Spiritual and physical discipline practices are becoming increasingly popular in the West. As more and more people find themselves drawn to these ancient yogic traditions, the need for qualified yoga instructors is on the rise.
Why Find a Yoga School in London?
Despite London's small size as a city, it is one of the most culturally diverse places on the planet. With almost nine billion people living in LDN, it is an established center of open-minded thinking and inclusive spiritual practices.
By choosing to train in London, you are opening yourself up to a variety of disciplines, spiritual masters, and advanced training unavailable in other parts of the world.
What Kind of Yoga Course Is Right for Me?
There are many different disciplines of spiritual and mental practices focusing on the physical body. Most people have heard at least a few terms surrounding these practices, such as Hatha or Vinyasa. Instructors train in many areas of focus based around this ancient Hindu tradition.
Ashtanga / Power
A fast-paced, active style, Ashtanga focuses on performing sets of asanas (or postures) in a specific order to produce heat, intended to assist in purifying the body. It is physically rigorous; many find it to be a challenging and more advanced style.
Bikram / Hot
Bikram has two main characteristics – a hot, humid room, and an intensive series of exactly 26 postures and breathing exercises. A relative newcomer to the list of styles, Bikram gained popularity in the West in the 1970s.
Hatha
Hatha is a category of yoga, rather than a specific discipline. It encompasses many of the "active" styles, like Vinyasa and Ashtanga. It combines postures and breathing to encourage balance on and off the mat.
Iyengar
A form of Ashtanga, the Iyengar discipline began as a term used by the followers of founder B.K.S. Iyengar, to distinguish it from other practices. As it grew in popularity, the name stuck. This type focuses on slow, steady physical and mental gains, rather than fast and furious results.
Kundalini
Kundalini is based on a spiritual principle that there is an energy "snake" coiled at the base of your spine. The Kundalini tradition activates the energy, releasing it to travel up through and purify all seven chakras. Kundalini is not only a series of repetitive postures; it includes dynamic breathing, meditation, and chanting exercises.
Prenatal / Postnatal
Intended for expecting mothers and those who have recently given birth, prenatal and postnatal practices focus on healing, inner connection with the baby. It also includes stress- and pain-relieving techniques and postures.
Restorative / Gentle
This relaxing discipline is perfect for those who would like to achieve stillness, slowness, and a gentle opening-up of the body through stretching. It is intended not for fitness but recovery and calm inner awareness.
Vinyasa / Flow
Vinyasa, while a vigorous style, is more flexible than its active-style counterparts, such as Ashtanga and Bikram. Its variability and versatility characterize it – instructors have much more control over which postures to use and what order to put them in.
Yin
Yin focuses on loosening and stretching tendons and fascia – connective tissue between parts of the body – It focuses on slow movements and holding postures for more extended periods.
Best Yoga Courses London
YogaLondon
Easily one of the most popular training schools in London, YogaLondon provides extensive training in the many requirements of becoming a spiritual instructor. Their curriculum covers typical aspects such as the driving philosophies behind the discipline and its history but also includes more practical aspects of the anatomy and the business side of being a teacher.
This school offers flexible formats based around the student's existing schedule. Trainings are available weekends only for four- and six-month durations. If you have a very busy schedule, they offer a one-weekend-per-month course for 12 months. For those who prefer an immersive experience, a one-month, nine-hour per weekday schedule is available.
YogaLondon also offers students additional certification training in pregnancy-specific practices.
- Multi-discipline
- Yoga Alliance Professionals certification
- Flexible scheduling, 200 hour course
- Many courses available beginning in early 2020
- Learn more: yogalondon.net
Intelligent Yoga Teacher Training (IYTT)
Intelligent Yoga Teacher Training's primary goal is to "develop knowledgeable, responsive, and confident teachers" who understand how the body works and show respect to its innate intelligence.
IYTT's certification focuses on the anatomy and movements of the body. Including having two world-renowned instructors on staff, Peter Blackaby and Gary Carter, its training course features "one of the most comprehensive groundings in anatomy" for training not only in London but all across the UK.
Located in the Belgravia district, the IYTT school is just a few blocks from foreign embassies and consulates, giving the area a distinctly international flair. It is a perfect setting for this culturally diverse spiritual practice.
- Hatha
- British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance Professionals certification
- 18-month, 300 hour course
- Next available training begins October 2020
- Learn more: intelligentyogateachertraining.co.uk
Yoga-Like-Water
Yoga-Like-Water operates on the principle that learning merely through instruction, repetition, and memorization is not necessarily the best way to learn to be an instructor. Training methods are less focused on passing information routinely from instructor to student. Students are encouraged to explore the presented material in their own way, guided by more experienced instructors.
Yoga-Like-Water is voluntarily a non-accredited school. According to their principles, "accreditation is a peculiar thing; we chose not to be accredited by any of the larger organizations." YLW does not believe that strict rules and specific guidelines alone have the power to guarantee a good guide and mentor.
Rather than focusing on just one discipline like Hatha or Vinyasa, Yoga-Like-Water acts more like a discipline hub than a single school. It provides prospective students access to many teachers within the training, allowing students to work with teachers from less common disciplines.
Because of this more extensive network of teachers, Yoga-Like-Water connects students to teachers in multiple locations around the UK, several of which are in the greater London area. They also offer two specific courses, one in Devon and one in the heart of LDN.
- Multi-discipline
- Recognized by the Independent Yoga-Network
- 10-month, 200 hour instructor course
- Next available LDN advanced training begins late 2020
- Learn more: yogalikewater.com
To become a certified instructor, you need to have knowledge, wisdom, and personal dedication to your practice. Teacher training is an extensive, exhaustive process that tests the body and mind of the student.
As a teacher, you are driven to encourage others to dedicate themselves to an enlightening spiritual path. Yoga training can give you what you need to advance your practice and teaching to the next level.
