Choosing the right 200hr training: Hatha & Restorative or Vinyasa & Yin
At Bristol School of Yoga, we have been running our Hatha & Restorative 200hr Teacher Training since 2009, with an exceptional reputation as one of the best teacher training schools in the UK and beyond.
95% of students who train with Bristol School of Yoga go on to teach within three months of graduating
With the same quality teaching, attention to detail, focus on breathwork and anatomy, sharing how to teach in a trauma sensitive and accessible way, and empowering each student to find their own approach, in January 2021, we launched a new 200hr Teacher Training course - Vinyasa & Yin.
So which 200hr training course is right for you?
It can feel daunting finding the right course. So we wanted to give you a simple understanding of the difference between our Hatha & Restorative and Vinyasa & Yin courses.
With Hatha & Restorative, our trainees learn how to adapt the postures and class plan to make yoga accessible to most students, and includes adaptations for most common conditions. We teach you how to sequence the poses according to the subtle body- the chakras and prana vayus, and to carefully mobilise & stabilise the physical body, and settle the nervous system and the mind.
The Restorative poses offer a chance to teach restorative class or integrate these postures into a hatha class. The hatha poses can be linked together to teach hatha flow, or if you are already confident in Vinyasa Yoga, you could adapt what you learn to teach simple Vinyasa class.
In our Vinyasa & Yin course, we teach breath focused movement, including the postures so often used in Vinyasa Flow, alongside many creative ideas for transitions with intelligent sequencing to create ease in body and mind. We will show you how to build up sequences with relevant poses for beginners, but there is less attention to making the whole practice accessible to those with very limited mobility, as the Vinyasa Flow format of a class assumes some ability to move fluidly from pose to pose.
The Yin practice touches into eastern medicine systems, and we share practices of Zen Buddhism in place of the tantra base meditations.
Our courses are designed by Laura Gilmore, and supported by the same excellent tutors and teaching methods. Kitty Billings has created all the Yin content for the Vinyasa Yin course.
At a glance…
Hatha & Restorative
Running since 2009, the course evolves every year with developments in scientific research.
Focus on making yoga accessible to everyone from complete beginners with limited mobility to those with a strong, steady practice.
This course is for anyone who has a passion to teach and share yoga, the emphasis is on supporting you to find exactly how you’d like to teach.
You will be able to teach Hatha Yoga, Hatha Flow, Restorative Yoga, and Vinyasa Yoga if you already have the knowledge of Vinyasa sequences.
In Restorative, the primary aim is to reset the nervous system, so the body tends to be more supported in the poses.
There is much overlap between Restorative and Yin. Both are adaptable for everyone, with an ability to get to the floor and up being useful. They both stimulate a relaxation response in both body and mind which is partly through fascial release (connective tissue).
Vinyasa and Yin
Vinyasa and Yin have been taught as standalone courses since 2017, and have been brought together into one 200hr course in 2021.
Focus on correct biomechanics. Vinyasa requires flowing movement, so is not as accessible as Hatha.
This course is for anyone who wants to focus specifically on Vinyasa classes and or Yin Yoga.
You will be able to teach Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yang Yoga, or if you slow it down Hatha Yoga.
In Yin, the focus is on releasing fascia, so the body may be unsupported to allow more release to the tissues, and there is a focus on meridians.
There is much overlap between Restorative and Yin. Both are adaptable for everyone, with an ability to get to the floor and up being useful. They both stimulate a relaxation response in both body and mind which is partly through fascial release (connective tissue).
The postures
Most 200hr teacher training courses cover 30-40 poses. Both Bristol School of Yoga courses teach over 90.
How do we manage this? We categorise poses into families so you will understand the similarities between postures, enabling you to find a pose adaptation that is most suitable in each class or to an individual student.
In Hatha & Restorative you will focus on how to creatively and safely modify each pose for each student. In Vinyasa & Yin you will explore more arm balances and ways to creatively link poses.
Yoga philosophy and the subtle side of yoga
Within both courses, you will learn about the chakras and koshas, with meditation from a wide range of traditions.
If you choose our Hatha & Restorative course, you will study the classical yoga texts from the Bhagavad Gita, to Patanjali to Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and look at how they are relevant today.
If you choose our Vinyasa & Yin course, you will study the Patanjali sutras, the philosophy underlying Yin,and touch into Zen Buddhism.
Teaching styles
There are many similarities between our two courses, specifically around the attention to detail in asana alignment, biomechanics and, importantly, our teaching methodology. We cover a really broad basis of Yoga practice in both courses, with everything from the history of yoga, to breathwork and meditation.
Whether you decide to progress with the Hatha & Restorative or Vinyasa & Yin, you will learn the nitty gritty of how to teach real people and work through tricky situations that might arise.
One of the keys of success of our courses is that we support you, as an individual, to explore the practices and teachings widely, to see what works for you and to teach from the heart.
During the first steps of teaching we are right with you, providing class plans, helping you review the experience so that your confidence and knowledge can quickly grow.
“ I found the quality of teaching and shared knowledge consistently inspiring and informative. Laura has a talent for breaking down Yoga asana in a way that is accessible and easy to remember. She is also extremely knowledgable about the spiritual side to the practice and every student is taught how vital the true essence of yoga is along with being mindful about how important the roots of yoga are and the wonderful culture that created it.”
Course teachers Laura Gilmore and Ashley Russel
We respect the ancient teachings of the yogis, and experience yoga as a spiritual path with the chance for personal transformation, but share the science around the body, neurology & teaching practice. We have a down-to-earth teaching approach, with the chance to also deepen your meditation and spiritual practice.
You will enjoy the same excellent tuition and individualised support from our course teachers, who all have years of experience in different areas of expertise.
We will support you in deepening and improving your own practice, developing your own teaching style, and becoming a competent teacher on qualifying. We don’t cut corners, as we know it takes time and effort to be the best teacher you can be.
We are able to instil such confidence in our trainees because we have knowledge and we share it. Plus, we believe in each person and will support you to find your own unique voice and celebrate yourself.
Yoga in Depth
In 2020 during lockdown we launched an online Yoga in Depth course for anyone seeking to find out more about yoga from all perspectives, including history, the subtle body- chakras, prana vayus, the ease of restorative poses and yoga nidra, etc.
This course is a great way to prepare for our 200hr training courses and is helping to make our trainees even more confident and better trained by the time they become a Bristol School of Yoga Graduate.
Now available online you can start this course at any time, before a 200hr training or alongside to support the process. Yoga in Depth will help you to become familiar with Laura Gilmore’s teaching approach, and see whether you’d like to study with us further.
“I have learned so much from Yoga in Depth. I particularly liked the loving kindness, dewdrops poem, and chakra mediations and have begun to incorporate them into my life. I’m really enjoying the course! ”
Ready to find out more about each course?
Need more information?
If you’re still unsure which course to choose, one of our friendly, experienced team members can discuss your needs and help you make the choice that’s right for you.
Can’t wait for a callback? Get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you.