BECOME A CERTIFED YOGA THERAPIST
Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy
680-hour, internationally recognised professional Yoga Therapist certification program for yoga teachers
Does THIS SOUND LIKE you?
You're a passionate yoga teacher who longs to go beyond general classes and make a difference to the lives of clients struggling with health issues...
…You want to be confident teaching yoga safely to clients with health issues such as anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, depression, autoimmune disease, eating disorders and more....
…Perhaps you're ready to build a thriving yoga therapy business, working with one on one with clients in hospitals, psychology clinics and community settings.
Yoga therapy is your pathway to making an real impact on peoples lives through natural, effective techniques.
Imagine what it would be like to:
…Support clients with cancer to manage their treatment side effects with yoga.
…Help clients with autoimmune disease to reduce their symptoms through personalised yoga.
…Support clients to reduce the impact of poor mental health with safe and effective yoga techniques.
Whether you're...
- A yoga teacher who's benefited from the healing power of yoga and feel called to share that healing with others.
- A studio yoga teacher who's burning out from teaching dozens of classes each week and looking for more sustainable ways of making a living.
- Passionate about teaching yoga but don't feel your training has given you the skills and confidence you need to work with clients with health issues.
- Working with students with injuries and health problems, but worry you don't have the knowledge to teach them safely.
You're in the right place. The Adore Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy will give you the skills, knowledge and support you need to become a highly skilled and in-demand Certified Yoga Therapist.
download the Course Guide!
Want to know more? Get your free guide to the Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy
- Discover the full course curriculum
- Learn about the easy to access online format
- Get to know more about your teachers inside their biographies.
- See how the course dates fit in with your schedule
My Yoga Therapy Journey
I walked into my first yoga class 30 years ago. Paralysed with fear, I was struggling with acute anxiety and chronic back pain and had lost hope of ever feeling ‘normal’ again. I was in despair.
I didn't know it then, but the teacher that day was a highly trained yoga therapist. In that first class, I experienced a sense of wellbeing that I hadn't felt for months. I realised that yoga could help me heal.
In the weeks and months that followed, yoga therapy transformed my mental and physical health. This personal experience of healing with yoga inspired me to undertake a three-decades long journey of learning.
I've studied with yoga therapy masters on four continents, certified as a Yoga Therapist, completed a Master's degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a graduate degree in Public Health. I've used this learning to:
- Support thousands of clients to manage pain, injuries, mental health issues and chronic disease
- Conduct research on the benefits of yoga therapy for adolescents with eating disorders
- Develop yoga for mental health programs in clinical settings
- Roll out yoga programs for cancer patients in major hospitals
- Consult for major organisations including New South Wales Health, Cancer Council NSW, Sydney Children's Hospital Network and The Butterfly Foundation.
The Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy distills what I have learned on this extraordinary journey of discovery so that you too can use Yoga Therapy to create a rich and fulfilling career that you love.
Nikola Ellis, MCAP, C-IAYT, Founder of Adore Yoga
"In comparison to the other YT therapy courses I have done - you rock 100%. I can't thank you enough for how much care and support you have provided. I'm so grateful and excited to be an Adore Trainee so, THANK YOU!!!"
Ally Miller
Adore Yoga Therapy student, Queensland, Australia
Perhaps you’re feeling that…
You don’t have enough training or experience to help your students heal through yoga…
You’re afraid that you might hurt your students with physical, mental, and emotional health issues…
You feel useless sometimes because you don’t always know how to support clients with health issues…
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You’re frustrated teaching large group classes and want to build a more personalised connection with your students…
You’re not confident enough to follow your dreams of teaching private clients or small groups with significant health issues...
You’ve got so much to give, but don't know where to start with clients who are injured, in pain or struggling in life…
then let me tell you something important…
But it can be hard to stay motivated when you're struggling to support students with challenging health issues, often relying on Google for answers and baffled by the contradictory information you find there.
And then, you feel like a fraud because your own practice has dwindled to nothing.
I know how you feel, because I've been there. I remember my early years teaching yoga and feeling so discouraged - I truly believed in the healing power of yoga - I'd experienced it myself! But I didn't know how to help my students achieve the same results.
So I spent over three decades researching the wisdom of the ancients and the modern science that backs up what yogis have known for centuries - that therapeutic yoga is a powerful healing modality.
I put everything I learned into the Adore Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy, so you get a time-tested framework you can start using right away to help your clients heal with yoga.
"I started training with Adore straight after my first general teacher training. I wanted to learn how to work with individual students and make yoga accessible for people with injuries, anxiety and other health issues. When I started, I had no confidence and a big fear of hurting students with poses I was teaching.
I realised I firstly had to get to know my own body, becoming aware of my own injuries and approach to practice. It has been quite a journey for me, as I used to believe that I have to work harder in order to get where I wanted to be.
Learning yoga therapy opened me up to an approach and understanding that is more subtle, taking us further, safely with lasting results. Today, I enjoy teaching small group therapeutic classes. They are slow paced and individualised and my students feel safe, supported and cared for. I’m giving my students choice and empowering them in their practice and themselves.
I loved the high quality teacher training at Adore. I have overcome my fear, lack of confidence and the feeling that everybody else is a better teacher then I am. In turn, my students are building better relationships with their bodies, improved relationships with themselves and with others."
Why Yoga Therapy Is A Great Career For You
It's incredibly fulfilling
Yoga Therapy is an extremely rewarding career. You'll be empowering clients to transform their own health, even those who may not have believed it was possible. The joy of watching students increase their capcity to self heal - and the changes this makes to every aspect of their life - is extraordinary.
work in partnership with health professionals
As a yoga therapist, you will be able to work alongside health professionals to support clients. Confident in the vocabulary of the medical world, and backed by high quality training, you'll be a respected member of your clients' treatment team.
Flexible-working condition
As highly qualified professionals, yoga therapists command higher fees and greater flexibility in their working hours. That means you'll probably work fewer hours every week, earn more money and only work with the clients who light you up.
Tailor Research-Based Methods To Specific Populations
Yoga Therapists know how to use research based practices to safely support clients with health issues. This gives you the confidence to teach in ways that make a lasting difference to client wellbeing.
It's incredibly fulfilling
Every time you take a class, you're doing good deeds for others. You are assisting them in their quest to discover the boundless and unending joy that resides within them, a joy they may not even be aware they possess at this time. There is no guarantee that a student will seek out another yoga teacher immediately after meeting you for the first time, but even a few encounters with them can start a chain reaction.
You see others in a different light
Being a yoga teachers allows you to fully see and be seen by other people. When working with students, you'll be struck by how different each one is, not only in terms of their physical ability to perform asanas, but also in terms of their personality. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the human condition and the skills to live a more harmonious and compassionate life outside of the yoga studio or shala thanks to their individual responses to your cues.
Flexible-working condition
You have complete control over how classes fit into your daily routine and the days of the week you choose to work. If you enjoy traveling, you can work in a variety of locations across the world, or you can work locally in a variety of settings. Even if money is an issue that forces you to make unwise choices early in your career, being a yoga teacher can show you that your freedom to pick your own path in life can actually help you reach your goals later on.
Work-life balance is attainable
In order to keep a steady income, some teachers take on more classes than they can handle at the beginning of their careers. However, these teachers soon discover that they are losing the very quality that made them good teachers in the first place – an ability to step back from the daily grind and see the world from a different angle (because your wellness is somehow linked to your students)
"I saw yoga therapy as a way to have something behind me, some accreditation, and some real skills to be able to teach and help people who could benefit.
I focus on mental health in my teaching. I have a son who is an ex veteran who has mental health issues and so I started to focus on those issues - I was drawn to it. I’m also teaching on the mental health ward of a private hospital. I know the yoga can help because it helped me. Studying yoga therapy at Adore Yoga has made a huge difference.
All the elements I’ve learned have been infused into what I teach. It’s working - I can see it working and so can my students. I’m working with many more students, and a real variation of students. They seem to be attracted to this kind of yoga. I’ve had people come to me who’ve said ‘I’ve been told I can’t do yoga’. I can adapt classes for everyone now."
Adore Yoga's Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy
Adore Yoga's Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy is the only comprehensive 680 hour program that shows you exactly how to work with students experiencing a wide range of physical, mental and emotional health issues.
You'll learn skills for building a sustainable yoga therapy business and doing the work you were born to do - serving the clients who need your unique gifts most.
With step by step guidance from expert teachers - plus Yoga Australia accreditation - you can be confident of a satisfying and rewarding new career.
If you're looking for the next step in your yoga career and care deeply about helping clients heal with integrity and authenticity, then Adore Yoga's Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy is for you.
course curriculum - world leading yoga education
DISCOVER PROFOUNDLY AUTHENTIC YOGA THERAPY TRAINING
The Philosophy and Psychology of Yoga Therapy
Welcome to the Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy! Your very first module provides you with the solid foundational knowledge and skills you need to make the best start on your yoga therapy journey. You'll discover the ancient principles that underpin the art and science of yoga therapy, exploring the philosophical foundations of yoga therapy, traditional yogic frameworks for healing, the therapeutic application of classical texts (Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita) and the principles of yogic psychology.
Yoga Therapy and Mental Health
This module offers thorough training in supporting students experiencing mental health issues. You'll learn from senior yoga teachers who are also qualified in western modalities (counselling, psychology, social work) to explore yoga therapy for PTSD, anxiety and panic disorders, eating disorders and addiction recovery.
Clinical Assessment Skills
Knowing how to thoroughly and accurately assess your clients' needs is an essential skill for yoga therapists. This module gives you a step-by-step framework for assessing each client, using the core philosophies and principles of yoga. You’ll learn how to confidently assess clients' needs and plan a program of treatment to effectively address physical, emotional and mental health issues. Your expert mentors will support you through a process of in-depth assessment so that you develop the capacity to assess - and teach - with confidence.
Advanced Yoga Anatomy
Deepen your knowledge of functional anatomy and learn how to apply the principles of yoga therapy to manage musculoskeletal, soft tissue and joint injuries. This module will teach you how to carefully assess each indivdual client so that you can effectively craft a uniquely personalised yoga practice to support their healing. You will also learn how to perform yoga interventions such as mobilizations, stretches and exercises that focus on the muscles and joints, to reduce pain and recover from injury.
Yoga for Special Populations
This module shows you how to develop safe and effective yoga therapy practices to support clients with specific health issues. Yoga therapy provides an effective adjunctive treatment for many diseases, relieving symptoms and improving wellbeing. This module will give you the skills to work safely and effectively with clients living with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and respiratory disease, autoimmune diseases and chronic pain.
Applied Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the world's oldest body of knowledge associated with health, wellness and longevity.
Ayurveda plays a vitally important role in yoga therapy and this module provides you with a strong grounding in clinical Ayurveda. You will learn how to use Ayurvedic diagnostic tools, cleansing and detoxification techniques, offer personalised Ayurvedic lifestyle recommendations and understand the principles of Ayurvedic nutrition.
Meditation in Yoga Therapy
In this module, you’ll learn how to determine the right meditation type for each student and teach in a stepped way that ensures safe and effective learning. By focusing on the breath, body awareness, and other key aspects of yoga before moving into more advanced practices, you’ll end this session having the knowledge to make others feel relaxed, stress-free, and energized throughout their day ahead.
Research Skills
Become an expert in an area of Yoga Therapy that you are passionate about. Knowing how to access, interpret and communicate original research material is an essential skill for yoga therapists. In this module, you will learn how to use high-quality research as a foundation for your work as a yoga therapist. You will also embark on a mini research project on a topic that you are passionate about, building expertise that will make you an in-demand practitioner.
Diversity, Inclusion and Ethics
Yoga therapists have high ethical standards and are committed to serving students of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. In this module, we will address cultural competence, unconscious bias, theories of personality and social psychology as well as legal and ethical guidelines for working safely with students of all backgrounds.
Professional Skills for Yoga Therapists
You will learn to build a thriving Yoga Therapy practice using ethical marketing and business skills. In this course, you’ll learn how to generate more clients, grow your online presence, identify marketing strategies, create social media content and much more. You will also learn about occupational health and safety requirements, duty of care and legal obligations, how to navigate the healthcare system and read medical information.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
ASSESSMENT
Learn how to assess your clients'
physical, emotional and mental health needs using the principles Yoga & Ayurveda.
COMMUNICATION
Create a safe space and confidently support your students to learn, grow, and explore throughout their treatment.
COLLABORATION
Successfully interpret information provided by health professionals and work collaboratively with them.
TREATMENT
Learn how to confidently craft a personalized treatment plan for each of your clients.
PRACTICE
You'll have many opportunities to practice and refine your new skills, getting plenty of peer and teacher feedback to develop confidence.
RESEARCH
We'll show you how to research reliable studies so you can support your work with evidence-based practice.
is this course right for me?
Together, let’s make healing with yoga therapy accessible to everyone who needs it. If you’re curious to know more about becoming a yoga therapist, book a free discovery call with me to see if this program is the right fit for you. Book a 20 minute Discovery Call with me now.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy
A 680hr program, taught over 2 years (4 year part time option available). The program is 100% online and can be completed from anywhere in the world. Please note - attendance at live online tutorials and intensives is mandatory. These take place on Sundays between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra time. The next program begins 29 January 2023.
180 HRS
Self paced home study
The home study component of this training is delivered via e-Learning modules, written content, videos, audio and reading tasks. Work at your own pace, in your own time. You'll also be connecting with fellow students for home study tasks, teaching practice and opportunities to share your yoga therapy passion and progress.
348 HRS
Live Online Tutorials
Highly interactive and engaging, you'll join fellow students in real time for live teaching exercises and participation in class discussions. Cameras are on and energy is high! The live online tutorials are mandatory and you must participate in real time.
12 HRS
1:1 Mentoring sessions
Live online personalised mentoring with a senior teacher. You will experience personalised yoga therapy and one-on-one guidance to build your understanding of key topic areas. Your mentors will help you develop your personal practice, keep your learning on track and support you to feel connected throughout the program.
150 HRS
Student practicum
You'll get plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice. With private student and small group teaching practice, you'll start applying what you learn right away! Practicum hours are conducted in your home location, both online and face to face.
by the end of this training, you will have
The skills and confidence to teach students with a range of physical, mental and emotional health issues.
A thorough grasp - and practical experience in applying - the philosophy and psychology of yoga therapy.
Real-world experience teaching therapeutic yoga, with feedback from expert mentors.
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The tools you need to build a thriving yoga therapy business so you get to do the work you love.
The skills to work in clinical environments, including hospitals, psychology practices, rehab clinics and more.
The qualifications to stand out from the crowd, attract the students of your dreams and earn more money.
INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE AS A
CERTIFIED YOGA THERAPIST
Your investment in your future as a certified Yoga Therapist includes:
- 680hrs training over 2 years (that's 30hrs more than industry standard)
- 80 x Live online tutorials (over 330 hours expert live tuition)
- 40 x Self-paced digital modules
- Yoga Therapist Assessment and Certification
- Lifetime access to course content
- Access to all future course upgrades (worth $$$$$'s as you get our new modules for free)
- Three months complementary access to the Adore Yoga Therapy membership club
EARLY BIRD OFFER!
Regular fee AU$9800
Early Bird Offer
AU$8800
SAVE AU$1000!
Early Bird Offer ENDS 23 November 2022
Easy Payment Plans
We've got you covered! Our easy payment plans make it easy to achieve your dream of becoming a yoga therapist.
Early Bird Offer Ends 23 November 2022
See what our graduates say
about studying Yoga Therapy at Adore...
Studying yoga therapy at Adore Yoga has made a huge difference. All the elements I’ve learned have been infused into what I teach. It’s working - I can see it working and so can my students.
This course has helped me immensely, both professionally and personally. I look forward to training with Nik and the Adore Team again. Thank you so much!
It has changed the way I teach dramatically. I teach more from a trauma informed background now. It has allowed me to trust my own judgement.
GOT A QUESTION?
Take a moment to read our frequently asked questions.
Where does this course take place?
This course is 100% online. You can attend from anywhere in the world. You'll be participating in live online tutorials plus home study (both online and offline). The practicum hours (150hrs) take place in a place that is convenient for you, such as a local yoga studio, your home, community centre, online, health clinic or other appropriate setting. Please note that attendance at live online tutorials are mandatory. These take place from 9.30am - 5.30pm Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne time.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy is a 680hr program that runs for a minimum of 2 years.
However, the course has a flexible format for self-paced study and you can take up to 4 years to complete.
What happens if I miss some of the live training sessions?
You must participate in a minimum of 80% of the live training sessions (both online and in person sessions). Some missed sessions can be made up via mentoring, others can be caught up when the session runs again in 12-24 months time.
How much home-study will I have to do?
This training requires you to complete a minimum of 180 hours home study, including reading, assignment writing, eLearning modules, teaching exercises and research. In addition, you must complete 150hrs of practicum work. During your practicum hours you will hone your developing Yoga Therapy skills by observing and assisting senior teachers/yoga therapists and offering consultations to individuals and small groups.
Do I have to buy books or other materials?
You will be expected to read widely from the course reading list. The current list recommends approximately 22 books, of which 7 are compulsory You will not be required to purchase any other materials.
What are the course entry requirements?
This is an advanced training for yoga teachers who currently hold a minimum 350hrs training. RYT200 or newly graduated teachers should apply to join the Adore Yoga 150hr Introduction to Yoga Therapy bridging course to prepare for full yoga therapy training.
What accreditation will I receive?
When you successfully complete all course requirements, you will receive the Graduate Diploma of Yoga Therapy and be eligible to register as an accredited Yoga Therapist with Yoga Australia.
What technology equipment and skills do I need for the online components?
You will be using Zoom for the live online workshops and mentoring sessions. You will need a device with good internet access, a camera and speakers. You will also be using Dropbox and other platforms to receive and share content during the course. All the technologies we use are free and easy to use - you do not have to pay for a subscription to any platforms.
Do I have to travel to Adore to do my practicum hours?
No. The practicum hours (150hrs) take place in a place that is convenient for you, such as a local yoga studio, your home, community centre, health clinic or other appropriate setting.
Got more questions?
I know that training to be a certified Yoga Therapist is a big commitment! I've trained hundreds of successful yoga teachers and know what it takes to make it work for each individual. Book a call at a time to suit you and we'll explore what flexible Yoga Therapy training will look like for YOU.