Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Wondering whether this is the right course for you? Whether you've been thinking about taking the next step to becoming a teacher for a while or whether it's the first time you've considered it, you probably have heaps of questions.
We've done our best to answer some of questions we get asked most often here.
If you can't find the information you're looking for, or would like to book a discovery call, please contact us on 01398 328 442 or email us at admin@iytt.co.uk.
We're passionate about this teacher training course, and will do all we can to help.
The course is a combination of online and in-person.
Whilst we love the convenience of online, we also value the immediacy of in-person training sessions.
All the online sessions are delivered live, so you can interact with the teachers and gain valuable, immediate feedback and suggestions.
We also record all the online sessions, so you can revisit them again, any time you'd like a refresher.
We’re looking for serious and committed students with a solid foundation in the basic yoga forms.
- You don't need to be able to perform the most complex and challenging movements
- You do need a mature practice. We're looking for practitioners who know their own limits and who have a desire to learn and deepen their understanding of yoga
- You should have a minimum of 2 years regular and consistent yoga practice, preferably through class attendance
- Ideally you will also have a regular yoga teacher whose classes you have been attending for at least a year, who can provide a reference to support your application (*)
- Some element of self-practice is viewed very favourably
We are equally happy to welcome applications from serious yoga practitioners who would like to deepen their knowledge and understanding of yoga, regardless of whether they currently intend to become teachers themselves.
* If you don't have a regular teacher, but you meet the other criteria, please contact Catherine to discuss options.
The course is structured into 5 modules, providing an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the experience and practice of yoga, creating an in-depth and cohesive training experience.
A typical training day looks like this:
9.00 - 11.00am Asana practice
11.00 - 11.15am Break
11.15 - 12.30pm Class study / teaching skills session
12.30 - 1.30pm Lunch
1.30 - 3.30pm Class study / teaching practice session
3.30 - 3.45 pm Break
3.45 - 5.15pm Class study session
We recommend you meet the teachers before you commit to any Teacher Training Programme. It's a great idea to attend at least one class with Catherine, so that you understand the focus of this practice and to ensure that you will enjoy your time working with us.
If you'd like to discuss any element of the course or your suitability, please get in touch and we'll arrange time for an informal chat, when you can ask any questions and we can get to know one another.
We encourage you to start teaching your friends and family as soon as possible to help you develop your own teaching voice, and build confidence and teaching skills.
As soon as you have arranged your teaching insurance (£25 for 18 months through Yoga Alliance Professionals) and have your First Aid at Work certificate in place, we encourage you to begin teaching.
Yes!
We've arranged the course so that all the modules are at weekends, so you can train alongside your existing work and family committments.
Most of our trainees work full time and many have families, so we understand your situation. If you'd like to speak to a graduate, to hear from them how they managed everything, please get in touch.
Yes, absolutely!
Many trainees undertake our teacher training to simply deepen their own personal development, to open opportunities for the future, or just teach their family and friends. Some are still undecided – happy to see where the process takes them.
We welcome applications from everyone who is interested in enhancing their knowledge and experience of yoga.
Provided you have maintained your commitment to the process, we will always endeavour to support your progress and help you achieve graduation. If you do fall behind, we will work together to agree a Personal Development Plan to bring you back on track.
Support may include, but is not restricted to:
- extra mentoring sessions
- private sessions
- additional assignments or workshops and reassessments.
Please note, there may be additional fees associated with each of these support methods.
Trainees must attend 100% of the contact hours to graduate. However, we understand that life is sometimes unpredictable, and that you may not be able to foresee every conflict.
If you miss a session, you may still complete the program with your intake provided you schedule a catch-up session (private or group), or agree extra work with your Course Tutor at some point during the program to cover the material you missed. These catch up sessions are not included in your course fees and, whilst we will work with you to minimise any expense, there may be additional costs.
For some sessions, (for example, some anatomy sessions), you may be able to catch up by watching the recording. Alternatively, you may be able to join the following intake for any sessions you miss - at no extra cost.
While these ‘catch-up’ sessions offer a degree of flexibility, we strongly recommend you attend all the group training days. The experience of learning within a group is powerful and it's difficult to recreate it during a 1-to-1.
The IYTT diploma is fully recognised and accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals (UK).
Upon successful graduation from the course, IYTT trainees will receive the following certification:
- Intelligent Yoga Teacher Training Diploma certificate
- Eligibility to join Yoga Alliance Professionals at Associate – Level 1 status
Yoga Alliance Professionals is an organisation which has developed a nationally recognised standard for yoga teachers and yoga teacher trainings. More and more yoga studios and health club providers require their teachers to be Accredited. Yoga Alliance demonstrates excellent training standards and is a mark of distinction. IYTT is accredited by YAP at 200 hours level.
Our Teacher Training programme is intentionally spacious to allow plenty of time to integrate the learning, and deepen your own personal practice, as well as embody your new teaching skills.
We are committed to helping you graduate from the training. If you find you are unable to complete all the work in the given time or meet the criteria to pass, we will work together to create a programme which is achievable and realistic, to help you complete the work required, so that you can graduate at a time and pace that suits you.
Our aim is to provide a Teaching Training Programme at least once a year, stating in the Autumn. Please see the Schedule & Assessment page for full details.
Catherine offers reduced price classes to IYTT trainees. In addition, there are regular opportunities to join extra mentoring groups and workshops with the faculty teachers, including Gary Carter.
We are delighted that the Light Centre have also expressed a desire to offer on-going support to all our graduates in the form of a discount and potential teaching experience.
In order to qualify as a yoga teacher, you are required to:
- Attend 100% of the course
- Complete all written assignments successfully
- Demonstrate that you have understood and learned the basics of anatomy and embodied movement
- Complete all class attendance, observing and assisting hours
- Demonstrate your teaching skills meet the required standard during a mid-term observed teaching exercise
- Demonstrate that you can teach an hour long class to the required standard during the final observed class assessments
The full IYTT Terms & Conditions are in the following pdf document: Combined Policy Document IYTT
If you would like to see a full copy of all of our policy documents, please email us at admin@iytt.co.uk
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