.png)
SYLLABUS / PROSPECTUS
-
INCLUDING DATES AND MODULE INFORMATION
JAN 2017
Course Objective and Outcome
This advanced training is designed for qualified yoga teachers who are ready to deepen their understanding of yoga beyond the foundations of their initial training. The course combines in-person studio sessions with online learning, allowing students to build the full 300 hours through a blend of active participation, self-study and reflective practice 💡.
Upon completion, successful students will have developed a sophisticated understanding of yoga that integrates classical tradition with modern science. They will feel confident teaching a wider range of students, including those with more complex needs, and will know how to construct sequences and select poses with greater intention and clarity 🧠. They will also have explored the philosophical roots of the practice, the science behind breathing, the realities of teaching back pain and the practicalities of building a sustainable yoga business beyond the studio timetable.
The training is delivered through studio-based teaching alongside online courses, with short reflective essays and assignments completed in students' own time to consolidate learning. As students are already qualified teachers, there is no final assessment. Instead, progression is measured through the thoughtful completion of essays and assignments throughout the training. A certificate of completion is awarded once all coursework has been finished.
Above all, this course is about evolving as a teacher. It is for those who want to move beyond simply delivering classes and step into a more considered, confident and curious relationship with their craft, one that will continue to grow long after the training itself has ended.
FULLL WEEKEND DATES
Weekend 1
Sat 30th JAN 2027
Sunday 31st JAN 2027
-
Weekend 2
Sat 20th FEB 2027
Sunday 21st FEB 2027
-
Weekend 3
Sat 13th MARCH 2027
Sun 14th MARCH 2027
-
Weekend 4
Sat 10th APRIL 2027
Sunday 11th APRIL 2027
-
Weekend 5
Sat 8th MAY 2027
Sunday 9th MAY 2027
-
Weekend 6
Sat - 12th JUNE 2027
Sun - 13th JUNE 2027
Weekend 7
Sat 3rd JULY 2027
Sunday 4th JULY 2027
-
Weekend 8
Sat 17th JULY 2027
Sunday 18th JULY 2027
-
Weekend 9
Sat - 11th SEPT 2027
Sun - 12th SEPT 2027
-
Weekend 10
Sat - 2nd OCT 2027
Sun - 3rd OCT 2027
8.30am-3pm on both days.
_edited.png)
Manuals & pre-reading
At the start of the course, each student will receive three comprehensive manuals via pdf (a culmination of a lifetime’s work) that will guide and support their learning journey.
Alongside this, FULL & FREE access will be give to the online version of the course.
For pre-reading, students are encouraged to explore Zahir's blogs as extensively as possible. These writings are specifically tailored for teacher trainees and will provide a solid foundation, greatly enhancing your understanding before the course begins.
A Word from Our Owner, Zahir
Although yoga is often associated with flexibility, I want students to leave with the understanding that the poses represent only a small percentage of what yoga truly encompasses. More importantly, I don't just want to tell you what yoga is. I want you to gain an organic understanding of why it is such a transformative and magical practice. My hope is that you leave this course with the confidence to know that the most yogic thing you can ever do is simply be yourself. Embrace who you are, with all your flaws and insecurities, and have faith in your authentic self. If you walk away with this realisation, we will have fulfilled our roles as teachers.
ADVANCED TRAINING MODULE GUIDE
Module 1 - Yoga Philosophy ✨
Most teacher trainings give you a small slice of yoga philosophy. This module gives you the rest. We trace yoga all the way back to its earliest roots, through the Tantric traditions, Kashmir Shaivism and the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, the text that holds 112 meditative techniques that predate almost everything you've been taught.
You will explore Devi, the feminine principle that sits at the heart of so much of this tradition, and look at how modern neuroscience 🧠 is now catching up with what these texts described centuries ago.
This module is about widening the lens. By the end of it, the philosophy you teach in your classes will come from a much deeper, much richer place.
Module 2 - Science, The Brain 🧠 & The Body
If anatomy is the architecture, this is the wiring. We explore the brain in detail, looking at neuroanatomy, neuroplasticity and the work of V.S. Ramachandran, whose research changed how we understand the brain's ability to rewire itself.
From there we move into the nervous system, including the autonomic, somatic, sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, before zooming in on the human cell, cellular health, and the role of cortisol in everyday life.
This is the module that gives you the language and the understanding to explain why yoga works, not just what it does.
Module 3 - Stress: The Science Behind The Mat
Almost every student who walks into your class is carrying some form of stress. This module gives you a complete understanding of what is actually happening inside the body and brain when stress takes hold.
We work through the HPA axis, the foundational research of Hans Selye and the General Adaptation Syndrome, and the work of Robert Sapolsky, including his classic book Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.
We also explore the link between stress, anxiety and depression, the physiological sigh, and what the latest research says about stretching, GTOs and muscle spindles, including how long you should actually hold a stretch for.
By the end you will see stress not as something to fight, but as something to understand and work with.
Module 4 - The Respiratory System
Breathing is the most misunderstood part of yoga, and the most powerful when done well. This module starts at the very beginning, with oxygen, the lungs, the circulatory system and the diaphragm, before moving into the science of breathing itself.
We look at whether you are a belly breather or a chest breather, how to breathe in yoga, how the breath changes in backbends, and the research behind it all.
The module finishes with a practical exploration of breathing techniques you can use in your own teaching 😮💨.
Module 5 - Injuries 💊
Most yoga teachers are told that yoga heals, and rarely told that it can also harm. This module looks honestly at both sides.
We work through the different types of injuries, the specific injuries that show up in yoga practice, the research and systematic reviews that have studied them, and what the data actually tells us. Understanding this is what allows you to keep your students safe and teach with real confidence, not assumed confidence.
Module 6 - Back Pain 💥
Back pain is one of the most common things your students will bring to you, and one of the most misunderstood. This module is a deep dive into the spine, the muscles that support it, and the real causes of back pain.
We explore the different types of back pain, the movements of the spine, why some people backbend more easily than others, and the work of Dr Stuart McGill, whose research on low back disorders has reshaped how we understand spinal health. We look at the myths around back flexibility and what normal back function actually looks like.
This is the module that will change the way you sequence, cue and teach for anyone with a back, which is everyone.
Module 7 - Anatomy Trains 🚂
If you have ever wondered why a tight hamstring can show up as a sore neck, this module is for you. We explore the myofascial meridians described by Thomas Myers, the science of biotensegrity and how the body works as one connected web rather than a collection of separate parts.
You will learn to recognise the anatomy trains in the poses you already teach, which opens up a completely new way of sequencing and adjusting your students.
Module 8 - The Yoga Sutras & Meditation 🧘🏽♀️
A return to one of yoga's foundational texts, with the depth it deserves. We work through the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, including Purusha and Prakriti, the path of union, and the five modifications of the mind.
From there the module moves into a thorough exploration of meditation itself, including its history, its effects, how to actually meditate, and the increasingly important conversation around the negative side of meditation that most trainings ignore entirely.
Module 9 - The Bhagavad Gita
A text that has shaped Eastern philosophy for thousands of years, the Bhagavad Gita is essential reading for any serious yoga teacher. This module opens with a preface, sets the scene of the battlefield, and introduces the characters, including the question that sits at the heart of the text, peace or war.
We then move into Krishna himself, his philosophy, the Gita of Krishna, and the concept of Lila, the cosmic play. By the end you will have the kind of grounding in the Gita that most teachers spend years trying to piece together on their own.
Module 10 - Yin & Bikram
Two styles that sit at opposite ends of the yoga spectrum, and both worth understanding properly. We begin with Yin, exploring its history, its physical benefits, the key poses and the science behind it, before working through a 75 minute and a 2 hour Yin sequence you can use in your own teaching.
We then move into Bikram, looking at the sequence itself, its history, and the research on Bikram and heated yoga, including randomised controlled trials and acute effect studies.
By the end of this module you will understand not just how to teach these styles, but when and why they work.
Module 11 - The Business of Yoga
You can teach the best class in the world, but if you cannot fill it, run it, or make it pay, the love for what you do will eventually fade. This is the module most teacher trainings refuse to teach.
We look at the realities of running a small yoga business, from pricing your classes and workshops to building income that doesn't rely on teaching every hour of the week. We explore the difference between trading time for money and building something that grows beyond your physical presence in the room.
You will leave with a clearer idea of how to make a career out of yoga, not just a hobby with a side income.
Module 12 - Building A Brand As A Yoga Teacher
In a market full of yoga teachers, the ones who thrive are the ones who know who they are, who they serve, and how to communicate that clearly. This module is about positioning yourself in a way that feels honest rather than performative.
We work through how to find your niche without losing your soul, how to write about what you do in a way that actually sounds like you, and how to think about your online presence as an extension of your teaching rather than a separate job.
By the end you will have a much clearer sense of how to show up as a teacher, both inside the studio and out of it.
Module 13 - Teaching The Vulnerable Student
Our students have never been more vulnerable. Anxiety, chronic pain, perimenopause, postnatal recovery, grief, long-term illness, your classes are full of people carrying these things whether they tell you or not.
This module gives you the framework to teach with awareness when the person in front of you is dealing with something more than tight hips. We look at trauma-informed language, how to adapt sequences without singling anyone out, when to refer on to a healthcare professional, and where the boundaries of your role as a teacher actually sit.
This is not about turning you into a therapist. It is about making sure that the room you build is one where vulnerable people feel safe enough to keep coming back.
Module 14 - Advancing In The Poses
Let's be honest. Yoga isn't about how deep you can backbend or whether you can hold a handstand, and you already know that. But part of you still wants to keep growing as a practitioner, and there is nothing wrong with that.
This module looks at the deeper poses, arm balances, inversions, deeper backbends and the more demanding hip openers, exploring the anatomy, the preparation and the small details that separate forcing a pose from actually arriving in it. We also look at how to teach these poses safely to students who are ready, and how to recognise when a student is not.
Because the goal isn't to chase the shape, it's to understand what the shape is asking of the body and the mind.
Online Learning
Each module of the course is also studied at your own pace using our comprehensive online platform (at no extra charge). You’ll have unlimited access to all course content, including in-depth module videos, interactive quizzes, and a wide range of resources designed to help consolidate your learning and deepen your understanding of the material.
Access will be available from the very start of the course, giving you the flexibility to tailor your learning schedule to your personal needs and commitments.
One of the greatest advantages of this online course is that it’s yours to access for life. This means that whenever you need a refresher or want to revisit any content, you can easily go back to relevant modules. This lifelong access ensures that your learning journey doesn’t end when the course finishes, but continues to support your growth and development as a yoga teacher for years to come.
about us
Since 2013, we have taken immense pride in training yoga teachers. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of guiding people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and all walks of life. Many have shared with us that completing our training was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. And while not everyone goes on to teach, countless participants have found the experience transformative. They’ve discovered renewed faith in themselves, forged lifelong friendships, and rediscovered their unique path in life.
This course is about so much more than becoming a yoga teacher—it’s about discovering who you truly are. We are passionate about helping people on this journey of self-discovery, and that’s why we absolutely love what we do.
zahir akram
Attendance
Trainees are required to attend at least 90% of the course. If any in-person sessions are missed, it is essential to catch up on the content using the accompanying online course. Akram Yoga reserves the right to charge additional fees for any in-person catch-up sessions.
Accreditation
Our training school has met the rigorous standards set by Yoga Alliance Professionals UK, ensuring that this course is of the highest quality. Graduates will be eligible to use the title ‘Advanced Yoga Teacher'.
Questions
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We understand what a significant commitment this course is, and we’re here to support you in any way we can.
We want to ensure it feels right for you, and sometimes it helps to talk through any concerns you may have. Feel free to contact us at info@akramyoga.co.uk—we’d love to hear from you.
REVIEWS
.png)
more about the modules
We study anatomy on our teacher trainings not to become experts or to impress with our knowledge, but because, fundamentally, learning anatomy is a deeply yogic practice ⭐️
Understanding anatomy shifts our focus inward, to the remarkable inner machinery of the human body. It fosters an appreciation for the body's complex mechanisms 😯. While it certainly aids in guiding students, the true enchantment of studying anatomy lies in its ability to redirect our attention from external events to the messages our bodies convey from within.
Yoga at its core is a deeply personal practice ✨☀️🌑
Zahir Akram
Over the years, as we’ve grown and evolved as yoga teachers, our teacher training has transformed along with us. It’s almost unrecognizable from the very first training we offered over a decade ago. We continually strive to improve, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see some of our trainees now among the most popular teachers in Surrey. While we don’t take all the credit, we take pride in how we encourage people to be themselves.
After all, as Rumi said, ‘Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.’ Be yourself, and people will love you for it."
Zahir Akram
