100 vs 200 vs 300 vs 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training: Which Do You Need?
Short answer: if you have never done a formal training, take the 200-hour course. It is the world standard. It is also the only level that lets you register as a teacher. Take the 100-hour only if you cannot travel for four weeks. Take the 300-hour when you already hold RYT 200. Take the 500-hour to do both in one trip.
Most people who write to us ask the same thing: how many hours do I need? Yoga Alliance sets the hour counts. It is the US body that registers yoga teachers and schools around the world. The rule is not simply "more is better". Each level does its own job. Below is each course we run at our shala in Tapovan. We compare them on the things that count: what you can teach after, how long you must be in India, and what it costs.
Compare every level at a glance
| Course | Duration | Shared room | Private room | Prerequisite | Qualifies you to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100-Hour | 12 days | $499 | $599 | None | Grow your own yoga. It does not qualify you to teach on its own. |
| 200-Hour | 25 days | $899 | $999 | None | Register as an RYT 200. Then teach public classes worldwide. |
| 300-Hour | 28 days | $999 | $1,099 | RYT 200 | Move up to RYT 500. Then teach advanced classes and workshops. |
| 500-Hour | 56 days | $1,899 | $2,099 | None | Do the 200 and 300 in one go. Then register directly as RYT 500. |
Fees do not cover flights, visa, travel insurance, your own spending or the Yoga Alliance registration fee ($50). You pay that fee to Yoga Alliance, not to the school. Batches begin on the 1st of each month.
Watch: Highlights from Every Level
Still deciding? This film shows classes and life at the school across the 200, 300 and 500 hour courses.
What is a 200-hour yoga teacher training?
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is the first teaching level that Yoga Alliance accepts. It covers asana, alignment, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy and teaching skills. You get at least 200 contact hours. When you finish, you may register as an RYT 200. You can then teach public classes in most countries.
What is a 300-hour yoga teacher training?
A 300-hour yoga teacher training is an advanced course for teachers who already hold RYT 200. It goes deeper into subtle anatomy, sequencing, adjustment, philosophy and your own practice. Add it to your 200 hours and you reach 500 in total. That is the mark you need to register as an RYT 500.
Do I need the 100-hour course first?
No. The 100-hour is not needed for any other course, and it does not qualify you to teach. It is for people who want a deep dive but cannot take four weeks away. Do you plan to teach one day? Then go straight to the 200-hour. It is cheaper and faster than doing 100 hours and then going over the same ground again.
Is it cheaper to do the 500-hour in one go?
Only just, and the real saving is not the fee. Booked on their own, the 200 and 300-hour courses cost $899 and $999. That is $1,898 in total, almost the same as the $1,899 for the 500-hour. What you really save is a second set of flights, a second visa and a second month off work.
Which course should I choose?
You have never done a teacher training
Take the 200-hour. It is the world standard. It is the only level that lets you register, and it is what every studio asks for. Twenty-five days in Rishikesh, $899 shared.
See the 200-hour course →You already teach and hold RYT 200
Take the 300-hour. It is built to follow on from a 200-hour syllabus, not repeat it. When you finish, you can register as an RYT 500.
See the 300-hour course →You want the full qualification and have the time
Take the 500-hour. You get eight weeks that cover both syllabi back to back. It is one flight and one visa. You finish able to register at the top level Yoga Alliance recognises.
See the 500-hour course →You have two weeks and want depth, not a certificate
Take the 100-hour. It is an honest deep dive into yoga and its philosophy. It suits people who are not after a teaching credential. It also suits those who want to test if a full training is right for them.
See the 100-hour course →You already know the style you want to specialise in
We also run focused trainings in Ashtanga, Kundalini, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Aerial and Prenatal yoga. Most students take one of these after a 200-hour, not in place of it.
What happens after you decide
Every course starts on the 1st of the month at our shala in Tapovan. It is a few minutes from the Ganga. Fees cover your room, three sattvic meals a day, materials, your certificate and pickup from Dehradun airport. People from most countries can study on a standard tourist e-Visa. See the dates and fees page for the current batch dates. Still not sure which level fits? Write to us.