2 professional yoga instructors share their tips on finding the best online yoga teacher training pr

• What to know about the yoga industry before signing up for a yoga teacher program:
• 8 tips for selecting an online yoga teacher training certification program:
• The 4 best online yoga teacher certification programs:
• Other resources:

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• If you love doing yoga and teaching, becoming a yoga instructor could be a good career path.
• Yoga teacher training is a self-regulated industry, so it takes research to find the best programs.
• We spoke to two yoga instructors to find the best online yoga teacher certification programs.

If you're one of the many people who's benefitted from doing yoga, teaching it can be an exciting and worthwhile profession. And like many other health or fitness-related careers, it's possible to become a certified yoga instructor through online learning.

Because the yoga industry is self-regulated, it's not always a simple or straightforward process to find an online teacher training certification course. To learn more about the yoga industry at large and how to find the best online yoga teacher certification programs, I reached out to two yoga teachers:

• Hersha Chellaram, owner of Hersha Yoga School and co-founder and Executive Director of YAMA, a Hong Kong charity organization focused on yoga, arts, and meditation 
• Dianne Bondy, an accessible yoga teacher, author of "Yoga for Everyone: 50 Poses for Every Type of Body and Yoga Where You Are," social justice activist, and the leader of the Yoga For All movement

"I love the ability it gives me to change lives and the world around me, " says Bondy, who finds helping people make changes in their lives is incredibly satisfying. 

"When I see students applying all of the yoga teachings — not just the physical aspects — to their lives, it is the most rewarding," says Chellaram. "I have seen many students save their own marriages, find healthier ways to self-regulate, and better manage their pain, mental health, or autoimmune diseases." 

If this is the kind of career path that speaks to you, here's how you can move forward.

Learn more about how Insider Reviews reviews and researches online courses.

What to know about the yoga industry before signing up for a yoga teacher program:

Being a yoga teacher isn't just about teaching or holding poses. 

"It's hard work," says Bondy. "It requires you to show up in the world every day and help create joy, peace, and also action." 

Because yoga can look like a passive activity, it's often misinterpreted. "I think many people believe it means you sit idle or don't get overly involved," says Bondy, adding that "yoga can be a huge agent for positive change in the world."

This is especially true since there's been a lot of progress and evolution within the industry. For example, "the development of yoga props, the accountability of 'Gurus,' and the increase of yoga research are wonderful contributions," says Chellaram. 

It's also important to know that yoga isn't only about positivity: there are aspects of the industry that can be problematic. "Classic teachings are becoming diluted and the industry risks becoming a part of the toxic, dark side of the wellness industry where it's about how you look, what equipment you wear, and how popular you are on social media," explains Chellaram. 

Bondy is sincere and direct in that there are perspectives that need to shift in how we think about yoga. "I'm working to change the perception around yoga in the western world, and that requires being joyfully honest with people and guiding them to be that way with themselves," she says.

8 tips for selecting an online yoga teacher training certification program:

Online yoga teacher training programs are a dime a dozen, so it's important to be able to differentiate legitimate ones that fit your needs and professional goals. 

It's also important to consider your professional goals, the history of yoga, and how you prefer to teach. 

Make sure it offers Continuing Education (CE) accreditation.

Many yoga teacher training programs offer CE accreditation — a way to ensure that teachers stay active, remain current in their knowledge, and improve their yoga practice to maintain their credentials. 

"Reach out to the administrator or the instructor to see if the online course provides official CE credits," says Chellaram. "The training should qualify for CE credits with Yoga Alliance or another similar platform," adds Bondy. 

Find a program that respects yoga history and diverse perspectives.

With yoga classes offered everywhere and pretty pictures all over social media platforms, it can be easy to forget that there is an important history and philosophy behind the practice.

When considering a yoga teacher training, it's important to choose one that incorporates the history and philosophy of yoga. "Schools that honor yoga's history and teachers who can competently share yoga philosophy [and] non-physical practices and who actually walk their talk are the best bet," says Chellaram.  

Bondy also suggests you ask: "Is [the program] speaking about equity, marginalized populations?" to ensure the courses are inclusive to students of all body types and backgrounds.

Consider the instructors' teaching history. 

Although almost anyone can become a yoga teacher and even train other teachers, not everyone is best suited for the task. "It's important to look at a teacher's biography, experience, and tenure teaching," says Chellaram, who also encourages researching the full curriculum.

If you can, try out one of the teacher's yoga classes first to get a sense of what to expect.

One of the best ways to know if you like a teacher's style and way of presenting the material is by taking one of their classes. Experiencing a class can provide a lot of insight before making a big commitment. 

"Take an online class or course from the teacher to make sure the style of yoga and the vibe of the teacher resonates with you," says Chellaram. 

Talk to graduates of the program.

Chellaram recommends talking to graduates to get a feel for the course and if it aligns with what you're looking for. It's a wonderful way to get first-hand knowledge about the experience. Plus, you're more likely to get honest answers to all your questions. 

Avoid programs that make big promises.

"If any training, workshops, [or] online courses promise you that you will make tons of money — and charge a ton of money in the process — be aware," says Chellaram, who notes that the yoga industry is not globally regulated (meaning it's on you to vet programs and use your best judgment).

The 4 best online yoga teacher certification programs:

Anusara School of Hatha Yoga — 300-Hour Hatha Yoga and Therapeutics Yoga Teacher Training

 Price: $2,999

Length: 300 hours

Bondy took this training in 2009 and says "it provided an in-depth experience of the Anusara yoga system, which includes the practice of the Universal Principles of Alignment, and the power of the kula, the community of like-hearted yogis."

According to Bondy, one of the benefits of learning the principles of alignment is that it "can help a yogi to focus less on how the pose looks and more on helping different bodies achieve their best result."

Hersha Yoga School of Teacher Training — Integral Yoga Basic Teacher Training: 200-Hour Yoga Foundations  

Price: $3,803 (varies depending on currency exchange)

Length: 200 hours

Hersha Chellaram is the owner of Hersha Yoga, a School of Teacher Training that focuses on accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment with a basis in yoga traditions. 

She also founded YAMA Foundation, a charity organization in Hong Kong that offers art, meditation, and yoga to communities that may not normally have as much access to them.  "Students gain a comprehensive foundation of knowledge on the practice and teaching of yoga both on and off the mat," says Chellaram, who says that graduates from her programs "become versatile teachers being able to work in a variety of settings from fitness and healthcare to community centers and marginalized communities."

Dianne's Training — The Path to Yoga, Justice & Equity 200 & 300 HR YTT

Price: $3,200-$3,800 (200 hours); 300 hours=$4,200-$4,800 (300 hours)

Length: 200-300 hours

Created by Dianne Bondy, The Yoga For Everyone 200 and 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training are focused on creating diverse and accessible yoga spaces.

"Though the industry is (slowly) becoming more inclusive, there is much work still to be done in order to break the cycle of marginalization and systemic oppression created by the Yoga Industrial Complex," says Bondy. To do this, yoga teachers need to have an understanding of their role in making yoga more inclusive, accessible, and equal, explains Bondy, and will require teachers to consider and review how they teach and lead.

Positive Health Solutions — Dr. Mala Cunningham's online courses on Neuroscience, Yoga & Mindfulness 

 Price: $2,500

Length: 200 hours

Dr. Cunningham is an assistant professor at the University of Virginia's Nursing School and has partnered with Yogaville for the Teacher Training component of her Neuroscience and Yoga course, which is currently taught online. 

"She combines traditional teachings with adaptations for people rehabilitating from chronic illness and includes a significant psychology and mental health component integrating the latest research on brain science," says Chellaram. "Dr. Cunningham's delivery is relevant, precise, and very useful in enhancing your skills as a yoga teacher."

Other resources:

Accessible Yoga School - Jivana Heyman's Accessible Yoga Online Training 

Price:  $600-$800

Length: 3 weeks

Although this course isn't a 200-300 hour certification training, it focuses on accessible yoga and how to make this practice more readily available. "Accessible Yoga is gaining in popularity around the world," says Chellaram. "This is wonderful training for those who want to bring yoga to populations that don't fit the often marketable image of studio-based yoga. It covers how to teach yoga to communities that have disabilities, come from marginalized backgrounds, and more."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnnJqus7rIp55ompWowW7FzqCYZpuVp8GqssicmK2hn6N6sLrLoqWe