Training Courses

Training to be a yoga teacher is a significant financial, physical, mental and emotional commitment. A pre-foundation course is a perfect way to fully prepare students for the primary Foundation training.   

• Minimum Total Hours: 40
• Minimum Contact Hours: 28* see definition
• Taught By: Senior Yoga Teacher (Min. 8 years teaching + 4,000 teaching/training hours)
• Accredited Training Hours: Yes
• Can be Taught Online: Yes (contact hours must be live, not pre-recorded)

The standard Foundation training that all new yoga teachers must complete. High standard courses with a minimum of 180 contact hours and taught by a Senior Yoga Teacher

• Minimum Contact Hours: 180* see definition
• Taught By: 70% by a Senior Yoga Teacher (Min. 8 years teaching + 4,000 teaching/training hours)
• Accredited Training Hours: Yes
• Can be Taught Online: Yes (contact hours must be live, not pre-recorded - see additional requirements)
• The Trainee has a minimum of 2 years of regular self-practice.

The ultimate teacher training course. The Foundation + includes invaluable continuous mentoring and development for the first year after Graduation.   

• Minimum Total Hours: 230
• Minimum Contact Hours: 180* see definition
• Taught By: Senior Yoga Teacher (Min. 8 years teaching + 4,000 teaching/training hours)
• Accredited Training Hours: Yes
• Can be Taught Online: Yes (contact hours must be live, not pre-recorded)
• The Trainee has a minimum of 2 years of regular self-practice.

Many yoga teachers are passionate about a specific teaching area or see the advantage in focusing on a niche market.

These are specialist training in the fields of:

Children's Yoga, Teen Yoga, Sports Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness, Thai & Ayurvedic Massage.

• Minimum Total Hours: 40
• Minimum Contact Hours: 28* see definition
• Taught By: Senior Yoga Teacher (Min. 8 years teaching + 4,000 teaching/training hours)
• Accredited Training Hours: Yes
• Can be Taught Online: Yes (contact hours must be live, not pre-recorded)

Over 98% of our teacher members are looking to continue developing and growing with further training events. These are an excellent opportunity for Trainers to generate a second income stream while benefiting the teacher community.    

• Minimum Contact Hours: 28* see definition
• Taught By: 70% by a Senior Yoga Teacher (Min. 8 years teaching + 4,000 teaching/training hours) OR Experienced Yoga Teacher (Min. 4 years teaching + 2,000 teaching/training hours)
• Accredited Training Hours: Yes
• Can be Taught Online: Yes (contact hours must be live, not pre-recorded)

These are standards and practices that go beyond the recommended minimums and which increase the possibility of success.

Accepting Students

• Trainee completes at least 20 hours of regular classes with the Course Principal teacher.
• Trainer interviews the Trainee in person or if not feasible, remotely.
• The Trainee supplies a letter of recommendation from their principal teacher.
• The Trainer runs an open Assessment Day.

The Course

• A Foundation Course with a MINIMUM of 250 hours (including 200 contact hours).
• Consider a Payment Plan Structure
• Provide Feedback After Each session to ensure the best progress and ‘no surprises’
• Give Homework Assignments
• Where possible offer the chance to sit-in and observe your regular classes

Graduation

• Base graduation on a points system made up of overall course performance, homework submitted and final assessment
• Encourage the Graduates who join YAP to leave a review on your YAP profile as this significantly increases your Google SEO rankings.
• Encourage your graduates to join YAP, encouraging potential students to chat with past graduates via the Private Message Board.

Post Course

• Offer Individual and Group Mentoring
• Offer further training such as CPD workshops and specialist training.
• If you do NOT run a studio, consider building a relationship with local studios and gyms, so your graduates have immediate possibilities of work experience.

Intensive Courses

• Must be run over a minimum of 21 days
• Daily schedule with a breakdown of hours clearly displayed on Trainer’s Profile/Website
• Post Course Observation and/or Assisting in classes - Minimum of 30 hours
• The trainer must have evidence of asana experience, for example, video/photograph of asana, telephone or skype interview.
• The student must have a strong daily practice with at least 2 years of experience.

Online Courses

• The course is a minimum of 180 contact hours.
• Must be taught by a Senior Yoga Teacher who teaches a minimum 70% of the course
• The trainer MUST be able to clearly see all students.
• The teacher ensures all students have their cameras switched on and are present at all times so they can observe and provide feedback.
• The Course MUST include a module on 'how to teach online'.
• A detailed syllabus of the course must be visible on the trainer website.
• If the course syllabus includes adjusting this must be covered in a face to face module, otherwise, it must be made clear that adjusting does not form part of the syllabus.
• The Graduation Certificate for Online Training Courses MUST make it clear that the training was ONLINE.

* Contact Hours

• Hours dedicated to either ‘in-person’ or ‘live streaming online’
• Breaks of any kind cannot be included as contact hours
• Every student must complete the minimum number of contact hours for each course. Failure to do so, will mean that the lead teacher will need to arrange for the student to make up the hours (at an additional cost for the student). 
• If the student fails to attend all of the contact hours, the will fail the course. 

Non Contact Hours

• Non contact hours includes anytime the teacher is not present. Typically this will include reading, homework or pre-recorded videos.

Assessments

• Assessments must be set and monitored by the lead teacher on the course.
• It is not expected that all students pass the assessments. When this is the case, the trainer can offer additional support to the student (for an additional fee), if they think it is appropriate.
• The assessments can include ongoing assessment and/ or end of course assessments. How the course is assessed should be made clear to the students at the beginning of the course.
• YAP encourages teachers to start practice teaching whilst on Foundation courses, so they can build their confidence.