No Time for a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training? Here’s How to Make It Work (Even with a Busy Life)

(Spoiler: You don’t need to quit your job, abandon your children, or become a hermit.)

So you’ve been thinking about doing a 200-hour yoga teacher training—but every time the thought pops into your head, it’s quickly followed by something like:

“I’ve got a full-time job, a family, and a pile of laundry that may soon develop its own ecosystem.”

“How on earth would I fit it in?”

“Isn’t yoga training something you do when you’ve taken a sabbatical and moved to Bali?”

Let me reassure you: you’re not alone. Time is one of the biggest worries people have when they’re considering yoga teacher training. But the good news is: it is possible, even with a full life. And you don’t need to disappear off to a tropical island to do it (though if you have the option, I’m not stopping you) -  there are training courses everywhere. Ours is based near Bristol, in North Somerset.

First of all, not all 200-hour Yoga Trainings are the same

Gone are the days when the only option was a month-long intensive halfway across the globe. Many 200-hour trainings (including mine) are now designed with real life in mind for those of us who adult full-time. That means weekend formats, modular courses spread over several months, and hybrid options that blend in-person with online learning (our Friday sessions are always on Zoom so you have the option of catching up with the recording if you have to work).

This gives you space to digest, apply what you’re learning, and—importantly—still go to work, feed the cat, and occasionally put the bins out.

Past trainees have made it work—and so can you

Let me tell you about Sam. She's a full-time teacher with four kids (including a two-year-old) and her husband is a paramedic whose shifts changed weekly. She nearly didn’t sign up because she thought she’d never manage it.

But she did. She carved out time on weekends, swapped a few lie-ins for early mornings, and involved her family in her journey (her daughter ended up being her willing “demo model” for homework). I remember Sam telling me how she did snatches of her practice outside the bathroom door while her little one was potty training. By the end of the training, she wasn’t just qualified—she was full of inspiration and she immediately started teaching the young, neurodiverse people with whom she works.

And then there’s Rachel, who works full time, has twins under the age of 5 adn is navigating peri-menopause. With a bit of creative planning, her own passion for yoga and the support of her family and everyone on the course, she's smashing the training and is on track to graduate with flying colours.

If you would like to talk to someone on the course who has managed juggling several commitments, I will put you in touch.

On my course, you are met exactly where you are - we are flexible and I am a busy mum myself so I know what it's like to have 10 plates spinning and feel burnt out. Still, we love our yoga and what we love recharges us.

Time-saving tips from those who’ve done it

Here’s what works:

• Treat training weekends like sacred time. Block them out in your calendar like you would a wedding, a holiday, or Bake Off finals night.

• Ask for help. Let your partner, family, or friends know this is important to you—and don’t be afraid to ask for support (childcare swaps, dinner duties, emotional pep talks).

• Batch your life admin. Meal prep, laundry marathons, and “do not disturb” hours can all go a long way.

• Use your commute. Listen to philosophy podcasts, go over anatomy notes, or just breathe and reflect. Learning happens in many ways.

• Let go of perfection. Sometimes your homework won’t be beautifully typed and your dog will interrupt your practice teach. It’s all part of it.

  
  

It’s not about having more time—it’s about choosing what matters

If yoga is already supporting you through the chaos of life, imagine what a deeper dive could offer. Training isn’t just another thing to squeeze into your week—it becomes a source of energy, clarity, and calm that ripples out into everything else you do. Course trainees find that even the course assignments are a pleasure to do because it's what they are interested in, and our coursework offers a deep dive into your personal response to yoga.

And if you're worried about not being able to do it perfectly, let me tell you a secret: nobody does it perfectly. Life’s messy. Schedules go sideways. But that’s actually where the magic of yoga shows up—in the middle of it all. Being busy won't affect your performance on the course, necessarily, in fact it will be a great teacher in the art of letting go.

Still unsure if it’s doable?Let’s chat. I can help you figure out whether this training fits your life—and if not now, then maybe soon.

Would you like to be in a group of people all dedicated to sharing yoga in an authentic way? On our 200 hour Yoga Training, you will be guided to teach in your own unique way with your own voice. Find out more on our 200 -hour Yoga Training page.