Course Information

Our teacher training course has met the stringent requirements set by Yoga Alliance Professionals. Our graduates are trained to the highest standard and are eligible to register with both of these organisations which will allow you to obtain insurance to teach worldwide.

The course will cover all aspects of yoga including asana, anatomy and philosophy and will be completed over the course of one year at monthly workshops under the tutelage of experienced yoga teacher trainer Jo Lockhart and special guest yoga teachers.

Our mission – You will graduate as a confident, passionate and dedicated yoga practitioner. You will have the skills to teach yoga in an ethical, professional and inspirational manner. You will be an asset to the community in which you teach.

Qualification – On graduation you will be a fully qualified 200 Hour Hatha Raja Yoga Teacher. Hatha being yoga of the body and Raja yoga of the mind. You will be able to register as a teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals in the UK. As a graduate of a registered training school you will be able to teach world-wide. In addition, you will be able to get insurance as a qualified teacher.

Things to think about – Whether or not you are hoping to teach yoga, undertaking yoga teacher training can be a hugely rewarding, positive and often life changing experience; what you will learn should have a profound impact on the rest of your life.

Yoga is growing throughout the world and good yoga teachers are in demand. That said, the course is not something to be undertaken lightly:

• you will undertake regular asana classes which must be recorded between modules,
• the course-based asana practice will be quite intense, aimed at bringing your practice up to the level required of a teacher. (This doesn’t mean being able to do fancy yoga postures; it means having a regular, dedicated personal practice which incorporates all aspects of yoga.)
• you will be required to complete about 8- 10 hours of homework a month for each module.

As well as hatha yoga in general we will also look at specific styles of yoga including; yin yoga, restorative yoga, seasonal yoga, flow yoga, trauma sensitive yoga, yoga for anxiety, yoga for back pain, yoga for special needs and chair yoga.

The entry requirements – We recommend you have a minimum of 2 years asana practice and a reasonable level of fitness to be able to undertake the yoga teacher training course. You don’t have to have an astanga practice as you can develop this over the course of the year. If you are not sure whether you meet this criteria please contact Jo to discuss. If you do not practice with her, she may wish you to come to one of her classes so that she can assess your practice.

Syllabus – the syllabus covers extensive practise and study of yoga including;

Asanas, pranayamas,kriyas, vayus, bandhas, chakras, koshas, mudras, meditation techniques, yoga philosophy, anatomy and physiology, yoganatomy, observation and adjusting techniques, mantra and chanting, ethics for yoga teachers, how to market yourself as a yoga teacher, how to run a successful yoga business, yoga nidra, trauma informed yoga and specialised yoga as mentioned above.

Assessment will take place through assignments handed out at each module, all of which must be passed in order for you to be certified. You will be supported throughout the course with assessments.  The final assessment will be to deliver a class to the lead trainer. The point of this assessment is to give you detailed feedback on your teaching which will help you to progress as a teacher.

Please click here to view our terms and conditions  – YogaJo’s TT Terms & Conditions

When – The course consists of 12 modules throughout the year and they will usually take place on the last full weekend of every month. Some of the modules are Friday evenings and Saturday only and some are Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday evenings – 6:00pm to 9:30 pm

Saturdays and Sundays – 9:00am – 6:00/6.30 pm. Sometimes we may begin earlier.

A vegetarian Lunch will be provided on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Dates for 23/24 course are as follows (please note these may be subject to change athough that is unlikely):

The cost – The course fee is £2,700. A £950 deposit is due on the confirmation of your place on the course. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable should you decide to drop out of the course at any stage. The balance can be paid in advance of the first module. Alternatively, the balance can be paid in 10 payments of £175, payable every module for the first 10 modules.

The Faculty:

Lead trainer – Jo Lockhart :

Jo’s passion for yoga runs deep. Rooted in the depth of transformation practising yoga brought to her own life, it’s a passion she has dedicated her life to sharing. She has been a committed astanga yoga practitioner for 14 years but continues to explore yoga and mindfulness from it’s many angles based on how she feels on a daily basis.  Jo’s son has profound special needs and the physical and emotional benefits of yogic practices enable her to cope with the stresses and challenges she faces on a daily basis. 

She is a registered Yoga Alliance Professionals Senior Teacher and a Yoga Alliance Experienced teacher with over 11,500 hours of teaching and over 1200 hours worth of training, training in India and all over the world with some of the worlds top yoga teachers. She is an experienced 200 hour Teacher Trainer and has trained over 130 yoga teachers.  She is also a 580 hour Minded Institute Yoga Therapist and runs her yoga therapy practice from her studio.  The Minded Institute led by Heather Mason in London are world leaders in Yoga Therapy, particularly in relation to mental health and Jo has studied the neuroscience and physiology of yoga and its application as a therapeutic intervention in mental health and physical disease in some depth.  She applies what she has studied to her work with a wide range of clients in her yoga therapy practice specialising in particular in Depression Anxiety, PTSD and physical rehabilitation. 

As well as her training with Heather Mason,  Jo’s has trained extensively with David Keil, a world renowned and gifted astanga and yoganatomy teacher. Jo’s own teaching style is heavily influenced by what she has learned from David. She has continued her anatomy training by completing a 9 month myofascial, anatomy and movement course for yoga teachers with Gary Carter in 2016 as well as her anatomy training as part of her studies as a yoga therapist. She has also completed many trainings with Jyoti Manuel of Special Yoga and has been working with special needs children and adults using yoga as a therapeutic intervention for many years as well as lecturing for Special Yoga Teacher Training. She is also a qualified meditation teacher and children’s yoga teacher and a Yoga4Health practitioner. Yoga4health, pioneered by Heather Mason is an organisation dedicated to bringing yoga into the NHS. She is filled with deep gratitude to all of her teachers whose teachings she has been both informed and inspired by.

As well as being a mum to her two children, Jo leads a busy life, running her dedicated Yoga studio, YogaJo’s in Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow where she teaches astanga, hatha, flow yoga, mindfulness and meditation as well as yoga for special needs children. Her Yoga Teacher Training school is the result of her commitment to turning out the best most committed yoga teachers she can, who like her, she hopes will go on to share the many benefits of yoga in an accessible way with as many people as possible. 

Christopher Paris – Yoga Philosopy:

Chris became interested in yoga as a boy in the 1970’s. Later he found an attraction to Indian culture and philosophy and was attracted to the Hare Krishna movement. He began living by the precepts of Bhakti Yoga and eventually took Diksha (initiation) from his spiritual master Vijaya Maharaja Goswami in 1984.

Chris continued to study yoga philosophy and practices, coming into contact with many different schools of thought. After many different occupations, Chris trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in London and undertook their yoga teacher training course.

Chris began teaching formally in London in 2002 and was soon teaching six days and eight to ten classes a week. In 2003 Chris was looking for a teacher in London, who he could continue asana study from, and was introduced to Hamish Hendry at Astanga Yoga London by Joey Miles. Chris was impressed with the level of asana practice, and attended early morning classes daily with Hamish.

In 2004 Chris lived in Mysore and studied with Patthabi Jois. Chris left London in 2008 to return to the Newark in Nottinghamshire, and now teaches morning Mysore style Ashtanga yoga five mornings a week, as well as two formal led classes each week.

He returns to India annually to continue developing his own practice. In 2016 he was authorized by Sharath Jois in Mysore to teach the astanga method.

 Teaching Assistants

Jo is ably assisted on the training by some of the YogaJo’s Teachers.    They have all been through the course and trained extensively with Jo as well with many other world class teachers on the post-graduate CPD programme.  They live and breathe yoga.  They provide extra help, support and their own expertise for all particpants when needed.

Guest Teachers – We also have guest teachers:

Sinead Noble: Meditation

Melissa Corazon: Yin Yoga and Eating for the Doshas

Mark Russell: Yoga for Athletes.

To find out more details about the course or register your interest please email Jo at jolockhart.yoga@gmail.com

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