Becoming a Yoga Teacher

A journey into the philosophy, practice and wisdom of yoga

For many people, becoming a yoga teacher begins long before they ever stand at the front of a class.

It begins with curiosity. A desire to understand yoga more deeply, to explore its philosophy and traditions, and to discover how this ancient practice can support both physical health and personal growth.

Whether you are considering teaching in the future, hoping to deepen your own practice or simply wanting to understand the true meaning of yoga beyond the postures, this page will help you explore what the journey involves.

Every year we welcome students from many different backgrounds. Some have been attending yoga classes for years, while others are just beginning to explore the practice. Many are healthcare professionals, therapists or wellbeing practitioners looking to broaden their knowledge, while others are simply seeking a richer understanding of yoga and its philosophy.

Why choose a career in yoga?

Teaching yoga is about far more than leading people through a sequence of postures. Great yoga teachers help others develop strength, flexibility, balance, resilience, awareness and inner calm. They create safe, supportive spaces where people can reconnect with themselves and develop practices that enhance both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Many yoga teachers enjoy flexible careers, teaching classes, workshops, retreats or one-to-one sessions. Others combine yoga with complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy, massage or mindfulness, creating a career that reflects their own interests and values. For many, the greatest reward is witnessing the positive changes that yoga brings to people's lives.

Is becoming a yoga teacher right for you?

You don't need previous teaching experience to begin learning about yoga. The best teachers are curious, open-minded and committed to their own personal practice. They enjoy learning, reflecting and sharing knowledge with others in a thoughtful and compassionate way. If yoga has become an important part of your life and you feel drawn to understand it more deeply, you may already be taking the first steps towards becoming a teacher.

What does the journey look like?

Becoming a qualified yoga teacher usually takes several years of personal practice, study and teacher training. Along the way you'll deepen your understanding of yoga philosophy, anatomy, movement, breathwork, meditation, ethics, communication and safe teaching practice. As your confidence grows, you'll gradually develop the skills needed to guide and inspire others. Like any meaningful profession, becoming an excellent teacher is an ongoing journey of learning, practice and self-discovery.

Where does our Yoga Foundation Course fit?

Our Yoga Foundation Course has been created for people who want to build strong foundations before undertaking teacher training or simply deepen their understanding of yoga for their own personal development.

Rather than focusing on teaching techniques, the course explores the philosophy, principles and traditions that underpin yoga. You'll discover where yoga comes from, study its different paths, explore key texts and gain a deeper appreciation of its spiritual, historical and cultural roots.

Many students tell us this knowledge transforms the way they experience their own practice. It also provides an excellent foundation for anyone planning to continue into a recognised yoga teacher training programme in the future.

Whether your goal is personal growth or professional development, the understanding you gain will stay with you throughout your yoga journey.

How long does it take?

Our Yoga Foundation Course is designed to be studied part-time from home, allowing you to fit your learning around work, family and existing commitments.  If your ambition is to become a professional yoga teacher, this course provides an excellent first step before progressing to a recognised yoga teacher training programme. Many students begin here because they want to deepen their understanding before deciding whether teaching is the right path for them.

What does a yoga teacher actually do each day?

No two teachers work in exactly the same way. Some teach regular weekly classes in studios or community settings, while others offer one-to-one sessions, retreats, workshops or online teaching. Many spend time planning classes, continuing their own practice, studying yoga philosophy and developing professionally. The most inspiring teachers never stop being students themselves. They continue learning throughout their careers, refining both their teaching and their own understanding of yoga.

Can you earn a living as a yoga teacher?

Many yoga teachers build rewarding and flexible careers, although, like any self-employed profession, it takes time to establish yourself. Some teach full-time, while others combine yoga with complementary therapies, healthcare, coaching or another profession. Many create varied careers that include classes, retreats, workshops, corporate wellbeing, private tuition and online teaching. The profession offers considerable freedom and allows you to build a career around your own interests, experience and lifestyle.

Who studies yoga?

Our students come from many different walks of life. Some are experienced yoga practitioners hoping to deepen their understanding. Others are therapists looking to integrate yoga philosophy into their existing work. Many simply want to explore the deeper dimensions of yoga beyond the physical postures taught in most modern classes. What they all share is a desire to understand yoga more fully and to continue their own personal journey.

Is yoga teaching a good career later in life?

Absolutely. Many people begin teacher training in their thirties, forties, fifties or beyond. Life experience, empathy and good communication skills often become some of the greatest strengths a teacher can offer. Yoga is not simply about physical ability. It is equally about presence, awareness, compassion and the ability to guide others with authenticity. Many experienced practitioners discover that teaching becomes a natural extension of their own lifelong practice.

What will you learn?

Our Yoga Foundation Course introduces you to the rich traditions that lie at the heart of yoga. You'll study yoga philosophy, history, the different paths of yoga, meditation, breath work, ethics, spiritual traditions and the principles that continue to influence yoga today. Most importantly, you'll develop a much deeper understanding of yoga itself—knowledge that will enrich your own practice and provide an excellent foundation for future teacher training.

What can you do after completing the Foundation Course?

Many students take the course simply because they want to deepen their own understanding of yoga and enrich their personal practice. Others use it as preparation for recognised yoga teacher training, while therapists often find that a deeper understanding of yoga complements their existing professional work. Whatever direction you choose, the course provides a solid foundation on which you can continue building your yoga journey.

Before you begin

Before beginning your studies, take a little time to reflect on what has drawn you towards yoga. Are you looking to deepen your own practice? Do you hope to teach one day? Are you fascinated by yoga philosophy or interested in understanding the traditions behind the modern practice? There are no right or wrong answers. Curiosity, openness and a willingness to learn are the perfect place to begin.

Your next step

If yoga has become more than simply exercise and you're ready to explore its deeper meaning, our Yoga Foundation Course offers an inspiring place to begin. Whether your goal is personal growth, professional development or taking the first steps towards becoming a yoga teacher, we'd be delighted to help you continue your journey. Download a prospectus or contact our team to find out whether the Yoga Foundation Course is the right next step for you.

Additional questions to ask yourself

Our distance learning course is an excellent stepping stone to becoming a yoga teacher or therapist. If you are already in practice, attending yoga classes and have a growing desire to learn more about yoga then our course is for you! If you enjoy our yoga foundation course then you would be in the ideal position to take your study further and learn to be a yoga teacher or even a therapist. With experience you could run your own yoga workshops, yoga retreats, holidays or clinics.

What makes me want to be a yoga teacher?
Most people choose to become a yoga teacher after they have been practising yoga either in a class or at home and feel that they would like others to experience the benefits of the discipline. Others may have been on a life changing journey after discovering the health benefits yoga can bring and may no longer feel able to continue with their present lifestyle.

Whether you ultimately choose to continue your studies to become a qualified teacher or not, our distance learning course will give you the knowledge and experience of the fundamentals of yoga and deepen your understanding of the practice, so your study will always be valuable. Whatever your reason for choosing to do the course with us, our tutors will enable you to achieve the best outcome and guide you to make the right choices towards your future.

Do I know what I'm getting into?
Yoga is increasing in popularity and there are many courses available. No one course suits everybody and if you choose to study with us we will support you, to realise the best outcome for you.

Starting with a foundation course is the perfect way to sense check if becoming a yoga teacher is for you. This will let you develop your yoga practice while learning more about the spiritual, philosophy, principles and methodologies that underpin yoga. If you enjoy the yoga foundation course then it will reassure you to take your learning further and prepare you for becoming a great yoga teacher.

If you do decide to go on to become a yoga teacher, you will find that every yoga teacher’s approach is unique and a class can take on its own character. There is no fixed exercise regime, no specialised equipment needed and it is non-competitive so beginners can feel at ease. If you are unsure about anything we will try and answer your questions.

Do I have the required skills?
You do not need to have any specific prior experience or training to enrol with us. On our yoga foundation course you can study at your own pace, as long as you are self-motivated and organised. You do not need any prior qualifications to study the course with us, but of course it helps if you have attended classes or practiced the discipline at home so you have a basic understanding of yoga.

If you wish to go on to become a yoga teacher you will need the ability to motivate individuals and groups, you also need to have good listening skills and be able to lead a class. You will need to organise the classes with lesson plans and assessments and be able to adapt teaching for different abilities. You will need to have a wide repertoire of skills, postures and positions to adapt your teaching to the needs of the individuals in the group and to run classes from beginner to advanced. Personal fitness, strength and flexibility is important. You will need to be able to teach breathing techniques and meditation. Finally, you will require some commercial skills if you want to run your own business.

You could specialise in teaching a particular group, such as pregnant women, or mother and baby classes, or around a particular ailment like arthritis or stiffness. These sorts of classes would require additional specialist study.

Have I got the time and commitment?
Our distance learning course is designed to work around other work or family commitments. The Yoga Foundation Course is a one-year course but we give you a two-year study period – plenty of time. If you study for 4-5 hours a week you should easily complete the course in a year. If you put in more hours of study each week you will complete it in less than a year. Following our course, if you then wish to go on and study to be a yoga teacher, this usually takes a further one to three years, depending on the depth and intensity of the course you choose.

What will it cost?
The price for the Yoga Foundation Course can be found on the course enrol page. If you want to know the cost of taking your study further and training as a yoga teacher, then we will need to look at the fees involved with a local course provider who does the training face-to-face. This will be through a combination of yoga classes and lessons.

Have I got the support of friends and/or family?
It is always good to have the support of friends and family when embarking on any new study. Learning a new subject is inspiring but it does take time away from other aspects of life – family and friends will need to support you and give you the space to study.

Do I want to be self-employed?
Most yoga teachers are self-employed. Being self-employed means you can choose how much, or how little, you want to work. You can choose your work environment, whether it be a large room or a hall. You can work from home, if you have the space, or you can choose to travel to another location. It really is up to you when you are your own boss.

The NHS now recommends mindfulness as a way to combat stress and, as relaxation is a large part of yogic exercise, it is seen as a safe way to relieve symptoms and it can be safely used alongside other forms of stress release without complication.

The beauty of being a yoga teacher is that you can tailor your class size. Every yoga teacher's approach is unique and a class can take its own character. There is no fixed exercise regime and no specialised equipment is needed.

Start your journey to becoming a yoga teacher today and give us a call about our home study Yoga Foundation Course. One of our friendly team will be more than happy to discuss your requirements. It's the perfect way to get started and enhance your yoga practice and wellbeing.