Certified Yoga Teacher—Now What? 5 Next Steps After YTT Europe
You’re a Certified Yoga Teacher—Now What? 5 Practical Steps After Your 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Europe
Congratulations! You’ve just completed your 200-hour yoga teacher training in Europe. Whether you studied in Italy, India, or here in beautiful Gran Canaria, it’s a huge milestone.
And now… what?
You may be wondering, Am I really ready to teach? That blend of excitement and doubt is completely normal. After years of guiding new teachers, I can say with confidence: the certification is just the beginning. What you do now will shape your path as a yoga teacher.
So here are five practical, real-world steps to help you move from certified to confident:
Step 1: Start Teaching — Even If You’re Nervous
The single best way to build confidence is to start teaching right away.
When I completed my first 200-hour training, I didn’t feel ready. We hadn’t done much actual teaching practice. But I knew that waiting wouldn’t make me more prepared.
So I began.
I wrote class sequences, memorized them, and stood at the front of my first class — heart pounding. I remember getting confused between inhales and exhales, wondering if I should stay on my mat or walk around, and thinking, these students are more flexible than I am — who am I to teach them?
But every class taught me something new. And slowly, the fear began to fade.
Takeaway: Don’t wait for perfection. Teach friends, family, or offer community classes. Learn by doing.
Step 2: Clarify Who You Want to Teach
One of the most important things you can do after certification is figure out your audience. Are you passionate about teaching beginners? Athletes? Seniors? Kids? Yoga for anxiety?
I didn’t know at first. I just taught whoever showed up. But over time, I realized that I felt most inspired teaching local people in my community — those navigating everyday stress, fear, and anxiety.
That insight changed how I taught. I began including breathwork, simple philosophy, and guided relaxation — tools they could use off the mat, too.
Takeaway: Reflect on who you naturally connect with and design your classes to support them.
Step 3: Keep Up Your Personal Practice
It’s easy to let your own practice slip once you start teaching. But staying connected to your personal practice keeps you grounded and authentic.
Some mornings I feel strong, other days I’m tired or sad. My mat helps me meet myself as I am — and that insight makes me more compassionate and effective with students.
Takeaway: Prioritize your own practice. It's your fuel, your compass, and your lab for growth.
Step 4: Identify Your Skill Gaps and Keep Learning
Completing your 200-hour is a major step — but not the final one. Most new teachers still need support in areas like:
Managing fear and imposter syndrome
Teaching pranayama and meditation
Finding your teaching voice
Planning a yoga career
For me, pranayama and meditation were areas I didn’t feel confident in. So I took further training. I also read, observed experienced teachers, and applied my business background to grow professionally.
Takeaway: Write down what you’re still unsure about — and commit to learning. Step by step.
Step 5: Create a Clear Teaching Vision
A powerful next step is to define your why and your goals.
What do you want your students to experience in your classes? How do you want to teach? Where do you see yourself a year from now?
We created a free Personal Vision Workbook to help you reflect and plan. It includes prompts, goal-setting exercises, and a strengths/weaknesses checklist to bring clarity to your path.
👉 Download the Personal Vision Workbook
Takeaway: Clarity builds confidence. Start shaping your direction now.
Bonus: Consider a Supportive Environment Like YTTE
If you’re still seeking structure, or want to build on what you’ve learned, our Yoga Teacher Training Europe (YTTE) program might be the next step.
We designed it to help new teachers truly grow. It covers:
Fear management
Hands-on teaching practice from day one
Applied anatomy and posture alignment
Voice work, career planning, and more
And it takes place in Gran Canaria, a supportive and inspiring environment. Between classes, students often relax on the beach, swim, or go for nature walks. Practicing yoga in nature — especially postures like bakasana or headstand — can be liberating and fun.
Takeaway: If you want immersive support to grow your confidence, explore advanced or follow-up programs designed for that purpose.
One Small Step You Can Take Today
Take 30 minutes today to:
Teach one short session (even to a friend)
Reflect on your ideal students
Fill out the first section of your Personal Vision Workbook
Small steps build momentum — and momentum builds confidence.
Downloadable Checklist: Next Steps After Your 200-Hour Training
✅ Start teaching (even short, casual sessions)
✅ Identify your ideal audience
✅ Maintain your personal practice
✅ Fill skill gaps with workshops or short courses
✅ Define your teaching vision & goals
✅ Consider follow-up training if needed
Ready to Move from Certified to Confident?
You’ve got the certification — now it’s time to use it.
If you’re looking for guidance, mentorship, and hands-on experience in a beautiful, relaxed setting, we’d love to welcome you to Gran Canaria.
👉 Explore our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Europe program: https://www.yogateachertrainingeurope.com/
And remember: your journey as a yoga teacher is just beginning.
Keep learning. Keep teaching. Keep showing up — for yourself and your students.
