What Can You Do with a 200-hour Yoga Certification?
- By: Kevin Parenteau
- Published:
- Reviewed: August 26, 2026
Completing a 200-hour Yoga teacher training can be the beginning of several different paths. You may decide to teach in a Yoga studio, work privately with students, offer classes online, teach in non-traditional settings, or continue your education with advanced and specialty training.
A 200-hour training also gives you a foundation in anatomy, teaching methodology, Yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama, and meditation that can continue to shape both your teaching and your personal practice.
If your training was completed through a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 200), you can also apply to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200.
In this article, I’ll focus on what you can do after completing a 200-hourYogaa teacher training — from teaching opportunities and RYT 200 registration to continuing education, specialization and building a career as a Yoga teacher.
What Does a 200-Hour Yoga Certification Mean?
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is the foundational level of education for many aspiring yoga teachers. Programs generally introduce students to asana, anatomy, teaching methodology, yoga philosophy, pranayama, meditation and the practical skills involved in teaching yoga.
Completing a 200-hour program through a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 200) allows you to receive your training certificate and apply to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200.
If you’re still researching where to complete your training, you can learn more about our 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training. This article focuses instead on what you can do after completing your training.
YTT VS RYT: Whats the Difference?
YTT usually refers to Yoga Teacher Training — the educational program you complete.
RYT 200 means Registered Yoga Teacher 200, a designation issued by Yoga Alliance to teachers who meet its registration requirements after completing an eligible 200-hour training.
In simple terms:
- 200-hour YTT = the training program
- 200-hour training certificate = the certificate you receive from your yoga school after successfully completing the program
- RYT 200 = the Yoga Alliance registration you can apply for after completing qualifying training
Completing a 200-hour program does not automatically make you an RYT 200. If your training is through a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School, you can use your completion certificate to apply for registration with Yoga Alliance.
What Can You Do After a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training?
Completing a 200-hour Yoga teacher training can open several paths, depending on your interests, experience, and where you want Yoga to fit into your life.
You may choose to:
- Teach group Yoga classes at studios, gyms, community centers, or wellness facilities
- Offer private one-to-one or small-group Yoga sessions
- Teach Yoga online through live classes or recorded programs
- Work with corporate or workplace wellness programs
- Offer classes in community settings, retreat centers or resorts
- Develop workshops or introductory Yoga programs
- Combine Yoga teaching with an existing profession in fitness, wellness or movement
- Continue into specialty training such as Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga, Hatha Yoga or other areas of interest
- Continue your education with a 300-hour Yoga teacher training and work toward RYT 500 registration
A 200-hour training gives you a foundation, but graduating is only the beginning of developing as a teacher. Experience, continuing education, regular personal practice and time spent actually teaching all contribute to your growth.
Requirements for teaching can also vary by employer, insurer and location. Yoga Alliance registration is widely recognized within the Yoga industry, but it is not a government-issued teaching license.
What’s the Difference Between RYT and E-RYT?
RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher. E-RYT stands for Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher. The E-RYT designation recognizes teachers who have accumulated substantial teaching experience after completing their initial teacher training.
An RYT 200 is a teacher who has completed an eligible 200-hour Yoga teacher training through a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 200) and registered with Yoga Alliance.
An E-RYT 200 has completed a 200-hour training and has taught for at least 2 years, accumulating at least 1,000 teaching hours after completing that training.
The E-RYT designation also opens additional professional opportunities. E-RYT 200 and E-RYT 500 teachers can provide continuing education workshops and training that may count toward Yoga Alliance continuing education requirements.
An E-RYT 500 has completed either a 500-hour Yoga Alliance–registered teacher training or a 200-hour training plus an additional 300-hour advanced training, and has met Yoga Alliance’s teaching-experience requirements. In addition to offering continuing education, an E-RYT 500 can serve as a Lead Trainer for Yoga Alliance–registered 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour teacher training programs.
The distinction is not simply that an E-RYT has been teaching longer. The experienced designation also opens the door to providing continuing education and, at the E-RYT 500 level, taking on a lead role in teacher training.
Where to Go From Here
Finishing a 200-hour yoga teacher training is an important milestone, but it is also just the beginning.
Some graduates start teaching immediately. Others take time to build confidence, deepen their personal practice, or continue learning before stepping into a teaching role. There is no single path that works for everyone.
The most useful next step is usually the one that gives you more real experience — teaching, observing other teachers, continuing your education, and learning where your own strengths and interests lie.
If you are still at the stage of choosing a training, you can learn more about our 200 Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training.
Kevin Parenteau
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