The Yoga Academy Teacher Training Course:
Testimonals
“Simon and his team show a sincere commitment to sharing the fundamental principles of anatomy and physiology, and their application to the physical aspects of Yoga in order to provide students with sufficient knowledge & experience to teach a health-promoting practice that is both safe and effective, something I especially appreciated as an experienced Physiotherapist of 25 years.
At the same time, the exploration of a more holistic approach to structure and movement introduces students to "state of the art" concepts and suggests how Yoga may be practiced with the specific intention of awakening the body's natural intelligence; these concepts stimulate further inquiry into the ever-changing relationship between art and science.
During the course of the 18-month training, nothing was taught that gave me cause for concern from a musculo-skeletal point of view, and Simon's deference to the knowledge of others shows his passion for learning. I cannot recommend this Yoga Teacher Training course more highly.”
Louise James, physiotherapist, TT8 2011
“Basically I was happy with everything! I thought it was some of the best money I've ever invested and has it has given me a changed perspective on life. No doubting it was a challenging journey, but probably the most worthwhile one I've undertaken.
This course revealed paths to me that I barely knew existed – or if I did I had no idea how to reveal the gateway that would let me step through. This has been the most exciting couple of years of my life; helped through the labyrinth of yogic philosophy, understanding how the body works and how yoga practice can help it to work more effectively and then putting all that knowledge together to create unique class plans to offer to my, now, own students. Having completed this course I feel I have uncovered 'my' yoga and the direction I want to pursue with this. I also now have the confidence that i have something worthwhile to offer to students coming to my classes and they are able to grow with me as I continue along this pathway.
If you want to become a professional, confident and safe yoga teacher, or to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your own personal yoga practice for everyday life, from a collection of the best teachers working in their respective fields today, then this is the course for you.”
“Simon has a number of qualities, all of which can be found in many yoga teachers but rarely are they all found in the same yoga teacher. He has a breadth and depth of understanding of yoga asana that few teachers I have met can match , combined with a deceptively easy teaching style that presents the information in a readily absorbable manner so that you almost don't realise you are learning, but you are. While having the greatest respect for yoga traditions, Simon is not hidebound by them, or by a particular yoga school's philosophy. Instead Simon's teaching evolves as he draws on influences not only from other teachers and yoga schools that he frequently seeks out, but also from anatomy teachers, physiology teachers, martial arts teachers and even his students. However these influences are not randomly selected and just thrown into the pot, they are seriously thought about, studied and digested and finally integrated into the teaching style that is uniquely Simon's. This integration is often so seamless that, unless you are paying particular attention, you may not notice some of the more subtle changes. I continue to go to Simon's classes partially to re-establish my yoga foundation but also in the hope, frequently realised, that he has refined another small piece of yoga gold since I last saw him. For me, one of the largest 'nuggets' of this yoga gold was when Simon introduced Yin and Yang yoga into his teaching. But this is not a nugget that has been left on the shelf and admired, instead it has been refined and polished. Yin and Yang yoga is like yoga in HD. Above all for me, Simon's teaching engages my mind as well as my body and breath and this is as true today as it was in the first class I attended 15 years ago.”
“When you combine all this with the knowledge that Simon actively seeks out the best places to practice yoga, wherever in the world, and has a passion for the care and comfort of his students, whether is be the facilities in the yoga studio, the food, the accommodation or the general environment, I always know that a retreat with Simon will be a high quality experience.”
Steve Whittam – a regular of all Simon Low’s residential weekends, also a past gradute on The Yoga Academy
“The more I teach yoga on a regular basis the more I appreciate the clear foundation that the Yoga Academy offers students. So you can have confidence that you’re helping good, safe yoga teachers go out into the world, also with a sense of the spirit & tradition of yoga. Something that the modern yoga world really needs.”
Manjunaga, Manchester
“At the time of writing I am half way through the Yoga Academy teacher-training course. I am inspired by how my understanding and practice of yoga have improved in so short a time. One of the many strengths of this course is that it gives the student a thorough grounding in yoga based on a specific tradition, that of Sri T. Krishnamacharya. This is yoga that is adapted to the individual. Krishnamacharya is probably the most important yoga teacher of modern times, and his son T.K.V. Desikachar’s contribution to the understanding of Yoga, both in India and the West, is enormous. Their lineage can be traced all the way back to the Veda’s, the earliest scriptures of mankind.
“The course also explores the traditional yoga paths and all the important styles of yoga that are practiced around the world today (including Astanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Yin & other forms of Hatha Yoga). The work we do on understanding the holistic nature of our bodies’ anatomy and on work-shopping the different asanas has been particularly helpful in my case, but all the teaching has been of a very high standard. The intensive format of the course is rigorous and demanding and at times challenging, & it has built a strong, vibrant learning community in our group. We laugh a lot too. The physical setting of the course is wonderful and the meals are delicious.”
Tristrem Carlyon August 4, 2009