Level 1 300 hour yoga teacher training in Cornwall
Our next level 1 300hr yoga teacher training course will begin in February 2024 at our Falmouth studio in Cornwall
Our 2024 level 1 course in Falmouth, Cornwall will run from February 2024 for 10 months (with a break for August). Please see below for more information and dates. Applications are now open, please contact us for more information.
Primarily taught by Keren Cooksey with Amanda Brown (both SYT Yoga Alliance and with combined teacher experience of over 55 years, and teacher training for over a decade), our 300 hour vinyasa course is devoted to excellence, exploration, creativity and community.
We have designed this course for those who want to embark on the journey of becoming a teacher or for existing teachers who want to enhance their skills and delve deeper into the rich world of tantric vinyasa yoga. In addition, each year we evolve the course and you will see below that new components include – cultural appropriation and honouring the roots of yoga, body image and yoga, trauma informed classrooms and teaching online.
Our teacher training program asks you to come on a life changing journey with us into yogic philosophy, to throw yourself passionately into learning sequencing and alignment and to have a whole lot of fun on the way. We promise you that if you put in the effort, we will equip you with a comprehensive set of tools so that you flourish as both an informed practitioner and creative teacher of yoga. This of course takes time, effort, and commitment.
Our training takes place over the course of a year from our Falmouth yoga studio in Cornwall. The full Teacher Training Program comprises 10 weekends, and meets Yoga Alliance’s International requirement for certification at their 300 hour level. The course is suitable for people with at least 2 years regular yoga practice and a proven commitment to further developing their understanding of yoga.
WHAT DO WE COVER?
- What is yoga? the history and science behind this practice
- Asana – correct alignment and how to effectively verbally cue postures for different body types
- Sequencing – safe and creative vinyasa sequencing to teach students of all levels
- Anatomy and embodied yoga
- Restorative yoga and yin yoga – looking at stillness practices and how they compliment our more yang practices
- Yoga for common injuries
- Prenatal – learn how to adapt to allow a pregnant woman into your classes
- Creating a trauma informed classroom
- The roots of yoga and cultural appropriation
- Teaching online via zoom
- Philosophy – Upanishads, Puranas (stories), the Bhagavhad Gita, the Yoga Sutras and tantric philosophy including the real chakra systems beyond the new age rainbow
- Bhakti yoga – learn how to sing, play and lead chants (if you wish!)
- Ayurveda – the sister science of yoga for our health and happiness – Keren is a qualified ayurvedic practitioner
- Meditation – finding the way that works for you and therefore enables you to guide your students
- Pranayama – the yoga of the breath
- Practice teaching- voicing, cueing, confident teaching skills
- The business of yoga – ethics, business tools and creating community
BEYOND GRADUATION
Above all else one of our main aims at FYS has been to create a yoga community here in Cornwall and we are so proud of the friendships and support network we see forming during and after the teacher training.
Keren and Amanda will continue to be on hand to offer advise and guidance at any step of your teaching journey. Keren is still in regular contact with her trainees over in Australia to offer small fry advice on sequencing and playlists or big decision advice on what further training to do or how to open a studio in their home town!
At FYS Keren and Amanda also offer a variety of level 2 training modules allowing you to work your way to becoming a 500 FYS teacher or just to delve deeper for the fun and love of it as they both continue to do themselves.
And beyond graduation you will become part of a private online forum of past trainees with a monthly essay delivered by Keren on the theme for the month which then births discussion, questions, sharing of sequences, playlists and harmonium lessons.
ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS
About Keren
Keren has been teaching for 19 years and has been running teacher training courses for over 8 years both here and in her Brisbane studio, in total she has trained over a 100 teachers and she LOVES IT. Keren feels very fortunate in her own yoga journey to have trained with some of the most inspiring teachers the world over. Keren is a perpetual student and her trainings include:
- 2004 200hr Hatha Yoga training with My Health Yoga in Brisbane
- 2011 200hr Jivamukti and vinyasa with Essence of Living on the Gold Coast
- 2012 200hr Lotus Flow in San Francisco
- 2012 Kundalini with Guru Das in Byron Bay
- 2013 Level 2 100hr Lotus Flow in Bali
- 2017 50hr Ayurveda for Women’s Health in New York
- 2018 50hr Trauma Sensitive Yoga in Boston
- 2018 30hr Yin yoga training in Dublin
- 2018 750hr Ayurvedic practitoner course with Ayurvedic Institute, Croydon
- 2020 30hr yin level 2 training in Belfast
- 2020 40hr Yoga Nidra training
- 2020 25hr Lotus Flow ‘learn to fly’ training
- 2021 Bhakti yoga and harmonium with Sacred Sound Lab
- 2021 100hr Advanced teacher training with Noah Mazé
- 2021 20hr Pranayama teacher training with Cyndi Lee
- 2021 50hr Trauma informed yoga teacher training with Yoga Medicine
- 2021 20hr Yin sequencing with Jo Phee
To read more about Keren and here own style/training/journey please click here.
And please note, while this course is predominately a vinyasa teacher training, Keren will share with you the depth of her teaching from a variety of style including Hatha, Kundalini, Jivamukti and Anusara to ensure you leave the course able to teach any body
About Amanda
Amanda has more than 35 years experience as a yoga and movement teacher. She is a guest teacher, collaborator and supervisor on several UK trainings and runs her own retreats and level 2 courses. Her teaching is informed by her complementary practices of Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy and Compassionate Inquiry (Dr Gabor Mate) but more importantly by the local classes/students that she teaches on an ongoing basis and her creative and evolving practice. She is committed to inclusivity, anti racism and encouraging students to be both curious and compassionate on their learning journeys and to supporting development of a greater awareness of their individual gifts, challenges and unique patterns.She has studied extensively in a range of yoga and movement modalities with excellent teachers around the world. Following 20 years training as an Iyengar teacher she has since gained qualifications in Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Tibetan Yoga, Yoga for Teens, Ayurveda and Somatics and has specialised in Experiential Anatomy, Yoga Therapy For Women of all ages, Embodied Yoga (Principles and Facilitator) Healthy Backs and recovery from injury and trauma. She has explored Body Mind Centring, Continuum and Authentic Movement Practices. Her particular love at the moment is Yoga Nidra as it helps her integrate creative writing and imagery. Having first trained with Total Yoga Nidra she is currently completing an irest training and refreshing anatomy skills with Amy Matthews and Leslie Kaminoff. All practices are underpinned by her Dzogchen view and how marvellous it is to be alive as a being amongst other human and more than human beings.
‘Exploring the territory of the nearby’
groundofbeing.co.ukGUEST TEACHERS
Your guest teachers in 2021 will include:
Jacq St Pierre from Austin Texas – CLICK HERE for more info on Jacq – Teaching creatively and effectively via Zoom
Camille Moses-Allen – CLICK HERE for more information on Camille – Inversions, arm balances and advanced asana
Dia Penning from San Francisco – SEE BELOW – Social Justice and equality in the yoga world
Dia Penning (she, her) is an Inclusion Facilitator, Yin Yoga Instructor, and founder of the Equity Collective. With a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College, she is able to work in a number of different spaces. She has supported a diverse array of clients, from the National Parks Service to various yoga teacher training programs, arts organizations to tech executive coaching. Dia assists clients in investigating limiting assumptions and expanding their ideas of what is possible. Working one on one or in large groups, clients examine blockages in their bodies and minds, parallel them to external structures in interpersonal relationships, accumulated history and policy. They then investigate new possibilities, use the breath and mindful attention to challenge long held habits and create change.
Dia has published three volumes of curricula on structural racism as well as an at home study guide for parents interested in talking to their children about race. Dia is a fellowship graduate of the Network Learning Leadership Lab (Management Assistance Group) and collaborates on a Yoga and Social Justice trainings with Love Light Yoga out of Vancouver, BC and in Jamaica. She has held leadership positions at the City of San Francisco, the City of Chicago, Columbia College and California College of the Arts.
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Our course is assisted by Jo Mary Longman – CLICK HERE to read more about Jo
WHY CHOOSE THIS TRAINING?
What you can expect from this teacher training is a rich, varied, fun, challenging year that will encourage you to look at yoga and yourself in new ways and hopefully will be the start of a journey into yoga that will last a lifetime.
There are a number of wonderful training courses out there both in Cornwall/Devon and beyond and we would be happy to direct you to them should this course not meet your needs.
However, why do we love the course we have developed, why do we think it rocks? Here’s why…
- Proven methodology that has resulted in many well trained, passionate teachers that continue to come back and undertake further studies with us
- Integrity from the course and teachers all of whom are committed to continuing their own training whilst constantly evolving the teacher training course to stay relevant and fresh
- Senior teachers with a combined experience of over 55 years and a great love of all things yoga
- 15 students per intake to ensure a close knit supportive group with individual attention
- YA registered internationally
- Added perks including free access to the on demand class library, free access to Keren’s livestream classes for the duration of your course, access to a private TT video library, an assigned mentor and buddy to support you on this journey, and 10% off any workshops at the studio during your course
- Access to a strong and supportive community of previous trainees providing ongoing mentorship and inspiration
- and so much more…but we don’t like to blow our own trumpets too much…watch this space for a video previous students saying why THEY love the course
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
The first thing we always ask interested students to do is come along to a class with Keren or to do a few classes on her podcast (yogawithkeren) or via the on demand video library to ensure the style of yoga she teaches resonates with you. We want you to love this course as much as we do! From there we ask you to complete the application form. Once received Keren will be in touch to arrange a short interview to complete your application and also to put you in touch with past trainees so you can interview them and get an honest overview of the course from a graduates point of view.
THE NITTY GRITTY STUFF
- The course will be run one weekend per month over 10 months, Fri-Sun
- Weekend hours Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday
- As well as study modules, you will need to complete a certain amount of classes, as well as class observations, class assists and towards the end of the course and practice teaching classes
- There is monthly homework which needs to be handed in on time as part of the accreditation criteria
- The course will include two final exams, one practical and one theory
- The course is accredited with Yoga Alliance International
- Keren and Amanda are registered as a Senior Yoga Teachers with Yoga Alliance having studied well over 2000 hours of training each
- The course costs £2100 early bird (payable by 1st September 2023 in full) or £2300 after that or if choosing a monthly payment plan (£500 non refundable deposit and ten monthly payments)
- The 300 hour course is meant to serve as an introduction to your path as a teacher- continuous study is essential and Keren can recommend further trainings in the UK or overseas as well as offering CPD and level 2 courses in Falmouth
- Successful applicants should be in good health and have stable personal circumstances to complete this course with the focus and dedication it requires. This is not a tick and flick course. Please think seriously about the commitment involved in undertaking this course and ensure you can attend all modules and allow the time required for classes and homework. Paying for the course does not result in accreditation as a yoga teacher, meeting the course requirements (classes, homework, exam, practice) and showing passion and commitment will result in certification.
Module dates and outline for our 2023 intake
Modules:
Week 1 – 9-11 MARCH
Friday evening History of yoga philosophy chat
Saturday morning – What is yoga, the history go yoga, meaning of yoga, 8 limbs of yoga, different types of yoga, what is vinyasa yoga
Saturday afternoon – surya namaskar – alignment, breath and how to teach the flow in three different formats. Includes practice teaching.
Sunday morning – pranayama – what is pranayama, looking closely at ujjai, nadi shodana, brahmari, sitali, dirga pranayama and kapalabhati –the benefits, the contraindications, when to use them and how to teach them.
Sunday afternoon – the subtle body – the koshas, vayus, nadis and pranayama
Week 2 – 15-17 MARCH
Friday evening Bhagavhad Gita Philosophy chat
Saturday morning – exploring a basic warm-up sequence, including pranayama and asana.
Saturday afternoon – class and practice teaching
Sunday morning – Asana lab and practice teaching standing poses alignment, anatomy of standing poses, verbal adjustments and practice teaching with Amanda
Sunday afternoon– Advanced pranayama practice and teaching
Week 3 – 13-14 APRIL
Friday evening– Yoga Sutra book 1 philosophy chat
Saturday morning – Creating a vinyasa flow, smart sequencing and the language of teaching
Saturday afternoon – practice teaching
Sunday morning – Asana lab – balance poses, alignment, anatomy, verbal adjustments and practice teaching with Amanda
Sunday afternoon – Meditation – teaching and practice
Week 4 – 10-12 MAY
Friday evening– Tantra and chakras beyond the rainbow philosophy chat
Saturday morning – creating a well rounded class, effective teaching of the latter part of class
Saturday afternoon – practice teaching and class planning
Sunday morning – Asana lab – revolved poses alignment, anatomy, verbal adjustments and practice teaching with Amanda
Sunday afternoon – Asana lab – backbends poses alignment, anatomy, verbal adjustments and practice teaching with Amanda
Week 5 – 7-9 juNE
Friday evening – Sanskrit with Josh Michaell via zoom
Saturday – Bhakti Yoga day! Philosophy, mantra, mudra, kirtan and more
Sunday morning – Asana lab – forward folds and hip openers – alignment, anatomy, verbal adjustments and practice teaching with Amanda
Sunday afternoon – Asana lab – safe adjustments and assisting
Week 6 – 12-14 JULY
Friday evening– Anatomy & embodied yoga chat
Saturday & Sunday– anatomy and alignment weekend!
Week 7 – 6-8 SEPT
Friday evening – Myths & storytelling chat
Saturday morning – Theming classes with myths, mantra, mudra
Saturday afternoon – practice teaching, sequencing inbedding and all questions answered!
Sunday morning – Special populations – how to include those with illness/injury into your general class, yoga as a form of therapy, teaching a private session – theory, lesson planning and practice teaching with Amanda
Sunday afternoon – morning continued…
Week 8 – 11-13 OCT
Friday evening– Intro to Ayurveda chat
Saturday morning – ayurveda and nutrition including practical assessment on prescribing a food and yoga program for a specific ayurvedic type
Saturday afternoon – Ayurveda & yoga – teaching with an ayurvedic viewpoint, practice & theory
Sunday morning – Restorative yoga day – practice and theory
Sunday afternoon – teaching restorative yoga with Amanda and yoga nidra to finish
Week 9 – 08-10 NOV
Friday evening– Satsang
Saturday morning – Ensuring a trauma informed classroom
Saturday afternoon – Yin yoga practice & theory
Sunday morning – Asana lab – Inversions and arm balances with Amanda
Sunday afternoon – Asana lab continued and recap/exam prep
Week 10 – 6-8 DEC
Friday evening– Physical exam group 1
Saturday morning – physical exam group 2
Saturday afternoon – physical exam group 3
Sunday morning – theory exam – four hour written exam revising each key module
Sunday afternoon – celebrate
Suggested reading List
(further homework will be given from this reading list)
Light on Yoga – Iyengar
Jivamukti Yoga – Sharon Gannon and David Life
The Heart of Yoga – Desikachar
Bhagavad Gita – Eknath Easwaran edition
Yoga Sutras – Satchidananda edition
Healing Mantras – Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Revolution of the Soul – Seane Corn
Please review the Frequently asked questions and liability-and-grievance-TT-form-1 for further information.
