10 Best Online Yoga Teacher Trainings

While there really is no replacement for an in-person yoga teacher training – soaking up the atmosphere, being immersed in yoga culture surrounded by like-minded people, learning the sacred art of touch and physical adjustments – it is essential that we, as yogis, adapt to the current climate. People need yoga and meditation in their lives now more than ever, so we need new teachers spreading this knowledge, compassion and wisdom in their communities across the world.

With no end to this pandemic currently in sight, more and more yoga schools are now beginning to offer their teacher trainings in online format, often at a greatly reduced price. While, under normal circumstances, we would always recommend an in-person training if you have the choice, there are many benefits to training online, such as flexibility (being able to study at a time/day that suits you, and spreading the course out over several months), saving money on travel costs, accommodation, and on the cost of the training itself, not having to take time off work or away from family and other commitments, and having lifetime access to the teaching material and resources so you can refresh your memory at any point in the future.

If you had been dreaming of doing a yoga teacher training but now find yourself unable to travel, check out our top picks for online yoga teacher training that can be done from the comfort of your own home!

	NAME	STYLE	COST
1.	Annie Au Yoga	Yin Yoga + Meridians	$1150 (early bird = $850)
2.	Akasha Yoga Academy	Hatha	$850
3.	Brett Larkin Yoga (‘Uplifted’)	Hatha/Vinyasa or Kundalini	from $2850
4.	Sampoorna Yoga	Ashtanga-Vinyasa/Yin Yoga/Yoga in Spanish/Yoga Therapy	€900 (for 200hr)
5.	East+West	Hatha/Vinyasa	$1650 (early bird price)
6.	Sacred Paths Yoga	Vinyasa blend	$1600 (early bird price)
7.	Yoga Medicine	Yoga therapy	approx. $1390 per module (6 modules needed)
8.	Yoga Course	Hatha + Vinyasa	£1250
9.	Himalayan Yoga Institute	Rajadhiraja/Tantra	£1499
10.	StretchBodyMind	Multi	£1875

1. Annie Au Yoga

If you’re unsure about studying online and looking just to dip your toe in, a 50hr Yin Yoga teacher training is a great place to start. Training in something a bit more unusual or ‘niche’ also makes you stand out as a teacher. Yin is gaining popularity as more and more students are hearing about its benefits, and it’s especially needed now, in this new COVID era, when people are stressed out and fearful of the future; yin can help bring balance into our lives, it can be relaxing and restorative, and for teachers, it gives us time to indulge in meditation and stories – giving our students little nuggets of wisdom and inspiration.

Annie is one of the world’s leading yin yoga teachers, having studied under the likes of Bernie Clark and Sri Dharma Mittra, and she has been inspiring new yin teachers around the world for many years now. Her courses weave together Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine (particularly Chinese Meridian theory), Qi Gong, acupressure, yoga philosophy, sound meditation, and much more. This makes her training unique, and gives you a range of tools to draw on when planning and teaching your (future) yin classes. Her online course has been running for several months now, and is accredited with Yoga Alliance (US). It takes place over two weekends (Fri-Sun, 9am-4pm roughly) so you can easily fit it into your life, even when working from home. Plus, the early bird discount for the October training is €300 off if you sign up before Sep 15!

Style: Yin Yoga + Meridians
Hours: 50hr (level 1)
Cost: $1150 (early bird = $850)
Length of program: 2 weekends (Fri-Sun)
Website: www.annieauyoga.com

2. Akasha Yoga Academy

Online Yoga Teacher Training from Akasha Yoga Academy transforms mind and body. Akasha’s 200-Hour Online Course is International Yoga Alliance certified. This well-structured, well-coordinated course trains students to become confident Yoga teachers. It includes high-quality video lectures shot at their own Baliwood studio (using 2 cameras to see all angles), 4 in-depth manuals, and an individual focus on practice and teaching abilities.

The team of inspiring teachers provides a greater understanding of the breath-based Hatha yoga style, which balances breath and posture. The certified teachers live the wisdom of Yoga. They’ve improved Yoga Teacher Training for 10 years and certified 800 teachers worldwide.

This program is interactive so students aren’t left to figure things out alone. Instructors will give twice-daily Zoom calls to assist and guide students through the process. Students can choose how many calls to join. Several practical assignments with immediate teacher feedback ensure quality training. Akasha offers lifelong access to course content. Students get Whatsapp and email help and a mentor teacher. Payment plans make the training accessible to all.

Akasha Yoga Academy understands that student availability fluctuates due to work and family. Akasha Yoga offers a personalized scheduling service to help 200-hour students finish swiftly. This service calculates each student’s timetable based on their availability.

Style: Hatha
Hours: 200hr
Cost: $850
Length of program: 1 month or spread from 3-6 months
Website: www.akashayogaacademy.com

3. Brett Larkin Yoga (‘Uplifted’)

You might have heard of Brett Larkin before; she runs a hugely popular yoga-themed youtube channel, has been featured in countless wellness blogs/magazines, and has been running online teacher trainings since 2015 (pre-COVID!). This means she has had a lot of time to perfect her online training. Besides a 600 page (!) paper manual (not included in training price) and bi-weekly live calls, the program itself is super in-depth, covering all the usual modules such as anatomy, meditation and asana, but also modules in Ayurveda, Tantra, and a special focus on the business aspect of yoga including social media marketing – learning Brett’s personal secrets on how she created her super successful youtube channel and how to create an online business. In addition, the guest lecturers are experts in their fields, such as Tom Myers, who will teach you about fascia. Besides the flexibility of being able to study at a time that suits you (apart from committing to the live calls), you also have lifetime access to the materials and resources, so you can refresh your memory at any time in the future!

Style: Hatha/Vinyasa or Kundalini
Hours: 200hr/300hr/500hr
Cost: from $2850
Length of program: around 4 months, 8-10 hours a week (but you have 18 months to complete the program)
Website: www.brettlarkin.com

4. Sampoorna Yoga

Since May this year, Sampoorna Yoga school in India has been offering its 200hr Ashtanga-Vinyasa teacher training in online format, at a super affordable price (one of the cheapest 200hr online courses available!). Despite its low cost, you still get everything you would expect from a good 200hr training, including yoga history and philosophy, Vinyasa sequencing, pranayama and meditation, asana clinic, anatomy and physiology, and so on. Apart from the 18-20 live sessions, there is no set daily schedule for the online course, so you are free to study and practice whenever suits you (the live calls are recorded in case you can’t attend in real time). The teachers are available for support during the 24 ‘set’ days of the course (from the start to finish date), but you have lifetime access to the material and resources and can take up to a year to complete the course. If you’ve always wanted to do a teacher training but couldn’t quite afford it, this could be the perfect solution for you!

Style: Ashtanga-Vinyasa/Yin Yoga/Yoga in Spanish/Yoga Therapy
Hours: 60hr/200hr/300hr
Cost: €900 (for 200hr)
Length of program: 34 days (but you have 1 year to complete the course)
Website: www.sampoornayoga.com

5. East+West

With their signature emphasis on blending the best of Western and Eastern traditions, providing a non-dogmatic approach, and giving students the skills and confidence to be able to start teaching immediately upon graduation, East+West’s training has always stood out, but it was also one of the most expensive 200hr trainings out there. Their online format, however, is much more affordable, and also comes with payment plans. Not only do you get the same high-calibre teaching staff (chosen as they are leaders in their respective fields), but there is an added emphasis on meditation in this new online edition, as meditation is particularly needed in these uncertain times, plus an extended “business of yoga” module that guarantees students a full-time career as a yoga teacher if followed. Structured to fit in with a part-time job or working from home, the course involves 2 hours a day Mon-Thu and 4 hours a day at the weekend. During those days there will be a live session (3pm London time), which is also recorded if you can’t make that time. You must keep up with the work weekly, however, so that you can finish within the 10 weeks allocated.

Style: Hatha/Vinyasa
Hours: 200hr
Cost: $1650 (early bird price)
Length of program: 10 weeks
Website: yogaeastwest.com

6. Sacred Paths Yoga

Sacred Paths have created this unique 200hr online training, blending traditional yoga training with Native American earth medicine philosophy and element theory. The 40 day course is split into 4 cycles (of 10 days), with each cycle representing an element (earth, water, fire, air). They recommend you spend about 4-5 hours a day on the training; however, you can choose to take longer than the 40 days if needed. The training comprises pre-recorded lectures and classes, plus live classes and lectures (which will be recorded in case you have to miss them), and a live ‘check in’ with the community every 5 days to keep you on track. Besides the usual anatomy, asana, history of yoga, sequencing, etc., the course also covers earth medicine, Qi gong, Hatha, restorative, yin, Ayurveda, kirtan and chanting, and their own Sacred Flow Vinyasa sequence, which you will learn to teach. As well as being at an affordable price, they are also offering payment plans and scholarships for those in financial difficulty.

Style: Vinyasa blend
Hours: 200hr
Cost: $1600 (early bird price)
Length of program: 40 days
Website: sacredpathsyoga.com

7. Yoga Medicine

For those interested in the more specialised therapeutic application of yoga, Yoga Medicine has always been the gold standard in anatomy and yoga therapy training. Founded by world-renowned fascia and anatomy expert Tiffany Cruikshank, the school emphasises a strong foundation in anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, yoga therapeutics and case studies, going far more in-depth into these topics than most other trainings. The 300hr training comprises numerous modules that, pre-COVID, could be taken according to the date/location that best-suited you (with modules taking place all over the world, from Iceland to Barcelona, Texas and London, for example). Being spread out over several years means that you have time to put into practice what you learn before choosing a new module. Whilst not all modules are required for the 300hr certification (combined they comprise the 1000hr course), and are therefore largely up to your preference, the school recommends as a starting point the 3 ortho modules (spine, hip and shoulder), the Myofascial Release module, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine module.

As a result of the ongoing global pandemic, many of these modules are now available in online format, saving you the cost of airfare/travel and having to take time off work/away from family or other commitments. Most are 55hr trainings (some may be 25hr), and count towards the 300hr (or 1000hr) certification. There are no deadlines to complete the modules (or to achieve the 300hr certificate), and you have unlimited lifetime access to the materials and resources. Although the online modules are still expensive, they are cheaper than the in-person trainings, so might be an option for those who always wished to study with Yoga Medicine but could not previously afford it.

Style: Yoga therapy
Hours: 300hr/1000hr
Cost: $1390 per module (6 modules needed)
Length of program: 1-2 years approx. (min. 6 modules)
Website: yogamedicine.com

8. Yoga Course

With no set start date (meaning you can start at any time that suits you) or time commitments, and 12 months to complete the course, this is possibly the most flexible training available. All the trainings offered by the school are online, so this is also their specialty, and their detailed online learning centre reflects this. Covering all the usual foundation modules (anatomy, asana, sequencing, the business of yoga, and so on) at an affordable price, the course also includes membership to Yoga Alliance at no extra cost, and the option of a payment plan if you can’t pay upfront.

Style: Hatha + Vinyasa
Hours: 200hr
Cost: £1250
Length of program: up to 12 months
Website: www.yogacourse.com

9. Himalayan Yoga Institute

The first of its kind, this is the first online teacher training in the Rajadhiraja tradition of Tantra yoga, emphasising the Chakras and the importance of balancing our hormones in order to “rewire your body, clear your mind, and awaken your soul”. One of the most interactive trainings of our list, the course comprises a full daily schedule taking place over 3 weeks, including several hours a day of chanting, asana and pranayama practice, lectures and workshops. Although this requires a bigger daily time commitment, it also means more accountability (with plenty of live Q&A calls) and support, plus all the calls and lectures are recorded if you cannot attend at the time. The course covers in-depth traditional modules such as asana, history of yoga, pranayama, etc. as well as Ayurveda, bio-psychology, Tantra yoga and other less common traditions. You will finish the course not only able to teach and structure a Rajadhiraja yoga class but also a Vinyasa class, and gain insight into Kundalini yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga and Jinana yoga. If you’re looking for a more unusual yoga training, or a more spiritual experience of self-discovery, this could be the training for you!

Style: Rajadhiraja/Tantra
Hours: 200hr
Cost: £1499
Length of program: 3 weeks+
Website: www.himalayanyogainstitute.com

10. StretchBodyMind

Created by Glasgow-based yoga and pilates teacher Victoria Cunningham, this 200hr online training offers a more personal approach, with each training limited to 12 students, and regular 1-1 coaching calls with Victoria throughout. The course is specifically geared to build your confidence as a teacher, with a detailed ‘Learner Achievement Portfolio’ that you must complete during the training and monthly live group calls to keep you accountable. The training takes place over around 5 months, although you can take longer if you wish, with a live training taking place one weekend (Fri – Sun) a month, regular group meetings to practice teachings, and several private coaching sessions. One of the biggest attractions of the training is that the anatomy module is taught by world-renowned yoga anatomy expert Leslie Kaminoff whose 20hr online yoga anatomy course is available to you through the learning portal.

Style: Multi
Hours: 200hr
Cost: £1875
Length of program: approx. 5 months
Website: stretchbodymind.com