Why Yoga Teacher Continuing Education is Important
As yoga teachers, we all know that the learning never truly ends. It doesn’t stop once we’ve completed our initial teacher training or when we’ve led our first class. In fact, continuing education has been essential for my growth as a teacher and a lifelong student of yoga. Continuing education keeps me inspired and connected to the roots of yoga while helping me refine my skills to better serve my students.
Maintaining Your Yoga Alliance Credentials
For those registered with Yoga Alliance, continuing education is a requirement. To maintain our credentials, we must complete 75 hours of continuing education (CE) every three years—45 hours of teaching and 30 hours of YACEP training. These hours remind us to stay engaged with our practice and committed to our development as teachers. Knowing that I need to meet these requirements motivates me to continuously seek new learning opportunities, whether through advanced anatomy training, deepening my study of yoga philosophy, or honing my practice in Yin Yoga.
What I appreciate most is that these 30 hours of training can be done online, making it much easier to fit continuing education into a busy teaching schedule. Suppose you’re also looking to maintain your certification. In that case, check out the Yoga Alliance Continuing Education page for more details on how to stay on top of your hours.
Strengthening My Yoga Teaching with Continuing Anatomy Education
Continuing education has been critical in helping me expand my understanding of the human body and how it moves through yoga. I’ve delved into advanced anatomy training, which has transformed how I guide my students through asanas. Understanding the biomechanics of joints, muscles, and fascia on a deeper level has allowed me to offer more precise cues and adjustments, ensuring that my students practice safely while still getting the most benefit from each pose.
For instance, knowing how the body’s connective tissues behave during long-held Yin Yoga postures has improved my ability to instruct students on when and how to push their edge without risking injury. This has been incredibly valuable in helping me offer a more personalized experience in each class. Suppose you haven’t yet explored advanced anatomy. In that case, I can’t recommend it enough—it completely shifted how I see my practice and my students’ needs.
The Flexibility and Depth of Online Learning
With the shift towards more online yoga courses, continuing education has become more accessible than ever. Gone are the days when I had to plan weekend trips or schedule time off for in-person workshops. Now, I can engage with advanced anatomy lessons or yoga philosophy courses at my own pace, pausing and revisiting the material whenever needed.
I recently completed my second Yin Yoga certification. This most recent Yin Yoga Training was online and the experience was just as enriching as any in-person training I’ve attended. The flexibility to go at my own speed allowed me to absorb the teachings more fully and apply them directly in my classes. Online education has challenges, but the benefits are undeniable, particularly for working yoga teachers.
Deepening My Understanding of Yoga Philosophy
Beyond the physical practice, yoga has always been rooted in deep philosophy. Studying texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras has brought profound insights into my teaching and personal practice. The wisdom of these ancient texts offers guidance on how to live and teach yoga in alignment with the core values of compassion, discipline, and self-awareness.
Incorporating lessons from the Bhagavad Gita has helped me frame yoga as a practice beyond the physical, including the mind and spirit. Similarly, the Yoga Sutras have provided me with tools for understanding the purpose of meditation and how to cultivate a peaceful, focused mind. Sharing these teachings with my students has created a richer experience in my classes, where philosophy and asana are woven together to offer something more meaningful than just a workout.
Improving the Student Experience
One of the most rewarding aspects of continuing education is how it directly benefits my students. Whether I apply my advanced anatomy knowledge to offer safer adjustments or share insights from the Bhagavad Gita to encourage self-reflection, I’ve found that my students appreciate the depth and care that comes from continued learning.
For example, after completing my advanced anatomy training, I became more attuned to how each student’s body moves differently. This understanding allowed me to tailor my instructions, making my classes more inclusive and accessible to a broader range of abilities. Likewise, bringing elements of yoga philosophy into class discussions has helped students connect with yoga on a deeper level, beyond the mat.
Yoga Teacher Continuing Education as a Tool for Personal Growth
For me, continuing education isn’t just about becoming a better teacher—it’s about growing as an individual. The deeper I study the body, mind, and spirit, the more I understand that teaching yoga is a continuous journey of self-discovery. Whether exploring the intricacies of anatomy or reflecting on the teachings of the Yoga Sutras, each new course or workshop helps me reconnect with the essence of why I started teaching yoga in the first place.
The beauty of continuing education is that it keeps me curious, open, and engaged in my own practice. It fuels my passion for teaching and gives me the tools to support my students in their yoga journeys.
Continuing education is much more than just a requirement—it’s a lifelong commitment to growth and learning. Whether you’re studying anatomy, philosophy, or a specific style like Yin Yoga, it’s an opportunity to refine your teaching and deepen your understanding of yoga. And in the process, you’ll find that your students and your practice will flourish. To learn more about maintaining your Yoga Alliance credentials, visit the Yoga Alliance Continuing Education page.
Christina Raskin
