In the StretchBodyMind 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 online training call 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 Zoom call 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 (NEW FOR 2022!) 

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, from 2020 on, you learn how to teach online.

In this portion of the training we have teamed up with expert trainers Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews for YogaAnatomy.net Fundamentals. Upon signing up for the Yoga Teacher Training you will have access to the YogaAnatomy.net Fundamentals website with 20 hours of yoga anatomy fundamentals training that you can get stuck into straight away. This training is delivered primarily in online streaming video format, with printable handouts and visuals. The remaining 10+ hours will be spent on Zoom, discussing the ideas, completing physical explorations, and diving deeper into how the concepts intersect with Yoga.

WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CURRICULUM? Here’s a preview:

“Foundational Units”
Unit 1 – Building Blocks: Sthira & Sukha / Connective Tissue / Bones / Muscles
Unit 2 – Breath: Prana & Apana / Diaphragm / Ujjayi / Bhandas
Unit 3 – Muscle Physiology: Strength / Flexibility / Movement / Joints
Unit 4 – The Spine: Curves / Disks / Backpain
Unit 5 – The Lower Limbs: Foot / Knee / Hips / Pelvis / Walking / Alignment in Standing Postures
Unit 6 – The Upper Limbs: Hands & Wrists / Forearm / Elbow / Shoulder / Alignment in Inversions

“Application Units: Anatomy in Asana”
Unit 7 – Anatomy in Asana and Asana Philosophy: Introduction to working with Asana / “Benefits” of a Pose / Asana Analysis / Begin Standing Poses
Unit 8 – Anatomy in Asana and Pain & Sensation: A Body-Mind Perspective on how to work with pain / Complete Standing Postures / Begin Seated Postures
Unit 9 – Anatomy in Asana and Vinyasa: Breath + Movement / Continue Seated Postures / Move to other Floor Postures
Unit 10 – Anatomy in Asana and Arm Supports: Arm Support Poses / Final Words of Advice for a budding teacher from Amy & Leslie

There will also be a focus on Eastern Anatomy of the Energetic Body. Topics of study include an introduction to the concepts of Prana (Life Energy/ Force), Chakras (energy centres governing aspects of our personality, bodily functions and health) and Nadis (energy pathways or meridians). This portion of our studies allows us to go beyond the physical body and delve into the exploration of our subtle energetic bodies.

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 1:1 coaching 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. {{NEW FOR 2021}} we are 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 access to my online business course Stretch Your Biz and I 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 StretchBodyMind 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course focuses on the fundamentals of Hatha Yoga which are key to all styles of yoga. Your principal tutor (Victoria) has trained in Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Pre-Natal, Children’s and Anusara 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 she 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.

StretchBodyMind asks that you ensure at least a 90% attendance and completion of course and practical homework. All 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 Yoga Alliance Professionals’ 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 StretchBodyMind and RYT 200 (Registered Yoga Teacher) status from Yoga Alliance Professionals.

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 including YogaAnatomy.net Fundamentals, 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 me 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.

We work on a 1:1 basis which starts when you are ready and includes:

• 3 x 2-hour live yoga skills training sessions at a time of your choice
• 6 x 1-hour coaching appointments for mindset coaching and to plan your Yoga business
• A full library of pre-recorded training videos and materials (You will be directed what to watch and when to watch it)
• One year’s access to the StretchBodyMind online studio after graduation with pre-recorded training videos and recordings of all live calls

After successful trials during Lockdown, in Autumn 2020 I brought my renowned Yoga Teacher Training course entirely online. However, you might be online but you are not alone! When you sign up you will receive a “care package” including a Desire Map diary (worth $50) and a couple of other surprises. 

Upon paying your deposit you will gain access to the online StretchBodyMind Studio which will be your home for the next 6 months (and beyond) and it will have pre-recorded sessions for you to watch in your own time. It is also where you will access your live Zoom calls which are all recorded for your convenience.

Communication is an integral component of StretchBodyMind training and in order to ensure that’s a continuous experience for you, even when we’re not together in person, you will have unlimited WhatsApp access to Victoria between calls.

The cost of the course is £3997 pay in full.

There is also an instalment plan:

>>6 monthly payments of £699 = £4194

The cost of the training includes 1:1 tuition with the StretchBodyMind Founder and Trainer PRO Victoria as well as registration with Yoga Alliance Professionals.

Tuition costs do not include textbooks, travel to the venue, or any residential costs (thankfully a thing of the past!)

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 minimum of £699 deposit. You can choose between 6 instalments or save £197 by paying 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 StretchBodyMind you will be registered with Yoga Alliance Professionals at the 200 hour level which will allow you to use the letters RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) after your name, join the Yoga Alliance Professionals register as a Yoga Teacher 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.