The study of yoga is a fulfilling experience. Daily practice of yoga brings about improved mental awareness, which helps you gain knowledge of good and bad. Moreover, it also provides you with the virtue of Detachment which helps you concentrate and leads to self-realization.
However, yoga education takes place beyond the typical asanas and Pranayama. The entire process can transform you from the physical to subtle levels of experience and consciousness. Yoga teacher training lays down a solid foundation of yoga and its related practices. Whether you enroll in a beginner or advanced-level training, there is a lot to learn in the RYT programs.
That said, let us check out the two in-demand RYT programs.
The basic yoga teacher training program which is spread over 200 hours. The 200 RYT covers all the basic of yoga. It lays down a solid foundation of all the yoga basics including yoga anatomy and physiology combined with ample practical sessions.
In simple terms, the 200 hour RYT provides you with;
Let us find out about the eligibility criteria of this basic yoga teacher training.
Let us now focus on the advanced-level yoga teacher training program – The 500 Hour RYT
The 500 hour is a combination of 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training. You can accomplish this course in one go or two separate modules. The 500 hour yoga teacher training helps you complete both trainings in a short period of time.
However, many yoga schools make it mandatory to complete at least 200 hour yoga teacher training before signing up for this advanced-level RYT.
The standard 500-Hour RYT includes lessons on;
Studying yoga offers an individual the experience of a lifetime. With different yoga styles and paths to self-realization, the study of this sacred art involves a lot more than just the practice of specific asanas. The in-depth knowledge of yogic lifestyle helps one inculcate healthy habits in their regular life. It is what makes their journey to becoming a registered yoga teacher worth the effort.
The YTT course helps the person move above their mundane existence and become aware of the hidden and true potential. However, one should know that yoga teacher training courses are divided into three different categories namely 200, 300, and 500-hour YTT. All three of these courses help the individual lay down a solid foundation for their career as a yoga teacher and advance from a beginner to an advanced yoga practitioner.
On the one hand, the 200-hour course offers the person a solid foundation to start their journey to becoming a yoga teacher while the 500-hour makes them a certified yoga teacher. Given below is the difference between the two most important certified yoga teacher courses, the beginner-level 200-hour, and advanced 500-hour course.
Before starting with the comparison, one should know these differences are based on the per-requisite, program requirements, and certification for each YTT program.
1. Pre-Requisites
The 200-hour YTT course is the first step to choosing the career of a yoga teacher. In other words, it is for those who possess a basic understanding of yoga or just starting in this field. In this course, the individual learns yoga history, philosophy, basic yoga terms, and human anatomy to teach yoga safely.
The person can enroll in a Yoga Alliance certified yoga school or learn it from a yoga studio in their city to start their 200-hour YTT.
On the other hand, the 500-hour yoga teacher training course is suitable for those who have completed their 200 and 300-hour YTT course and possess around 100-hours of yoga teaching experience.
2. Program Requirements
A yoga school providing the 200 hour yoga teacher training would recommend the individual acquire a minimum of one year of experience in practice of different yoga asanas before starting with the program. The person has to complete the reading of a list of yoga-related material before their actual yoga teacher training starts.
The literature provided in this registered yoga teacher course includes Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Bhagwad Gita, and other resources covering topics like yoga philosophy and human anatomy. The program includes intensive sessions on helping the individual deepen their yoga practice and inculcating stronger meditation and breathing techniques.
The 500-hour yoga teacher training is a combination of the lessons covered in the beginner-level 200-hour YTT and intermediate-level 300-hour YTT course. In other words, it is similar to acquiring a bachelor's and a master's degree in a single program.
3. The Certification
The 200-Hour yoga teacher training provides the individual a chance to teach yoga in a widely accessible way. It offers the individual a great foundation that includes the basic yoga knowledge to kickstart their yoga journey.
On the other end, the 500-hour YTT offers the person not just in-depth knowledge of yoga but also advanced lessons on how one can organize a yoga class in the best possible manner. It offers lessons one would get in the 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training session.
There it is! The complete difference between the 200-hour and 500-hour yoga teacher training sessions.
Becoming a registered yoga teacher requires a serious commitment of time and efforts. Whether one plans to enroll in the beginner-level 200-hour or the advanced 500-hour YTT, it is important to know the ins and outs of both of these courses before arriving at a decision.