Brilliant teachers integrate two strengths:
a) a deep understanding of themselves and their field
b) the capacity to communicate and connect
The Estuary Yoga Teacher Training in North Melbourne grows both of these facets with its blend of instructional and interactive Lectures, sequencing design Labs, Open Mat teaching events, and our signature Precedent Study programme. This is a pragmatic teacher training for those who aspire to share the transformative potential of yoga, while expanding their own life-long journey.
This course will help you build confidence, steadiness and ease in how you hold yourself on the mat, in a yoga shala, and in the world. Whether you’re wanting to know more and dig deeper into your practise, to find a new purpose and passion in life, or become a confident and inspiring yoga teacher, this course is for you. Explore beyond what you thought yourself capable of, and discover connections and friendships which nurture and enliven far beyond this incredible adventure.
2025 INTAKE now open
SEMESTER ONE: July 19th to September 20th
SEMESTER TWO: October 11th to December 13th
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? Book a Y.T.T CONNECTION CALL
There’s a lot of information about the course below, but sometimes it’s just better to have a chat with someone. This is a Zoom call where you can speak directly to Estuary owner Andrew Lawes. As the course creator and lead teacher, he is able to answer any questions you may have and help you determine if this course is right for you.
Course Structure
A Format that prioritises quality learning
The Estuary Yoga Teacher Training course takes a slow and steady approach, offering a week-to-week structure that spreads the learning out over two 10-week semesters. Our philosophy is to mirror the tried and tested educational format laid out by universities all over the world, which prove that a small amount of new information each week with plenty of opportunity to practice new skills and receive feedback as you learn is the best way to deeply understand and integrate new knowledge.
2025 SEMESTER Dates
Our semesters use the school year format and align with Terms 3 and 4, as school holidays are often an opportunity to vacation for some students.
SEMESTER ONE: July 19th to September 20th
SEMESTER TWO: October 11th to December 13th
COURSE COMPONENTS
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: 4.5h Lecture & Lab Workshop series, where you’ll uncover the major content for the week in a practical, supportive environment. These Lectures will allow you to deep dive into asana, pranayama, philosophy, anatomy and much more, and are paired with a Lab where you’ll develop teaching skills such as sequencing, adjusting and a myriad of class styles to ultimately find your own way of designing classes..
OPEN MAT: Much like an Open Mic, these are incredibly valuable opportunities to practice teaching with your peers and receive meaningful feedback weekly. This helps you to cement your understanding, overcome nerves, and really embody the joy of teaching yoga.
SELF-DIRECTED: Each week’s Saturday session is supported by short-format videos to work through in your own time, chief of which is Estuary’s signature Precedent Study series which will help you learn different styles of cueing, class planning and facilitating.
PERSONALISED PRACTICE: The course includes an All-Access membership for the full duration, encouraging you to practise as much as you like. Depending on your own goals, mentoring with the teaching team is included for regular classes so you can choose to receive extra focus to deepen your asana practice and further integrate the learnings into mind and body.
ELECTIVES: A wide-ranging selection of additional interest workshops, ranging from multi-week series for deepening asana or meditation, additional teaching and mentoring practise with real-class opportunities, to one-off workshops to deepen understanding of the physical body and myofascial release, meditation, nervous system regulation, the energetic body and more.
EDUCATION PRINCIPLES
INTEGRATION
The theoretical comes alive through direct experience. Our focus in this training is on practical, applied learning. We approach the yoga practice through observing, integrating, and continually engaging in relationship with the practice in all its physical and beyond physical forms. The transformative capacity of our practice is revealed not just through the shapes we make on a mat; it is embodied and lived in the shape of our lives.
PLAYFUL EXPERIMENTATION
One of the best ways to check one’s understanding of a topic is to try and teach it to someone. This requires a distillation of the information, reorganising it in a way that can be communicated clearly and authentically. Each week’s module has time set aside to start sequencing, cueing and teaching with the focus content straight away. This simultaneously helps students cement their understanding and develop their confidence in teaching.
FEEDBACK
Students have opportunities each week to develop their teaching skills and confidence, and to receive individualised feedback on their progress and next steps. They also learn to offer suggestions to others with encouragement and discernment, furthering their capacity to support their own growing teaching practice.
RECIPROCITY
Students are encouraged to practise, experiment and teach together, bringing their own unique interests and flavours into the shala and be inspired and supported in community. Learning thrives in an ecosystem of support.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
TECHNIQUES (90 HOURS)
Asana lectures and labs for unpacking poses, transitions, alignment, progressions, cueing, modifications and adjustments. Pranayama lab. Foundations of Yin Yoga.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY (35 HOURS)
Study of Precedent Classes (great example classes by established teachers) for analysing class structure, language and style. Sequencing frameworks. Weekly sequencing labs to practise putting each Teaching Module’s content into context. Specific lectures on Cueing, Refining and Adjusting; Voice, Language and Presence; Creativity and Inspiration.
ANATOMY AND BIOMECHANICS (25 HOURS)
Learn functional movements and ranges of the skeleton, muscles and joints and their connections within asana. Understand the respiratory system via pranayama, and their link to the greater ecosystem of the body. Learn the biomechanics of balance and stability with transitions.
PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS AND LIFESTYLE (30 HOURS)
Explore Patanjali’s Sutras, with special focus on the yamas and niyamas. Connect traditional thought from the Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita with modern ideas. Learn to use these philosophical and ethical considerations to inform one’s teaching and to create strong sankalpa. Unpack the business of yoga and how to get started teaching.
PRACTICUM (38 HOURS)
Each weekly workshop includes time to practise teaching and sequencing with the content straight away. Additionally, the weekly Open Mat events are a more formal session where students can present their sequencing for the week in a realistic environment and receive feedback and mentoring.
ELECTIVES (20 HOURS: strongly recommended)
A wide-ranging selection of additional interest workshops, ranging from multi-week series for deepening asana or meditation, additional teaching and mentoring practise with real-class opportunities, to one-off workshops to deepen understanding of the physical body and myofascial release, meditation, nervous system regulation, the energetic body and more.
testmonials
”The passion and consideration that Andrew and the Estuary team infused into their YTT program was evident before the course even began. From Day 1, we were supported by a wealth of printed and online learning materials, and a sense of community within the YTT cohort.
As a registered teacher and self-confessed pedagogy nerd, I have been consistently blown away by the ingenious sequencing of the course. There were masterful parallels between the YTT content and the breadth of other offerings at Estuary: the content in lectures dovetailed seamlessly with Estuary workshops and special events; regular Estuary classes echoed asana learnings we had just undertaken through the YTT.
Before YTT, I loved taking classes here at Estuary - so it’s no surprise that their YTT course was also a world-class experience. I will be forever grateful that I yielded to my persistent curiosity and took this YTT leap with Estuary Yoga Space.”
ANITA (2024 Graduate)
“The workbook is an incredible resource, and so beautifully produced. It felt like such a precious book that I was reluctant to even write in it for weeks! The Precedent Studies were excellent as examples and templates for the week’s focus and a great resource to return to. The hands-on learning through the Open Mats was brilliant and confidence building. And the Saturday labs had such breadth and depth, it was an anchor for my week.
This course has got me ready and excited to teach yoga! More than that, it has been an unexpected delight in the generosity and wisdom of what Andrew and the team offer. It has been a journey of self discovery for many of us and an invitation into a lifelong practice of learning and offering.”
PENELOPE (2024 Graduate)
Andrew and the Estuary team are skilled teachers and inspiring individuals who genuinely care about their students. But beyond their technical skills, their compassion and empathy sincerely stand out. They approach each student with respect and understanding, recognising that everyone's yoga journey is unique. Their kindness and genuine concern for the well-being of their students create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that encourages growth and self-discovery.
Leah (2024 Graduate)
course faq’s
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It is very common to wonder “am I good enough at yoga to join a teacher training program?” Our approach is to focus less on circumstances prior to the course, and instead dive deep and absorb as much as you can during during your training. If you’ve been on the mat for 6 months or more, you’ll likely have a good understanding of the fundamentals, and more importantly, of yourself.
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~ Attendance to all 20 Saturday workshop sessions
~ Proactive participation in at least 12 Open Mat sessions
~ Accumulate at least 20 hours of Electives
~ 11 class plans throughout the courseWe understand life can be unpredictable - happy to discuss ways to navigate the unexpected as we journey together.
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Life sometimes gets in the way! 100% attendance is preferred, but it may be that you need to miss a session due to illness, an event or pre-planned holiday, and that’s ok. We record each session, and the video is usually available within two days to review. You can also book a catchup session with Andrew to go over any questions you may have, this can be in-studio or online.
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That’s absolutely ok! We all come to yoga for different reasons, and as long as you are clear on your own goals, you will get everything you’re looking for out of this training.
Our course does emphasise practical education theory, to learn by doing. Even if you don’t plan to teach after you graduate, you’re encouraged to give it a go during the course, teach bits and pieces, adjust and experiment with your peers, learn how to sequence a class, all within a safe community environment. By practicing teaching shapes, movements, techniques and connecting them to philosophy, you really cement your own understanding of how yoga weaves everything together.
It’s a transformative course, so you might surprise yourself by the end! You’ll receive your certificate, and then it’s entirely up to you whether you choose to teach. -
Your course workbook and pens. If you prefer to work on an iPad or tablet, the workbook is also available digitally. Mats, props and any other gear used during the workshops are freely provided. We’ll have a 20-30min break halfway through, so bring a snack!
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The course workbook is very comprehensive and serves as a complete resource. The weekly video content also provides more context and visualised information. A reading list is provided during the course, all of which is optional. Estuary has a small library of books which you are welcome to borrow during the training.
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You can submit your $400 deposit to secure a spot via Momence here.
We will be in touch within 2-3 business days to confirm. your spot and check in regarding the best payment options for you.
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Yes, we have four payment options to choose from after your initial deposit is received:
1. Pay in full (prior to commencement)
2. Pay by semester (two half-payments)
3. Monthly direct debit
4. Weekly direct debit
If there’s any more customising you require, we most happy to discuss and find a solution. -
CANCELLATION POLICY
100% refund (excluding deposit) if cancellation occurs more than 30 days before start date.
50% refund (excluding deposit) if cancellation between 15-30 days.
No refund available within 15 days of course commencement.
If for unforeseen and challenging circumstances you are unable to complete the course once you have commenced, the most supportive direction will be assessed on an individual basis.
PRICING
$4800
Full Course
Deposit received after 1st May
$4400
Earlybird
Deposit received on or before 1st May