Yoga Dharma offer a full Yoga service whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner.

For those of you who are a little more adventurous and keen to learn more about Yoga we run fully accredited Yoga courses that allow you to become a qualified Yoga teacher. This is a wonderful way to learn more about the subject.

Accredited by, Yoga Alliance UK. The Independent Yoga Network. The International Yoga Federation.

Dates for 2010 are now confirmed as follows:

Feb 20-27 induction week
10/11 April
12/13 June
14/15 August
9/10 October
11/12 December

The aim of this course is to give you the knowledge and confidence to teach Hatha Yoga in the Astanga style with strong emphasis on the Iyengar approach to alignment. All aspects of teaching, with the emphasis on acquiring practical teaching skills, will be covered. The theoretical section of the course will include Anatomy and Physiology as relevant to an understanding of Hatha Yoga, Yogic Subtle Physiology and Philosophy. The topics have been chosen to meet the increasing demands and interests of the ever growing number of yoga practitioners. The course draws on key elements from some of the most influential schools of yoga. Including, amongst others:

Ashtanga Yoga - Strength and Flow

Iyengar Yoga - Alignment

Sivananda Yoga - Traditional Values

Passionate and effective teaching is drawn from strength and confidence in your own practice. We aim to ensure that your own asana practice develops in line with your teaching skills. We place an equal emphasis on developing your own practice in line with your teaching practice. The course is designed to ensure that our instructors continue to develop and improve their own practice, not just for the duration of the course, but throughout their career. This ensures that our teachers continue to develop and grow, deepening their understanding of yoga through their own personal practice rather than from reading a book. This part of our program is the key to our entire ethos and the courses we teach. We want our teachers to practice what they teach and teach what they practice!

The non-residential course consists of the following modules:

The topics you will study are outlined below but are not exhaustive.

Yoga Philosophy and History, and its influence on current day yoga: This will provide you with an understanding of the roots of what you will be teaching, and the philosophical traditions which have shaped modern yoga.

Anatomy and Physiology of Hatha Yoga: This gives you a fundamental understanding of what correct alignment actually means, and how to teach it and to analyze a student’s posture.

Physiology covers the effects of yoga practices, their benefits and their contraindications. All anatomy and physiology is taught with direct relevance to Hatha Yoga and is not merely textbook learning.

Techniques in Astanga Vinyasa: The use of body mechanics combined with the correct use of energetic locks reveals the tremendous potential of this style of yoga. Learning to adjust with awareness and sensitivity: Combining the latest flexibility research with adjusting is a powerful tool for increasing both flexibility and strength.

Developing Verbal and Communication Skills: The use of the voice to motivate and uplift and of demonstration to teach and inspire.

Vinyasa Krama: Intelligent sequencing is the key to a well-balanced successful yoga session, and gives you the confidence to be original and interesting in your yoga teaching. Modifications and Variations to suit individual needs: How to tailor a yoga class.

Esoteric teachings of Hatha and Tantra: A practical introduction to energetic concepts used in advanced practices.

Yoga Nidra: Learn one of the most popular stress relief programmes in the world.

Chanting and Sanskrit pronunciation: The correct pronunciation of Sanskrit words commonly used in class.

Teaching in class: Starting in small groups, you will gain the confidence to teach in front of others.

Yoga Teaching as a Career: The business side of setting up classes in the public domain.

For an approximate breakdown of how the hours are distributed among the key topics refer to 200 hour Yoga Alliance UK Standards On acceptance to the course, you will be able to log in to the members area of Union Yoga Teacher Training, where you can view and download the relevant pages of the teaching manual required for each module. You will also receive a comprehensive reading list to accompany the course. Please note only under extenuated circumstances are you allowed to miss a weekend on your 200 hour non residential course. To qualify you will need to attend the missed weekend on another 200 hour non-residential course and pay pro rata for the weekend.

Cost: £1990.00GBP* (includes all tuition fees) if paid in a single payment, or £500.00 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit with a balance of £1490.00GBP due 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.