The benefits of studying online

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Before the pandemic most of us had never heard of Zoom, but we now seem to have been catapulted into a totally new way of working, learning and living. For some people it still feels alien, and that’s ok, but for many of us the freedom of being able to do so much more online has opened up lots of possibilities we’d never thought of before.

Online learning is one of those possibilities; whilst they have been around for a long time, there have never been so many distance learning courses as there are today. This is largely as a result of us all having to move online in 2020. Zoom (and similar programmes) have enabled us to make our classrooms virtual and therefore take them out to a wider audience, across the globe. So, whilst we may have felt cut off and isolated during the pandemic, paradoxically we have also become more connected in different ways.

Yoga is all about connection, at least it is for me, and I know that nothing beats being in a room with people, feeling, hearing, seeing, touching them. We are sensory animals and we thrive on this stimulation. However, with the best will in the world, it isn’t always possible to get to a training course for so many reasons. These may be logistical, financial, emotional to name a few. The world of online learning has given us more choices and made learning far, far more accessible for so many people. This is something that’s hugely important to me; there are lots of barriers to learning to teach yoga, yet I know how incredibly powerful it is as a practice for so many people.

It’s often the people who might find it difficult to get to a yoga studio to do a teacher training who need the course the most!

If you’re wondering why learning online is such a great option, below are just a few benefits:

  • being able to study from anywhere, including your home

  • fitting learning around your routine

  • feeling safer and more relaxed by in your own space

  • being able to set your own pace of learning, watch things back and go over content

  • courses are often cheaper, and take out cost of travel

Personally, I love learning online from the comfort of my own home, often at my own pace. I’m not great in a classroom as a student (ironically!) and I like to be able to study when I want, which is often in the evenings when my daughter is in bed or during the day when she’s at school. Life is busy and unpredictable, so I like to be able to set my own timetable to an extent, and I’m self motivated enough to be able to stick to it. A bit of support and accountability from a teacher is also really helpful when I need it.

During the pandemic I moved my yoga teacher training course onto Zoom. I also created a lot of online content that my students can access to help support their learning journey through self paced study. I’m really excited to be launching a fully online yoga teacher training course this Autumn, with scholarship places also available. If, like me, you find learning online suits you better, simply follow the link below to find out more.

Why train to teach yoga?

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For those of us who practice yoga regularly, we feel it’s benefits; that’s why we practice. Some of us reach a point where we want to deepen our understanding of yoga, perhaps sharing it with other people so they too can experience all the positives it has to offer. This is where the Yoga Teacher Training comes in.

Training to become a yoga teacher is about more than gaining a qualification or a new career. Yoga is a way of life, and the more we practice it the more we start to realise this. For me personally, I know that what began as a purely physical practice quickly grew into a way to:

  • honour my body

  • cultivate self worth

  • self acceptance

  • balance my nervous system

  • help me to feel connected to myself and the world around me… the list goes on.

Yes I learned how to do some fancy yoga poses, but I discovered, and continue to discover, so much more.

If you’ve reached a point where you, too, are recognising all these other facets of yoga and noticing the positive impact it’s having on your life, the next step may be to join a yoga teacher training course. Plenty of people do the trainings with no intention of teaching, at least not initially. A yoga teacher training gives you time and space to delve deeper into yoga as a whole practice, lifestyle and philosophy, and this is often hugely transformational on a personal level.

One of my recent graduates commented:

‘I don’t know exactly what’s changed for me, but something has’

and many have told me what a life changing experience the course has been.

Personal growth is one of the outcomes of a sustained yoga practice, and the more we learn about it the more we grow. It is also an incredible gift to be able to share with other people, and this is why so many trainees end up teaching yoga even if they had no intention to when they signed up to the course. Yoga is empowering, it’s something you can do on your own, anywhere, without any equipment. It’s accessible to everyone; you can challenge yourself physically with asanas or focus on breathing and meditation (which arguably challenge many of us more!)

Most importantly, yoga works!

Yoga has been well documented to have a powerful effect on our nervous system and mental health as well as improving strength and flexibility. The philosophical element of yoga can help improve people’s self worth, self confidence and feelings of being connected, both to themselves and the world around them. This connection is our yoga.

To be able to share all of this with other people is a privilege but it’s also something that’s much needed. The world needs as much yoga as it can get right now, at least in my opinion! This is why I’ve created two teacher training courses this year.

The in person teacher training is:

  • based in Worthing, West Sussex,

  • gives you the opportunity to learn in person with other students

  • one weekend a month, allowing you to fit the training into your work and family life.

The online teacher training offers:

  • flexibility as you can join us from anywhere!

  • runs one day a week, during school hours and term time only

  • perfect for people, like myself, who are juggling the school run and a busy life!

Whichever option suits you best, there is a course out there for you, whether it’s one of mine or a different school. Taking the plunge can be daunting but I know from seeing so many trainees do it, it is an experience that will not only change your life but the lives of all the people you go on to teach.

Below are some comments from a few more of my graduates:

“A really well paced course, I never once felt under pressure to complete anything. Lovely nurturing , interesting and informative teaching style.”
— Karen Warland
“The course has definitely helped and although i can’t put it in words very easily, I feel a different person after the course than before. ”
— Katrina Perkinson
“The environment that has been created within the course has been amazing! The course is really well set out, I found everything really interesting and liked that we got to practice teaching from the first weekend.”
— Nicola Simmons