13 Best Yoga Teacher Trainings in Chicago

Whether you plan to teach one-on-one or group sessions, use music during live classes, or make hands-on and verbal adjustments, this training will equip you with the necessary skills. Led by a team of experienced instructors, this yoga certification course delves into various topics, including the classical roots of:

• Meditation
• Pranayama
• Anatomy
• Yoga history
• Alignment
• Class sequencing
• Business aspects

The course welcomes all skill levels, with a minimum requirement of two years of consistent yoga practice. Typically, a training group comprises 12 to 20 students, and the tuition covers all training instruction and unlimited classes at both studios for the training duration.

• Format: In-studio immersive training
• Duration: 3 months – Thursdays or one month intense – Mon-Fri
• Website: https://yogaview.com

Training days at the studio have flexible payment plans, scholarships, and early bird discounts, making this revered program accessible to dedicated students. Tejas Yoga aims to cultivate wisdom and inner strength in its students through a well-rounded curriculum spanning:

• Asana practice
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Yogic philosophy
• Spirituality
• Self-inquiry

Tejas Yoga graduates become part of a tight-knit community with ongoing mentoring and development opportunities available. The yoga school boasts an excellent reputation and passionate yoga teachers. It provides an immersive experience for those looking to dive deep into yoga.

• Format: In-studio immersive training
• Duration: At least a year
• Website: http://tejasyogachicago.com/

The Chicago school emphasizes connecting to yoga’s spiritual essence while providing a comprehensive curriculum covering all the modules required for yoga teacher certification. Students are immersed in the study of Paramahansa Yogananda and classical yoga in a welcoming community. Hatha Temple of Kriya Yoga’s teacher training program provides a strong foundation in:

• Yoga theory, practice, and philosophy
• Asana practice
• Pranayama
• Anatomy
• Meditation
• Yoga sutras
• Bhagavad Gita
• Eight limbs of yoga

Students gain profound insight into yoga’s origins and practical skills as a yoga teacher. The school has passionate, experienced teachers who impart substantial knowledge while creating a nurturing environment for the growth of the human body. Payment plans make the training accessible and possible to complete without financial constraints.

• Format: In-studio immersive training
• Duration: Nine months with Sat afternoons
• Website: http://www.yogakriya.org

Training days help students’ personal yoga practice while equipping them with practical skills to teach yoga to benefit the human body. Nature Yoga’s excellent yoga educators guide students to find their unique voice and style as teachers. Students deepen their knowledge through immersion:

• Asana
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Anatomy
• Philosophy
• Yoga sequencing
• Posture dissections

Students emerge with extensive knowledge grounded in a classic and solid foundation yet relevant for today’s practitioners. Aside from an early bird discount, the flexible schedule and payment plans give you more time to prepare for your expenses as you build your practice.

• Format: In-studio immersive training
• Duration: Six months – Thurs evenings and Sat afternoons
• Website: http://www.natureyoga.com

Creative Motion’s curriculum explores traditional yogic texts while relating their wisdom to modern life. This gave me a more empathetic approach to meeting students in my studio. The program also goes beyond yoga postures to provide an in-depth understanding of:

• Anatomy
• Meditation techniques
• Philosophical limbs of yoga
• Yogic principles
• Posture dissections

Students develop their yogic practice and gain hands-on experience instructing others, supervised by expert teachers. Students emerge as skilled teachers and more mindful, compassionate beings grounded in yoga’s origins.

• Format: Hybrid in-studio & online
• Duration: Three months
• Website: https://www.creativemotionchicago.com/

With an early bird discount, students of this Chicago school gain a good foundation of Yoga Alliance-approved classes without breaking the bank. Students are given an in-depth understanding of each facet of yoga. I recommend this diverse coursework, encompassing:

• Posture breakdowns
• Physical anatomy
• Sequencing
• Meditation training
• History of yoga
• Yoga sutras

This yoga teacher training program stands out because of its five enthusiastic facilitators: Ali Brasher, Cara Kalnow, Julianne Farrell, Maggie Umberger, and Robin Samples. A unique feature of the training is the organization of most sessions over weekends and Wednesday evenings, providing a balanced, career-friendly training schedule.

• Format: Weeknight and weekend training
• Duration: 1 month with 10 days intense, then weekends
• Website: https://barefeetpoweryoga.com

Bloom’s Yoga Alliance-registered training emphasizes safe alignment techniques and biomechanics. Students dive into key texts while discussing yoga’s evolution and intersection with modern science.

• Asanas
• Pranayama
• Anatomy
• Philosophy
• Critical thinking

The experienced faculty supports trainees in developing their unique voice and style as teachers. Aside from an early bird discount, Bloom Yoga Studio welcomes all levels and provides flexible payment options, making this exceptional program accessible. Students emerge ready to teach skillfully and share yoga’s transformative benefits.

• Format: Hybrid in-studio and online
• Duration: 10 months – Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons
• Website: http://www.bloomyogastudio.com/

I’ve seen the program’s approach to teaching yoga sensitivity, compassion, and practice. It offers an in-depth look into the art of adjustments, teaching students how to use visual, verbal, and kinesthetic tools effectively. The program, aimed at deepening practice, teaching, and understanding of yoga, takes students on an ardent journey through critical elements and techniques of:

• Asana
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Yoga postures

The teacher training curriculum also covers Ayurveda, the ancient science of living in harmony with nature, touching on lifestyle, daily routine, diet, nutrition, and esoteric concepts. The full training offers a robust understanding of yogic history and philosophy, Sanskrit terms, various breathing techniques, and the art of sequencing, among others.

• Format: In-studio immersive training
• Duration: At least a year
• Website: http://www.mokshayoga.com/

One of the benefits I’ve gained from the teacher training is the combination of practical understanding and application of yoga asanas with rich teachings in philosophy, including Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the eight limbs of yoga. The course also covers various other topics, such as:

• Meditation practices
• Pranayama
• Anatomy and physiology
• Ayurveda
• Sanskrit
• Trauma-informed yoga
• History and culture of yoga
• Business of yoga

Students also have the opportunity to delve into issues such as the cultural appropriation and inclusivity in yoga. A unique feature of the program is its focus on personal growth, as it encourages students to dive deep into their practice, receive ongoing support from instructors, and attend Chi-Town Shakti Yoga and Meditation classes.

• Format: Weekend immersive training
• Duration: 9 months, including weekends
• Website: http://www.chi-townshakti.com/

The program’s cost encompasses a full membership to Vinyasa Yoga Loft Chicago and the required materials. It offers value for students seeking a comprehensive, well-rounded yoga teacher training experience. Aside from its academic breadth, the program stands out for its inclusive study of:

• Sanskrit
• Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
• Jivamukti Yoga
• Ayurvedic practices
• Meditation

Flexible and accommodating, the course meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, fitting comfortably around participants’ other commitments. Even with an early bird discount, students unable to attend in-studio sessions in River North can take advantage of recorded sessions and virtual options, including live-streamed and on-demand lessons.

• Format: Weeknight and weekend training
• Duration: 3 months – Thurs evenings and alternating weekends
• Website: https://www.yogaloftstudios.com/

Participants, ideally with at least one year of yoga experience, delve into six key areas: Training technique/practice, teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, practicum, and an introduction to Mysore Style Ashtanga. In training technique/practice, you’ll become a yoga instructor with a deeper understanding of traditional yoga techniques, including:

• Asanas
• Pranayama
• Kriyas
• Mantras
• Forms of meditation
• Philosophy
• Lifestyle
• Ethics
• Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga

The Teaching Methodology segment equips trainees with essential teaching skills, addressing aspects like observation, assisting/correcting, teaching styles, and the business side of yoga. Take advantage of the early bird discount to gain hands-on experience through observation, assistance, and practice teaching.

• Format: Weeknight training
• Duration: 7 months
• Website: http://yoganowchicago.com/

This Chicago school stands out with its distinctive training features. Instead of learning a set sequence, students learn to think creatively about yoga sequencing within a basic framework, leading to a more personalized teaching style. The yoga teacher training in Chicago offers an enriching experience, introducing students to several yoga topics, including:

• Vinyasa yoga
• Ashtanga
• Yin
• Pranayama
• Kids Yoga
• Kundalini
• Iyengar

Notably, the training culminates in the co-teaching of a graduation day class by the trainees themselves. With unlimited classes available during the training, all the modules of the program allow for a comprehensive, self-paced journey toward completing the teacher training.

• Format: Hybrid in-studio & online
• Duration: 3 months – Thurs evenings and alternating weekends
• Website: http://www.zenyogagarage.com/

The yoga teacher training in Chicago is led by Chris and Wade, along with a support staff of teachers who provide expertise in various subjects. Participants in the program will learn about a wide range of topics, including:

• Asana & Advanced Asana
• Yoga Philosophy
• Anatomy
• Energy Work
• Meditation
• Community Building and Marketing
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Leadership
• Pre- and Post-Natal Yoga
• Yin Yoga
• Thai Yoga

Thanks to weekly recaps, study groups, and makeup assignments, trainees can miss up to seven sessions without falling behind. Additionally, every teacher training class at The Lab is free for participants during their training, further enriching the learning experience.

• Format: Hybrid in-studio & online
• Duration: At least three months
• Website: http://www.zenyogagarage.com/