So, what’s changing?

Yoga Alliance has announced several changes to its registration framework, with the aim of strengthening professional standards and accountability.

Some of the key developments include:

• A move towards accreditation: Yoga Alliance plans to begin the multi-year process of seeking accreditation through the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).
• A new online assessment: Registered teachers (RYT) and schools (RYS) will need to demonstrate their understanding of professional responsibilities, including ethics, safety, inclusivity and professional practice.
• CPR or basic life support certification: This will become a requirement for registered teachers and a lead representative from each registered school.
• Simpler credentials: Teacher registrations will be streamlined into two main designations: RYT and E-RYT.
• Changes to experienced teacher credentials: The revised Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) pathway will in future require 500 hours of teacher training, with existing E-RYT 200 teachers retaining their experienced status under the new E-RYT designation.
• Continuing Education: E-RYTs will automatically receive Continuing Education Provider recognition without an additional fee. From 2030, there will requirements will be in place for both RYT and E-RYT to complete CE hours to maintain their credentials.

There are a few details still to be clarified, but broadly speaking, I welcome the direction of travel.

For anyone thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, though, I think these changes also raise an important question: what really makes a good training experience? And what should you really be looking for when choosing where to train?

The number of hours you complete is one part of the picture, but it’s just as important to consider what you do with those hours, how much opportunity you have to practise teaching, and whether you receive the feedback and support you need to develop your skills and confidence. These are the things I’d encourage anyone considering teacher training to look at carefully.

Let’s look at what some of these changes mean in practice.

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Raising standards is a good thing

One of the more significant developments is Yoga Alliance’s intention to work towards external accreditation. Alongside this, a new online assessment will cover areas such as ethics, professional conduct, safety, equality, inclusivity and responsible business practices. The new learning platform is scheduled to launch in January 2027, with existing members expected to have until the end of that year to complete the assessment. An optional preparation course will also be available at no additional cost.

This is an important step in the organisation’s ongoing development and its aim to strengthen professional standards and accountability within the yoga industry. I think this is a positive development. Rather than simply asking members to read and agree to professional standards, the new process will require them to demonstrate their understanding of important responsibilities associated with teaching and/or running a training school.

As teachers, we have responsibilities that go well beyond knowing how to teach postures or put together a class. We are working with people, often with very different needs, abilities and experiences. Understanding how to create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment is fundamental.

These are things we’ve always taken seriously at Harmonise, with policies, procedures and clear expectations around professional conduct and student support. Our experience delivering Level 3 Pilates qualifications, awarded by Active IQ, regulated by Ofqual and endorsed by CIMSPA, has also given us valuable insight into the importance of structured learning, meaningful assessment and accountability.

I don’t believe professional standards need to take anything away from the heart of yoga. Quite the opposite. When they’re approached thoughtfully, they help protect the integrity of what we teach and the people we teach it to.

This is perhaps the change that has prompted the most interesting questions for me.

Under the revised framework, the experienced teacher pathway will now require 500 hours of yoga teacher training. Teachers can build towards 500 hours by completing a 200-hour foundation course followed by 300-hour advanced training, as we offer at Harmonise, or through a combined 500-hour programme.

Existing E-RYT 200, ERYT-500 and YACEP credentials will all now be the same credential E-RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher). From 2030 there will be some requirements for completing a minimum number of Continuing Education hours to maintain both RYT and E-RYT credentials.

I absolutely support continued learning, and that’s why we offer a programme of post-graduate courses and workshops for both yoga and Pilates teachers. In fact, I think one of the wonderful things about yoga, Pilates (and life in general!) is that there’s always more to explore, understand and experience.

But here’s where I think we need to be discerning. Completing 500 hours of training isn’t necessarily the same as having 500 hours of teaching experience.

You can learn an enormous amount through training, but actually standing in front of a group, responding to different people, adapting your approach and finding your confidence as a teacher is something that develops through practice. And, importantly, through feedback.

From the information currently available, it isn’t entirely clear whether the revised E-RYT designation will include a minimum number of practical teaching hours. Training and teaching hours are expected to be recorded through the Yoga Alliance portal, which should help provide a fuller picture of a teacher’s background.

I’d welcome further clarity on this. For me, knowledge and experience go hand in hand. Neither should be overlooked. Simplifying the teacher credentials may make the system easier to understand, but the designation alone won’t necessarily tell you everything about a teacher. Their training, teaching history, specialist knowledge and approach to working with students all contribute to the bigger picture. And of course, a teacher’s personality, style and ability to create a welcoming environment matter too. Students often return because they feel supported, enjoy the experience and trust the person leading the class.

The value of learning together, in person

Technology has opened up some fantastic opportunities for learning, and there’s certainly a place for online resources. But when it comes to training yoga teachers, I genuinely believe there’s something special, and incredibly valuable, about being in the room together.

You learn so much from observing different bodies, practising with other people, asking questions as they arise and receiving immediate feedback – experiences that are difficult to replicate online. You also learn from the conversations, the shared experiences and sometimes the unexpected moments that happen along the way.

There is also real value in being able to access additional resources to support your learning and practise between sessions. Online resources can reinforce understanding and help students consolidate their knowledge.

At Harmonise, we strongly believe that in-person training is the gold standard for developing confident, capable yoga teachers. That’s why in-person teaching remains central to our approach at Harmonise, supported by learning resources that students can revisit in their own time and refer back to after graduation.

We also make clear on our training certificates that students have undertaken in-person training and passed assessments. It’s important to us that their qualification reflects not just attendance, but the learning and practical skills they’ve demonstrated.

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And what about reviews?

Yoga Alliance already uses student feedback as part of its monitoring of registered schools. What’s changing is the role those reviews will play in monitoring registered schools. Under the revised framework, schools will be expected to maintain a minimum average rating (3.5 stars), with additional scrutiny if their score falls below the required threshold. Schools with consistently high ratings (4.5 stars or higher) can earn a Certificate of Excellence.

Feedback is valuable. It can help prospective trainees understand the experience of previous students and encourage schools to continually improve their programmes. But, as with any review system, it doesn’t tell you everything. A five-star rating might tell you that someone thoroughly enjoyed their course, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you how they were assessed, how much teaching practice they completed or how well prepared they felt to teach afterwards.

Which brings me to something I really want to encourage anyone considering yoga teacher training to think about…

Our approach

At Harmonise, we’ve always chosen to keep our groups small enough for people to feel seen, supported and able to develop at their own pace. For me, getting to know our students, understanding their individual strengths and helping them grow in confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

Our courses combine in-person learning with opportunities to develop practical teaching skills and demonstrate competence through assessment. We want our students to understand not only the principles of yoga, but also how to apply their knowledge in real teaching situations.

We’re not here to get as many people as possible through a qualification. We believe that every trainee deserves the time, attention and encouragement they need to become the best teacher they can be.

If you’re considering training, do your research. Ask practical questions, compare your options and, if you can, meet the tutors or try a class. Find out how much teaching practice is included, how you’ll be assessed and what support you’ll receive. And pay attention to how you feel. The right training should offer a balance of professional standards, practical experience and personal support, as well as feeling like a good fit for you.

I welcome the direction of Yoga Alliance’s changes, particularly the greater emphasis on safety, professional responsibility and continued learning. There are still details to be clarified, and I’ll be interested to see how the revised requirements work in practice.

But ultimately, the changes are also a reminder that a qualification alone cannot tell you everything about a teacher. The quality of the training, the opportunity to put learning into practice, and the feedback and support received along the way all play a part in preparing someone to teach well. That’s what I believe a good teacher training experience should be about: helping people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make a real difference to the people they teach.

Time and time again, we have seen this structure deliver incredible results, and we regularly receive enthusiastic feedback regarding the personal satisfaction in how much growth and development there is in such a short space of time.

So, what does this look like in practice? There are a few things you can do before the face-to-face training starts to help you get the most out of your time together. Here are my top tips…

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Give yourself plenty of time to prepare

If you can, sign up at least three months prior to the face-to-face training starting. This gives you time to familiarise yourself with the welcome materials, reading and pre-course learning requirements, and explore the online resources we offer. It will also mean you benefit from the early bird discount!

You will receive access to the online yoga teacher training portal as soon as you sign up, so you can start exploring the resources and familiarising yourself with everything that’s available to you.

To help prepare for the History and Philosophical discussions on the course, there are two books that are required reading. We also recommend reading The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga by Mark Forester – you can even listen to this on audio if you prefer. Another fantastic book for pre-course reading or listening is The Untethered Soul, which is free on Spotify.

If you’re super eager to get one step ahead, you can also complete the Philosophy worksheets before the in-person training starts. Following student feedback, we have put everything you need to do this on the online platform and I would suggest budgeting approximately eight hours in total for this. This is a personal preference and could suit those working full time and/or juggling family commitments. Others may choose to wait until we go through it in person.

There is also some important anatomy learning to get ahead with.

Get to grips with anatomy before the course starts

Complete the anatomy pre-course learning before the face-to-face training begins, so you will get more out of the applied anatomy workshops once the course starts. I would recommend setting aside 5–6 hours for this.

There is a whole section on anatomy on the online platform, with lots of videos that support the pre-course learning. They have been recorded live during a yoga teacher training, so are a fantastic resource for pre-course preparation and are easy to watch at any time that’s convenient for you.

In order to prepare for the anatomy theory paper that you’ll sit on the second weekend of the face-to-face training, there is also a great video in the anatomy section on the online platform. In it, I literally go through the anatomy paper, so it’s a great video to familiarise yourself with and pre-empt any assessment nerves.

It also includes an experiential anatomy practical class so you can embody the anatomy, which many students report is a great way to learn. You can repeat this as many times as you like to help it sink in.

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Start your yoga journal as soon as you sign up

Your own yoga practice is an important part of the training, and you need to have completed 70 hours by the time the course ends, so the sooner you start, the better. You will journal at least 20 hours of classes during the course, so you will need to do 50 hours in addition to this.

You can include any practical classes you attend, both in person and online. And you can include a maximum of 20 hours of self-led classes if you have a home practice. Any classes you attend on a retreat or at a workshop also count. When you sign up, you will receive a list of what to include in each journal entry.

Assuming you sign up three months prior to the course starting, this means approximately two hours of practical classes and journaling per week between sign up and course completion.

What if you fall behind?

If you haven’t signed up in time to complete all of the pre-course learning, or if you find yourself getting behind during the course, please don’t despair!

The key aspects to focus on are the anatomy learning so you pass the theory paper on the second weekend, and preparing for the practical assessment on the Friday of the last weekend. An extension can be given for everything else, including the journal, as it’s coursework based.

We’ve had students sign up the day before the course starts and they’ve been just fine. We spread things out as much as possible and do everything we can to support you every step of the way.

What’s more, you’ll receive FREE lifetime access to the Yoga teacher training online portal, so it will always be there as a resource.

What makes a quality yoga teacher training?

As Yoga Alliance don’t stipulate any assessment processes, neither practical nor theoretical, I would highly recommend researching any yoga teacher training to ascertain how they ensure all of their graduates reach a certain benchmark prior to certification.

Look beyond the number of face-to-face training hours and find out what is actually included in the training. Is there pre-course learning? How much opportunity will you have to practise teaching? Is there assessment? What support is available between training weekends? And how does the training provider make sure you are ready to teach before you qualify?

After all, training up to be a yoga teacher is a big investment. In my humble opinion, it should also be a once-in-a-lifetime transformative experience that you will always look back on as a cherished once-in-a-lifetime memory with like-minded people. 😊

If you’re interested in hearing more about our 200hr Yoga or Pilates teacher training courses, we’d love to send you our free info pack. Over a couple of emails, you’ll get:

• Taster classes, both online and in-person
• A detailed video course overview and FAQs with our founder and lead tutor, Clare
• Free access to our class library, plus other benefits exclusive to trainees
• A free Zoom call with Clare
• … and more

Here are our top 10 reasons why we firmly believe, and actively promote, that you are never too old to follow your dreams and train to be a Yoga or Pilates teacher:

1. Age IS just a number

We firmly believe that functional capacity, heartfelt passion and commitment matter far more than chronological age. What you bring to your teaching isn’t measured in years.

2. These practices support the body at every stage of life

Yoga and Pilates are often recommended by GPs and other health professionals as a safer form of exercise as we age, being low impact and kinder to joints and backs, while helping with high blood pressure, stress and inflammation. If they can be practised and enjoyed at any age, they can be taught at any age too. Not only does it help your students stay healthy, it helps YOU too.

3. Living proof: teachers still practising into their 100s

Both Tao Porchon-Lynch and Charlotte Chopin taught Yoga at the age of 101, and Mary Bowen, the oldest known “Pilates Elder” who was trained directly by Joseph Pilates, taught well into her 90s. These stories are genuinely inspiring, and show that not only can Yoga and Pilates be taught at any age. You may also inspire others to do the same.

4. Mindset and motivation are ageless

I’ve always been grateful for teaching, as it’s given me accountability to keep moving throughout my life. Even on days I haven’t felt like going, I’ve always felt better for it afterwards – proof that the benefit is as much about mindset as it is about movement.

5. Your life experience becomes your teaching superpower

We learn through overcoming setbacks, injuries and dis-ease, and everything you’ve learnt along the way will (usually) inform your teaching, making you a more compassionate and empathetic guide for your students.

6. Your own transformation is your ‘why’

Most people are drawn to teaching Yoga or Pilates because it has made a positive difference in their own lives. That conviction is what sets great teachers apart, at any age. You’re not just teaching technique, you’re teaching from proof that it works.

7. Adaptability means there’s a way to teach at every stage

Pilates and Yoga are highly adaptive, meaning you can offer modifications to suit all ages and levels, and we train you how to do this on our courses. This means you can teach according to where you are on your journey, adapting both the setting and style of class accordingly.

8. Students often want to see themselves reflected in their teacher

Older adults may feel more comfortable attending classes led by a more mature teacher, as it can help them feel less intimidated. I recall an article reporting that, in a large-scale study, feeling intimidated was the number one reason people chose not to return to a Yoga class. Inclusivity and non-judgement are central to our training, so our graduates can help every student feel genuinely welcome.

9. A mix of ages makes for a richer learning community

Having diversity on our courses supports everyone’s learning and growth, as different life stages bring different blessings and we all learn from each other. It also reflects real life, in that there will be a mixed age range of students in most teaching settings.

10. Age can become your specialism, not your limitation

You can go on to specialise in teaching the ageing population, common health conditions, community-based classes, or chair and wall Yoga and Pilates. Our 4-day older adult and back care CPD course, for example, is extremely popular, and a fantastic option if you want to focus on this important client group. We also run a ‘Pilates with hand weights’ workshop, which is proving just as popular – helping students maintain bone health and muscle mass without increasing impact or needing to set foot in a gym.

Already teaching? Click here to find out more about these CPD courses.

1. Make the most of the outdoors

Take advantage of the lighter mornings and evenings, avoiding the peak heat of the day. Yoga on the beach, Pilates in the park. Sunrise classes whilst the kids are still in bed and it’s quiet and mystical. Sunset classes once the weather has cooled and people have eaten and put the kids to bed. You could even offer an optional sea dip if you’re fortunate enough to live by the sea. You could also theme a class around the moon cycle, which people love. Ask people to bring their own mats to save you carrying too much equipment.

(NB: You may need insurance to charge for classes in public spaces. A ‘by donation’ model may get around this, but it’s worth checking. If you’re offering a sea dip afterwards, make sure people sign a waiver confirming they do so at their own risk.)

2. Tap into summer events and alternative venues

Look beyond your usual studio and take advantage of one-off events and alternative venues. Festivals are on the increase and almost always have a wellness area. Campsites often want yoga or Pilates classes on offer, and yurts are popping up everywhere, with the option to teach inside or outside depending on conditions. Approach venues directly and ask to teach for them, or arrange a private hire and run your own classes, workshops or day retreats. Plenty of sites also have saunas, outdoor lakes and cold plunges you can build workshops and retreat days around.

It’s worth researching and reaching out early, the best slots and collaborations tend to get snapped up well before the season kicks off. Now’s the time to plan for 2027!

3. Scale up with your own camp

Fancy taking it to the next level? Why not organise your own Pilates or yoga camp? Collaborate with a few other teachers to put on camping weekends with a variety of classes, perhaps with massage available too… Plan a mini festival with the aim of getting 100 attendees. Who knows where it could go from there? It’s all possible, and already happening!

4. Get creative

Our very own Louise Windsor has been running her freedom dances outside for the first time this summer which are going from strength to strength. Now holding them monthly at 2 venues in her own words ‘they couldn’t have gone better’ and are almost always sold out with a waiting list. They include a cacao ceremony and mini sound bath at the end. Very inspiring.

5. Run a retreat

A retreat can be for a day, overnight, long weekend or even week-long. Many teachers combine them with other popular summer activities such as surfing, paddleboarding or open water swimming. With warmer weather becoming more consistent, you can go more local, saving costs and reducing your footprint, while still creating that summer holiday, healthy-activity feel.

Retreats are a fantastic opportunity for collaboration. Partner with another wellbeing professional to share the workload, double up on outreach, and hopefully carve out some fun for yourself too!

6. Reframe your indoor classes

For indoor classes, consider re-branding them as “escape the heat”. At the start of the season, it’s common for students to favour the beach, or getting outdoors over classes. However, once the weather settles, the novelty often wears off, and they may be glad of a break, especially during a heatwave. If your studio has air conditioning, fans, windows that open or a view over the sea or outdoors, highlight that in your promotion. And, as mentioned, it may be worth tweaking your timetable to offer early morning and later evening classes… giving people the option to come after the beach.

7. Promote the benefit, not just the class

Consider re-branding your indoor classes to promote the benefit. For example, “a good night’s sleep despite the heat”. One of the most common complaints I hear about hot weather is difficulty sleeping, especially for those in midlife and beyond, when temperature regulation is already harder to manage due to hormonal changes. A slower-paced class such as Yin, restorative, Yoga Nidra, somatics, sound, or a combination of these, can help reduce core temperature and increase the chances of a better night’s sleep, with the added benefit of time away from devices and a drop into the parasympathetic nervous system. If you’re not already trained in these practices, maybe now is the time to add to your repertoire…!

8. Offer quick, cooling practices

Offer 10–15 minute cooling breathwork practices in person, online, or as pre-recorded videos participants can return to whenever they need. Something quick and easy to help people stay cool in the heat. Include Sitali, Sitkari and Chandra Bhedana: well-known cooling pranayama practices, often described as a “natural air conditioner for the body and mind,” which also support focus, emotional regulation, balance and relaxation. Pilates teachers, you know only too well how important the breath is, and these pranayama practices are not reserved for yogis only.

9. Take your classes online

Offer online or hybrid classes so your students can still practise with you while on holiday or when their routine shifts. Even better, create an on-demand library, so students can practise with you even while you’re on holiday yourself! All you need is your phone, and a tripod.

10. Balance your year

Finally, consider putting on more classes or workshops in the autumn, winter and spring months, so you’re not relying so heavily on the peak summer season. And use the opportunity to take some time out for yourself, to enjoy this beautiful sunshine. 😊

1. When a verbal cue hasn’t connected

Sometimes a student simply doesn’t respond to a verbal cue. This is not because they are not listening or not trying. It could be due to limited body awareness, distraction, dissociation, sensory motor amnesia, or difficulty understanding or embodying the verbal cue. A well-placed hands-on assist can bridge that gap, increasing proprioception and strengthening neural connections in a way words alone can’t always achieve.

2. When a visual demonstration isn’t enough

Demonstrations are a valuable teaching tool, and can be very effective, but they don’t always produce the intended response. A hands-on assist can communicate what both words and visuals have failed to convey, stimulating proprioceptive feedback and supporting the development of neuromuscular patterning that builds over time into embodied, intuitive movement.

3. When props aren’t available or aren’t working

Props are fantastic and can support students in so many ways, often replacing the need for a hands-on assist. But they’re not always to hand, not every student knows how or when to use them – or may think they don’t “need” them. In those moments, a sensitive assist can provide the support a prop would otherwise offer. Or you might use the assist alongside guiding the student towards the right prop, so they can replicate that support independently in future.

4. To introduce and teach self-assists

Self-assists are a fantastic tool during a yoga class, empowering students to incorporate them into their own self-practice. They encourage self-awareness, embodiment and a deeper connection to self. They can also support students in learning to down-regulate their own nervous systems independently, fostering a real sense of agency.

Hands-on assists can be a powerful way to introduce them, helping students understand exactly where to place their hands, how much pressure to apply and what sensation to look for. Once a student has felt it guided by you, they’re far better equipped to replicate it independently and safely.

5. To encourage neutral alignment

Every body is different, and not every student will look the same in any given posture. With that in mind, you can use assists to help your students move towards a more neutral alignment depending on their posture and range of movement.

This might mean encouraging the spine to lengthen, inviting more activity into the network, suggesting the chest opens, creating space around the hips, side body or waist, stabilising the pelvis to reduce compensation patterns, or supporting grounding and stability.

6. To modify an asana to suit a student’s range of movement

Where range of movement is restricted (whether due to age, muscle tightness, joint mobility or the natural variation in how bodies are built) or when injury is present, an assist possibly alongside the use of props can help reposition a student safely. This supports them towards a more functional expression of the pose without strain or compensation.

7. To support a deeper expression of the pose

This is perhaps the most nuanced use of hands-on assists, and it requires a great deal of sensitivity and two-way communication, including non-verbal! It is important that you are constantly observing and reading posture, breath and facial expression throughout, as well as receiving verbal feedback. Remain responsive at every stage.

8. For partner stretching and targeted release

Partner stretches create a feedback loop between teacher and student, they can be very specific meaning they are best suited to one-to-one session, where a specific area of restriction has been identified.

9. To support relaxation through massage, breath and body awareness

Placing hands on the body can encourage a more functional breath, deepen interoception and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, inducing a state of calm and aiding students ability to let go. In postures like child’s pose and savasana, this creates a beautiful opportunity to use hands on assists to mindfully stretch and massage students. In my experience, it’s often the part of class they love the most.

10. To add real value to your teaching and build a loyal, returning student base.

Where consent has been clearly and comfortably established with individual students, hands-on assists will add a great deal of value to your classes and can set you apart from other teachers. When offered thoughtfully and with sensitivity, they elevate the in-person experience in a way that online classes simply can’t replicate. They foster a personal, two-way relationship and help students feel genuinely supported by you and safe, which keeps them coming back.

For those offering one-to-one yoga sessions, hands-on assists are a core part of what clients are investing in; they expect a more personalised, attentive experience.

I also feel confident that if someone turns up my weekly yoga classes or retreats with back pain, I can provide them with appropriate guidance and suggestions to try. 

I have been teaching yoga at The Sussex MS Centre for over ten years. I teach a mix of mat and chair yoga classes to suit the different ages (up to 93!), abilities and disabilities. I can honestly say these groups are a joy to teach. The participants are brave, positive and open to giving anything a try. They share openly when they are struggling, as well as celebrate each other’s successes.

It’s not just a class where people come, sit on their mat, do their practice, and leave. It’s a community. People stay for coffee and cake afterwards, they sharing their life stories and offering lifts to those who need help getting there.

Teaching classes like this has helped me to think outside the box and make yoga accessible for all bodies. This not only benefits the people at the MS Centre but also instills confidence in me to provide options to anyone who attends my classes, regardless of their aches, pains, or conditions. I can teach yoga to anyone.

In 2025, 25% of adults reported feeling lonely “often or always” or “some of the time.” These statistics underscore the ongoing issue of loneliness in the UK. According to a report by NHS England Digital, persistent and prolonged feelings of loneliness have been linked to adverse effects on both wellbeing and health. 

I am excited to share everything I have learned in the Older Adults, Common Conditions, and Back-Care CPD course starting on 24^th September.

This course is designed to help you support people with different health conditions, enabling you to confidently include them in your classes. Additionally, you will learn how to create your own specialised outside of a traditional studio settings. From Yoga and Pilates focused on back care to chair yoga sessions in residential homes, or classes held at local support centres or village halls, this course will equip you to share your skills with a broader audience. 

With the growing number of yoga and Pilates instructors and many studios already operating on full schedules, this course gives you a different offering to teach away from studios. It’s often better paid as well. Many studios and students are now using ClassPass, leading to fewer regular students and reduced pay for instructors, as ClassPass compensates studios at a lower rate. Therefore, exploring opportunities outside of the traditional studios may provide better payment or more consistent class attendance.

We will cover topics such as pain—distinguishing between acute and chronic pain—and explore how chronic pain originates in the brain. You’ll learn pain management techniques, understand poly vagal theory, and explore the nervous systems role in stress and trauma, we’ll discuss sensitisation, protection, posture, and emotions in relation to pain, as well as the concept of sensory motor amnesia. Additionally, we will delved into interoception, language of embodiment, and ways to empower your students.

This course will broaden your audience, expand your selection of exercises and asanas, and enhance your teaching methods—including your cues, assists, and overall language. It will encourage you to think creatively and embrace new approaches.

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If you would like to find out more please see this page. 

24th–27th September 2026, 9.30am–4.30 pm each day

SUPER Early-bird savings until 24th May 2026

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Bringing the Two Disciplines Together

When Yoga and Pilates are combined thoughtfully, they create a powerful approach to prenatal movement.

Yoga offers mindfulness, breath awareness, and nervous system support that many pregnant women need.

Pilates adds anatomical understanding and structural support, allowing teachers to guide movement safely and confidently.

Together, they help create classes that are not only safe but also empowering, supportive, and intelligently structured.

For teachers working with pregnant clients, insight from both disciplines can make an enormous difference in how confidently they guide their students.

Why Yin Yoga Is So Powerful for Students

From a student perspective, Yin Yoga offers benefits on multiple levels:

Physically, it can: 

• Improve joint mobility
• Hydrate connective tissue
• Supports healthy fascia
• Balance more dynamic or yang-style practices
• Help prevent burnout and overtraining

Mentally & emotionally, it can:

• Calm the nervous system
• Help to reduce stress and anxiety
• Build emotional resilience
• Teach students to stay present with discomfort instead of avoiding it

Many students don’t realise how much tension they are holding until they finally stop moving.

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2. You Deepen Your Understanding of Anatomy and Fascia

Our comprehensive Yin trainings explore:

• Fascia lines and connective tissue
• Joint health and compression vs. tension
• Skeletal variations and why poses look different in different bodies
• The nervous system and how to calm it
• This knowledge doesn’t just make you a better Yin teacher — it makes you a better teacher in every style of yoga

In Yin Yoga, you stop forcing shapes and start respecting structures.

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3. You Learn How to Hold Space, Not Fill It

One of the biggest shifts for many teachers in Yin training is learning to:

• Talk less
• Allow silence
• Trust the process

Instead of constantly “doing,” you learn how to hold a container for students’ experiences. 

This skill translates into:

• A calm present class atmosphere
• Deeper student trust
• More emotionally safe spaces

Theming Creates Coherence and Depth

A themed class answers an unspoken question students often carry with them:

“Why am I here today, really?”

Instead of feeling like a collection of unrelated postures, a themed practice feels like a story—with a beginning, middle, and end. Every pose, breath, cue, and moment of stillness points in the same direction.

This creates:

A sense of purpose and meaning.

Better mental engagement and presence.

A deeper emotional and energetic resonance.

A feeling of being held in a journey, not just guided through exercises.

Especially in workshops and retreats, theming helps participants feel they are stepping into a sacred, intentional space rather than just attending another event.

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Working with the Chakras: A Map for Transformation

The chakra system is one of the most powerful and intuitive ways to theme a class, workshop, or retreat. Each chakra represents a dimension of human experience:

Root (Muladhara) – Safety, grounding, belonging

Sacral (Svadhisthana) – Flow, creativity, emotions

Solar Plexus (Manipura) – Confidence, will, empowerment

Heart (Anahata) – Love, connection, compassion

Throat (Vishuddha) – Expression, truth, communication

Third Eye (Ajna) – Intuition, clarity, perception

Crown (Sahasrara) – Meaning, unity, consciousness

When you theme a class around a chakra, you’re not only choosing physical actions. You’re also exploring a theme of life. Over a full workshop series or retreat, moving through the chakras creates a beautiful arc of personal development and integration.

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Tuning into the Elements: Connecting to Nature and Life’s Ever Changing Flow

Each element represents a state of energy and consciousness:

Earth – Stability, grounding, support, structure

Water – Flow, adaptability, emotion, creativity

Fire – Transformation, clarity, power, digestion (physical & mental)

Air – Lightness, movement, breath, openness

Space (Ether) – Stillness, awareness, spaciousness, possibility

When a class is themed around an element, students don’t just understand it intellectually. They feel it in their nervous system, breath, and body. The beauty of working with the elements is that, when we step away from our Yoga mat, we can continue our practice into the present by consciously connecting with what surrounds us. Whether it’s a walk in the woods or along the beach, gazing up at the sky, or feeling our feet rooted on the earth, each moment becomes an opportunity for practice.