course detail

level 1 teacher training diploma

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Teaching methods include: lectures, experiential classes, small and large group work, practice teaching time, exercises for learning and discovery, lectures and review of homework.

Asana sessions are taught by two lead teachers with two fully qualified teachers assisting. The teachers come from different schools of yoga to give a broad perspective, within a structured teaching syllabus.

course content
The 16 core weekend modules cover the following general areas:

  • evolution of your own practice + focus on understanding of what's happening in your body/mind as your foundation to teach
  • de-construction + analysis of key poses, their core alignment points + how to teach them
  • common postural problems, modifications, safe practice + preventing injury
  • how to make sensitive adjustments
  • essential pranayama, breath awareness + restorative yoga
  • practical anatomy + physiology, including conditions you may encounter when you teach
  • different approaches to meditation, personal + experiential teaching practice
  • the history of yoga
  • foundation in the main yoga philosophy schools including tantra, hatha, vedanta + kashmir saivism
  • study of key texts including the yoga sutras of patanjali, the yoga upanishads + shiva sutras
  • basic sanskrit 
  • teaching skills including learning theory, presentation expertise, articulation, class planning + sequencing
  • common issues arising out of a teaching practice such as covering classes, teaching one to one + groups
  • essentials of setting up your own yoga business
  • first aid training
  • chanting
  • ethical practice

course structure
The course lasts approximately 24 months and contains approximately 390 contact hours.  There are 16 modules, which take place on weekends with modules 6 and 14 also taking place on a Monday.  The first 14 modules take place over 18 months.  This training intensive is followed by 6 months mentoring and professional supervision.  This part of the training has two primary focuses - firstly, honing and cultivating your personal practice and teaching skills in preparation for your final assessment; secondly assisting you  take the key steps from being a student to becoming a teacher.  This period also includes a further 2 modules to help you ground and consolidate your teaching practice.

personal tutor
At the beginning of the training, you will be assigned a personal tutor from among your asana teachers who will monitor your progress throughout the training, assist you with any concerns you may have and help when necessary, to identify any key areas that you might benefit from paying particular attention to.  You will meet with them formally on at least  two occasions during the course to discuss your development as the  training proceeds.

mentoring and professional supervision
In the last 6 months of the training, you will meet every month for two hours in a small professional supervision group (approximately 4 students), which is specifically designed to help you refine your personal practice and assist you make the transition from student to professional teacher.  This group, which will be taken by one of your asana teachers, will be a forum for you to address the key issues that teachers typically encounter when they are 'out there' in the teaching world eg dealing with injuries, troublesome students, getting a class started.  It will also be an excellent opportunity to address specific issues about your own practice,  share and get feedback and support from your peers, whether for the evolution of your own practice or your teaching.

consistent, focussed learning
We believe that both having a personal tutor and the mentoring and professional supervision are unique features in our training.  Furthermore, you will be taught, tutored and supervised  throughout by the same small group of asana teachers, which provides a grounded consistency where you can be sure that those who are teaching you are familiar with your practice and your development as the course progresses.  While we wholly encourage you to develop your own teaching practice, we feel that this can be best achieved under the consistent and watchful eye of a few key teachers.

assessment + graduation
The level one teacher training is a combination of continuous assessment, practical and written examinations.  After each module, reading and small amounts of written work are set. Towards the end of the training, there are slightly longer pieces of work in each subject area to complete plus a multiple choice paper in anatomy.  We have noted how many of our students prefer this to having to write long essays as it "keeps the pot simmering" from start to finish.  

Graduation from the training is not a given.  All areas must be complete and passed before certificates are issued.

and finally... 
We have taken a number of years to evolve triyoga's training offering, both listening to student feedback and constantly revisiting the course structure and content ourselves.  We firmly believe we are now able to offer one of the most comprehensive, thorough and fully accredited trainings available in the UK today. We look forward to receiving your application or answering any further questions you may have.