How to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training (And Red Flags to Avoid)

🧘‍♀️ Thinking about signing up for a yoga teacher training (YTT) but not sure which one is right for you?

With so many options out there—from weekend intensives to luxury retreats—it can be overwhelming to know which YTT is legit and which ones… well, aren’t.

The truth is, not all yoga teacher training programs are created equal. Some will give you an incredible, life-changing education, while others might leave you wondering, Did I just waste my time and money?

To help you make the best decision, here’s what to look for in a great YTT—and 🚩 red flags to watch out for.

✅ What to Look for in a Quality Yoga Teacher Training

1️⃣ A Yoga Alliance-Approved Program (If You Want to Teach Professionally)

🔍 What to Check:
✔ Is the school a Registered Yoga School (RYS) with Yoga Alliance?
✔ Does the training lead to an RYT-200 or RYT-500 certification?

🔥 Why It Matters:
Yoga Alliance is the gold standard for yoga certification. If you ever want to teach at a studio, lead workshops, or get insured as an instructor, you’ll need an RYT certification from a Yoga Alliance-approved school.

🚩 Red Flag: If a school isn’t registered with Yoga Alliance (but claims their training is “just as good”), you might want to dig deeper.

2️⃣ Experienced & Qualified Lead Trainers

🔍 What to Check:
✔ Who is leading the training? (Not just guest teachers—who is actually running it?)
✔ How long have they been teaching YTTs?
✔ What’s their background in yoga, philosophy, and anatomy?

🔥 Why It Matters:
Your lead trainer will shape your experience—and your ability to teach after training. A great teacher will give you mentorship, hands-on experience, and deep knowledge of yoga beyond just the poses.

🚩 Red Flag: If the YTT doesn’t list who is leading the training or the lead trainer only has a 200-hour certification with no real experience, that’s a major red flag.

3️⃣ A Well-Rounded Curriculum (Beyond Just Poses)

🔍 What to Check:
✔ Does the program cover asana, philosophy, breathwork, and teaching methodology?
✔ Is there an emphasis on ethics, inclusivity, and the history of yoga?
✔ Does it include anatomy and how to adapt yoga for different bodies?

🔥 Why It Matters:
Great yoga teachers don’t just know how to call out poses—they understand how yoga works on a deeper level. Your training should go beyond fitness-based yoga and teach the philosophy, history, and ethical responsibility of teaching.

🚩 Red Flag: If the program only focuses on asana (poses) and doesn’t cover breathwork, meditation, or the deeper layers of yoga, it’s missing the essence of yoga itself.

4️⃣ Hands-On Teaching Experience

🔍 What to Check:
✔ Do students practice teaching throughout the training?
✔ Will you receive real feedback from mentors and peers?
✔ Are you expected to memorize sequences without understanding why?

🔥 Why It Matters:
If your goal is to teach yoga, you need actual teaching experience—not just lectures and note-taking. A strong YTT will have plenty of practice teaching built into the program so you feel confident leading classes when you graduate.

🚩 Red Flag: If a training doesn’t require you to teach before graduation, you might leave feeling unprepared to step into a real class.

5️⃣ A Supportive, Inclusive, & Engaged Community

🔍 What to Check:
✔ Does the training emphasize community & connection?
✔ Is there mentorship beyond graduation?
✔ Are students from diverse backgrounds, body types, and abilities welcome?

🔥 Why It Matters:
Yoga teacher training should be a transformational experience, not just a certification factory. The best YTTs foster connection, mentorship, and inclusivity so every student feels supported in their journey.

🚩 Red Flag: If the program has zero sense of community and feels like a "get your certificate & go" situation, it might not give you the depth of experience you’re looking for.

🚩 Red Flags: When to Walk Away from a YTT

Not all yoga teacher training programs are worth your time and money. Here are some 🚩 red flags that should make you think twice before enrolling.

❌ 🚩 The training is “too fast” or “too easy.”

A 200-hour YTT is a significant commitment—if a program is offering to “certify” you in a weekend or two, it’s likely cutting corners.

❌ 🚩 There’s no real focus on yoga philosophy.

Yoga isn’t just physical movement—it’s a system of ethics, mindfulness, and self-awareness. If a program doesn’t cover the Eight Limbs of Yoga, it’s missing a core part of what makes yoga… well, yoga.

❌ 🚩 The school doesn’t offer payment plans or scholarships.

Yoga teacher training is an investment, but schools that are truly committed to diversity and accessibility will offer payment plans or scholarships (like DDY’s BIPOC & LGBTQ+ scholarships!). YTT is tricky because we need to balance paying the intructors and valuing our work, but also making it accessible to more people.

❌ 🚩 They push a single style or ideology as the “only way.”

A good YTT will expose you to different approaches, not force a single philosophy as the only valid one. If a training feels cult-like or dogmatic, that’s a major red flag. Watch out for trainings that are teaching a “branded” or set flow. This will limit you.

🔥 Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right YTT for You

Yoga teacher training is a huge investment of time, energy, and money—so choosing the right program matters.

✅ Look for a Yoga Alliance-approved RYS with experienced trainers.
✅ Choose a program that covers philosophy, anatomy, and teaching skills.
✅ Make sure you’ll get hands-on teaching experience before you graduate.
✅ Find a supportive, inclusive community that aligns with your values.

🚀 Want a YTT that checks all the boxes? [Learn More About Our 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Here!]