is optional.
• The student must be at least 18 years old.

After completion of this course, students can register with any Yoga association or federation as RYT 200 registered yoga teacher.

3oo hour Yoga Teacher Training

This is the second level training course and is recommended ONLY for those who have completed the 200 hour training. A 300 hour course is more intense and is spread over 300 hours of training. It is also called as Advance yoga teacher training and here students get a deeper understanding of the primary asanas as well as learn to teach advanced asanas. Students are also taught yoga philosophy, in depth yoga anatomy and physiology, Pranayama and cleansing kriyas. Most 300 hour training also cover meditation teaching in their curriculum.

A standard 300-hour program will cover:

• Deeper practice of asanas
• Yoga Nidra and deeper Meditation techniques
• Yoga Anatomy
• Yoga Philosophy with an in-depth study of yoga sutras of patanjali
• Mantra chanting and Bhajans

Eligibility:

• RYT 200 certification from an RYS 200 school

After completion of this course, students can register with any Yoga association or federation as an RYT 300 and RYT 500 registered yoga teacher.

5oo hour Yoga Teacher Training

This training is a combination of the 200 and 300 hour training modules. It can be done in one go or in two separate modules. A 500 hour training allows the student to complete both trainings in a shorter period, though they might need more practice to absorb the teachings of 200 hour level before they can better follow the teachings of 300 hour course.

A standard 500-hour program will cover

• Teaching methodology and concepts of class design and conduction
• In-depth Yoga philosophy and Yoga Sutras
• Understanding of Asanas, Pranayama, Shatkarmas, Kriyas and Yoga Nidra
• Mantra chanting, Pranayama and Kirtans
• Yogic diet
• Group discussions and Satsangs

Eligibility:

• Open to any level of Yoga practitioner
• At least one year of regular practice prior to the start this course is optional.

After completion of this course, students can register with any Yoga association or federation as RYT 500 registered yoga teacher.

Note: All 200, 300 and 500-hour YTT courses are NOT the same and syllabus variations will depend on the yoga teacher taking the course. Please check the curriculum of the individual center to know what is included and what is not in their course.

Picture courtesy Asana Andiappan College of Yoga and Research Center, Chennai.