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STARTING JAN 17TH, 2026 · APPLICATIONS CLOSE SOON · 12 SPOTS ONLY
Teach Your First Yoga Class in 10 Months.
Without Being Flexible, Without Quitting Your Job, and Without Feeling 'Ready'
Award-winning | Fully accredited training designed for real people with busy lives | Limited to 12 students | One weekend per month for 10 months.
Award-winning, fully accredited, and designed for real people with busy lives. You don’t need to be bendy or ‘ready.’ You just need to begin. In 10 months, you’ll graduate with the knowledge, confidence, and clarity to teach - and a transformation that lasts a lifetime.
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 - OM Yoga Magazine Teacher of the Year 2024, exercise physiologist, and someone who 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 👇🏽)
Michelle: "I spent 6 years thinking I wasn't 'yoga teacher material.' Turns out, the things I was most insecure about are exactly what make my students trust me."
Dan: "I'm a 48-year-old bloke who can barely sit cross-legged. Zahir made me realise that's not a barrier - it's the whole point."
Aisha: "I cried in month three because I realised I'd been waiting for permission to do this. I didn't need permission. I needed the right training."
This Is For You If:
✓ You love yoga but don't feel like the "yoga teacher type"
✓ You're not the most flexible person in the room (and worry that disqualifies you)
✓ You want to understand WHY yoga works, not just memorise sequences
✓ You want to teach from authenticity, not performance
✓ You've been thinking about this for months (or years) and just need the right environment to finally start
What You'll Get:
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200-hour Yoga Alliance certified training, in person over 10 months
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Anatomy made simple - understand the body without needing a science degree
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Where science meets tradition: how modern physiology and ancient practice work together
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Confidence built through understanding, not pretending
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A teaching voice that's yours - not a script you borrowed from someone else
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The promise: You'll walk out knowing you belong at the front of the room
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.
Not just teachers. A community.
A family. Since 2013.
What our students say about this course -
Sonia Lucas
Sonia Again :)
Victoria
Sam Bailey
Maria Longman
Sonia Lucas
"The team are just next level. Each one of them (Laura, Zahir & Paul) are unique, which makes you feel so comfortable in just being yourself. My heart is so full of gratitude" - Sally, GP & Yoga Teacher
Graduation Video
Scroll down for more reviews ↓
Your Path to Certification in
4 Simple Steps
Each month builds your confidence, step by step. You’ll graduate not only with a certificate, but with a clear voice as a teacher.
Weekend Training
1 weekend per month in-studio
You don’t need to give up your job, family, or social life. Our training is designed for real people with real responsibilities.
One weekend a month gives you the depth of immersion without overwhelming your schedule.
Many of our students are parents, full-time professionals, or balancing busy lives - and they graduate feeling confident, not burnt out.
Here’s Everything You’ll Get
Our Certified Teacher Training Programme - a fully accredited course designed to qualify you to teach yoga with confidence. Our award-winning faculty (scroll down to meet the team) will expertly guide you every step of the way as you work towards achieving your dream.
Expert guidance every step of the way.
Learn directly from our award-winning faculty with over 50 years of combined experience. You won’t be left to figure it out alone - you’ll always have support and mentoring.
Designed to fit real life.
One weekend a month for 10 months means you can balance your training with work, family, and everything else. Most of our graduates started with the same doubts — and still made it work.
Bonus membership + online courses
Worth hundreds, giving you unlimited yoga classes during your training plus access to online CPD courses to expand your learning.
PLUS FREE
FREE YOGA STUDIO MEMBERSHIP - WORTH £899
So you don’t just learn yoga, you live it. Unlimited practice throughout your training.
PLUS - On-site parking on a first-come, first-served basis
GET STARTED TODAY!
Your Investment in Becoming a Yoga Teacher
10-Month Certified Teacher Training: £3,400
One weekend per month + lifetime access to course materials
What's Included:
🟠 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Professionals Certification
🟤 10 Months of In-Person Training with award-winning faculty
🟢 Free Studio Membership During Training (10 months unlimited yoga - normally £899)
⚫️ Bonus Online Course with Lifetime Access:
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Teaching, Structuring & Sequencing (£299 value)
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The Science of Breathing (£199)
🟣 Lifetime Community Access. You're never alone
🔵 All Course Manuals & Materials
🟡 Free Parking at Studio (limited)
DEPOSIT
£400
Pay just the deposit today and pay the remaining amount before the training commences in OCT 2026
Free studio membership and online courses available once the total amount has been paid.
EARLY BIRD OFFER
£3400
£3000.OO WHEN PAID IN FULL BEFORE MAY 2026
KLARNA payments optional
SIGN UP EARLY & START LEARNING TODAY 😃
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Why wait months for the course to begin?
Get instant access to our 2x best-selling online courses the moment you enrol - so you'll already be ahead before day one.
🧘 The Art of Teaching, Sequencing & Structuring (worth £299)
🧠 The Science of Breathing (worth £199)
That's £498 of training. Yours FREE. Starting right now.
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, Zahir was voted Favourite Yoga Teacher by Om Yoga Magazine for his work in teacher training. He’s 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.
Your Concerns, Answered
Maybe you’re worried you’re not bendy enough. Maybe you wonder if you’ll have the time. Maybe you just don’t feel ready. We hear this all the time - and here’s the truth:
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Not Flexible Enough? Yoga isn’t about touching your toes. Teacher training is about understanding the body and guiding others - you’ll learn the science of safe, accessible movement, whatever your starting point.
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Not Enough Time? One weekend a month, plus online modules you can revisit anytime. Designed for busy parents, full-time professionals, and real people with full lives.
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Not Ready Yet? No one ever feels “ready.” That’s why training exists - to guide you from where you are now into the teacher you want to become.
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Worried About Keeping Up? You’ll have lifetime access to online resources and ongoing support from our faculty. You’re never left behind.
"This course doesn't just help you teach yoga, the real magic is in how it helps transform YOU, the student. It's so life-changing, and I never knew the Science could be so simple."
Nick - Business Owner & Busy Dad of three
Hundreds of students have gone from hesitant to empowered - all by taking that leap and trusting their own hearts.
FAQ's
Q: Is this a Hot Yoga qualification?
A: No. This is a comprehensive 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training approved by Yoga Alliance Professionals UK. It’s not limited to hot yoga - you’ll be qualified to teach Hatha, Vinyasa, or a hybrid, in both heated and unheated settings.
Q: Do I need to be flexible or able to headstand?
A: Not at all. This course is about learning to teach yoga - not performing advanced poses. Flexibility is not a requirement. You’ll gain confidence in movement, breath, communication, and supporting others on their journey.
Q: How do I pass the course?
A: The training runs over 10 months to give you time to grow. You’ll complete a short essay, an open-book anatomy quiz, and teach a 40–45 min class. You’ll be fully supported - think steady growth, not pressure.
Q: Where is the training held?
A: At our beautiful bespoke yoga studio (image left) in Addlestone, Surrey.
Q: How much work is required outside the weekend training sessions?
A: This training is designed for real people with full lives, so we keep the outside work manageable and realistic.
Between Weekends: You'll have short homework assignments - things like writing a mock lesson plan or reflecting on a teaching concept. These typically take just a few hours before the next meet-up.
Practice Teaching: We encourage you to practice teaching on friends or family between sessions - but you'll be guided on how to do this safely with us first. Think of it as real-world practice with a safety net.
Your Own Yoga Practice: Keep up your personal practice as much as you can. The more you practice, the more you'll embody what you're learning. But we get it - life happens. Do what you can.
Reading: There's no required pre-reading. Sometimes it's better to arrive with a clean slate. That said, if you want to dive into the philosophy side, reading my book Yoga: Madness or Meditation? will give you helpful context - but it's not essential.
Your Final Teaching Assessment: You won't be thrown into your 40-45 minute final class unprepared. We build towards this each weekend, adding layers of confidence until you're ready. By the time you teach your final assessment, you'll feel prepared, not panicked.
The Online Bonus Courses: These are there as support, not pressure. Think of them as your safety net - available if you need extra help understanding a concept or want to dive deeper. But if you're juggling a lot, you can access them after the course ends (you have lifetime access). They're tools for consolidation, not mandatory assignments.
Bottom line: If you can commit to one weekend a month, a few hours between sessions, and keeping up your own practice, you can absolutely do this training without burning out. We've had busy parents, full-time professionals, and people with demanding lives graduate feeling confident, not overwhelmed.
MEET EMMA
"I’ve trained with Akram Yoga across their 200-Hour Teacher Training, the Advanced 300-Hour, and the Yin Yoga Training. Every course has given me more clarity, confidence, and skills I can actually use in my classes. Zahir and the team don’t just teach yoga - they teach you how to be the teacher you were meant to be."
"It was like seeing yoga through a new lens. My teaching feels more grounded, and my students are responding in a completely different way."
Emma - Ashtanga Teacher and Advanced Yoga Teacher
DOORS CLOSING SOON!!
Zahir's Philosophy ↓
Becoming a yoga teacher is all about staying open - open to new ideas, different interpretations, and deeper self-understanding. This course doesn’t impose a rigid, one-size-fits-all way of doing things. After all, that would be the most un-yogic way to learn! The true Yogic path, if we trace it back to the wisdom of the first yogis, invites us to be willing: willing to explore, with a clear mind and an open heart.
I strive to guide you toward this path, helping you see that knowledge is borrowed. It flows from one teacher to another. But wisdom? Wisdom is different. Wisdom comes from within, from your organic understanding of a concept that aligns with who you are. My goal is to help you develop this kind of wisdom, so your teaching resonates deeply with your authentic self.
This training isn’t about what’s right or wrong. It’s about exploring what we know, interpreting that knowledge thoughtfully, and using it to keep our students safe and to continue growing, both as yoga teachers and human beings.
As Swami Vivekananda said, “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”
Yoga isn’t about searching for absolute truths or hard facts; it’s about finding what feels true and right for you.
zahir akram
ARE YOU READY?
Our Certified Yoga teacher training programme doesn’t just change how you teach, it transforms how you carry yourself in your own practice and in life.
Still Have Questions?
We know committing to a yoga teacher training is a big decision. If you’d like to chat things through, you’re more than welcome to:
📱 WhatsApp us: 07577422132
📩 DM us on Instagram: @akram_yoga
🫱🏻🫲🏾 Meet us at the studio in Addlestone
📧 Email: Zahir@AkramYoga.co.uk
🖥️ Catch up on Zoom - whatever suits you best.
We’re always happy to answer your questions, walk you through the course, or just say hi.
No hard sell - just real conversation.
We also have a ton of free resources on our BLOGS & YouTube Channel if you wish to familiarise yourself with our content.
Our Awards
Muddy Stilettos Awards - Best Yoga Teacher in Surrey - Zahir Akram 2019
Muddy Stilettos Awards - Best Yoga Studio in Surrey 2023
Om Yoga Magazine Nomination - Favorite Yoga Teacher Training 2023
Om Yoga Magazine Winners - Favorite Yoga Studio 2024
Om Yoga Magazine Winner - Favorite Yoga Teacher, Zahir Akram 2024
More on what our Students are saying.....
Vicky Marchington
Erin Dalton
Agi Wieczorek
