As Yoga teachers, the most difficult, but necessary, task is to integrate our knowledge, skills and experience.  We have found in ourselves and others that without integration, knowledge, skills, and experience are worthless and forgotten when it actually comes to teaching.  i.e. knowing where the liver is located in the body, and its functions, is useless unless we also understand, and have experienced how Yoga affects the liver (and vice versa).

Our Integrated Learning approach is designed to support this process by presenting fundamental knowledge and skills in an already integrated manner, and by anchoring such knowledge and skills in personal experience.

Most other trainings divide their curriculum according to subject area and teach each subject separately.  A typical schedule would include separate blocks of asana, anatomy, teaching methodology and philosophy classes.  Some subjects might even be taught by teachers who have little or no understanding of Yoga.

Our approach combines subject areas in a new way – grouping skills and concepts in a way that matches the way they are processed and filed in the mind for easy access when practising or teaching Yoga.

Example 1 – During our Pranayama classes, we will teach students the anatomy and physiology needed to understand how and why we breathe, and using that knowledge, we will learn how to teach Pranayama and practise those teaching skills.  In contrast, other trainings might have students practising Pranayama in one class, learning about the respiratory system in Anatomy class, and lectured on teaching skills in a Teaching Methodolody class.

Example 2 – After our morning practise sessions, we will discuss and dissect the class to understand what worked, what didn’t work, for whom, and why.  We do not believe that it is a good use of time for teacher trainees to attend asana classes on trainings that resemble their regular asana classes at their home studio.  Rather, it should be an opportunity to build on the knowledge and skills taught in other sessions.

For more details on our curriculum, please see our Course Curriculum page.

2.         Integrated Teaching.

Primary teachers will attend all classes to ensure that students have understood and are applying knowledge and skills from previous classes to subsequent classes.  In other words, this is our way to check in with you that you are integrating knowledge and skills not only between subject areas but also between classes, and from day to day.

To enable this process, participants will be limited to 12 teacher trainees.  This is to guarantee an intimate learning environment that maximises personal attention.

While our international team of teachers come from diverse backgrounds (see Teachers link), we have chosen our team because we share the same passion and understanding of Yoga in our lives, and the same approach to Yoga teaching. 

3.         Practise and Feedback.

True confidence is gained by experience.  Being in a situation and knowing that you can respond effectively.

This training includes many (many!) opportunities for students to practise and receive feedback on their teaching skills.  While this is a daunting exercise for new teacher trainees, we believe that by starting with small teaching assignments and working up to a full class, with feedback and encouragement, the prospect of teaching a Yoga class at the end of the course becomes tangible and real.

We will have weekly Q&A sessions to reinforce lessons taught during the week.

Style of Asana

This course will teach students to teach in a Hatha Flow style which combines the concept of vinyasa (a more dynamic style in which asana are linked together by breath and movement) with the teachings of Mr. Iyengar (a more static style in which correct alignment and activation of the body are used therapeutically for the mind and body). 

Each style of Yoga has its own method and pedagogy but all styles of Yoga lead to the same goal.  While we do not advocate one style over another, we recognize that certain styles are of particular popularity today and that as teachers, it serves our students to understand and be versatile in the tools that they offer.

Course requirements

·    8 to 12 months (minimum) of regular Yoga practise.

·    Attendance and participation in all classes.

·    Evaluation and certification will be based on class attendance and participation and final assessment.

We require some understanding and experience of Yoga because we believe that this is necessary to grasp the materials presented and also to being a responsible teacher. 

However, you do not need to be able to do advanced asana or be hyper-flexible to attend this course.  An open-mind and passion for learning is much more valuable to your students.

Yoga Alliance accreditation

The YogaMinds school is registered with Yoga Alliance and upon successful completion of the course, students will be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance at the Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hour (RYT-200).