Entry Requirements: 5 GCSEs at A-C or equivalent are recommended, but not required; have been practicing yoga for at least a year - more experience than this is desirable and will strengthen your application; a certificate in First Aid (this will be offered as a stand alone day during the course). You will need a computer and access to the internet as some assignments will be done online.

Free Introductory Day to the course on Saturday 19th July 2008 at the Pilates Studio, Taunton. 10am - 4pm. This day is for those who wish to find out more about the course and see how Paul works. Includes practice, initial assessments and an exploration of the teaching role. IMPORTANT: You do not need to wait for the Introductory Day to apply for a place on the course. Those who submit applications will be interviewed over the telephone and places will be offered on a first come first served basis until the course if full. Those offered a place will be required to pay a £100 non-returnable deposit to secure their place.

Click on links below for more information.

ITEC guidance notes for candidates
Course venue
Course fees
Application form
Testimonials

There is also further information about this course on the main ITEC website. Click here for the home page, click here for the link to the Diploma in Yoga Teaching at ITEC World. If you have any more questions please email Paul at: paulfoxashtanga @ hotmail.com or telephone 01643 702827 or 077824 13146

Although this course will cover the theory and philosophy of yoga, its main focus will be practical not esoteric. Yoga is an individual process which happens on the mat, and is facilitated by the teacher. You cannot teach people "yoga", but you can lead them through practices that give them their own individual experience of yoga which is powerful and transformational. On this course we will take an inter-disciplinary approach, examining how all the major traditions of hatha yoga approach the process of teaching, including Ashtanga to Iyengar, Sivananda, and Viniyoga.

How do I pass the course?
The 250 Guided Learning Hours include 175 hours of direct tuition, plus home study. To pass the Yoga Teaching, Anatomy and Physiology and Professional Conduct parts of the course you will sit three multiple choice exams. It is possible to retake these exams in the event that you do not achieve a pass mark. In addition to pass the Yoga Teaching part of the course you will additionally complete the following assessed work for which you will be fully prepared for during the course:-

\ Demonstrate that you can competently interview a yoga student and take their medical history and details of their lifestyle and fitness in order to have the information necessary to teach them yoga safely.
\Teach a yoga class showing competence and care for student safety.
\Ten case studies, where you will teach each student twice and write up your experiences.
\Produce Course Plans, Schemes of Work and sample lesson plans for different groups of students, totalling what would be 50 hours of teaching.
\Show awareness of the need for personal hygiene.

"I entered the course with a lack of confidence in my ability, but we have all supported each other and I have started teaching and learning from this experience, as well as learning more about yoga from my tutor who has an excellent way of putting things across and making you understand. It's been one big learning curve!"

Yoga is a wonderful counterbalance to the busy lifestyle and information overload of modern life. It works physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically. Being a yoga teacher is a rewarding career to embark upon.

Choosing the right course for you
There are many yoga teacher training courses on offer. You should bear in mind a couple of things when making your choice.
1. Do you feel drawn to the way the course is structured, the tutor and the course content?
2. Will your qualification stand the test of time? 

The ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Yoga Teaching is recognised by the Sector Skills Council, Skillsactive, the Register of Exercise Professionals and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Full accreditation like this means that your diploma will be recognised by the government, local education authorities, private gyms, Sport England and throughout the European Union. Other yoga teacher training courses - like those accredited by Yoga Alliance - may have excellent content and teaching but their qualification is not recognised by any official body in the UK and that would restrict you to running private classes only. The ITEC Level 3 course is less comprehensive than the British Wheel of Yoga Diploma which I recommend and also teach and which is regarded as being at around Level 4. My next BWY course will take place in September 2009 or January 2010. Level 3 is equivalent to A level; Level 4 is at Foundation Degree level.

Contact Paul: paulfoxashtanga @ hotmail.com
Tel: 01643 702827 or 07782413146