Vajrasati Yoga Teacher Training (500 hours YAP TT+)

Thank you for your interest in Vajrasati Yoga Teacher Training (500 hours YAP TT+).

With 27 years behind it, this training has grown into one of the longest-running independent teacher trainings in the country. Its depth of knowledge, strong philosophical foundation, and clear integrity have earned the highest accreditation available with Yoga Alliance Professionals (YAP 500+).

This two-year journey is designed to give the teachings of yoga time to settle in fully. The curriculum includes yoga, asana, pranayama, meditation and mantra, teaching techniques, anatomy and physiology, yoga philosophy from all influencing traditions for a complete understanding, and Sanskrit basics.

The training is led by Jim Tarran and his partner Khadine Morcom, who together bring more than 60 years of practice and 52 years of teaching experience. They are supported by Sarah Pailthorpe, Pablo Wilson, and other senior teachers within the school.

At the heart of Vajrasati Yoga is the belief that teachers and students alike should be empowered through shared learning. You will join a warm saṃgha of like-minded practitioners who want to know yoga directly, rather than through a fixed formula or rigid set of instructions. The training encourages intuitive understanding alongside real inquiry into traditional teachings, supported by a heart-led community.

This course is not only for those who want to teach. Many people join to deepen their own practice and explore yoga more personally. Whether your intention is to become a teacher or to begin a more intimate journey of self-inquiry, this training may be the right fit.

We also welcome existing yoga teachers. Many 200-hour graduates come because they want more tools, greater confidence, and a stronger sense of autonomy and inspiration. One graduate even described the experience as feeling like a yoga degree.

The next intake will take place in Brighton, at Brighton Buddhist Centre, in September 2027.

We would be delighted to receive your application.

Saṃgha

Saṃgha is central to the school’s approach, both during the training and long after the certificate has been awarded. Yoga asks for creative, appropriate responses to the present moment, and that kind of honesty is supported by good communication with people who truly understand. Fellow trainees can also offer inspiration, fresh methods, better ways of expressing ideas, and new insights as the school continues to evolve with openness and reflection.

Assessment

The course is divided into eight ten-week blocks, each ending with assessment. In the final term, there will be two individual assessments, one group assessment, and a written test. Homework is set each term and typically takes a couple of hours per week on average.

The Course Reading List

Available only to enrolled trainees and graduates.

Expectations of the Course

• You should attend at least 8 weeks of each 10-week term. If more than 2 weeks are missed, a one-to-one catch-up with one of the trainers or assistant teachers will be required and charged. If your group is also streamed on Zoom, missed weeks can be made up by watching the recording. You may also be able to attend a missed session at the sister training running alongside your course in Brighton or London.
• Please try to avoid missing week 10 of any term, as this is the wrap-up week when everyone teaches in class and receives feedback. If necessary, you may be able to attend week 10 at the sister training or catch up via Zoom recording.
• In addition to attending the teacher training, you must attend an average of at least one class per week with Jim or Khadine, ideally with both across the term. Reduced-rate Zoom classes or guest attendance may be possible if finances are tight. This is an important part of your learning and also contributes to your Yoga Alliance Professionals accreditation hours.
• You are expected to develop a regular home yoga practice, ideally building toward about one hour a day. We understand that work and family life can make this difficult, so consistency matters more than perfection. Your self-practice may be short on some days and longer on others, and it can include classes taken with Jim and Khadine.
• You will be assigned a buddy, usually a graduate of the school who acts as a mentor. Ideally, you will connect once a term, though the relationship is flexible. More details will be shared by Sarah Pailthorpe when you begin. If you already know a graduate you would like as your buddy, this can be arranged.
• There are 7 pieces of homework per 10-week term. They range from 20 minutes to 2 hours, and all can be completed in about an hour. Some involve keeping a diary over a week, so it is wise to review the assignments at the start of each term.
• The workload is manageable with steady, focused effort. If life becomes complicated, speak to the team and support can be offered. The aim is for you to complete the training with ease and enjoyment.
• If a major life event prevents you from continuing, you may pause the training for up to 2 years and keep the fees you have already paid, including course exit fees. You may then rejoin within that period, with the amount already paid deducted from that year’s fees. After 2 years, you would rejoin as a new student and pay in full.
• If you leave before completion, the following exit fees apply: 50% of course fees if leaving in the first year; 75% if leaving in terms 5-6; and full course fees if leaving in terms 7-8 without completion.
• If you have paid in full in advance, refunds will be issued according to the same structure: 50% in year one, 25% in terms 5-6, and no refund in terms 7-8.