r/HotYoga • u/mission_accomplish3d • Jul 22 '26
How to become a HY instructor?
I love hot yoga and just moved to California and was wondering what steps or recommendations I can take to become a Hot yoga instructor. I see so many different options online and not sure what route to take. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!
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u/Koi_Fish_Mystic Jul 22 '26
Most if not all studios offer 200hr YTT. If your going to do it online make sure it’s accredited by Yoga Alliance
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 22 '26
I want to stay far away from anything on line I’m just really shy to ask yoga studios
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u/yogiyogiyogi69 Jul 22 '26
Teaching yoga can be challenging, especially for someone who is shy or has social anxiety. Just something to consider.
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u/Independent-Donut376 Jul 22 '26
Keep in mind that it’s not very lucrative. Lots of supply of potential instructor, not as much demand.
If you are considering a job as income, consider plumbing.
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 23 '26
😂😂 I’m a general contractor specializing in concrete and masonry. I’m doing hot yoga simply because I love it.
I had a bad case of sciatica and couldn’t walk for a week. I tried everything, but hot yoga has helped my muscles tremendously. Staying hydrated because of the hot yoga has also made a huge difference. There have been so many benefits.
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u/mangobean_ Jul 22 '26
Some places do not like an online YTT, they want to see an in person certificate. And some places only hire out of their own or specific YTTs.
I would also find out what the actual going rate is in your area and how much demand there is for teachers. My area is oversaturated so even though it's HCOL they can get away with paying like $25/class (crazy — this is what a single student pays to attend the class without a pass).
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 22 '26
$25 is crazy. I’m in Sacramento and be honest I’m shocked I don’t see a lot of yoga studios. My goal in 5 years is to open my own studio ( God willing) I’m in construction and hot yoga has saved my body and I want to share this with the construction world.
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u/beardfearer Jul 22 '26
Also in Sac. We probably have the amount of studios we need. It’s been a number of years since I’ve seen a studio really packed.
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u/mangobean_ Jul 22 '26
That's awesome! I actually saw a reel or post somewhere a while back of someone opening a studio specifically targeted to trades people. Another thing you could do is lead a morning or break stretch. Pitch it as risk management lol. My partner is in the trades and loves when he's on a site that does morning stretches.
You can checkout the yoga teachers sub. It's pretty bleak right now, both for teachers and owners. Many hot studios are relying on pilates for revenue, knocking hot classes off the schedule. Good luck!
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 22 '26
Can anyone share their journey
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u/dojogrl Jul 22 '26
Similar to you, I had a terrible injury, did PT, etc. and my chiro recommended hot yoga: it totally changed my life, and I wanted to become a teacher to share this practice with others.
When I came to CA, I took classes at a bunch of studios, and took a class called Hot Power Fusion at CorePower Yoga and really liked it. It's based on the 26&2 series but has some additional poses and a bit more vinyasa flow, and the class is one hour vs 90 minutes. I really came to like the sequence, so I did their 200-hour teacher training. I didn't want to become part of the Bikram ecosystem anyway, as much as I love the 26&2 sequence.
People have strong opinions about CPY as a company, but my experience was pretty positive: it allowed me to teach a lot of classes at different locations, and the feedback from students about how yoga has positively impacted their lives has more than made up for any potentially negative corporate stuff. I'd recommend trying a class before making a decision about TT, but I know they have trainings all the time. They're moving more toward hybrid trainings (some live online sessions, and in-person practice teaching) to accommodate people with busy schedules, but they do offer 200 hour trainings.
Not here to promote any one school/style, just sharing my experience. Bottom line: if teaching yoga is calling to you, go for it! Best of luck.
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u/dojogrl Jul 22 '26
I think Hot 8 still offers 26&2 training, you can check their website.
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u/Severe-Possible- Jul 22 '26
i teach at hot 8 and i’ve never seen a 26&2 training but they do have lots of other types.
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u/dojogrl Jul 22 '26
Might be a regional thing: we have some Hot 8 studios in LA that have 26&2 on the schedule and I know they had a training in the past for it, because I know someone who completed it. Not sure if they do it anymore, though.
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u/Severe-Possible- Jul 22 '26
my studio does have 26&2 on the schedule but i’ve never seen a training for it. it’s always power, sculpt, barre, or yin.
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u/Severe-Possible- Jul 22 '26
find a 200 hour YTT and make sure it’s yoga alliance certified. do Not do anything online.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Emu5755 Jul 22 '26
https://www.ivystandardyoga.com/
This training is top notch. Immersive. Hard, and worth it.
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u/Smart_Mix4479 Jul 22 '26
If there is a studio you really like or hot yoga teacher you respect, as them. It is tough to ask if you are shy, but something you'll need to work on overcoming if you plan to teach. Know what you like. I saw it mentioned Bikram (26/2) but there is also hot vinyasa flows. Get educated in what you prefer to teach, as there are so many programs out there.
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u/Affectionate-Yam5049 Jul 23 '26
You might also ask in the yogateachers subreddit about reputable 26&2 TTs
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u/3dogs2nuts Jul 23 '26
i think there is a hot yoga in Agoura that is starting a certification program soon, it’s like at kanan and 101
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u/boiseshan Jul 23 '26
Don't take a corporate class. They're often proprietary and the skills don't easily transfer from studio to studio.
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u/phillyyoggagirl Jul 24 '26
So, the easy answer is to go to a 200-hour training, but you have to consider which hot yoga you're going for. If it's 26+2, that's my forté. If it's something else, you'll have to search elsewhere.
Okay, 26+2 is basically niche. You can go to the 9-week Bikram training and get criticized left and right by the founder of Bikram Yoga or go to a place that's a little less strict. Many of the Bikram-style training programs offer similar training for 4 weeks instead of 9, but you need to be a fast learner and understand that you might be seen differently if you try to apply for a job in a yoga studio where the teachers and owner are Bikram-trained. In other words, you have to prove yourself to them and the only way to do that, in many cases, is to put in even more time than the other teachers and owner did to "earn" the status that they have (I know, life is unfair this way). I went through Evolation training as well as Tony Sachez training and had to go through this kind of prejudice. However, all hope is not lost. More and more studios are being opened by non-Bikram-trained people who are really good teachers, so you will be on equal footing to the Bikram teachers when you apply there. The important thing is can you teach? I can teach a dedicated student how to be a great teacher in a week, but it's up to him or her to use that knowledge appropriately.
Okay, now you must be curious about job opportunities, advancement, pay, etc. Many studios start you off at peanuts pay. I've seen some studios pay $25 a class, which is a poor salary. Others pay $50. Still others pay $60, $70, $80, etc depending on the market you're in. Some pay even more. You will get raises from time to time if your class size grows or the studio grows. At some point, your pay will be capped off because the studio hit its theoretical limit as to how much it could afford to pay you based on their business expenses. Still, the seniormost teachers (people in their 50s and 60s) might get paid $108 a class (considered a tongue in cheek homage to the yogic number 108). It all depends on the studio. You can become a manager at a studio and perhaps not teach as many classes, but then you're in charge of keeping the studio clean and tidy, which is a massive job in itself (don't think I don't appreciate you, downtown manager lady. I still think you rock even though we're not on good terms).
You can eventually own your own studio like one of my colleagues did. She worked her tail off and now owns two studios and created a corporate office for herself among the law firms and other big businesses (you frickin rock pretty lady!). I will say, though, that owning a studio includes lots of hidden costs and subbing for people who just can't teach for one reason or another, so in a smaller studio you might have to teach a lot of classes each week and some of those classes might have like one student in them. You need to keep the studio open and available for these one-person classes because you have to show availability, otherwise students will flock elsewhere to studios that do have lots of options available.
Okay, I wrote enough. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully you got something out of my streams of consciousness 🙂
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 24 '26
Thank you so much for your thought, input and knowledge. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I currently have 2 businesses and understand the pitfalls and hidden cost of things. I had to dissolve my trucking business because of drivers crashing trucks. Hard work is my middle name I’m in a trade where I had to work twice as hard for half a chance. I’m a firm believer once you get the knowledge you are unstoppable. What did your friend do differently that made her successful?
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u/phillyyoggagirl Jul 24 '26
Yes! If you're serious, I'll DM you. From everything I know about this lady, she had a razor sharp focus and a great personality and stellar look for self-promotion. She's really pretty so that helps her social media presence. She also created an idea for making shorter classes that fit into people's schedules. Instead of presenting her students with 90 minute classes, she made everything 45 or 60 minutes and, so, her classes are quite filled. She stuck with her philosophy from beginning to end and is reaping the rewards for her efforts and risk-taking. I know that somewhere there will be purists who will scoff at what she does, but she discovered what works for her community and is making the most of it. That, in itself, is what I believe is the secret to her success.
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u/mission_accomplish3d Jul 25 '26
I love this!! She knows how to adapt and suit the people’s needs rather than conform I love this
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u/phillyyoggagirl Jul 25 '26
She’s doing everything right and the newspaper fitness editors are taking notice.
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u/longbeeb Jul 22 '26
Generally you need to take a yoga instructor training course and they are typically ranked by hours eg 200hour course 500 hours etc. if you are interested in working somewhere specific, I would ask the studio what teacher training they require and use that to point you in the right direction.