Going to university to learn yoga may seem like a wild concept at first.
After all, why not pursue something like science, engineering, or even art history – fields that are more established and give you a better chance at landing a job?
But if you think about it, sports science and more physical programmes like dance and ballet have long existed.
Why would a yoga university, which focuses on a practice said to be over 2,000 years old, be out of the ordinary?
Fun fact – NASA astronauts practice yoga in space to combat the effects of microgravity and stay centred in orbit. Source: AFP
Why yoga university and other sports and health programmes are a thing
As many as 40 million Americans are reportedly practising yoga today. That’s double the number recorded in 2010.
Across countries like the US, UK, and Spain, 30% of women and 10% of men practice yoga, and it’s the second most-popular exercise class, coming in only after dance.
It’s a massive, growing community with diverse needs; as awareness for greater well-being grows, so too, does the need for certified yoga professionals to lead the practice.
And that’s where going to a yoga university comes in.
But do you really need a degree to practise or teach yoga?
Unlike some sports, yoga has no age limit. Source: AFP
Do you need to go to yoga university to become a teacher?
Yoga is practised by over 300 million people, but more often than not, only the physical practices are emphasised.
Most of us have probably pulled up a YouTube video to try it out at home. We do the downward dog, the child’s pose, or the warrior – simply to stretch their limbs after a long day at school or work.
Once we’re done with the basics, we go to a studio to learn more. These professionals then offer the proper guidance needed to pull off more complicated poses and breathing techniques.
But is that all there is to this? What’s the PhD equivalent of yoga practice?
Research tells us there are several more layers to this practice, such as its philosophy, sprituality and history, especially within India.
Going to yoga university will expand your knowledge and broaden your perspectives – but only if you’re willing to learn.
“If you’re looking at teaching solely for the money, then probably not. It is not lucrative and the 1-hour paid class is a lot more than 1 hour of work,” says a comment on this Reddit thread.
“But if you want to deepen your practice and build community, then yes it is 100% worth it. You get a little bit of pocket money but it’s more about the general satisfaction of teaching.”
If this is your calling, and you wish to become a yoga teacher, consider checking out a yoga university that will give you the skills you need, like these:
Another fun fact — the largest yoga lesson consists of 147,952 participants and was held in Surat, Gujarat, India on 21 June 2023. Source: AFP
Here are the best yoga universities to check out in India
If you’re thinking about going to a yoga university and are determined to learn from the best, consider going to India, the birthplace of yoga.
University of Patanjali
The University of Patanjali first established its Department of Yoga Science in 2009. The institute is well-known for its instruction and integration of traditional yogic philosophy with modern scientific research.
There are bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral programmes in yoga, ranging from yoga science to yogasana sports, which is a more competitive take on the practice. The university is well-equipped with dedicated yoga halls and classrooms, offering equal focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of yoga.
Entry is limited, with only 100 or fewer spots per programme. Programmes range from one to six years.
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA)
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The university was named after the Indian monk and philosopher Swami Vivekananda, and offers yoga programmes based on his teachings: the Bachelor of Science in Yoga Therapy or the Bachelor of Science in Yoga & Vedic Wellness.
The yoga therapy programme is a standard route to becoming a certified yoga instructor, while the Vedic wellness route is a deeper dive into the practice as a whole.
You’ll learn about other holistic Indian knowledge systems like Ayurveda and Vaastu, and take on Sanskrit-based scriptural study and chanting, among other unique activities.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, performed yoga with others to celebrate the International Day of Yoga in front of the Mysore Palace in 2022. Source: AFP
Mysore University
A public institute in India, this university is located in Mysore – also called Mysuru – which is popularly known as a hub for yoga.
The city has a substantial yoga tourism business thanks to its being the origin of several significant yoga lineages.
Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, the 18th maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore, played a large part in ensuring yoga remained a part of his people’s everyday life.
Years later, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the 24th mmaharaja of Mysore, supported instructors like Tirumala Krishnamacharya, who yoga enthusiasts would recognise as one of the most important gurus of modern yoga.
With such a rich history, one can only imagine what a yoga university here would be like. Mysore University was the first educational institute in the city to construct a yoga hall, exclusively to teach the art to both local and foreign students.
Attend a yoga university anywhere in the world
If you’re looking to get certified as a yoga instructor and become a scholar in this ancient practice, you don’t always need to move to India. Institutions in other countries also offer yoga programmes, with additional online options as well for working professionals.
Naropa University
Naropa University in Colorado offers the US’s first bachelor’s degree in yoga, a great entry point for those interested in becoming a certified instructor or practitioner.
The BA programme spans four years and has modules in yoga history, philosophy, Sanskrit, Hatha practices, pranayama, meditation, and more. It even has customised courses like devotional singing and somatic intelligence.
Graduates will obtain a bachelor’s degree and a 1,000-hour yoga teacher training certification, which exceeds the Yoga Alliance certification standard of 500 hours.
Should you wish to move on to advanced studies, there is the MA in Yoga Studies, which is conducted online over three years, and includes residential yoga retreats to Colorado.
The MA programme explores major yoga lineages, Sanskrit texts, and the evolution of yoga across Indian religions and into modern practice, and is designed for experienced yoga practitioners or enthusiasts seeking deeper academic and experiential training.
The Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH)
Tthe Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) is home to the first and only Master’s in Yoga Therapy within the US. And it’s fully online!
Suited for yoga therapy practitioners, this accredited degree will allow you to design fulfilling individualised yoga therapy plans for clients in a wide variety of health, wellness, and conventional medical settings.
Upon completion, you’ll be eligible for the national yoga therapy exam offered by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and earn your C-IAYT designation, an internationally recognised and respected certification.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is home to North America’s first MA in Yoga Studies, run by the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, which offers one of the most comprehensive range of yoga programmes in the region.
Expect to take on modules like yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, and history, combined with training in anatomy, physical practice, and modern cultural contexts.
Most (85%) of the programme is done online, but you can choose to complete it as part of a residential cohort within Los Angeles.
If you’re hesitant about committing to a full-time programme, LMU offers other options; there is the 200-hour Yoga Alliance–certified teacher training, age-specific courses like Prime of Life Yoga, and community programmes such as trauma-informed yoga sessions and campus-wide classes.
Students can also pursue a concentration in Yoga Therapy or earn a Post-Graduate Yoga Therapy Certificate, both of which are recognised by the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
SOAS University of London
Ranked in the top 30 in the UK for Arts and Humanities according to QS World University Rankings 2025, hardly anyone would expect SOAS University of London to be a yoga university.
But it does offer the SOAS YogaStudies Online, featuring live tutorials in topic-based courses, flexible study programmes, and professional development opportunities for yoga enthusiasts.
The university’s Centre of Yoga Studies is globally recognised as one of the most important institutional hubs for this fast-growing field. It hosts ectures, seminars, summer schools, and high-profile research initiatives, like the Hatha Yoga Project and translation of the Haṭhapradīpikā, one of the most widely cited and influential texts on physical yoga.
