Teacher Training Course with Jody Lawrance

With 27 years of teaching experience, and several extended trips to India to study in depth with my teachers, I have built my own practice and teaching on many years of learning, teaching and experience.

I created this Teacher Training Course to share that experience with people who want to develop a strong understanding of Yoga — whether their aim is to become a teacher, or simply to deepen their own practice and knowledge.

The course will be kept deliberately small so everyone will receive plenty of individual attention, guidance and teaching practice.

The aim of the course is to give you a thorough, well-rounded foundation in Yoga, enabling you to develop your own practice, understand the principles behind what you are practising, and, if you choose, go on to teach with knowledge and confidence.

Your certificate is well and truly earned!

230-hour Teacher Training Course

The minimum training requirement for teaching with the necessary insurance is generally 200 hours. I have chosen to offer a 230-hour course, allowing us time to cover a broader syllabus in depth, while giving you plenty of opportunity to practise teaching throughout the course. The best way to know you’ve learnt something thoroughly is to teach it, even if only during this course.

The 230 hours consist of:

180 hours with me
These are our face-to-face training hours, covering the practical and theoretical aspects of Yoga, together with plenty of opportunity to develop your teaching skills.

50 hours of non-contact study, including:

  • An online Yoga anatomy course
  • Creating a Yoga manual with the other students
  • Keeping a self-practice diary
  • Class preparation and lesson planning
  • Case studies, including teaching family and friends

Course Content

This is a comprehensive course covering much more than simply learning how to teach postures and put together a Yoga class.
We will explore Yoga as a practice, a philosophy and a way of living, while developing the practical skills needed to teach safely and effectively.

Āsana

We will study around 55 āsanas in depth, looking not only at how to practise them yourself, but also at how and why they are taught.

This includes:

  • Understanding each posture
  • Developing your own practice
  • Modifications for different abilities and limitations
  • How to explain postures
  • Verbal adjustments and guidance
  • Developing the skills and confidence to teach
Prāṇāyāma

We will explore a range of Prāṇāyāma practices, including their benefits, effects and appropriate use, together with how to introduce and teach them safely.

Meditation

You will learn simple meditation practices to develop your own experience and to incorporate appropriately into your teaching.

Sanskrit

We will learn the Sanskrit names of the postures we practise and are likely to teach, with attention to correct pronunciation.

Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras

We will study the first pāda (chapter) of Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras, beginning to explore some of the philosophy and principles underlying Yoga.

Chanting

We will learn two traditional Sanskrit chants commonly used to begin and end a Yoga practice in India. We will explore the pronunciation and meaning of the chants, as well as experiencing how chanting can help to settle the mind, focus the attention and create a sense of connection at the beginning and end of practice.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

We will look at each of the eight limbs of Yoga and consider how they relate to both our practice and our lives beyond the Yoga mat.

Bandhas

An introduction to Mūla Bandha and Uḍḍīyāna Bandha, including their use and place within Yoga practice.

Kriyās

We will explore Jala Neti and Kapalabhāti, including their traditional purpose and practice.

Anatomy

An understanding of basic anatomy relevant to Yoga, supported by the online Yoga anatomy course included within your training.

Developing your own practice

Establishing and maintaining a regular self-practice is an important part of becoming a Yoga teacher. You cannot teach authentically without continuing to learn from your own practice.

Teaching skills

We will develop the practical skills needed to become a confident and effective teacher, including:

  • How to teach safely and effectively
  • Explaining postures
  • Verbal instruction
  • Observing students
  • Modifying practices for individual needs
  • Structuring and pacing a class
  • Lesson planning
  • Teaching within the training group and to others
  • Beginning to teach your own classes
Starting to teach

We will look at the practical side of becoming a Yoga teacher, including how to start teaching, setting up a class and the basics of setting up your own Yoga business.

Who is the course for?

You don’t need to be an advanced Yoga āsana practitioner to take this course.
The course is suitable for all levels. Being able to perform difficult postures is certainly not a requirement for becoming a good Yoga teacher.
What matters far more is your curiosity, commitment and genuine desire to learn.
If you want to deepen your own understanding and practice of Yoga, this course can provide a wonderful opportunity to do that.
If you want to go on to teach, you will finish the course with a much deeper understanding of Yoga, experience of teaching and a solid foundation from which to continue developing as a teacher.

Yoga is a lifelong journey. A Teacher Training Course is not the end of that journey — it is the beginning of another stage.

Course Fees

£3,330 for the 230-hour Teacher Training Course

This includes:

  • 180 hours of face-to-face teaching
  • Guidance and support for the 50 non-contact hours
  • Online Yoga Anatomy Course
  • Certificate upon successful completion

Not included:

  • Student insurance
  • The required course book: Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

A non-refundable deposit of £1,000 is required to reserve your place.
The remaining non-refundable balance of £2,330 is due two months before the start of the course.

I appreciate that committing to a Teacher Training Course is a big decision, both financially and personally. If you are considering the course and would like to meet for a chat over a cuppa before deciding, please get in touch. I’d be very happy to talk through the course and answer any questions you may have.

To register your interest or ask a question, please email me at
jody@jody-yoga.com

What my students say

“I have recently finished the Teacher Training Course with Jody. It’s an amazing course! It has a very in-depth syllabus, training and practice. Jody is a hugely knowledgeable teacher and supported me throughout. I feel I have a great foundation to move on to teach Yoga and continue on my Yogic journey. I highly recommend doing the course to anyone who wants to teach or deepen their practice.” SR, August 2022

A little about me

I first discovered Yoga in 1991, and it has been part of my life ever since. Over the past 27 years of teaching, I have continued to study and learn, including several extended trips to India to practise and study with my teachers in depth. My own journey has taken me through different approaches to Yoga, but the most important lesson has been that Yoga is not about how a posture looks, or how flexible or strong you are. It is about developing a deeper understanding of ourselves through practice.

I ran Yoga Akasha from 2008 until the lockdown, and have taught people of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. I now teach classes, online and in person, and lead Yoga retreats in different parts of the world. I particularly enjoy making Yoga accessible to people who may never have imagined that Yoga was for them.

I am still learning. I don’t think we ever stop being students of Yoga, and that is something I hope to pass on through my Teacher Training Course — not simply a collection of postures and teaching techniques, but an enthusiasm and curiosity that will continue long after the course has finished.