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200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Surrey
at Akram Yoga - where Science meets Tradition
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Akram Yoga’s 200-hour course is a Yoga Alliance Professionals accredited, in-person teacher training in Addlestone, Surrey. It runs one weekend per month over 10 months and costs £3,400, including full studio membership, two online courses, lifetime course materials, mentoring and our Teach-Ready Guarantee.
↓ Find out more. ↓
Dear Yogi,
Last year, a woman called Michelle sat in my studio after class and said something I've heard hundreds of times:
"I think about teaching yoga every single day. But I look at my teacher and think... I could never be THAT. I'm not flexible enough. I'm not calm or creative enough. I still can't handstand. Who am I to stand at the front of a room?"
She'd been practising for 6 years. Yoga had changed her life - helped her through anxiety, back pain, a divorce. She knew she had something to share.
But every time she thought about teacher training, the same voice kicked in:
"You're not the yoga teacher type."
Sound familiar?
Here's what nobody tells you:
The best yoga teachers aren't the most flexible people in the room. They're the ones who understand what it feels like to struggle - and can guide someone through it.
If you have tight hamstrings? They're not a weakness. They're your superpower. Because when a stiff, nervous beginner walks into your class for the first time, YOU'LL know exactly how they feel. The "perfect" yoga teacher won't have a clue.
The truth is: yoga doesn't need more bendy people at the front of the room. It needs more real ones.
The Problem With Most Teacher Trainings:
They're built for people who already look like yoga teachers.
Fancy poses on the brochure. Intimidating group photos of people in handstands. The unspoken message: you need to already be "enough" before you walk through the door.
That's backwards.
A good teacher training shouldn't require you to arrive as a finished product. It should meet you exactly where you are - tight hips, self-doubt, and all - and build you into someone who teaches from understanding, not performance.
That's exactly why I built this one differently.
I'm Zahir Akram, an exercise physiologist and founder of Akram Yoga, named OM Yoga Studio of the Year in 2024. I can still struggle in poses after all these years.
I have had a bad back since I was in a car crash at 17. As a result, I have the "worst" backbends of any yoga teacher you'll ever meet. And honestly? That's made me a better teacher than any flexibility ever could - because I've had to truly understand why things work, not just demonstrate them. It's made people see me as one of them and I have helped hundreds of others because of my own struggle (and I wouldn't change a thing).
I've trained hundreds of teachers since 2013, and here's what I know: the people who make the best yoga teachers aren't the ones who arrived "ready." They're the ones who arrived honest and ready to work.
This 200-Hour Training Is Built Around Three Things:
🟤 1. Understanding, Not Performing - You'll learn anatomy in a way that actually makes sense, so you teach from knowledge, not memorised cues you don't fully understand.
🟠 2. Your Story Is Your Strength - We'll help you find YOUR voice and YOUR reason to teach, not turn you into a copy of someone else. The world doesn't need another generic yoga teacher. It needs you.
🟡 3. Real Confidence, Built Slowly - This isn't a fast-track weekend certification. Over 10 months, in person, you'll build the kind of deep confidence that doesn't shake when a student asks "why?"
Real Results: (see more video reviews & graduation video below 👇🏽)
That's me at our earliest Teacher Training. We have been helping people become Yoga teachers (of all abilities, shapes & sizes) since 2013
Yoga teachers don't need to be bendy. They need to be present and to listen to their students.
What our students say about this course -
"Zahir & his team are amazingly responsive, understanding, helpful, considerate & KIND".
- Zoe ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"It's been one of the BEST things I have EVER done 🫶🏽"
- Charlotte ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I would recommend this course to anyone. It's brilliant".
- Robbie ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I've done three teacher trainings with Akram and I would do another. Definitely".
- Emma ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"This course had really REALLY changed my life".
- Sam ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I've learnt SO MUCH from Zahir. It's science made easy.
- Nic ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"If you are thinking of doing this course, do NOT hesitate".
- Sonia ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"It really will be the most rewarding journey you EVER embark on" - Maria ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Graduation Video
Meet the Faculty
You won’t just be taught. You’ll be mentored by a faculty who live and breathe yoga - blending science, tradition, and teaching experience to guide you every step of the way.
THE ORACLE -
Laura Akram
Laura is an advanced yoga teacher and a qualified Yoga Therapist, with deep roots in both physical practice and education. Her standout passion is exploring the nervous system and helping others understand the subtle magic that happens behind the scenes in yoga. She believes that even a basic grasp of these inner workings can transform how we experience the practice.
Students often refer to Laura as the “Oracle” not only because of her depth of knowledge, but also because of her nurturing, grounded presence. She brings a rich tapestry of yoga wisdom and is known for the kind of guidance that makes everyone feel seen, safe, and inspired.
Many current trainees affectionately call her “the mother of the group” for her care, compassion, and unshakable belief in her students.
THE WISE OWL -
Paul Allen
With over 20 years of experience, Paul has studied a wide range of styles - from Ashtanga and Iyengar to Jivamukti, Baptiste, and Yin Yoga. His journey has led him to blend elements of all these traditions into a powerful, practical teaching style.
Paul is known as “the wise owl” of the team, and a true mentor to many. During the course, he co-leads the in-person practice labs and helps guide trainees through our signature 84-pose manual. His focus is on helping you understand why a pose works not just how to do it.
Paul’s yoga mantra is:
“Listen to the body, practice accordingly, and then pass on the magic.” ✨
THE GUIDE -
Zahir Akram
Zahir has been teaching for nearly 25 years and brings a unique fusion of ancient yoga philosophy and modern science to the course. He has a gift for making complex ideas feel simple and grounded that help students feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
In 2024, Akram Yoga was named OM Yoga Studio of the Year. Zahir is also the author of Yoga: Madness or Meditation? — a course reading-list title — and has previously been named one of the Top 10 Male Yoga Teachers to Know About.
Zahir’s teaching is curious, inclusive, and grounded in real-world experience. Whether he’s sharing biomechanics, philosophy, or parenting metaphors, his goal is always the same: to help you become a teacher who leads with both clarity and compassion.
OCTOBER 2026 COHORT: FULL
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
How much does a 200-hour yoga teacher training cost?
DEPOSIT OPTION
£400
Once the next intake opens and your application has been accepted, a £400 deposit will secure your place.
No payment is required when registering your interest.
FULL COURSE FEE
£3400
The full course fee is £3,400. Accepted applicants can pay a £400 deposit or pay in full.
A pre-course planning call with Zahir before the training begins
One weekend per month over 10 months, in person at Akram Yoga Studio, Addlestone
WHAT'S INCLUDED WHEN YOU ENROL
Begin preparing before the training starts
Once your place is confirmed, you’ll receive access to our two best-selling online courses so you can begin preparing before the first weekend.
🧘 The Art of Teaching, Sequencing & Structuring (worth £299)
🧠 The Science of Breathing (worth £199)
Both courses, worth £498, are included in the £3,400 course fee.
Life Happens -Here's What Happens If You Miss a Weekend
You've got a job, maybe a family, definitely a life outside this training. So if a weekend clashes with something you can't move (a work deadline, a sick kid, a flight you booked months ago) you won't lose your place.
Catch up on anything you miss through the course materials and one-to-one support, and as long as you hit the 90% attendance needed for certification, you're still on track. Need more than that? Pick up any missed section with a future cohort, free - no penalty, no starting over.
The truth is, life doesn't pause for 10 months just because you signed up. This training was built knowing that - so one bad week doesn't cost you your qualification.
Ready to take the next step? Register your interest for the next 200-hour intake.
Register your interest and receive the next intake details.
Start reading Zahi's Blogs & our YouTube Videos today!