200-hour Living Yoga Part-Time Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Leigh Khoo, Apr 7 - Jun 4

Orchard Central
200-hour Yoga Alliance Recognised Course
Led by Leigh Khoo
Every weekend, April 7 - June 4, 2023
7.45am - 6pm

At the heart of Yoga is connection — to the practice, to the community, to yourself. Before we can share the gift of Yoga, we must first do the inner work. This training asks that you be ready to do just that — to shed restrictive beliefs, to dare to be vulnerable and, most importantly, to dare to be yourself.

Shaped by Leigh’s contemplative and empowering teaching style, this training program brings a plethora of essential pillars to the table — Yoga philosophy, functional anatomy, sequencing, asana modifications and Ayurveda, all of which we will study within a framework of daily asana, pranayama and meditation practice.

Our focus in the training is on vinyasa krama, in which breath plays an unequivocal role in facilitating entries and exits through intelligently sequenced postures. The curriculum guarantees you a solid starting foundation to confidently teach vinyasa Yoga, but it is also so much more. Our time together creates an experiential learning environment for you to explore, debate and discover your own truths about your body and your practice. From that space, the training will support you to step into your authentic voice, so the Yoga you share is relatable, honest and real.

Regular circle sharing and introspective discussions are part of the coursework, so participants should be open to a degree of vulnerability and honesty. Leigh also teaches based on energetic, intuitive alignment, which may be significantly different from what many practitioners are used to. It is recommended that you take at least a few classes with her (online on Spotify and Patreon, or in any pop-up, in-person sessions) to familiarise yourself with her teaching style before committing to this training.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Module I: The body
We begin our training with the most tangible—our physical practice. Our bodies become the tools through which we experience, explore and redefine our asana practice. We will break down common postures and their modifications, and learn to harness the use of both manual and verbal cues in assists. Functional anatomy sessions play an integral role in this module. These highly engaging sessions bring the practice of asana to life, teaching you healthy and sustainable movement patterns, while empowering you to work with your body (and others’) in mindful, inclusive and efficient ways. By shining the spotlight on skeletal variations, one of our key takeaways is to learn to adapt the postures to suit our bodies; not contort our bodies to fit pre-conceived shapes. This course does not focus on teaching advanced asana, but you are free to express your own variations during our daily practice.

Module II: Beyond the mat
In this module, we delve into subtler concepts and topics that are beyond the physical. We will explore Ayurveda, sacred texts, mantra and philosophy, and navigate the world of subtle anatomy and meditative practices. The aim of this module is to offer a deeper, contemplative viewpoint of the practice, alongside a grounded approach to weave and integrate these insights into modern living.

Module III: The art of teaching
In this module, we prepare to take the seat of a teacher, discovering our unique gifts and authentic voice. We will explore the language of Yoga—tone, clarity, rhythm and pace; learn intelligent sequencing; and dive deep into the art of theming, drawing on Yoga philosophy and our life experiences as inspiration for building impactful class templates. We will learn how to set up a safe, trauma-informed learning space, how to manage surprise scenarios, and refine our teaching through regular practise teaching sessions and lots of feedback. 

TUITION

Early bird (by Jan 1): $3,900 
Regular: $4,200

SCHEDULE

April 7 - 9 (Good Friday PH)
April 15 & 16
April 22 & 23
April 29 - May 1 (Labour Day PH)
May 6 & 7
May 13 & 14
May 20 & 21
May 27 & 28
June 2 - 4 (Vesak Day PH)

April 7: 1 - 6pm
All other days: 7.45am - 6pm

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations received 30 days before the start of the course incurs a fee of $250.
Cancellations received less than 30 days before the start of the course results in full forfeit of the tuition fee.

ABOUT LEIGH KHOO



Leigh found Yoga 14 years ago in a tiny studio in Chinatown. As much as she enjoyed the dance-like flow of postures, it was the meditation practice after the asana sessions that really drew her in. Her first teacher Sunil Dahiya used to ask: “Where are you in your body? Meditate on that.” That set the tone for Leigh’s Yoga journey since, and she believes that the potent combination of asana, pranayama and meditation holds the key to unlocking our deeper, higher wisdom.

Leigh has been teaching since 2013, and over the years, learned to understand and, more importantly, respect anatomical differences. Because of that, she believes in creating safe spaces that empower practitioners to step into their intuitive wisdom and practise according to their inner alignment — asanas that look right on the outside may not necessarily feel so within. She continues to be influenced by her teachers Emily Kuser, Nitya Mohan, David Frawley, Jo Phee and Octavio Salvado; as well as the teachings of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tantra, which often form the energetic or philosophical pillars of her classes.

Leigh's classes are embodied, intuitive and poetic, with a huge emphasis on breath awareness. She sees life to be the greatest teacher, with every moment serving as an opportunity to connect to our highest self and to live with intention, compassion and integrity.