RYT-800

Registered Yoga Therapist 800

Registered Yoga Therapist 800 Requirements

These standards outline how to become a Registered Yoga Therapist 800 (RYT-800) with Yoga Alliance International.

The RYT-800 credential is for advanced yoga therapy professionals who have completed substantial yoga therapy training or who can demonstrate equivalent education, professional experience, and competence through the Yoga Alliance International grandfathering pathway.

RYT-800 recognizes advanced training in therapeutic yoga, yoga therapy, anatomy, breathwork, meditation, nervous system regulation, adaptive practice, client/student intake, ethics, scope of practice, and applied yoga-based support.

This registration is a professional yoga credential. It is not a medical, psychological, or clinical license.

Training Requirements

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 800 total hours of yoga and yoga therapy-related training through one of the following pathways:

Option 1

An 800-hour yoga therapy training program registered with Yoga Alliance International.

Option 2

A 500-hour yoga therapy or therapeutic yoga program plus an additional 300-hour advanced yoga therapy training.

Option 3

A 200-hour yoga teacher training, a 300-hour therapeutic yoga training, and an additional 300-hour advanced yoga therapy training.

Option 4

A recognized 800-hour yoga therapy, therapeutic yoga, adaptive yoga, or integrative yoga education program from an established school or professional training provider.

Option 5

A combination of yoga teacher training, yoga therapy modules, therapeutic yoga courses, mentorship, anatomy training, continuing education, professional practice, and applied experience equal to approximately 800 hours.

Option 6

Equivalent training, teaching experience, client/student work, mentorship, or professional background through Yoga Alliance International’s grandfathering pathway.

Grandfathering may be available for experienced yoga therapy professionals who do not hold one single 800-hour certificate but can show substantial long-term training, applied experience, teaching history, client/student work, mentorship, and demonstrated competence.

Areas of Study

A Registered Yoga Therapist 800 should have training or experience in areas such as:

• Yoga therapy principles
• Therapeutic yoga methodology
• Adaptive yoga
• Restorative yoga
• Trauma-aware yoga
• Nervous system regulation
• Breathwork and pranayama
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Anatomy and movement education
• Functional movement
• Stress reduction
• Chronic condition support within yoga scope
• Working with injuries and limitations
• Contraindications and safety
• Student/client intake
• Session planning
• Private yoga therapy sessions
• Case-based learning
• Ethics and professional boundaries
• Scope of practice
• Referral boundaries
• Communication with healthcare professionals when appropriate

Teaching and Practice Requirements

RYT-800 is an advanced yoga therapy registration.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they can work safely, ethically, and professionally with individual students or clients using yoga-based tools.

Applicants may be asked to provide:

• Training certificates
• Course outlines
• Teaching history
• Private session experience
• References
• Mentorship records
• Case examples
• Class or session materials
• A short teaching or practice sample

Applicants applying through grandfathering should provide enough evidence to show advanced competence in yoga therapy or therapeutic yoga practice.

Scope of Registration

The RYT-800 credential recognizes advanced yoga therapy education and applied professional experience.

It is intended for professionals who offer yoga therapy sessions, therapeutic yoga classes, private yoga sessions, adaptive yoga, restorative yoga, breathwork, meditation, nervous system regulation, stress-reduction practices, mobility support, and yoga-based wellness education.

Registered Yoga Therapists may support general well-being, movement, breath, relaxation, self-awareness, stress management, and lifestyle-based yoga practices.

RYT-800 is not a clinical license. Registrants must not diagnose, treat, prescribe, or represent themselves as medical or mental health professionals unless they hold separate qualifications that legally allow them to do so.

Maintaining Your Registration

To remain active, you must:

• Follow the Yoga Alliance International Code of Conduct
• Work within your training, experience, and legal scope
• Maintain accurate registration information
• Renew your membership when due
• Represent your credential honestly and accurately
• Refer students or clients to qualified healthcare professionals when appropriate
• Continue learning and developing professionally