In this short article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about becoming a yin yoga teacher or upskill your yin teaching.

How do I become a Yin Yoga teacher in NZ?
A 50-hour or longer Yin Yoga training is suggested, although quite often yoga teachers start teaching Yin classes after some self study.

Is a 200 hour yoga teacher training enough to teach Yin?
It depends. Different yoga teacher training schools focus on very different aspects of yoga.
Yin yoga can be a small component of a 200 hour teacher training curriculum of some yoga training programs to set you off.
Information included in these programs can be very basic but it’s a great place to start and gain some basic understanding around what is Yin and Why we practice Yin yoga.

Can you teach yin yoga without a Yin Yoga certification?
Yes you can since there is no official regulation in the yoga industry and some yoga teachers start teaching Yin without completing a proper Yin yoga training or gaining a Yin yoga certificate.
However, it’s recommended to be mentored by an experienced Yin yoga teacher, and start a daily Yin practice first, as teaching Yin is not as easy as it looks. 

How many hours of training do you need to teach yin yoga?
Usually a 50-hour Yin Yoga teacher training like the Mindfully Yin Yoga training is sufficient for you to start off.

Can I teach Yin with just a Yin Yoga certificate/without a 200 hour foundational teacher training?
There is no legal requirement/regulation in the yoga industry.
You can set up your own Yin classes and make Yin accessible to people who may not feel comfortable going to a yoga studio. 

While most yoga studios require a 200 hour foundational yoga teacher training certificate recognised by the Yoga Alliance to teach, you may be able to find a studio that accepts just a Yin yoga certificate for you to teach Yin only. 

What makes a good yin yoga teacher?

  • Loving presence – a good yin yoga teacher is able to connect to her/his students with soft attention so students feel comfortable whichever variation of the pose they are in.
  • Ability to hold space – a good yin yoga teacher is comfortable leaving lots of space to the students but also knows when to speak and offer the deep teachings of yoga and mindfulness.
  • Includes a regular meditation practice. Teaching Yin yoga is like teaching meditation. Each pose we hold for a few minutes is  like a mini-meditation.
  • Ability to offer choices to students with compassion. Every body is different. This requires the yin yoga teacher to understand human body variations well. Also he/she knows how to support the students physically with props and emotionally with languaging and space. 
  • Embodying the healing practice of yin. A good yin yoga teacher should have a regular yin practice so they know their teachings well and understand how their students feel in class. 

There are many Yin Yoga teacher trainings available, how do I choose one that suits me?
Different yin yoga teacher trainings vary significantly. To choose the right yin training for you, you need to first know your intention. A few things to ponder:

  • Are you more interested in the physiology of yin yoga and human variations?
  • Do you want to focus on learning more postures and how to use support students with alternative variations and modifications?
  • Are you more interested in the meridians aka traditional chinese medicine and wanting to bring these aspects into your teaching?
  • Are you more interested in how your students’ experiences unfold emotionally and mentally, and how to hold space for them when things become challenging?
  • Are you more interested in incorporating mindfulness and meditation in your yin teaching?

To find out what would be the right training for you:

  • reach out to teacher trainers and get to know them – see if you feel connected to their teaching style
  • get to know the teacher trainer’s background, teaching experiences
  • If possible, attend the teacher trainer’s classes or workshops so you meet him/her in person, and check out if the teacher trainer is accessible and supportive
    If you’d like to know more about how to become a yin yoga teacher in NZ, please contact Fiona. Don’t forget to check out our Mindfully Yin training and Trauma-Sensitive Yin training.

About the author
Fiona has been teaching yoga for over 15 years.  As a dedicated yoga teacher and educator, her mission is to help yogis stay connected to their yin energy, so they can be mindful in each and every moment. Read more about Fiona here



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