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Yoga Teacher Training Diploma

• What is the Teacher Training Diploma application process? Is it first come, first served?

  The application form can be downloaded from the Yoga Teacher Training Diploma page of the website. Please note that you will need to supply two references (one from your yoga teacher and one personal). We do not operate a first come, first served policy, but consider each application on its merits. This happens immediately after the application closing date and any applications received before that date will be acknowledged but not reviewed at that stage. Very shortly after the closing date we review all applications. The outcome of this review may be (if your application is very strong) that we offer you a place without interview; we may ask you to attend an interview with members of the Teacher Training Board (the date of the interview weekend is posted on our site); or we may ask you to re-apply if we feel that you need further experience before starting teacher training.

• How far in advance do I need to apply?

  Because we review all applications together, there is no benefit in applying early. All you need to do is to ensure that your completed application reaches us before the application closing date. We always encourage however that you begin completing the application form and sourcing your references as early as possible; it is our experience that references often take longer than expected to receive and you’re likely to submit a better application if you avoid a last minute rush.

• How many people usually apply for the course?

  It varies, but, on average, we have about sixty to seventy applications for each half-yearly intake.

• Is there an age limit (minimum or maximum)?

  We cannot take students under the age of 18, as not all of our teachers have the specialist qualifications required by law to work with young people, but have no maximum age limit. If you are at the younger end of the age range, please don’t forget that you will need to have had at least three years’ regular practice and will need to demonstrate that you have the maturity to be a good teacher. We do not consider anyone to be too old to embark on the path of sharing their love of yoga with others.

• Who are the teachers? Can I meet them?

  Unlike some other teacher training courses, the course is taught by a range of teachers all with a passion for and specialist knowledge of the subjects they teach. We believe that this approach both encourages you to explore different teachers’ approaches and gives you access to teachers who know their subjects in depth. Meet our Teacher Training Faculty here.

  If you are asked to attend an interview, you will meet the Teacher Training Board. We don’t arrange specific meetings with any of the other teachers – though several of the Teacher Training Faculty teach at The Life Centre yoga studios in Notting Hill and Islington, London and you could always get to meet them that way.

  As part of the course, you will also need to take an intensive from a range of choices, many taught by leading visiting teachers. Explore our upcoming intensives here.

• I live outside London. Is this a disadvantage?

  No, so long as you are able to travel to London for the course weekends and intensives/electives. We have had many students from outside London – both from other parts of the UK and from abroad. We also now offer our Teacher Training Diploma course in Yorkshire.

• I have a full time job – are all the course sessions at the weekend?

  Yes, from 9.30 to 5.30 on Saturday and Sunday, though for 2 or 3 weekends you will also be required to attend for some or all of the preceding Friday. Please also note that most of the intensives run for four, five or occasionally six consecutive days to allow immersion in the teachings. You are required to attend one intensive within the 18 month period of the course and you therefore must make leave allowances for these days.

• Do you offer scholarships or financial assistance?

  As a not for profit organisation we aim to ensure that our fees are competitive, but we do not at the moment offer scholarships.

• I live overseas and I cannot set up a standing order – what do I do?

  Our overseas students typically make direct transfers into our bank account. Please note that, in the case of foreign currency bank transfers, you will need to add £7 to each transfer made to cover bank charges incurred by Yogacampus for foreign currency payments.

• What else will I need to pay for?

  You will need to take out public liability insurance for when you begin teaching (probably about £120 per year). We can assist you with this. You will also need to buy a small number of books, and to pay for your intensive (cost of intensives ranges from £450 to £600). Towards the end of the course, you will need to pay your contact teacher £65 to observe you teach. We do not include this within the course fees as it sometimes happens that someone other than your contact teacher does this class assessment. You will also need to pay to attend regular yoga classes throughout the course. As a Yogacampus Teacher Training Diploma trainee you will be entitled to a discounted rate on classes at The Life Centre in Notting Hill and Islington, London.

  You should also be aware that we charge administration fees to cover the additional work incurred in the event of you missing a module, having to re-take a module, submitting work late or deferring to a later intake of students.

• What support do I get during the course?

  Lots – on many different levels. Aside from the support which all the students on the course generally give each other, each student forms part of a small group assigned to an experienced teacher as their contact teacher. Your contact teacher is your primary source of support during the course: you will meet as a group with him or her at least four times during the course and you are expected to stay in regular touch with him or her by e-mail and/or telephone. The Yogacampus office team is also very happy to assist on administrative issues relating to the course.

• What if I miss all or part of a weekend?

  If you are unable to attend all or any part of a weekend due to exceptional circumstances (for example serious illness or family emergency) then you will be able to take that module (or the relevant part) at a later date. However, this may result in your date of graduation being delayed, depending on when the module is next being run. Should you miss a module for any other reason, you will still be required to catch up the module at a later date (potentially delaying your date of graduation) and you will be charged a £50 administration fee payable at the time of rescheduling. Some modules are also sequential and so if you miss one it may also mean that you will be unable to take a later module until you have caught up the module missed.

• What if I cannot finish the course – what happens then?

  If you decide to leave the course completely, you will not be asked to make any further payments under your standing order, but will not receive any refund of payments already made.You may also apply, if you wish, to defer to a later intake, though we discourage deferral other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness). Permission to defer is at the discretion of the training board, and is subject to payment of a deferral fee.

• When can I start teaching?

  We encourage you to start teaching as soon as you and your contact teacher feel that you are ready. Exactly when during the course this will be varies (a few of our students are already teaching when they start the course), but you will be required to start teaching (even if only to family and friends) during the last 6 months of the course.

• Does the course enable me to teach anywhere in the world?

  Yes, unless the country in which you plan to teach has any additional requirements which you need to satisfy. You should also check that your insurance covers you to teach in the relevant country – for example many UK insurance policies will not cover you to teach in the USA.

• How much preparation and homework is there?

  For most course weekends, you will be assigned preliminary reading, the amount of which varies. You may also be asked to practise certain postures or techniques in advance. Some, but by no means all, modules also require you to do some homework, which may be written or practical, and may be marked/assessed. We try to keep preliminary work and homework to a reasonable amount, knowing that most of our students have busy lives, but the course does require a serious level of commitment.

  You are also required as part of the course to observe and teach a set number of classes by your own arrangement and in your own time. You will also be required to submit a written paper, and to complete a number of open book written assignments during the course and an open book written paper at the end of the course.

• Do I have to attend regular classes with the course teachers while I am on the course?

  You are required to attend regular classes, and to have a regular teacher, but your classes may be with any teacher. Your regular teacher will be required to sign your student report forms during the course.

• I see that I have to attend a training intensive; does this have to be a Yogacampus intensive?

  Yes, because we know that the content and quality of our intensives is appropriate for our trainees.

• Do we receive discounts or special offers for any yoga classes or products?

  While you are on the course, you may attend any drop-in class at The Life Centre in Notting Hill or Islington for £6, and you are entitled to 10% discount on all purchases of books, mats, props, CDs, clothing etc (other than special offers or sale items) from Yogamatters.

• I live a long way from the venue, can you help me make accommodation arrangements?

  We do not make arrangements for accommodation; we do however offer accommodation lists. Please refer to the course venue details for accommodation suggestions. It is important to note that these suggestions are by no means exhaustive and that the accommodation has not been reviewed by Yogacampus.

• What is Yoga Alliance?

  Yoga Alliance (not to be confused with Yoga Alliance UK) is a United States based, internationally recognised, education and support organisation for yoga which approves yoga teacher training courses which meet certain minimum standards. The Yogacampus course exceeds those minimum standards in several respects. Our graduate are therefore entitled, if they wish, to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs), a designation that is recognised worldwide.

• What is REPs?

  REPs is the UK Register of Exercise Professionals which was set up to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers. The Register uses a process of self-regulation that recognises industry-based qualifications, including those of yoga teachers. Yogacampus graduates are entitled, if the wish, to become members of REPs.