Course Curriculum
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200 HOUR yoga teacher training CURRICULUM
Here you’ll get a taste of what we’ll explore during the training. We cover a lot of information and go much deeper than many foundational level trainings.
You’ll get a detailed manual (personally written by me) which covers everything in depth so you have more than just your notes to refer back to.
Between the two modules there will be regular online catch up calls and guest teacher sessions, so we can revisit some topics in more depth and you can ask any questions that arise during your self-study time.
“The content you covered was brilliant and so in-depth!”
Yoga History: Rising from the Roots
We’ll study the origins of yoga and how it’s evolved over time.
We’ll discuss which aspects have changed for the better, and which parts of the practice have been lost in an attempt to adapt to a 21st century Western lifestyle.
We’ll look at yoga in a modern day context and explore the ways in which we can keep the traditions of yoga relevant and respect the lineage of such an important spiritual path. This history lesson may be triggering at times because we’ll be acknowledging the role of colonialism and economic exploitation in the journey of yoga from its roots, to the rapid rise in popularity that we see today.
“Before joining the YTT I didn’t know anything about the yoga history and it was so interesting to learn about.”
Yoga Philosophy and Problem Solving in Practice
In this section of the training you’ll hopefully come away with more questions than answers.
We’ll delve deeper into the inner workings of our minds and begin to dismantle processes such as decision making and our reaction to change. Is there a right and wrong? Can we truly understand and control our thoughts and actions? How much is our internal environment influenced by our external one and vice versa?
We’ll study some of yoga’s most iconic texts, along with concepts such as dharma, karma and the kleshas, using these as a framework for deep discussions on yoga, life and liberation.
“I learned so much about myself during this part of the training.”
Yoga in Action
Yoga extends far beyond the four corners of our mat. We’ll study social norms, beliefs and bias and apply them to our yoga practice.
We’ll begin to question whether our intent and impact truly align and how we can use yoga as a tool for healing on a personal level, and within society.
We’ll look at spiritual bypassing and have challenging conversations around power, privilege and propaganda.
We’ll work to understand the differences between cultural appropriation and appreciation and how we can ensure yoga is something inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Yoga Ethics
Relationships are at the heart of ethics. We’ll look at how we interact with ourselves, others and the environment through our thoughts, words and actions.
Ethical behaviour isn’t always black and white and in many situations there simply isn’t a right and wrong. We’ll touch on issues such as boundaries, empathy, compassion, codependence and control.
The Physical Body: Physiology and Functional Anatomy
A big part of this training will be learning about our physical bodies, how we move and how we can move more effectively.
We’ll cover much more than the standard requirements of a 200 hour training and ensure that all the theoretical knowledge can be applied to a yoga specific context.
We’ll work with principles such as movement science and biomechanics and educate ourselves about individual alignment and how it affects the aesthetics and overall approach of our yoga practice.
We’ll honor the complexity of the human body, our unique quirks and our individual relationship to movement, including habitual patterns.
The differences between strength, stability, mobility and flexibility will be explained and experimented with and we’ll learn all about the individual parts and systems that make us whole.
“I’m definitely an anatomy geek now and it makes it much easier to break down each asana.”
The Mind-Body Connection
Because our bodies are much more than just muscles and bones, we’ll spend time looking at the fascinating links and connections between our body and mind by learning more about our brain, nervous system, proprioception, interoception and how we process pain.
We’ll also touch on the neuroscience and psychology of yoga.
“The discussion and videos about pain were so cool!”
The Subtle Body: An Exploration of Energy
There are many things in life that can’t be easily explained, but at the same time, can’t be dismissed or denied. For many people the concept of energy is one that can seem overwhelming, mystical and abstract. During these sessions we’ll demystify the chakras and channels within the body and take a deeper look at the various layers that make us whole.
Pranayama and Breathing Techniques
Discover the science behind taking a deep breath and how that simple act can have a butterfly effect on the whole body.
We’ll practice pranayama and different breathing techniques designed to either stimulate and energise us, or calm and relax us.
You’ll learn how to teach these safely and support your future students to breathe with more mindfulness.
“The prana vayus have really transformed my practice.”
Meditation and Mindfulness
There’s a common misconception that the goal of meditation is emptiness or nothingness. Given our stressful lifestyles and stimulating environments, this is seemingly impossible. We often feel frustrated or a sense of failure when we realise it’s incredibly challenging to silence our mind. We’re not trying to turn off our thoughts or feelings. We’re learning to observe them without judgment while resisting the temptation to interaction with them.
Eventually, we begin to understand the internal chatter of our minds and in turn, how to practice patience and peacefulness.
We’ll work with various techniques, such as mindfulness, to focus on a particular object, sensation or activity to ultimately strive towards mental clarity, emotional calm and a more stable state of being.
“Since the training I’ve been doing at least 5 minutes of meditation a day and even though it’s hard sometimes, it’s so helpful.”
Ayurveda and the Elements
Ayurveda is one of the worlds oldest holistic healing systems that originated in India thousands of years ago. It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit and its main goal is to promote good health, not fight disease.
Ayurveda is established around the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) and the close connections and cycles that we share with nature. It’s the combination of these elements that make up the three doshas. We’ll learn a little about these doshas and use them as a basis to understand our personalities, habits and health.
While the principles of Ayurveda can be applied in many situations, we’ll look specifically at the impact they have on our physical yoga practice.
Asana Lab and Individual Alignment
We’ll take time to look at each asana individually, discussing the anatomy, alignment, adaptations and advantages.
You’ll quickly let go of the idea that there’s a perfect, correct or advanced version of any posture and instead, use a critical mind to question common cues and beliefs.
We’ll use props to experiment with the effort and ease of each position, and play around with variations and transitions.
“The best thing I learned was that alignment is really not black and white!”
The Art and Science of Sequencing
As modern day Yoga Teachers there’s a critical need to balance our creative flare with carefully considered movements and asanas. We must be adaptable and sustainable in our approach to ensure we cater for everyone in our class.
To make sure you step into your teaching career with confidence, we’ll work with simple sequences which are yours to build upon, personalise and design depending on your intention, theme and, most importantly, the people in the room. This foundation will serve as a powerful base for you to guide your students through a practice that educates, inspires and heals.
Vinyasa Krama means ‘wise progression’ so we’ll be using this approach to ensure postures are intelligently and appropriately placed within the sequence and I’ll teach you my building block style of sequencing that has evolved from personal experience.
You’ll get numerous ideas for theming classes, whether you prefer a more anatomical approach, or enjoy working with energy or an exploration of the elements.
We’ll start by deconstructing our group asana practices so you can fully understand the framework and then we’ll begin to sequence classes together as a group until eventually you’ll feel at ease creating your own.
Within this section we’ll also cover beginners classes, pre-natal classes and private classes.
“I’ve been using your base sequence for all of my classes and each time I am so happy you shared it with us. It’s so easy to follow and now I am getting quite quick at putting a class together actually.”
Restorative Yoga
Scheduled relaxation time! Restorative yoga is a slow, gentle and therapeutic style of yoga designed to nourish your nervous system and support your body into a state of surrender and softness.
You’ll learn how to structure and teach these soothing sessions for your students so you can offer something complementary to more dynamic classes.
Teaching Methodology
This section is all about the practicalities of teaching yoga. It’s one thing to hold this wealth of knowledge, it’s another to stand in front of your students and guide them through a great class.
We’ll also cover demonstrations and physical assists, when they’re appropriate and how to use them effectively.
The Language of Yoga
Cueing and the language of yoga will be key topics, in particular, how to phrase instructions and how to ensure our language is inclusive, caring and clear.
You’ll be encouraged to find your own voice as a teacher, whether you prefer poetic or literal language.
Preventing Injuries
At its core, yoga is meant to heal. It’s essential you do everything in your power not to cause harm to your students and are aware of how to adapt classes to cater to common injuries and conditions.
We’ll look at what to advise when people ask about their various aches and pains.
Your role as a Yoga Teacher doesn’t qualify you to diagnose or treat anything (that’s far beyond the boundaries of your job) so we’ll also cover the art of referring.
Practical Teaching Experience
From the start of the training you’ll be building your confidence as a teacher and gaining invaluable experience guiding each other through parts of the practice.
My style isn’t to chuck you in the ocean and expect you to swim by yourself! Instead you’ll start on the shore, dip your toes in the water and progress at your own speed. Some people can dive straight in, whereas for others it takes time and smaller steps.
We’ll work through the course as a community so you’ll be supported not just by me, but by each other. It’s really important for me that you’re able to grow as an individual and find your own teaching style within the training.
Certain parts of the course and the practice are bound to resonate with you more deeply than others. I’m not here to mass produce generic yoga teachers, so you’ll be encouraged to explore what works for you and what doesn’t so that you feel authentic when you teach and never like you’ve been forced into a specific mould.
“It was great that we could start teaching from day one because it really helped to build my confidence and I could see how much I improved by the end exam.”
Ethical Marketing and the Business of Yoga
During the course you’ll learn the ins and outs of becoming a Yoga Teacher, but I’ll also teach you the tools you’ll need to market yourself and find paid work once the training is over.
Before becoming a Yoga Teacher, I spent years building my career as a Marketing and Event Manager so I have hands on experience with this stuff. I’ll be able to share my experiences with you, as well as give you tips, insights and personal advice from my years as a yoga studio owner, full-time teacher and travelling yoga instructor.
If teaching yoga is something you wish to pursue as a career, then I can also offer on-going advice after the training has finished.
“The perspectives and resources you shared with us are really valuable.”
interested in joining?
If you’ve read through all the details and feel excited about everything we’ll cover during the training, then please complete the application form to secure your place. Alternatively, you can register your interest here: