yoga students practicing teaching to each otherThe Difference Between 200 Hour vs 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

The world of yoga has changed dramatically since Covid yoga teacher training is now offered again in person as well as online.  There is an hour difference between 200 hour vs 500 hour yoga teacher training, but what is the real difference? In this blog, we will talk about what those differences are and how they are similar as well.

yoga teacher training program

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

First off the 200 hour is a foundational course for all other yoga teacher trainings. Why 200 hours? The Council of Yoga 30 years ago decided that was the minimal level needed to be an instructor.

Essentially like any other foundational course for a discipline, a reputable 200  hour will cover all major topics of yoga like pranayama, the history of yoga, the business of yoga, mudras and the list goes on and on. 

As mentioned above, Covid has changed yoga dramatically. And now we’re a 200 hour less than two years ago could only be accomplished in person, now the option of doing it online is something that many people are now doing everywhere. And that’s has made the access to becoming a yoga instructor even easier.

yoga teacher training in Vancouver BC

500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

If you’re interested in becoming a yoga master, you need to do a 500 hour yoga training course.   

Like advanced programs in universities, the 500 hour usually allows the student to concentrate on a specific style of yoga like kundalini, ashtanga or hatha which  is then the focus philosophically and practically, so they become true experts in that specific style of yoga.

A 500 hour allows you to be more than just a regular yoga teacher.   It allows you to be a manager at a yoga studio. Or it allows you to be a lead in certifying future yoga teachers.   

It also allows you to be in position to write yoga books. As well as other written materials with some sort of authority in that style of yoga.

So those are the specifics differences between each program. At the end of the day, what makes them similar are both require students to complete an exam and a certification class.