Get ready! This article only touches on the different types of further education you can do as a yoga teacher. The world of yoga is expanding and becoming more inclusive, meaning that no matter what your passion or driver, you can make being a yoga teacher a career.
In my last article I discussed some of the different niches of Yoga, this article will now give you a taste of some of the schools that offer these programs. Most of these schools require you to have 200-hour YTT under your belt before completing the program, however, there are a few exceptions.
Generally speaking, if you wish to be a Yoga Teacher in any of these niche fields, you will need to also have a 200-hour YTT certificate. So, with that being said, let's have a look at some of the schools!
Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga Mama
Yoga Mama is a Yoga Alliance accredited school based in London and Galway, Ireland. The team at Yoga Mama are made up of pre and postnatal specialists, such as and phycologists. These specialists, as well as the experienced yoga instructors, will give you the grounding that you need to support women during and after their pregnancy.
Feel nurtured and held in this calming environment while you learn how to pass on that same peace and serenity to women and the life that they are bringing into this world.
The curriculum covers:
- Asana, pranayama (breathing and relaxation techniques)
- Sequencing pregnancy and postnatal classes
- The dos and don’ts of pregnancy yoga
- Propping and assisting pregnant students
- Prenatal and postnatal anatomy for yoga
- Common ailments associated with pregnancy
- Setting up classes for pregnant students
Format:
- Five full days of classes (9am to 6pm each day), spread over two weekends
- 18 students per training
- 20 non-contact hours dedicated to pre-course reading
What's Included:
- Venue for training
- Certification
Pre-requisite:
- 200-hour YTT
Location: United Kingdom or Ireland
Investment: USD $915 (Early bird offers available)
Website: Click Here
appleyoga
Katy Appleton has lovingly created appleyoga as a place to come back to yourself. A former dancer and student of yoga for over twenty years, Katy has an in-depth understanding of the human body. Together with her team, she has created an 8-day intensive Yoga Alliance accredited program for you to learn both pre and postnatal skills.
The program focuses on guiding you through the stages of pregnancy as well as the emotions and relationships that are formed. Included in your tuition you will learn how to guide women in baby massage once their little bundle of joy has arrived, as well as how to connect and bond with their new baby on their mat.
The curriculum covers:
- Master class on use of asana, pranayama, meditation and kris specifically in a pre and postnatal contest
- Detailed asana technique classes to apply apple yoga’s methodology ready to teach safe and effective pre and postnatal yoga
- Practical teaching time
- appleyoga pre and postnatal class layout and class planning
- Learning pre and postnatal applepods
- Learning how to sequence classes with vinyasa krama - using this approach to teach regular classes with pre and postnatal students
- Learning how to integrate within a postnatal class, baby yoga movements, massage and simply how to hold space for mama's with babies in the class.
- Understanding how to theme classes
- Understanding common ailments in pregnancy and post birth and creating safe and intelligent options to balance and relieve
- Anatomy, physiology
- Psychology and ethics
- Music, intentions and poetry integration for classes explained
- Review time of course content
- Assistance in assessments & Om work
Format:
- 8-day (consecutive) training for full certification
What’s included:
- 72 contact hours with apple yoga teachers and guest lecturers.
- Prenatal & Postnatal, Baby Yoga & Massage Teacher Training Manual
- Access to apple yoga’s online community and website facility
- Appleyoga’s Pre & Postnatal video pods
- Venue for training
Pre-requisite:
- 200-hour YTT
Location: London, United Kingdom
Investment: USD $1,370 (payable in instalments)
Website: Click Here
Yoga for Kids
Rainbow Yoga
Rainbow Yoga is a world leader in Kids Yoga Teacher Training. With programs offered world wide, you can choose which option best suits you and which country you have not yet visited!
The founders at Rainbow Yoga are passionate about creating an open and conscious space where people can feel free to bring in their own style and voice to their teacher. They offer a 3-day Kids Yoga Teacher Training as an introduction, for you to fully experience what it is like to teach kids. If you come away from that experience loving every moment, then you can enrol on their 95-hour Yoga Alliance certified program.
The curriculum covers:
- Yoga for children with additional needs
- Yoga for children in the classroom and at school
- Yoga for teenagers
- Mindfulness techniques
- Experiential yoga anatomy for children
- Advanced teaching application
- Practical Yoga Philosophy and how to transmit those values and life lessons to children
- Supervised class planning and teaching practice
- How to teach new yoga poses, flowing sequences and games
- Find your dramatic, exciting and motivating teacher voice
- How to adjust children in poses, how to help them
- Teaching kids breathing techniques
- Teaching kids meditation and relaxation techniques
Format:
- 7 consecutive days
- 8am-6pm daily
What’s included:
- Certificate on completion
Pre-requisite:
- 3-day Kids Yoga Teacher Training (Rainbow Yoga)
- 200-hour YTT (not needed to attend the program, only required if you wish to be fully Yoga Alliance certified)
Location: Worldwide (next in Australia)
Investment: USD $1,351 (payable in instalments)
Website: Click Here
The Elbow Room
The Elbow Room focuses on ensuring that the best Children Yoga Teachers are making their way out into the world. Teaching children is vastly different from teaching an adult, from the anatomical structure to mental and emotional levels. This school has a bulletproof a four module program that is spaced over four months to ensure that you are well equipped to go out there and teach the rising stars of this world.
Their program incorporates both the serious and the fun, from handling behaviour problems and working with children with special needs, to teaching a class through song, chanting and fun!
The curriculum covers:
Module I-III
- Child development and anatomy
- Fundamentals of teaching children
- Teaching methodology for children
- Communication and engagement with children
- Warm-ups
- Asana’s for children
- Pranayama
- Relaxation and meditations
- Visualisation
- Chanting and songs
- Yoga games
- Storytelling
- Sequencing for age groups 3.5-6, 6-9, 10-13
- Dealing with behavioural problems
- Introducing anatomy to children
- Partner yoga
- Observing and assisting in classes
- A teachers toolbox
Module IV
- Identifying children with alternative learning and physical requirements
- Teaching children with special needs
- Teaching in schools
Format:
- Four modules over four months - This ensures what is taught is practiced and is understood
- Mentorship is mandatory for certification
What’s included:
- Certificate on completion
- Manual with photographs of Asana’s
- Use of the studio for practice clients
Pre-requisite:
- 200-hour YTT (to be accepted)
- Mentorship program (to be certified)
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Investment: USD $1,110
Website: Click Here
Senior Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga Calm
Yoga Calm was founded by Kimberly Carson and Carol Krucoff, both experts in senior yoga, yoga for medical challenges and yoga therapy. They developed this online program to give yoga teachers the opportunity to further their skills and knowledge base.
Yoga for the elderly is increasingly becoming a challenge for yoga teachers, where they do not know how to modify postures for the ageing body. This program will go into the anatomy, physiology and other essential health related topics to give you the confidence to include older students, or students with physical limitations, in your classroom.
The curriculum covers:
- The basic physiology of ageing and why some yoga practices may be risky for older adults
- Essential information about health conditions including heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, lung disease, and chronic pain
- A skilful method of adapting yoga practice safely and effectively for seniors and others with these limitations
- Tested lesson plans and tips for teaching mixed classes with students of varying ability
- Techniques to enhance and refine your voice as a teacher
- Yoga geared to mature bodies, including chair-based practices and appropriately modified postures for those able to get down to and up from the floor
- Learning about common ailments affecting older adults and how to respond to medical challenges
Format:
- Online
- 20 hours
What’s included:
- Expert Instruction from Duke Integrative Medicine - learn the key health issues facing older adults and how to safely promote strength, balance, flexibility and pain relief with yoga
- Certification recognised by Yoga Alliance
- Unlimited access to the online materials
Pre-requisite:
- 200-hour YYT, equivalent experience teaching yoga, or experience using movement therapeutically with older adult populations
Location: Online
Investment: USD $295
Website: Click Here
Ageless Arts & Yoga
Ageless Arts & Yoga has designed this 5-day intensive program to equip you with everything you will need to know to teach 65+. The program is designed to teach you not only how to incorporate chair postures into your class, but also how to work with balance and support props.
In addition to the practical elements of teaching chair and support yoga, this unique program will also teach you useful hand movements and acupressure to relieve arthritis pain and swelling. As we get older our nutrition needs change as do our daily challenges with life. This program will look into basic nutrition as well as meditation and affirmation work specifically for the older generation.
The curriculum covers:
- Meditation, Pranayama, and relaxation techniques
- Classical Yoga asanas both seated and standing using the chair for balance & support
- Double chair yoga
- Partner chair yoga
- Eastern disciplines and modalities
- Matrika Shakti - Power of the Word
- Hand movements for arthritis relief
- Acupressure knee strengthening exercises
- The seven Chakras and their meaning, colours, sounds and affirmations
- The 5 Yamas and 5 Niyamas
- Do-In Chinese Self Massage and Foot Reflexology
- Basic nutrition to honour our body temple
- Challenges with ageing
- The top 8 health challenges related to ageing
- How to support transitions up and down from the floor
- The importance of Alignment & Anatomy when adapting Asanas
- The Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation
- The Energy Healing Practices
- Practice & explore 14 different balance series
Format:
- 5 days intensive
What’s included:
- 2 Manuals and 2 certificates- Foundations of Chair Yoga and Chair Yoga Therapeutics: Balance & Support
- Registered Chair Yoga Teacher with Ageless Arts Yoga
- Recognised by Yoga Alliance as continued education
Pre-requisite:
- Minimum of 20 hours of yoga
- 200-YTT if looking to be a registered teacher
Location: Toronto, Canada
Investment: USD $750
Website: Click Here
SUP Yoga Teacher Training
Stoked Yogi
Stoked Yogi has taken the SUP Yoga scene by storm. Founder, Amelia Travis broke her back while surfing, but instead of packing up her dreams who accepted the change and made space for something new. She opened Stoked Yogi in 2011 to bring together two of her passions: Yoga and Surfing.
This 5-day long program includes not only your certification as a SUP Yoga teacher but also a whole heap of fun and business guidance on how to follow your own dreams in the Yoga or Surf world. The program is certified by PaddleFit, ACA, WPA, Yoga Alliance, and ACE.
The curriculum covers:
- SUP Skills: Paddle technique including stroke and manoeuvring, board anatomy and handling, entry and exit techniques, caring for your board
- Instructing a beginner SUP lesson
- Weather and water safety: Regulations, local knowledge, rescue techniques and lifesaving skills. USCG approved water safety clinic
- Anchor systems: Individual and group
- Adapting and sequencing asana on the water, including a “Fluid Flow” set sequence: options for beginner and intermediate students
- Building Your Business: Purchasing and preparing, start-up capital, marketing and advertising, web development and software, reaching your audience
- Visualization & goal setting workshop
- Equipment provided for the duration of training: Glide Yoga Board, paddle, anchor, and PFD
Format:
- 5 intensive days
What’s included:
- 5 days, 4 nights accommodations at a luxurious waterfront estate
- Extend your stay before or after training for a weeklong retreat – (additional charge)
- Private heated pool with waterslide
- 3 meals per day using local, seasonal, organic ingredients
- Dharma journaling session to uncover your purpose
- Unlimited use of Glide Yoga stand up paddle boards during non-training hours.
- Gift bag with Stoked Yogi apparel, accessories, and healthy snacks provided by sponsor's
- Photos of the weekend provided via google drive or dropbox
Pre-requisite:
- 200-YTT
- Strong swimmer
Location: Florida, United States
Investment: USD $1850
Website: Click Here
Rosita Jan - SUP Yoga Teacher Training
Crystal blue ocean, white sandy beaches and epic sunsets. Malta is an amazing place for you to complete your SUP Yoga teacher training. Rosita Jan provides an exclusive program with only 6 students accepted each training. The smaller the group, the more personal time Rosita can spend with each student.
This 3-day intensive program does not include accommodation or food, which means that you can pick where you would like to stay and choose your favourite restaurants. This is also a great option if you are looking to extend your stay in Malta and holiday.
The curriculum covers:
- SUP equipment and knowledge
- Water safety, rules and regulations
- How to teach intro to SUP skills
- Assessing the water and conditions
- Assessing students (options and limitations)
- Wind, waves, tide, and current
- What makes a good SUP yoga instructor
- SUP yoga postures (water specific and level options)
- Sequencing on the water
- Partnering with local businesses for SUP success
- How to host a SUP Yoga class if you don’t have your own fleet of boards
- Setting up your floating studio and classes
- Tried and tested sequence you can always use on the boards and the best alignment system to be used on the boards
Format:
- 3 intensive days
What’s included:
- 25 continuing education hours through Yoga Alliance
- A SUP yoga class from the creator of SUP Yoga & Fitness Malta
- Board, paddle, and other equipment rental for all three days
- Drinking water throughout the course hours
- Some surprise goodies
- Sunrise and/or sunset SUP Yoga practice
- SUP Yoga photo shoot
- SUP Yoga teacher training manual
- Social Media & Marketing module for Yoga Teachers and workbook
Pre-requisite
- Minimum of 6 months experience as a yoga student (any style)
- You do not need to be a yoga teacher, however, if you want to be a registered teacher you will need to complete 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Alliance
Location: Malta
Investment: USD $560
Website: Click Here
Body Positive Yoga teacher training
Curvy Yoga
Anna Guest-Jelley created Curvy Yoga to empower and give confidence back to people of all different shapes, sizes and abilities to love yoga and their body. This 3-month online program will take you through everything from how to modify postures to fit different needs, through to body-positive cues.
The online program is both interactive and interesting, keeping you engaged with different homework assignments and video tutorials. The program is designed for already qualified yoga teachers to further their education and bring something different and inclusive into their classes and studios.
The curriculum covers:
- You’ll learn how to welcome (and keep) curvy students into your class— and master the anatomical how-tos of Curvy Yoga modifications, with written & teacher-specific video pose instructions for 60+ poses
- You’ll explore and develop how to make your classes body positive — without having to feel like a cheerleader yelling out “Love Your Body!” every five seconds
- You’ll be challenged to unpack some of your own hardwired ‘body baggage’ — and clear out the emotional gunk, so you can really show up for your students
- You’ll develop your own unique series of curvy-friendly sun salutations & floor salutations — and expand your teaching vocabulary, allowing you to explain pose modifications with grace
- You’ll craft your own unique class & workshop descriptions, and be guided as you create inclusive marketing materials for your website, social media presence & online newsletters
Format:
- Availability for 20 students
- 3 months online learning
- 6 biweekly group lessons in an online video-classroom environment
- Worksheet and instructional videos to use & watch
- Personal time to ask questions about marketing plans and next steps
What’s included:
- 3-month membership to virtual studio
- Free copy of “Permission to Curve: Inspiring Poses for Curvy Yogis & Their Teachers” - Collection of 60+ warm-ups, poses & sun salutations for yogis of every size, age and ability
- Private Facebook group
- Class planning tools
Pre-requisite:
- 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Alliance
Location: Online
Investment: USD $750 (payment plan available)
Website: Click Here
Yoga for All
Dianne and Amber created “Yoga for All” to offer yoga to anyone who has ever felt marginalised or different for their size, shape, ability to appearance. This 5-week online program extensively covers a host of topics including trigger words, how to welcome a class and getting consent for hands-on adjustments.
The program is designed for yoga teachers who would like to continue their education but have busy lives. Each week, different modules are covered that will broaden your approach to teaching and give you the confidence to modify and change up postures for all your students.
The curriculum covers:
Week 1
- Body image and the language of body positivity
- Foundations of a body-positive class
- Teaching to who is in the room
- Warm-ups
Week 2
- The power of language
- Before class: Getting set up for success
- Sun Salutations
- Standing poses
Week 3
- Creating a culture of consent
- Teaching modifications: Fundamentals & setting up your class
- Teaching modifications: Language & techniques
- Backbends
- Seated & supine poses
Week 4
- The power of progressive teaching
- Transitions
- Inversions
- Arm balances
- Bonus asana videos: Full practice sequences
Week 5
- Marketing your yoga for all
Format:
- 5 weeks
- Online program
What’s included:
- Facebook community
- Bonus material for download
Pre-requisite:
- 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Alliance
Location: Online
Investment: Contact the team for more information
Website: Click Here
To sum up.
These ten schools only scratch the surface of what is available to you. If you have an interest in any of these niches, or others, follow your gut and enrol in a program to not only enhance your skills as a teacher but to also bring yoga to different groups of people.
Yoga has never been so accessible to as many people. No longer do you need to be a stereotypical slim, athletic yoga student to enjoy and do well at Yoga. If you want it, take it!