Our 200-hour yoga teacher training is structured across six integrated modules, blending practice, philosophy, anatomy, teaching skills & professional development.
Whether you join the 8-Month Course or the Intensive, you’ll cover the same comprehensive curriculum — combining guided studio hours, mentoring & structured independent study.

The business of yoga, managing relationships, knowing your financial worth & maintaining clear teacher–student boundaries are, more than ever before, key components of a successful teacher — and of thriving students.

The syllabus’ aim is to bring about the creation of yoga teachers who take their professionalism as seriously as their class plans & is designed to help you develop in your own way — as a non-lineage teacher, interdependent & brilliantly creative — learning to use yoga to look after yourself first, and then to share your gift respectfully with others.

Expect history, philosophy, anatomy, practicum, and a thorough grounding in asana, pranayama & the art of teaching — all guided by Lucy Leslie and Andy Curtis-Payne in a supportive, nature-immersed environment.

Accreditation

This training is delivered by Sussex Yoga Training, directed by Lucy Leslie (BWY Diploma, Senior Yoga Teacher). Sussex Yoga Training is an accredited Yoga Pros training school.

The qualification is fully recognised for professional insurance in the UK and internationally, and you can register with Yoga Pros as a recognised Yoga Teacher upon graduation.

Graduates receive the Sussex Yoga Training 200-Hour Teacher Training Certificate, recognised within the UK fitness & wellbeing sector as a solid foundation for safe, effective & ethical yoga teaching.

Module 1 – 30 Hours | Philosophy & Foundations

  • The Meaning of Yoga
  • Yoga Sutras and The Eight Limbs of Yoga
  • Ethics-Living the Sutras On and Off the Mat
  • Living your Highest Possible Life / Encouraging others to do the same
  • Yoga and Religion - Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita & Hinduism
  • Hatha Yoga Pradipika
  • Required Reading & Reflection Assignments (approx. 10 hrs)

Module 2 – 50 Hours | Asana, Pranayama & Teaching Techniques

  • Yoga Asana - Alignment, benefits, contraindications
  • Elements of Yoga Class (Warm-UP, Main Phase, Relaxation)
  • Pranayama
  • Meditation, Sound & Mantra
  • Sequencing
  • Classification of Poses & Counter Pose
  • Designing a Six-Week Beginners Course (coursework project)

Module 3 – 50 Hours | Teaching Skills & Professional Development

  • Principles of Preparation & Class Planning
  • The Practice of Teaching Yoga – reading the room & refining language
  • Reading the Room, Languaging
  • Sanskrit Names & Modern Terminology
  • Setting the Scene – music, voice & environment
  • Healthy Student–Teacher Boundaries & Ethics
  • The Business of Yoga – studio, gym & freelance models
  • Self-Care & Sustaining Your Teaching Career
  • Peer Teaching (5–8 hrs) & Personal Mentoring (3 hrs)

Module 6 – 20 Hours | Independent & Applied Practice - online self-led & with your tutor

  • 10 hours online self-study + 10 hours guided with your lead teacher
  • Connective Tissue & Muscular System
  • The Skeletal, Nervous, Digestive, Endocrine, Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems
  • The Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip, Psoas, Pelvis, SI Joint, Shoulder Girdle, Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Spine
  • Based on the David Keil Online Anatomy Course, with written assignments, discussion & applied study

Module 5 – 20 Hours | Practicum

  • Practice teaching asana & pranayama to peers, friends or family
  • Teaching your own 6 week beginners course.
  • Languaging, building confidence & developing teaching presence
  • Feedback & integration of teaching skills
  • Designing a Six-Week Beginners Course (for coursework) and teaching Week Six in the studio at Graduation

Module 6 – 30 Hours | Independent & Applied Practice

  • 20 hours Attending Other Teachers’ Classes – broaden experience & style
  • Coursework & Preparation (~10 hrs)
  • Reflective Study & Integration of Learning
  • Required Reading

Total Hours : 200

Approximately 160 hours guided contact with Lucy Leslie (and Andy Curtis-Payne) through studio practice, mentoring & group sessions, plus 40 hours structured independent study.

Formal Curriculum (200 Hours) Practical Delivery Breakdown What You’ll Be Doing
Asana, Pranayama & Teaching Techniques – 50 hrs Around 70–80 hrs within the 110 core studio hours, including group practice, sequencing & technique workshops. Deepen your practice and understanding of posture, breathwork & sequencing. Learn to move, observe & teach with clarity and confidence.
Teaching Skills – 50 hrs Around 30–40 hrs within studio hours + 5–8 hrs peer teaching + 3 hrs mentoring. Practise teaching in supportive groups, refine cueing & adjustments, and receive feedback to develop your own teaching style.
History & Philosophy – 30 hrs Around 20 hrs in studio discussion + 10 hrs required reading & reflection. Explore yoga’s origins through the Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika & Bhagavad Gita. Reflect on how ancient wisdom supports modern life & practice.
Anatomy – 20 hrs (10 online, 10 guided) 10 hrs online self-study (David Keil course) + 10 hrs tutor-guided sessions & written assignments. Understand how the body moves & breathes. Apply functional anatomy directly to safe, effective yoga practice & teaching.
Practicum – 20 hrs Peer & family teaching practice throughout the course + graduation teaching in the studio. Gain hands-on experience leading classes, building confidence & fluency while practising teaching in real-world settings.
Independent & Applied Practice – 30 hrs 20 hrs additional mat time with Lucy Leslie (studio or Zoom) + 10 hrs coursework, preparation & reflection. Attend Lucy’s regular classes & workshops for free during the course to consolidate your learning and deepen personal practice.
External Class Attendance – 20 hrs 20 hrs attending classes with other qualified teachers. Broaden your perspective, experience different teaching styles, and stay inspired by the wider yoga community.