Akasha Yoga Academy

Based in West Sussex, our Teacher Training Course’s (TTC) aim is to prepare trainee teachers with a firm, well-rounded foundation, so they can teach with knowledge of, and confidence in many aspects of Yoga.

The course is also suitable for anyone wanting to deepen their own understanding of, and practice of yoga.

The TTC is designed to give trainee teachers the best foundation possible to deepen their own practice and be fully prepared to go on to teach. Our certificates are well and truly earned!

The next 230 hour TTC runs from March-August 2023. This will be spread over 4 weekends and 2 x 5 days made up as follows -

In person training:

• 4  x Weekends: March 10th-12th,  April 14th-16th,  May 12th-14th and June 23rd-25th (Fridays 18.00-21.00, Saturdays 7.00-17.00 & Sundays 7.00-14.00)
     
• 2 x 5 days: July 29th-August 2nd & August 19th-23rd (Saturdays-Wednesdays 7.00-17.00)

Non-contact training:

•    Online anatomy course
     
•    Keeping a self-practice diary
     
•    Class preparation
     
•    Case studies – teaching your family/friends

The anatomy section is a unique 30 hours online + in-person course that’s exclusively available through Teacher Training programs: YogaAnatomy.net Fundamentals.

Aspects of yoga we will be covering are:

•    Āsana – both in terms of building up your own practice, understanding each āsana and exercise, modifications for those less or more able, verbally adjusting a student and gaining the skills to teach. We will study  around 55 āsanas in-depth
     
•    Prāṇāyāma   – looking at various different Prāṇāyāmas, their benefits and how to teach these
     
•    Meditation – you will learn simple meditation techniques to deepen your own practice and to utilise this in teaching
     
•    Basic Sanskrit –  learning the sanskrit words for each posture we practice and are likely to teach, looking at correct pronunciation
     
•    Chanting –  chants that can be used to open or close a practice
     
•    Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras– you will study the first pāda  (chapter)
     
•    The 8 limbs of  yoga – we will look at each of the 8 limbs of yoga
     
•    Bandhas – Mūla  bandha and Uḍḍiyāna  bandha
     
•    Kriyas –   Jalaneti, Sūtraneti and Kapalabhati
     
•    Anatomy – details on https://www.yogaakasha.co.uk/anatomy/
     
•    Establishing/maintaining  a self-practice
     
•    Teaching techniques
     
•    How to teach  effectively and safely
     
•    How to start teaching/setting up a class
     
•    Lesson planning –  how to structure a class
     
•    Setting up your own business
     
•    Teaching – both  within the trainee teachers’ group and to others

Please note – this course is for all levels, not just those with an adept practice. If you have a genuine interest in becoming the best practitioner/ and teacher you can be, this course is for you. A desire to learn and share yoga with those around you is more important than which postures you can do.


To qualify you will need:

•    100% attendance
     
•    to complete all  assignments
     
•    to demonstrate  that you are ready to teach

You will be continually assessed throughout the course. My aim is that everyone passes on the last day of the course, but this is not guaranteed, it needs to be earned! However, if this doesn’t happen, I will work with you to resolve anything outstanding. If more supported teaching time is needed I may be able facilitate this during or after the course ends. If 100% attendance isn’t achieved it is likely that you can defer to the next course to make up your required hours or privately. I want you to pass, however there is no fail, there’s either passed or not yet passed!

Course teacher

The TTC is run by myself, Jody Lawrance. I am one of the co-founders of Yoga Akasha, established in 2008, and the currant owner and director. I started practicing Ashtanga yoga in 1991, gaining permission to teach from BNS Iyengar in Mysore, India. I have since trained extensively with Acharya Venkatesha and his wife Acharye Hema since 2001, also in Mysore, in a more traditional Hatha Yoga. I am also qualified in Kundalini, Yin, Restorative, Pregnancy and Baby Yoga plus Yoga Therapy. I am trained in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Shiatsu and Thai Yoga massage.
Since 2002 I have taught on regular yoga holidays in the UK, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, The Gambia and India, loving the opportunity to teach students while away from their usual business and therefore able to deepen their practice.
My desire to access the stillness within, led me to live in a Buddhist community in Brighton for 8 months and continue to attend classes, courses and retreats there regularly. I enjoy the harmony and balance that Yoga and Buddhism bring to my daily life and believe they can help us all draw closer to true contentment and inner peace. When looking at this TTC’s aims, it is paramount that delivering a course my teachers would be proud of, is at the forefront of my mind – ensuring I reflect the depth of my own studies, in this course to share with sincere students. I have 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter, all of whom are treasured gifts and my greatest teachers.

Course Fees

The cost of the 230 hour Teacher Training Course 2023 is £2,995. If your deposit is received by November 30th 2022, a £250 discount will be applied.
This includes:

•    Tuition
     
•    Yoga Anatomy Course
     
•    Certificate upon successful completion

Not included:

•    Student insurance
     
•    Accommodation if  required nearby (training is in West Sussex)
     
•    Food during training
     
•    Required books for the course – ‘Light on Yoga’ by BKS Iyengar available from  Amazon for  about £11.66 and Yoga Anatomy by Lesley Kaminoff and Amy Matthews available from Amazon for about £10.76.

If you are accepted on the course then a non-refundable deposit of £1,000 and completed booking form will reserve your place. The remaining non-refundable balance of £1,995 (or £1,745 for early booking discount) is due by January 31st 2023.

Payments made will not be refunded. If you are unable to start or complete the teacher training course in cases of family emergencies/health issues etc, it may be possible to defer/complete the next TTC.

For more information or with any questions please email me at jody@yogaakasha.co.uk
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