Yoga Teacher Training that takes you to the spiritual heart of the practice
NEPAL YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
Integrated approach
Refine your asana and teaching style. Create inspiring sequences that integrate yoga philosophy into your teaching.
Develop a Spiritual Practice
Study Tools of Tantra, stabilise the mind, cultivate devotion, and begin a spiritual practice.
Personal attention
Get fresh eyes on your asana practice. Small groups. Personal attention for maximum learning.
This is a 300-hour training for people have completed a 200-hour TTC for a total of 500 hours.
A DOGMA FREE training with interesting, innovative teachers, all of whom are serious yoga practitioners with global reputations:
- Heather Elton (Asana Technique)
- Ruth Westoby (Philosophy)
- Westin Harris (Tantric Practice)
- Kat Owens (Trauma Informed Yoga)
- Nuria Reed (Vinyasa Yoga)
- Andrew McGonigle (Yoga Physiology)
- Plus guest teachings with Rinpoches and Nath yogis
For more information about our teachers, visit our Yoga Teacher Training Faculty page.
This training focuses on transformative spiritual practice. You’ll experience an authentic process that encourages you look at your own reality, takes you deeper in your own practice, and refines your skills to teach yoga.
Space is limited to 16 students.
We encourage you to apply early to ensure a place on the program.
The course is accredited by Yoga Alliance USA (300 hours).
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The practice
- A skilful and varied asana practice is the starting place for an authentic yogic inquiry.
- Practice Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and integrate alignment principles into a mindful Vinyasa Flow.
- Daily meditation, pranayama, and Hatha Vinyasa asana class.
- Explore advanced asana safely under the guidance of an experienced teacher.
- Practice pranayama, pratyahara and meditation techniques to explore the inner limbs of yoga.
- Refine your own self-practice
- Learn the principles of breath/bandhas/dristi, that tie poses together into a seamless ‘moving meditation’.
- Study precise alignment principles and develop technique to avoid injury.
- Have an experience that will provide you lifelong inspiration and context to teach yoga.
- Nourish yourself with restorative yoga techniques, yoga nidra and sound healing.
- Create a practice that moves beyond a mere physical experience to make it relevant to real life.
- Experience an intuitive dynamic practice inspired by Ashtanga and BKS Iyengar traditions
Yoga Philosophy on the Road
- What makes this Nepal TTC unique is the ‘Philosophy on the Road’ module where you study yoga philosophy in situ; on location in Nepal.
- You will feel supported in your practice by monks, priests, sadhus, and visit sacred sites where ancient yogic traditions are still alive.
- Learn how to integrate yoga philosophy into your teachings and personal practice.
- Hindu, Buddhist and contemporary yogic philosophy are taught in a way that lifts it ‘off the page’ and ‘off the mat’.
- Integrate ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary psychology into a mindful practice.
- Have an overview of ancient yoga thought and the roots of modern postural yoga.
- Discuss current ideas in contemporary yoga like Neo-liberalism, Cultural Appropriation, Post-Colonialism and Gender Issues in Yoga.
- Yoga philosophy is more than an academic lesson; it’s a yogic inquiry relevant to real life.
- We aim to reveal the spiritual path underlying the practice so you can glimpse your true nature – Purusha (pure consciousness).
- Begin a genuine spiritual practice.
These videos were taken at the Gorakshanath ashram at Pashupatinath in Nepal and began a conversation about yoga with the yogis in the Nath sampradaya. Maharaja Ishanath is an Aghori Nath yogi from the Nateswari panth.
Tools of Tantra
- ‘Tools of Tantra’ is an exciting new module that gives you basic skills to develop a spiritual practice.
- You will be taught by traditional techniques by Nath yogis and Buddhist Vajrayana practitioners.
- Study the anatomy of the subtle energy body (Prana, Chakras, Nadis, Bindu)
- Practice early Hatha Yoga techniques of mudras and bandhas
- Study Japa – use a mala and recite mantras
- Spin prayer wheels and walk the kora at Boudhanath
- Study sound vibration and Nada yoga
- Make a mandala and understand the symbolism of these sacred shields
- Learn how to create an altar, do basic puja and use sacred substances
- Understand temple etiquette so you know how to enter sacred spaces and what to do in them
Alignment & Adjustment and Props Clinic
- Applied anatomy for yoga asana
- Learn yoga anatomy and techniques to break down ‘peak poses’ so you can teach ‘workshop style’.
- Learn how to teach yoga safely and for all levels of practitioners and different body types.
- Make yoga accessible.
- Understand basic anatomy and safe alignment so you can prevent injuries in your students and yourself. Develop fresh eyes to see a yoga body.
- Get hands-on experience with adjustments and props, to prepare you for working with all body types.
- Learn how to use props and modifications to make yoga accessible to everyone.
- Be sensitive to issues of consent and trauma-informed yoga.
- Learn basic teaching points essential to each asana.
- Learn to guide the student’s physical body and breath to provide stability and equanimity in the pose.
- Study the Vinyasa of Touch to release patterns of emotional holding in the body.
Refine Your Teaching Skills
- One of the key issues teaching yoga is burnout. Immerse yourself in a supportive space to develop new ideas and rejuvenate your teaching style.
- Make your demonstrations effective and understood by students.
- Give clear instructions and refine your verbal cues to communicate effectively.
- Refine your teaching skills with daily meditation, pranayama, and dynamic asana practice inspired by Ashtanga and Iyengar traditions
- Learn how to teach restorative yoga to nourish the body and reduce anxiety.
- Explore the ‘inner/outer’ techniques of yoga, to reveal the spiritual path underlying the practice.
- Learn how to integrate yoga philosophy into your sequences and asana classes.
- Practice teaching in small groups to develop thematic classes and workshops.
- Learn how the teach privately and for public classes, workshops and retreats.
- Learn how to design a class that is accessible, sustainable and transformational.
Sequence Yoga Asana
- Study safe alignment and actions in the poses, so you understand how to sequence Vinyasa Flow in a coherent and logical way.
- Build movement vocabularies and learn to sequence Vinyasa Flow as a seamless ‘moving meditation’.
- Rather than memorise someone else’s Hatha or Vinyasa sequence, we want you have the knowledge and confidence to make up your own.
- Work in groups and individually to create your own sequences.
Business of Yoga
- Create content for a website – text and photos around the monastery and sacred sites.
- Learn about social media skills and how to position yourself in the competitive world of yoga.
- Discussions about core values to help clarify your message and who you are as a teacher.
- Manifest how you see yourself teaching yoga in the future.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
- Yoga is an ancient science that uses the body and breath to penetrate the mind and liberate us from suffering. Yoga is the path to enlightenment – Moksha.
- While there are many different authentic paths of Hatha yoga, we believe that they merge into ONE essential teaching that uses the body and the breath to liberate ourselves from suffering.
- Asana gives you freedom physically from illness and disease.
- Pranayama frees you from your regular breath and makes the pranic body vibrant and subtle.
- Meditation prepares an unstable and distracted mind for the inner limbs of yoga.
- We aim to give you the highest skills possible to teach and reveal the spiritual path underlying the practice so you can glimpse your true nature – Purusha (pure consciousness.)
- We want you to live the yogic reality – and to take the practice off the mat, integrate the knowledge into your life and share it with others.
- Deciding to teach yoga should not be a career move. It should be a sincere calling deep within your heart. Yoga Teacher Training is an investment in the future. Being an inspired and excellent teacher involves much more than getting a certificate. It requires dedication, discipline and years of continuous practice. You must also have a true desire to serve others in order to communicate to your students the true essence of yoga. Establishing yourself as a teacher is a journey of many steps: start your journey here and become the teacher or practitioner you aspire to be.
THE VENUE
Stay in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Pharping, one of the most sacred pilgrimage valleys in Nepal. Gorakshanath and Padmasambhava attained enlightenment here. The monastery is perfectly situated in a peaceful valley where we can visit sacred temples and caves, as well as experience rural Nepali life. Wake up each day from a dream and slip on to your meditation seat, while the sun rises over the mountains and monks chant puja. Learn how to use a mala, chant mantras, spin prayer wheels, walk the kora and have puja. This is the perfect place to practice yoga. Nepal is an ancient land of living tantra. We’ll spend five days on the road to visit sacred sites of Boudhanath, Pashupati and Patan.
An immersion style TTC gives you the space to study yoga away from the distractions and responsibilities of regular life. The monastery is designed in the shape of a mandala and is surrounded by old forests and rice paddies. Neydo Hotel is part of the monastery and our presence there helps to finance the monks education. The guest rooms are comfortable with ensuite bathrooms and solar hot water. The staff are friendly and the food is delicious. It’s the ideal environment where you will be surrounded by people who have devoted their lives to spiritual practice and all your needs are taken care of, so you can focus on your own inner journey, have a transformative experience and take your practice to the next level.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
If you're looking for a Yoga Teacher Training, DO THIS COURSE.
If you’re looking for a Yoga Teacher Training, or way to deepen your practice, DO THIS COURSE. It will be the best investment you ever made because you are creating the foundation of your life’s spiritual work and practice, and you need a teacher for that, there is no better way. – Paula Cáceres
"The course content was deep and complete"
“I learned so much during this TTC! The course design was extremely clever and logical. The content was deep and complete. I’m so happy to know how to teach asana to almost everybody, thanks to asana variations, props and restorative. The real contact with deities and local devotion gave extra flavour and depth to the philosophy teaching. I couldn’t have dreamt for a more appropriate venue, which was comfortable and part of the monastery, which reminded us every second that yoga is spiritual. The way this TTC is promoted on the website is a perfect mirror of reality. The expectations of the teachers were high and their dedication to make us reach this level was incredible. As a result, I feel now super confident and ready to teach. I will definitely recommend this TTC to all those who want to be quality teachers able to share a deep and authentic yoga.” – Veronique Hanoteau
"Heather was always present, encouraging and dedicated"
“It was amazing how skilfully Elton was able to tailor the course responding to the individual needs of the students. Heather was always present, encouraging and dedicated to imparting not only asana techniques but, more importantly, the philosophy of yoga and how to bring yoga off the mat. Her team (Emil and Andrew) were both great and displayed a deep insight of philosophy and anatomy. I could have not asked for anything better! I would also like to mention that the course location in a beautiful Tibetan monastery was an important plus. Highly recommend this school.” – Raffaella Resta Diana
"The most serene, peaceful and supportive venue"
“The Nepal TTC deepened my knowledge of my body, the yoga asana practice, introduced an in-depth history of yoga allowing me to connect with traditional practices, on and off the mat. The Buddhist monastery is the most serene, peaceful and supportive venue. Thank you Heather for inspiring me to see a world beyond my limitations. You provided an experience that I will never forget. I’m truly grateful that I can walk away with more knowledge, understanding and growth than I could have imagined from a yoga TTC. I recommend the TTC to people who are ready to embark on a new path, personal and professional, with deep spiritual growth and the willingness to let go of old habits.” – Brittany Kimmet
"I can’t recommend a Yoga TT of this caliber enough!"
“This Yoga Teacher Training went above and beyond my expectations. Every morning I found myself completely undone by the experiences; sharing meditative space with monks, journeying to sacred sites, conversing with Rinpoches, communing with Nath & Aghori yogis, and being on the pulse of true tantra in Nepal. By the end, I was in awe of how much information I had absorbed and felt wholly ready to share the precious gift of yoga with others. I can’t recommend a Yoga Teacher Training of this caliber enough!” – Kat Owens
"Truly unique and deeply impactful"
“The Nepal TTC is unique in that it integrates yoga philosophy with the physical practice. The Buddhist monastery invited a space for spiritual growth. Gifting us with the opportunity to meet Nath Yogis, and have an introduction into Yoga Philosophy on a ‘hands-on’ level, was truly unique and deeply impactful. The high quality of teachers encouraged us students to raise our bar and challenged us to meet the standards that we were taught in. I would recommend this TTC to people who are open and ready to embark on a journey of self-exploration and who define their yoga path beyond the realms of the physical practice of asanas. Pre-course reading materials are exceptionally well organised and informative. The TTC Manual is outstanding. I will keep it for life. Highlights: The experiences on the road; Living in a monastery; Meditating with monks; The precision of the asana teacher training (in particular alignment, sequencing, and adjustments); The opportunity to have a glimpse into different types of yoga classes (restorative, pregnancy yoga, having a class at pranayama studio); The food.” – Sarah Subaey
"Bringing us deep; You held a space for all of us"
“Main strong point (besides the wealth of knowledge!): Bringing us deep. Not afraid of whatever emotion might come up. Thank you very much for that. I cannot imagine many teachers who I would have dared to go in the trauma of my lower back by exploring backbends. You held a space for all of us. This created a group where we all could be and with no “black sheep.” Knowing a lot about group dynamics I see that this was mainly your doing; it’s the teacher who creates the group. I recommend this TTC if: You’re looking for a journey inwards and confrontation with self; Love precise alignment and eager to learn about props; Love for finding your own yoga voice; Curiosity to explore spiritual richness of Nepal.” – Houkje Berger
"Very interesting, fun, hard, new and amazing experience"
“The TTC has been a very interesting, fun, hard, new and amazing experience for me. I have learned so much about yoga, philosophy but also about myself. I feel that this experience has opened me up to new ideas and beliefs. I realise that there is so much more to learn, and that this is just the beginning of my journey. I really enjoyed the asana training and the sequences were great. The instruction was clear and very helpful. I learned a great deal about alignment and a safe practice of yoga. All the information about alignment and anatomy was practical and I’ll be able to apply it in future classes.” – Marian van Sprakelaar
YOUR INVESTMENT
Prerequisites
To be accepted on the training, you need to have a completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course. We need to make sure that you have the necessary physical stamina and mental discipline, but also to be embodied in asana practice. You should have a dedicated asana practice and true desire to begin a genuine spiritual practice.
Immersion-style training in Nepal can easily take you out of your comfort zone. You will live in an intimate setting with total strangers. You’ll share a room. You’ll be totally immersed in yoga practice (pranayama/meditation/asana, philosophy, anatomy & physiology, as well as the business of yoga and practical teaching) for 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for close to a month. It can be intense on a physical and emotional level. There will be good days and vulnerable days and we will help you find equanimity in the process.
You will emerge having a taste of what it means to be a yogi.
Dates
The dates for the Yoga Teacher Training in Nepal are:
1 Sept – 5 October, 2023
Price
$5,550 USD
Early Bird: $4,900 by 17 May 2023
Includes yoga tuition + 2 vegetarian meals a day + twin share accommodation. Single supplement is $650 USD.
(Payment plans are possible on request.)
Sample daily timetable
- 6:00 – 7:15 – Pranayama and meditation
- 7:30 – 10.00 – Asana technique
- 10:00 – 12:00 – Brunch
- 12:00 – 14:00 – Philosophy
- 14:00 – 15:00 – Break
- 15:00 – 18:00 – Yoga clinic
- 18:00 – 19:30 – Dinner
- 19:30 – 21:00 – Evening program (Films, Satsang, Readings or Yoga Nidra)
Note: This is a sample schedule and may change slightly due to festival holidays and the interests of the course. Sundays are free time.
A P P L Y N O W
Step 1: Fill in the application form below. Please read the instructions carefully.
Step 2: Each application will be read in detail, with applicants assessed individually. Successful applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance.
Step 3: Pay the non-refundable deposit of $750 USD to secure your place.
Step 4: Pay before 15 July 2021 and save $650 USD. The balance of the course fee is due by 15 September 2021.