In the OPA Yoga Teacher Training we work on the principles of FOUNDATION, EXPRESSION and VISION. This will incorporate:

Practice & Training (100 hours)

Teaching Methodology (15 hours)

Anatomy & Physiology (30 hours)

Yoga Philosophy & History of Yoga (15 hours)

Teaching Experience (20 hours)

Learner Achievement Portfolio (20 hours)

Each training weekend will begin with a practice session where you will delve into the experience and the technique of asana, pranayama, meditation and mantra allowing you to deepen your personal practice of yoga while learning as much as possible about the application of technique for teaching.

• The course will involve a detailed study of the practice, benefits and likely effects (physical, mental and emotional) of certain Asanas (postures) and an understanding of the necessary precautions and limitations and how to safely apply these.

• Selected classical Pranayamas (breathing practices), and their anatomical and physiological effects, will be studied and practised.

• There will be consideration of selected classical Mudras (body positions which invoke particular moods and mental attitudes) and Bandhas (psycho-physiological locks) and methods of combining the Bandhas with pranayama, mudras and other Yoga techniques.

• There will be an introduction to the Kriyas (internal cleansing practices of Hatha Yoga) as well as an introduction to Kundalini Kriyas (exercise sets to awaken kundalini energy).

• There will be an exploration of Yoga Nidra and other relaxation techniques; its place in eliminating insomnia, improving the depth and quality of sleep and as a preparation for meditation as well as a look at modern and ancient theories of meditation and practical techniques.

A major portion of each weekend will be given to the study of teaching methodology.

Topics include:

• the study of alignment principles
• creative and intelligent class sequencing
• the art of physical demonstrations
• verbal and physical adjustments
• modifications for all ages and posture types
• teaching trauma-sensitive yoga classes

As well as voice and presence of the teacher including Sanskrit – the ancient language of yoga.

You learn the stories behind the names of the poses as you learn to properly pronounce their Sanskrit names.

And, based on the events of 2020, you learn the valuable skill of how to teach online.

Pre-recorded video trainings will rotate through the study of Yoga Philosophy, as it puts the physical practice into a much larger context, and the History of Yoga, looking at the major philosophical ages and their impact on the yoga practiced today. You will also receive in-person lessons on how to authentically incorporate yoga into your life and teaching style using the eight-limbed philosophy of the Yoga Sutras.

This part of the training will also take a closer look at the Bhagavad Gita and will include an Introduction to Ayurveda – the sister science of yoga and understanding your Dosha (constitutional type). We also look at modern trends and developments in yoga and how it has evolved since its introduction to the West.  We are also looking at how to teach trauma-sensitive yoga classes.

When you become a yoga teacher, you are essentially starting a small business. Not enough people talk about this, but it’s true. Even if you’re only teaching one class a week at your local community centre, you still need to know how to write a catchy yet clear class description, get the word out about your classes and connect with all those students you really want to teach. So this course gives you complimentary access to Victoria’s online business course Stretch Your Biz where she will walk you through the ins and outs of how to start your teaching with a clear plan in place so that you can get (and keep!) the students and classes you want.

You will leave this training with a 6-week series in hand, ready to teach the moment you get your graduation certificate. This includes a theme for the series, the sequences, and the marketing materials – all of which you’ll create along the way with the support of our training community. No teacher training programme would be complete without a closer look at the ethical guidelines and responsibilities of the yoga teacher. Therefore the course will also cover some key aspects of the business aspect of teaching yoga such as liability and insurance. There will also be a lecture on teaching online.

The OPA 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course focuses on the fundamentals of Hatha Yoga which are key to all styles of yoga. Your tutors have trained in Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Yin/Yang, Restorative, Pre-Natal, Children’s and Trauma-Informed Yoga amongst others so all these different influences will be brought together into your training.

The certificate you receive will allow you to teach Hatha yoga which is a very broad designation and will allow you to find your distinct and personal teaching style. Victoria is intentionally seeking students for this programme who want to find their own voice as a yoga teacher. While we will certainly provide you with a multitude of strong tools and templates to build with, this is your time to learn and share what yoga means to you.

The Ordinary People Academy asks that you ensure at least a 90% attendance and completion of course and practical homework. Any Zoom calls will be recorded and stored in your online studio for you to revise or catch up. You will also be assessed according to the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine’s guidelines.

Assessment:
1. Students will complete a Learner Achievement Portfolio showcasing their knowledge in the main elements of the course
2. Students will be required to create a 6-week class outline to ensure their knowledge is deeper than teaching one class
3. Students will complete a practical assessment of their teaching skills

All successful graduates will receive a certificate of completion from the Ordinary People Academy and RYT 200 (Registered Yoga Teacher) status from IPHM.

Students in this training are expected to do a variety of activities and assignments between training sessions. The homework is designed to both help you integrate what you learned in the previous session and prepare for the next. This includes, but is not limited to, watching additional lectures, online practice teaching, reading related books and your manual, completing a Learner Achievement Portfolio (LAP), writing up pose instructions, writing a book report, creating your own 6-week series (complete with sequences & marketing) and more. For most people, this ends up being a couple of hours per week.

There are no special entry requirements although the course is best suited to those already practising Yoga with a strong practice of 2 years or more, or those already working within the fitness or health industry. Individual attention and guidance in the subtlety and art of yoga practice will be offered so that you may progress towards developing or deepening your own personal practice. Speak to us if you have any concerns about this.

You are definitely not alone! But no one needs to be able to put their leg behind their head (or even close) to participate. This course helps you build your skills and confidence to then create the same safe, supportive environment for your future students and does not teach you to become a human pretzel (unless, of course, you were previously!) although your flexibility and confidence in the asanas will improve through the regular practice.

This course is a mixture of:

• 10 x in-person weekend sessions (plus additional pre-recorded lectures)
• One years’ access to the online studio with pre-recorded training videos and recordings of all live calls

1: 12&13 Oct 2024
2 16 & 17 Nov 2024
3: 14 & 15 December 2024
4: 11& 12 Jan 2025
5: 8th & 9 th Feb 2025
6: 8th & 9 th March 2025
7: 12th & 13 th April 2025
8: 10 th & 11 th May 2025
9: 7th &8 th June 2025
10: 21st & 22nd June 2025 (Assessment)

The Earlybird cost of the course is £2495 pay in full.

There is also an instalment plan:

>>Deposit of £495 + 3 monthly payments of £668 = £2499

After 1st September 2024, the course will go back to the pay-in-full price of £2995. (Instalment plans will be available).

The cost of the training includes in-person and online tuition and your Teacher Training Manual as well as a few other treats.

Tuition costs do not include textbooks, travel to the venue, or any residential costs. The approximate cost for the required reading is around £50. You will be asked to purchase the books from the required reading list a minimum of two weeks before the course commences as there will be advanced reading assignments. The required texts are widely available from local booksellers or can be ordered online.

Click HERE to pay a £495 deposit. You can choose between an instalment plan or pay in full. As soon as you pay you will be directed to a secret page on the StretchBodyMind website where you can find your Application Form, Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire and Terms & Conditions as well as the Required Reading list and a video to show you how to access the online studio home for the Yoga Teacher Training.

Once you have received your certificate of completion from the Ordinary People Academy you will be registered with IPHM at the 200-hour level which will allow you to use the letters RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) after your name, join the IPHM register as a Member and apply for work in many studios, gyms and health clubs. It is recommended that you begin teaching as soon as you complete the course to small groups of friends and neighbours so that you are developing what you have learned during your training.

The benefits of completing an intensive yoga study are not limited to teaching, however. Many students who take teacher training programmes never intend to teach. Participants find that the in-depth nature of this programme helps them to deepen their personal yoga practice. Since each training session is on a 1:1 basis and bespoke to you, the potential for growth is orders of magnitude larger than the growth that can be attained in a normal group class setting.