Teacher Training Testimonials
Ordered from oldest (scroll down to the most recent)
This course took me on an intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual journey through yoga. It is truely life changing. It is probably one of the most comprehensive teacher training courses around and I would recommend it to anyone who has a serious heartfelt interest in studying yoga on a deeper level either for personal development or to become a yoga teacher. Where ever your yoga may take you in the future this is a great starting point and I thank Jim from the bottom of my heart for setting me on the path of teaching yoga. Jim has great integrity and passion (as well as incredible knowledge and experience) for this course and yoga and you can't help but be inspired by this.
Khadine Morcom - Enrolled on training March, 2004.
I can highly recommend the Vajrasati course with Jim Tarran, as both comprehensive and enjoyable. As well as providing a thorough grounding in asana (poses), including anatomy, the course covers pranayama (yogic breathing), meditation, yogic philosophy, and mantra (chanting), and is Yoga Alliance-accredited. There is a strong, practical element to the training, which ensures graduates leave with plenty of teaching experience under their belts, and means that trainees can draw on the support of those who have already completed the course. Jim Tarran himself is a knowledgeable and charismatic teacher with the rare ability to inspire as well as educate his students. Training with him is undoubtedly a journey of self-discovery, as well as an ideal route to a rewarding new career.
Anita Hall - Enrolled on training February, 2005
Vajrasati yoga teacher training is a deeply rich and immersive experience. The quality of the teaching is impeccable. Jim is a warm, openhearted, authentic being, practicing and sharing his deep embodied knowledge of yoga asana and philosophy. As with all great teachers you are guided to look within - to explore, to be curious, to be playful, to test things out until you find the confidence to teach from your own heart and experience. It’s a real gift. Not only that, the people you journey alongside become a wonderfully supportive community extending well beyond the training itself. This Vajrasati course continues to have a profound effect on my life and I will be forever grateful to my teachers and sangha. I completed my 500 hours training 2005-2007 at Brighton Buddhist Centre.
Donna Shilling - Enrolled on training 2005
The Vajrasati course was always my only choice for yoga teacher training as I had previously been a student of Jim Tarran’s for about 10 years, wanting the level of exploration and commitment that a 500 hour training could bring. The course was fantastically intense, with a true emphasis on learning to teach from experience and bringing the essence of yoga to life through a grounded application of yoga philosophy and roots in the breath. The rigorous anatomical and alignment aspects were important to me as a grounding in my teaching development on individual, remedial and rehabilitative levels.
Charlotte Watts - Enrolled on training June, 2006
The Vajrasati teacher training course was life-changing for me. I embarked upon the course mainly with the intention of deepening my practise further and to have the opportunity to regularly discuss and workshop yoga - from anatomy to philosophy - with like-minded people; with two young children this sounded like a magical luxury for an afternoon a week! I now teach regular, popular classes in Brighton and the course was invaluable in giving me the confidence and the start up tools to do this.
The community of graduates and post-graduate events are hugely helpful in ensuring continuous personal development. Whereas other courses seem to produce individual teachers, the Vajrasati community is very supportive, with a mentoring scheme, and based on the idea of continued shared learning, both whilst on the course and afterwards, so that the course itself is just a start.
As a teacher, Jim's obvious commitment, enthusiasm, and ability to hold a space where students can really explore yoga in the fullest sense, make the Vajrasati teacher training incredibly deep, challenging and hugely enjoyable.
I have and will continue to recommend this course for its depth, heart and real worth.
Leonie Taylor - Enrolled on training June, 2006
After several years attending Jim Tarran's classes I embarked on the Vajrasati Teacher Training course with limited expectations of myself and my abilites, thinking of it as a way to deepen my own practice. 500 hours with Jim changed my life completely!! The course is deep, detailed, inspired and hard work - also great fun. I learnt all aspects of yoga practice - asana, philosophy, meditation, mantra and pranyama. Jim also places great emphasis on understanding the anatomical bakground to postures and breath, so that we have a better understanding and can teach safely. Teaching practice started after 200 hours of training so our practical experience grew alongside further learning.
I can barely believe that today I get such great joy from teaching my classes, individual students and even yoga holidays. I am truly grateful to Jim for his patience and support and proud to be a member of the ever growing Vajrasati community.
Rosie Waters - Enrolled on training April, 2007
Taking part in the Vajrasati teacher training has been a life changing experience. Through the process of exploring my practice there were moments of revelation, but for the most part it was a slow, continuous drip feed of information and experience that gradually build up over time. The course enabled me to develop a better connection with my body and my yoga practice became far more sensitive and rewarding. Immersing myself in this teacher training also had wider impact on my life and some old habits fell away. Because the course was two years long, I was able to integrate these changes gradually, so the effects were long lasting and are still with me 10 years later.
Jo Shaw - Enrolled on training 2007
Having already taken a teacher training in India and started teaching, I was still keen to learn more from the Vajrasati teacher training, having felt such an affinity to Jim's teaching in class. It didn't dissapoint. I was priviledged to already be teaching whilst training and could experience my teaching and confidence getting better each term. I feel it's one of the most thorough trainings out there on many different levels. It is hard work, but the the commitment was well worth it, by the time I finished I felt as if I'd just done a degree in Yoga and I can't thank Jim enough for all his hard work and encouragement. A couple of years on I still feel the effects of this training filtering through into my Yoga, my teaching and my life in general. Highly recommended.
Jackie Coulson - Enrolled on training April, 2007
I feel privileged to have undertaken the Vajrasati teacher training with Jim and my amazing co-students. The training stands out in its rigorous attention to the embodied and anatomical details of yoga while remaining engaged with an exploration and investigation of the totality of the experience, philosophy and meaning within which they are embedded. Having been involved in yoga now for almost 20 years I can honestly say that the training has been my most significant yoga experience and has provided a fantastic basis for my ongoing learning, teaching and practice. If you work hard and get from the training all that Jim has to offer you will have received a true gift.
Dr Gavin Colhart - Enrolled on training 2007
Jim's passion for yoga is infectious and frames the Vajrasati Teacher training course as a safe place to gain insight into yoga and explore the skills needed to teach it. There is a strong physical and experiential element which means learning is felt and knowledge is gained internally. Students are encouraged to discover for themselves and discuss their findings with the group which brings about a feeling of community and togetherness and this doesn't stop once you have graduated. Learning and self discovery is backed up by homework and a magical, honest and sometimes bumpy journey unfolds. The teacher training course is just the start of another journey but as usual the English language is limited in what it can describe - sometimes you just have to experience.
Trudi Kemp - Enrolled on training September, 2008
I cannot recommend this course enough. It is not only an in-depth journey into yoga and anatomy but also gets you to delve into and assess your own practise as part of the journey. The incredible depth of knowledge and warmth which Khadine and Jim share with students and graduates is inspirational. If you're looking for a teacher training course that covers it all, then look no further. The course is hard work and will challenge you but it is completely worth it.
Sarah Mead - Enrolled on training 2008
Jim gave me the space to let go; the courage to take new challenges; to know yoga as a dance of life; embrace and be proud of the life I have and the people I have the honor of teaching.
Susan Moore - Enrolled on training September, 2009
I studied on the Vajrasati Teacher Training course from September 2009 to February 2012 and felt I really learnt a lot. The style of the course meant that we learnt experientially and not just by heart, so that I really came out of it feeling like I had the ‘tools’ to teach a good class. The amount of information can feel a bit overwhelming to start with, but the nature of the course meant that this knowledge became integrated into the practice so we were learning without even realizing it! By attending classes, training days and doing the homework we were learning all the time.
The learning environment always felt very safe, relaxed and supportive and you never felt that you couldn’t ask if you weren’t clear about anything.
The structure of the course was excellent too, with each term dedicated to a set of poses. The information on each pose though is endless, so we often branched off into other areas which helped with the general learning and experience. We were always encouraged to practice lots and to start teaching a class as early as possible into term 4, once the 200 hours had been completed. We were also advised to practice with our peers, which was a nice, supportive and useful thing to do.
The course was everything I had hoped for and much more and although one can never learn ‘everything’ on the subject, we certainly covered a great deal and with continued practice, teaching and training days, continue to learn.
The fact that you can go back to the teacher training afternoons whenever you want for free is reassuring and a tribute to Jim’s generosity and quest for our ongoing learning and community.
Helen Kawolski - Enrolled on training September, 2009
I 'speak' testimonials about this course to people all the time....
Before doing the Vajrasati Teacher training I had done a Yoga teacher training in Bangalore India. Having studied sports science prior to that this training did not satisfy my urge to be able to teach to everybody regardless of their body conditions. This depth and exactness I found in the Vajrasati training. Similar to Iyengar Yoga every pose can be adapted to every need and every flexibility (through props) so that everybody has their own maximum benefit without harming their body.
However, added to that the philosophy of Yoga, the psychological and social aspects of Yoga wisdom are beautifully incorporated to make for a rounded experience of what Yoga should be beyond flexibility training. Yoga for the human inside out with a pinch of humour.
Not only did I learn to teach Yoga, not only did I learn to detect the subtle differences in seeing if someone was truly adjusted and absorbed, I also learnt so much about myself: Psychotherapy would not have got me closer to being comfortable with myself and my world. I learnt how to feel truth and how to filter my life through Yoga.
What I always remember most is how nothing was ever set in stone, every experience we had was incorporated and discussed and served to evolve the whole course over time. There was no ego there saying this is the way and no other way will do. The course was in flow because every body's uniqueness was incorporated. We were taught not just one pose for all but how to be able to find the right adapation for whoever comes into our class ourselves. Rigidity and stagnation muddies waters but this course will always stay fresh as every trainee is allowed to enhance it with their experience of their own bodies and people they train in the duration of the course. All this said it is still very hard work so be prepared for a fun, truthful, challenging, enriching, turn your views of everything around, kind of experience. This course was one of my better choices and my life made a 180 degree turn somewhere I did not believe was possible. It is just what real whole Yoga does when Jim teaches it.
Helena Salisbury - enrolled September, 2009
The Vajrasati course takes you on a journey of discovery - of yourself, life, and yoga. I'm so pleased i did it!
Being part of the Vajrasati community of teachers and friends has been invaluable, and I would recommend the course to anyone who is looking for a comprehensive and thorough foundation in teaching yoga.
Lucy Levens - Enrolled on training September, 2009
I've recently completed the Vajrasati teacher training programme (May 2013) and realise that it has been an amazing journey of exploration and growth for me. I have deepened my practice, widened my knowledge, met and being supported by incredible co-students and a buddy and am now teaching a regular yoga class which I love. I actually know my tibia from my fibula and am so grateful to Jim for his wealth of experience, humour and knowledge which he shares so generously with us all. I'm definitely delighted that I did it :-)
Nicky Crabb - Enrolled on training May, 2011
Vajrasati Teacher Training transformed the way I do yoga, and the way I live. Its hard to explain, but everything I do has been affected. In a positive way of course!
This is not a 2 week intensive that skims over stuff, but a 2 year + intensive investigation into yoga and your personal practice of it. You will learn alignment, anatomy, philosophy, meditation, pranayama, classroom management, teaching tools and much more.
And leave with new friends and a new community of teachers to support you going forward. (I’m happy to talk to anyone about my experience of it should you wish to ask me in person).
Moyra Scott - Enrolled on training May, 2011
This course is completely thorough in the content it delivers. The teachers have integrity, enthusiasm and their knowledge of yoga is inspiring. As a trainee you will be nurtured and encouraged to discover your own strengths both as a yogi and as a teacher. By the time you start teaching, no matter how nervous you are, you can be confident that you have the experience to be a great teacher.
Fiona Ring - Enrolled on training 2011
The Vajrasati training course has been amazing. Jim hands over years of experience from his own teaching in a typically generous way; little methods of explaining a movement or details of a posture which are tried and tested and which we are encouraged to investigate and fully understand for ourselves. The homeworks were brilliant (I miss them). They enabled me to gradually expand my knowledge and understanding through practice, exploration and research. They also provided a framework which worked well alongside the training hours. I love yoga and now love teaching yoga. The course has given me the confidence to do this and to follow my heart and I feel eternally grateful for this. The supportive, nurturing and fun environment that Jim creates should be recognised and celebrated, it is unique and makes this course truly special.
Zoe Gallagher - Enrolled on training March, 2012
I cannot begin to do it justice, but I know that people have no idea how wonderful it all is and we can't reach all of them without the internet. So I have done my best with words.
I undertook the course to deepen my practise, without intending to teach; there wasn't an advanced class on offer at the time. I now have a dozen or so loyal students who come to my classes once or twice a week.The course comprises experiential learning supported by judiciously chosen anatomy and foundational texts. Homeworks cover everything you need to know for your finals and to teach confidently.
The school is a democratic community. There is a feeling that we're all learning together and we all have plenty to offer. Jim is always open to learning from students, emphasising that yoga is wisdom in each moment and we can arrive here alone or with friends. He exemplifies the Buddhist conviction that our true selves go beyond identification with knowledge just as with anything else.
Jim shares a deep working knowledge of yoga anatomy and physiology that he persistently draws on to enable students to learn through practise. He is able to answer endless questions kindly, whilst implicitly helping us to see that sometimes questions only beget more questions. He is able to explain difficult concepts whilst helping us to see their inherent limitations. Jim brings masses of empirical knowledge to the course and introduces students to many important Buddhist texts.
For me, the course felt like learning whilst having fun. I have made friends that I hope to keep. It's been the most enjoyable studying I've ever done.
Lisa Murphey - Enrolled on training March, 2012
Jim Tarran's Yoga Teaching Training is brilliant in so many ways I've decided to sit myself down and list some of them in order to do them justice.
1. Miraculously I've conquered my fear of speaking to groups. At the beginning of the course I didn't imagine this would be possible because I was shy and softly spoken. The kindly, nurturing environment of the school and Jim's ability to identify a student's strengths and make you believe in yourself means I'm now teaching around four or five classes a week - and growing more confident about myself as a teacher with each class. Teaching has been truly transformative and has brought me great joy.
2. A robust understanding and knowledge of anatomy - Jim integrates the theory into the practice at every stage. So anatomy is no longer an abstract subject but something you learn about as you move. This means that bones, muscles, ligaments seep into your consciousness whether you like it or not.
3. Developing a personal yoga practice - although I'd done yoga for nearly 15 years when I started the training, the course helped me go much deeper. Homework encourages you to experiment with yoga - one week focusing handstands, another getting into the Savasana or meditation, mantra or breathing and once doing a three hour session. I got the confidence to trust my own judgement and be much more creative when I move. teach, practice. I'm not relying on a teacher any more. I also gained an intense feeling of "prana" or energy and can carry this around with me most of the time now. Yoga isn't just what happens in class or on a mat I have it with me at the bus stop and even the Tesco checkout.
4. Making yoga history and philosophy meaningful to you - I loved researching and reading surrounding the course. Jim integrates the history and philosophy as you go along. It is not an intellectual abstraction but something to be conscious of at each step. Homework encourages you to meditate on yogic principles such as non violence, self reflection, surrender. They are not things to simply learn by rote but to integrate into your practice and daily life.
5. Friendship/sangha I didn't start the course expecting to make friends and I was nervous at the possibility of people pretending to be nice because everyone is suppose to be "nice" in yoga. Of course you can't expect to hit it off with everyone but I've made some lovely supportive friendships - and found people who understand me and have given me amazing support during difficult times and bounced ideas around with me, and deepened my understanding of yoga and given me inspiration and the strength to keep going.
6. Self acceptance - Jim's style of yoga is faithful to Patanjali's yoga sutras which speak of integration, harmony and the "silencing of the mind". Obviously there is no miracle cure for the worries, doubts and troubles that come up on a daily basis. I've not become a perfect person. I regularly trip up, but I seem to pick myself up quicker than before. It's not rocket science. I simply unroll my mat and do some simple movements or lie in savasana and tune into breath, heart beat, muscle, skin, bone, energy flow. This always makes me feel better. So now yoga has become a substantial part of my life - the heart of my life. It is a refuge when I need it but not an escape because it always gives strength to go back into the world.
Heidi Dore - Enrolled on training March, 2012
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Vajrasati Yoga teacher training to anyone that loves yoga, whether it's to deepen your practice or gain a reputable teaching qualification with a wonderful school. I loved the teacher training course, it was great fun and I'm so glad that I did it. Jim is a fantastic teacher, kind, honest, understanding and extremely knowledgeable about anatomy, asanas and yoga philosophy, he's also quite funny! The weekly homework gives you the opportunity to learn through experimenting and exploring your ideas further. I really enjoyed doing the anatomical drawings, researching and learning more about yoga philosophy and practicing and reflecting on the effect of the asanas and meditation. Vajrasati is such a friendly and supportive school and I have made many lifelong friends, I'm very grateful to Jim, Khadine, my fellow students and everyone else that helped and encouraged me.
Kathy Gullett - Enrolled on training May, 2013
Two years at Vajrasati school are a beautiful journey. It is a journey of exploration and discovery of your deeper self.
While you are studying Yoga, to either deepen your self-knowledge or become a yoga teacher, you will naturally start to evolve, as the by-product of studying here, is a transformation within oneself. This is something what will naturally happened during the study, and I believe it is because we are guided to experience within ourselves all that what we are learning, and all that knowledge what we are willing to pass on our students. We are learning out of experience, so then there is a deeper understanding of the subject itself.
To be at Vajrasati school is not only to study a subject of Yoga, but it is to be in such a loving environment with loads of support from Jim, Khadine and other members of the school.
You will find yourself surrounded by supportive community of likeminded people with deeply humanitarianly orientated thinking. I found this as something very valuable and beautiful at Vajrasati School. It is the energy all around you which creates a ground for you to grow.
Jim and Khadine are offering a nurturing environment for a growth of the students and they both are dedicated to teachings and passing their long term knowledge on their students out of deep passion and love for this subject. Beside that they both keep studying and growing so the course is then richer year by year.
The course is full of amazing homework which I found deeply enjoyable and they kept me focused all the time during these two years. I found them very deep, as they are based on your personal discoveries, observation and experience.
The course focuses on Patanjali’s yoga sutras as much as on physical asanas, Buddhism, Tantra all dissolving into one subject which I would just call YOGA.
Jim has got a gift to observe his students, and to treat one as an individual and he is sensitive to pick up where the stuck energy is, and where one might needs support. He will then work on that with you, without you even noticing it. What you will notice is the flow of energy.
I feel Khadine brought a beautiful Jin energy into training. She is very nurturing, supportive and knowledgeable teacher. I feel her deep passion and commitment towards the subject of yoga and I found the course is enriched by her presence, creating a harmonious flow. She is a very inspiring being.
She is always willing to support students even outside the school and I personally found Khadine as a great support during my studies.
The course is Raw like a delicious Raw cake. It all goes with the flow and naturally evolves. It attracts a wonderful energy and if you are reading these testimonials than I can tell you, you are reading it for a good reason. The reason is to enter this beautiful journey of YOGA and inner transformation.
Eva Kozacikova - Enrolled on training May, 2013
Two years teacher training with Jim was one if the most influential times of my life. The course goes so deep and you learn so much without even really noticing it. Now that I have finished I realise just how much knowledge filtered through. I enjoyed every minute of it, even the times when I thought I didn't want to do my homework, when I did it, I loved it. The Vajrasati course brought yoga into my whole being in a way that is quite indescribable. It took me a while to find Jim and when I did I realised that his course was the one for me. I will forever be grateful to the friend who recommended I go to his Hanover class on Monday night where my incredible journey deeper into yoga began. I had looked into various courses and thought about going to India but nothing really grabbed my attention until i saw the Vajrasati course. I was attracted to the fact that it was two years of intense study, and encouraged teaching from the heart. The course gives you the confidence to trust your own experiences and to learn from each other, developing your own teaching style, it's not about copying Jim. I feel privileged to be a part of such a beautiful school. It is not just a teacher training course, you become part of a community, you are supported, loved and encouraged. The learning never stops and that is exciting and inspiring. Namaste.
Sarah Pailthorpe - Enrolled on training May, 2013
When looking for a yoga school I wanted a course that was flexible with working and looking after young children – Vajrasati offered this in it being one afternoon a week. Often people talk about going away for two weeks or a month to train as a yoga teacher to be ‘absorbed’ in their training, which I am sure has huge value, but for me the whole two years were absorbing and to be going through this journey while still very much embedded in your own stuff - real life: children, work, relationships was a more real and practical experience. Financially it also made sense for me – being able to pay termly rather than one big investment was manageable; also I started teaching after the first year and this financed the remainder of the course. So practically this course was accessible for me.
The course itself was far more than I expected. I came to the school wanting to change my life however I think my focus in yoga was far more upon asana; I felt that the physical aspect of yoga was something that I would have in my life for the duration and I wanted to know that I was doing asana correctly to enable me to be physically strong and flexible for as long as I could be, so I wanted to know I was doing it right. The course has definitely given me a sense of how to do asana, with my breath as my guide. My practice has changed immensely. I no longer push myself into a posture but breath into it. I don’t ‘think and try’ but ‘feel’ my body melt into and absorb a posture. Asana feels like a cleansing for the body a reforming for the nervous system and the physical mass of muscle, tendon, fascia but it is also a cleansing for the mind, peace. I think I felt this before the course but not so completely or clearly. Meditation has become far more part of yoga, and I see the whole as important, mantra, meditation, pranayama, can change the mind and body as fundamentally as asana.
Within the training we focused on all aspects of yoga. Home works such as: weekly meditation, a three hour practice and weekly mantra took me straight to the heart. Having the time to do such in depth personal study over the two years really worked for me. The course has reminded me of my deep connection with nature, movement and the energy that is there in both.
Being able to attend a lot of classes while training is beneficial as is your own teaching practice. There are many classes available with teachers and senior teachers so you can deepen your practice in this way along with numerous workshops and retreats – which deepen your training alongside yoga school. After term four you begin to teach and this is where much of the learning takes place – to adapt what you are learning within yoga school to your own classes is vital; you really get to know how to teach asana to different bodies, to learn what comes up for different individuals to explore resistance. Also, to develop fluency in your teaching and become fully comfortable with the practice. I taught 3-6 classes a week in the second year and it really helped me to learn while having the school to fall back on.
I have found friendship. I think we are like a family – there is a strong bond of love and respect in the school. We have all showed our raw selves, this process strips away like peeling an onion. There have been many tears and a lot of laughter; there is a real focus on sangha - friendship and community we support each other – there is no competition, we have all come on this journey together. Having trained several years ago I still feel part of the school and this family. After training there are graduates days that you need to attend and workshops and classes that continue to develop your understanding and root you in the practice. I have felt deep joy and happiness this is the best thing I have done for myself utterly life changing. It is a turning point and I am deeply grateful that I found Vajrasati.
Gwyneth - Enrolled on training May, 2013
Living as we do at this decisive point in history where humankind stands poised on the threshold of a leap in planetary consciousness, we are blessed to have recourse to the practical instruction of sages and teachers such as Patanjali and Iyengar, as well as the enlightened wisdom of souls like Papa Ji and Mooji.
This is the sensitive, spiritual lineage from which Khadine and Jim both descend and draw. Go to them and they will show you how to support others as they seek to crack open the shell of their contacted self and access what is eternal and divine. What K&J offer is more than equal to our ages' unique challenges and, in common with their yogic peers, points directly to the heart.
Studying Vajrasati yoga will enrich you beyond words and prepare you to share the greatest gift with those who are ready to listen: Realisation of our own shared, true nature.
Alistair McCall - Enrolled on training 2014
Life changing!
All I was hoping to get out of the Yoga Teacher training was to be a little fitter. Admittedly not a high goal. But instead, as time passed, effortlessly, it changed my life. "Like water piercing through a rock". It revealed the light from within. I cannot recommend the Vajrasati school enough. Vajrasati provides an in-depth understanding of a wide variety of subjects - anatomy, Sanskrit, philosophy, teaching tools and technics - a strong basis that allows us to investigate by ourselves, with the whole important support of the school, and fellow students - a gang of yoga buddies, that makes it ever more personal, during the training and beyond. I am ever so grateful to Jim and Khadine for creating a space for such a school to thrive, and to all the students who make the group a safe and collaborative place for sharing experiences.
Céline Durchon - Enrolled on training 2014
A beautiful thorough teacher training that continually pays reverence to yoga and its roots. I was a 200hr trained teacher when I joined with a years experience and I’m so grateful I found myself on this training! I found it very nurturing as well as rigorous. It equipped me to really welcome everyone to my classes. The time spent in understanding the very small details necessary in asana and pranayama to really support an individual is what I feel elevated my teaching as well as the very large amount of time spent in studying the yoga sutras and other text and or elements key with in yoga philosophy. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of yoga as a whole, their practice and or their teaching.
Submitted by Tiffany Mendel - Enrolled on training 2014
Since completing the course it has become apparent just how much it has given and how it keeps on giving. It's as if the course plants abundant seeds that keep coming to fruition.
Jim and Khadine continue to learn and investigate constantly and they inspire the same in the teachers they produce. The depth and breadth of their knowledge of asana, pranayama, texts, mantra and meditation is awesome and their Sanskrit is pretty impressive too.
Combine this with their honesty, humility, sense of fun and their passion for yoga and it's a winning formula.
The course doesn't spoon feed the students instead it fosters open heartedness, a spirit of enquiry, attention to detail, sensitivity and encouragement to develop with integrity in a way that suits each student teacher.
I can't recommend Jim and Khadine enough as teachers and mentors and during the course they share generously- an opportunity not to be missed.
Naomi Law - Enrolled on training 2014
The Vajrasati Yoga School teacher training courses in Brighton & London succeed in crystallising the knowldege of thousands of years of yoga philosophy, Tantrik practices, human anatomy and the phenomenon of modern postural yoga into a two year, 500HR syllabus.
I entered the course with a need to go deeper, to understand the origins of the many different components that make up the yogic path and to experience for myself the transformation that comes from learning to teach.
I recall some of the first classes where I felt overwhelmed and unsure as to whether I had made the right decision. Was I yogic enough? Was my practice strong enough? Would my habitual patterns ease off to give me enough space to explore something new in their wake? Thankfully Jim and Khadine held a supportive and caring space that continually inspired me to move deeper in my practice on all levels, encouraging enquiry, study, practice, kindness and unconditional self love.
As a group we explored together how asanas could be taught, learning by doing, never taking anything we were told to be the truth unless we had a direct experience of it. This stays with me as my teaching is authentic as long as I can connect with the truth in each word or instruction that I share.
The energy of the Vajrasati sangha showed me how it feels to be part of a living, thriving spiritual community. I especially enjoyed the generosity of time and knowledge of my yoga buddy who went out of her way to support me, always there for a chat about homeworks, assessments and to soften the ups and downs of such a powerful process of self reflection.
The senior teachers also ran a program of supplementary workshops throughout the year that were excellent and energised my personal practice further.
I was thrilled and nervous to be teaching at the end of year one. Being able to digest learnings and practice teaching with students for the second year was a huge boost to my confidence. There was always space in the class to check in as a group about our questions and I'm grateful to the integrity and openness of fellow students who shared open heartedly.
If you're considering a yoga teacher training course then this is hands down the most comprehensive, supportive, inspiring, fun and transformational 2 years you could have! Enjoy and welcome to the family.
Tom Cowan - Enrolled on training 2014
I've already been going to Yoga classes regularly for 12 years when I discovered Vajrasati style, but it's only when I discovered Vajrasati that I truly started practicing Yoga. The Vajrasati Teacher Training course has taken me even deeper into the Yogic journey opening up the world of meditation, pranayama, yoga philosophy and sanskrit, all of which have increased my understanding not just of Yoga but of Life, the world and of myself. During the course, I felt that the knowledge I’m gaining is not only coming from Jim and Khadine but also from everyone else on the course. The (dreaded) homework were a massive part of the learning process, beyond information, the homework gave access to true knowledge, the type that comes from personal experience.
The attitude of honouring all styles of Yoga and welcoming what I had to offer has given me the space and confidence to truly impart my gifts to the world as a teacher. Doing the TT has changed the way I teach my dance classes for the better as well.
I still feel that I’m continuing to learn and grow with the support the Vajrasati Yoga teachers community which I’m delighted to be a part of.
Galit Mersand - Enrolled on training 2014
Vajrasati yoga
I found vajrasati yoga at a time when I was already a teacher, had my own studio and been practicing for years, but I felt stuck in my practice, I felt like I was somehow 'faking' yoga. Like I was going through the āsanas and saying the right things but it all kinda lost meaning somehow. Like I was reciting. I felt like my practice was missing some massive foundations. The Vajrasati teacher training completely changed that, I feel inspired again and found the TT hugely beneficial for 2 main reasons;
1. Sangha- coming back every week, meeting your fellowship, being committed. When Ānanda, the Buddha's cousin, told him that sangha was half of what makes spiritual life, the Buddha replied 'no ananda, it's 100% of what makes spiritual life' (The uppada suta?!). I can't stress how important that element of the TT was for me. It was one of the main reasons that I chose Vajrasati over a month holiday in India doing a quick TT there. If you want a holiday go on a holiday, but if you want good solid foundation come to the Vajrasatti TT. Which brings me to the other reason;
2. Jim and Khadine. Yoga always had a tradition of gurus, teachers, (or removers of darkness). Having these two as endless fountains of information was priceless, their knowledge, experience and attentiveness really makes the course what it is, 10/10!
Effie Love - Enrolled on training 2016
The Vajrasati teacher training programme is a fundamentally life changing training to undertake. As the course is over 2 years it gives students time to explore and digest what they are learning, whilst at the same time integrate it into their own practice. I came out the program confident to teach responding to what ever a class needs rather than from a plan, a good foundation in Indic philosophy and a strong personal practice. A personal practice that is paying dividends beyond what I could have imagined.
Jeremy Arnold - Enrolled on training 2016
Vajrasati teacher training it’s like attending to the highest degree in yoga university. Every day is a journey of self discovery learning to experience things first hand. It gave me a great foundation to apply to any of my teaching.
Roberto Rubalcava - Enrolled on training 2016
I completed the 500 hour Vajrasati yoga teacher training with Jim Tarran and Khadine Morcom last year. This is one of the most comprehensive teacher training courses available in the UK, having looked at many others and the teachers who have completed them I decided to commit to the two years and it was a fantastic journey through the history, philosophy and practice of yoga. However, it’s only now after completing my training that the real value has become apparent and that is maitri (Friendliness) and Sangha (Community).
Andrew Golding - Enrolled on training 2016
I am a freelance creative producer and have been loving yoga for 25 years - always in the ‘beginners’ class and increasingly preferring workshops where you focus on the subject for hours and days.
Being on the course has allowed me to luxuriate in my body, on the floor of a studio in a tracksuit for a day a week - what’s not to love. With fabulous friends, this was a total joy to me. The friends aspect I hadn’t considered so it was a real bonus to meet lifelong friends. I have had a ball and, although at times it has been tough and felt self indulgent when cash has been tight - it’s been one of the best things I could have done in my life.
The weekly sessions were a joy - good friends, with a sense of enquiry - super supportive, lots of laughs and also love, in a 'come as you are' way. Twenty years ago I had trained to be a drama teacher and at that time was overwhelmed by the responsibility of teaching my subject and was uncomfortable about taking charge of the room. This was the right course for me as the Vajrasati ethos encourages the teacher to lead and at the same time facilitate and encourage people to develop their own relationships with their bodies, movement and the subject. I definitely still found it challenging to be at the front of the class however I have started to develop my own style and voice.
Having just finished the course I feel I have just started on this journey - and I am excited to see how my relationship with my subject develops. So far I have been getting to know my local local scene attending classes, watching others enjoy and experience yoga, teaching friends and family and the best of all enjoying my own practice and deepening love of the subject.
Attending Vajrasati Yoga School has been one of the finest things I could do at this stage in my life. It reconnected me with the mystery of the subject and the mystery of me! In a good way not boring, egocentric ‘you're a piece of work’ way but in a self accepting and kind way. This subtle change in attitude has rippled through the whole of my life, my relationships, my attitude to work and play, there is definitely more ease, love and trust.
What I got from the course is an increased inquisitiveness about yoga and a real sense of ease with some of the more challenging aspects of the subject. My learning style was challenged by the anatomy and by the Sanskrit - however Jim and Khadine are so supportive and encouraging and although there is rigour it manages to also take into account different people’s learning styles.
Amanda White - Enrolled on training 2016
For me, the teacher training school didn’t end when the 2 years were done. Instead, it was like the seeds of my learning were planted, harvested and nurtured throughout those years, and now, what I’ve learnt is blooming.
The community that the school creates is one of ease and friendship; meaning that it is non-dogmatic and has an array of different but soul-full people, easy to get on with, and plenty of belly laughs.
During the training I loved learning the beautiful language of Sanskrit, understanding anatomy and the discipline of studying for the homework every week. Jim and Khadine deliver the teaching in such a way that fosters an encouragement of self-study, shared learning and are really humble about the expertise they carry. (They are so, so knowledgeable and open about many, many different aspects of yoga philosophy, anatomy, spiritual paths, yoga lineage and more.) Both Jim and Khadine are so willing to hold space for their students’ journeys. As teachers and facilitators they are what I like to call ‘permission givers’ of what it means to have the whole human experience. This meant for me that I was easily able to weave what I was learning at yoga school into my life, and continue to do so now.
Sophie Allen - Enrolled on training 2016
I started the Vajrasati Teacher Training during a difficult time in my life, when I simply wanted to retreat and hide away from the world. However, I knew that it would be the best and most healing thing I could do for myself, whilst under no illusion that it would be easy … and I was right. This course was everything I’d hoped it would be, and more. That is not to say that it wasn’t painful at times (I don’t mean physically), but it was also fascinating, deeply nourishing, and truly liberating. So that despite my own personal fluctuations, which are part and parcel of any journey, my absolute trust in yoga and in my teachers, Jim and Khadine, never once wavered but only strengthened and grew (and continues to do so).
Their combined devotion to practice, deep self-enquiry, integrity, passionate research, and ongoing development facilitated the deepening of my own understanding and love of Yoga as a complete tradition. Everything they offer is based on the heart, so inevitably the real communication of yoga takes place. This allowed me to give myself entirely to the course. For two precious years, Fridays were the highlight of my week, and I structured my life around the training. Which has lain deep and strong foundations from which l continue to learn and grow. So, thanks to this course and to my teachers, I feel that I am now a student of yoga in all areas of my life, not just on the mat. I wholeheartedly loved this course, and I would say that if you love yoga this is the course for you.
Frances Hubbard - Enrolled on training 2016
Truest, most honest, informative and holistic teacher training I have come across. Spreading the course over two years is genius as it truly integrates it into your everyday life. It's so much more challenging to continue to show up week after week when learning in your day to day life, and yet, so much more rewarding. And life WILL happen to you alongside this course in ways you hadn't imagined. The wonderful thing is that you will be held not only by Jim and Khadine who lead this course, but also by the growing sangha (collective) of teachers and students in Vajrasati.
If you are looking to discover a love and acceptance for your true self, warts and all, then this is the course for you - you will disappear and reappear with a sparkle in your eye, a smile in your heart and a group of like-minded human beings to share this life with.
Tara Scammell - Enrolled on training 2016
So super grateful for this amazing and life-changing course. Loved it all and loving being part of the Vajrasati community now. I learned to teach with integrity and from my heart and hope to pass that on to my students. Thank you, Jim and Khadine!
Katrin Baumgarten - Enrolled on training 2016
If you have a passion for yoga you wish to grow amongst knowledgeable and ethical practitioners then I highly recommend this course. Expect to learn more than āsana - it's a real immersion into the fundamentals of traversing the yoga path. Encompassing the rich heritage and tradition of Yoga from scripture, sutra and beyond. I'd say it's life changing - for practitioners and teachers alike.
Donna Raftery - Enrolled on training 2017
My intention as I started the course was to deepen my practice of yoga and my understanding of its philosophy and traditions. I was already teaching children but was not sure about teaching adults after completing it. My 2 years doing the course took me far beyond my intention and expectations. I went into an incredible learning journey covering all aspects of yoga; from body anatomy to the yoga sutras, from physical adjustments to yoga texts, from Sanskrit language to mantras. The course offered my soul a very deep personal experience always supported by Khadine and Jim, as their commitment & passion for the practice is embedded in all the school does. I felt held in an intertwined field open to self-enquiry, to connecting to my true essence and to sharing our own experiences of yoga through a genuine process of integration. I will forever be grateful to this course and feel truly honoured to be part of the Vajrasati Community. I unreservedly recommend this TT course.
Tika Duffy-Uribe - Enrolled on training 2017
I loved the hands on approach of this course to explore the postures in a playful and inquiring way. It has deepened my own practice which I now feel confident to share with other folk.
Tess Garret - Enrolled on training 2017
I had the most wonderful experience with this community. the teaching was in depth insightful and fun. it really landed as we had time to integrate everything we learnt over a longer period of time and are encouraged to bring anything we needed or difficulties back to the training to discuss. Jim and Khadine are really really cool and the most wonderful wise and knowledgeable souls. I now teach 5 times a week and often lean into them when needed. they continue to be a pillar of support
Zoe Witchell - Enrolled on training 2018
My mum is a yoga teacher so I was lucky to begin my practice as a teenager. I completed a 200-HR TT in Goa when I was old enough and returned to the UK to teach dynamic yoga classes in London. I felt like my teaching was ticking some boxes but I was not able to fully align the integrity and conscientiousness of the yoga I had known from my childhood with the apparent demands of the westernised postural yoga industry. When I signed up to the Vajrasati Teacher Training, I think I had only attended one class with its Founder, Jim Tarran. From that point on, I instinctively knew that I was gazing along a clear path towards integration, both as a teacher and seeker. With Vajrasati, you learn how to comprehend and communicate anatomical instructions and philosophical concepts in a truly accurate and relatable way. Plus, the course and its friendly community encourage discernment and peer-led learning, so your development is supported long after the course itself ends.
Lucy Sabin - Enrolled on training 2018
The Vajrasati school of yoga is full of experienced practitioners. The course leaders, Jim and Khadine, are incredibly knowledgeable and certainly practice what they preach. They live yoga on and off the mat, and gently encourage us to do the same. The course itself is a perfect blend of asana, anatomy, philosophy and fun. I would highly recommend this course.
Kate Winter - Enrolled on training 2018
This course has transformed my life and my practice. I’m not one to gush, I’m more a minimalist kinda gal. I’ve been practicing for over twenty years and have only really understood the purpose of yoga through this course. I knew it was calming and made you feel good and maybe got you a little healthier etc. But realising the purpose of āsana (postures), that they are one aspect and really just a signpost to yoga (integration of mind, body, breath). There is also the use of mantra, prānayāma, meditation and more... all can be utilised to drop into moments of yoga... meditative absorption. After doing a 200 hour TT I felt like I had had an introduction to yoga. A decent introduction for sure but this (Vajrasati) two year course is so in depth in every aspect it was bordering on overload at the beginning. The Sanskrit, anatomy, history, and the magnifying glass look at the āsana’s themselves. It’s one of the best courses in the country. If you’re thinking of doing a TT, do this one.
Lisa Nichols-Rider - Enrolled on training 2018
Jim & Khadine offer an in-depth teaching and exploration of traditional yoga that is rooted in philosophy and experiential practice. They guide you through the many layers and realms of traditional yoga, authentically, with humour and, and with scholarly attention to detail. It's a real treat to find 'real' yoga that is being taught with lightness and passion, by both of them. A truly amazing course for those that seek a deeper understanding of traditional yoga philosophy and its practice.
Jo Browne - Enrolled on training 2018
The detail and depth gained from this course is huge, going through the asanas week by week is fascinating, the detail and variations we learnt along the way furnished me with a huge amount of knowledge - and not just the asanas, the philosophy we studied, the mantra, the rich pranayama and all this has deepened my own practice hugely. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of this course, even the homeworks! The reading around the course exposed me to philosophies and ways of living/thinking as relevant today as ever and has armed me with strategies In which to think/cope with what life throws at us.. Plus it has given me confidence, which grew week by week, to actually stand up in front of people and teach! Practicing and learning with Jim and Khadine has been wonderful, a privilege, so much knowledge, experience and fun whilst learning!
Sally Cook - Enrolled on training 2019 - (graduated 2021)
The Vajrasati TT is beautifully conceived from beginning to end; run by two of the most knowledgeable, experienced and warmest guides you could ever hope for, the content itself is a wonderful blend of philosophy, anatomy and practical practice which together makes this one of the most transformative journeys you will experience. Needless to say that the Vajrasati community is a hugely welcoming and nurturing environment conducive to shared learning and inquisitive dialogue. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone looking to tap into their inner creative space.
Landa Acevedo-Scott- Enrolled on training 2019 - (graduated 2021)
I attended Vajrasati yoga teacher training as a yoga teacher having completed previous trainings. I enrolled on the course with the desire to continue my professional development as a teacher and to deepen my own practice and understanding of yoga. I’ve always thought of Vajrasati school as yoga university. This is a course for people passionate about yoga who truly want to deepen their knowledge and understanding and practice. It is a self reflective course deeply routed in yogic tradition. The course evolves as it continually embraces new ideas/ translations/ perspectives to reflect more deeply on what is at the essence of yoga… Everything is taught and learnt from an experiential level where we are invited to ask How and Why? Vajrasati is more than a yoga training. It is a community and a movement in yoga. The two years of my training have been a journey of transformation of which I will be forever grateful and continue to develop within. I truly recommend this course!
Gabriella Cook - Enrolled training in 2020 - (graduated 2022)
Beautifully curated course by Khadine & Jim. So grateful to be part of this epic 2 year-long journey full of some major ups (meeting some great people and really learning so much about myself through yoga, and through the scriptures). Of course with that also came a few challenging moments where I've been up against some major resistance. 2 years may seem a long trip but personally that time has solidified me and the way I teach. I'd highly recommend this course as it very well deepens your own practice, but it also prepares you to be a great yoga teacher if you like. Thank you both for your amazing work, may your magic continues to spread far and wide.
Rocki - enrolled on training 2020 - (graduated 2022)
Vajrasati teacher training is an absolute joy. Just a complete and utter joy! I cannot recommend it highly enough. The training was so expansive and engaging, a real active, living learning experience. I felt empowered in my learning throughout and gained knowledge of all areas of yoga. Jim and Khadine teach with passion, love and curiosity. Vajrasati teacher training has been life changing, totally enriching and also was loads of fun. Do it!
Lizzie Wilcox - enrolled on training in 2020 - (graduated 2022)
My experience of Vajrasati yoga teacher training was so much fun and fair amount of work, so much laughter and a lot of dedication. I learnt so much on so many levels. It's so hard to describe without sounding cheesy or like a cliché, and it's neither of those things. The love and encouragement I received allowed me to gain knowledge of things I would usually find really difficult, such as, Sanskrit and yoga philosophy or even more challenging postures. Instead I was working along, on par with my peers and enjoying it. It's literally one of the best things I have ever done and with incredibly lovely people, in a beautiful setting. I would recommend it with the highest of accolades, this is no generic yoga teacher training this is something else you should try it if you can.
Zoe Boarer Pitman- enrolled on training 2020 - (graduated 2022)
I spent two years undergoing the TT with the Vajrasati school and can't recommend it enough. It is NOT a cookie cutter yoga course - this is a deep dive exploration into the philosophies, practises, history and of course modern derivatives of the yoga tradition. A potent combination of theory, philosophy and physical asana practise, broken down by posture types, terms and homework, this is about as deep as it gets. There is a strong focus on your own experience, and expressing this through the medium of yoga, which is refreshing and something to embrace in a world when many people say 'there is only one way'. They kept the school running through two lockdowns and its' still going strong. Highly recommend,
Matt Matheson - enrolled on training 2020 - (graduated 2022)
The Vajrasati teacher training was one of the best things that I have ever done. I had wanted to develop my practice beyond just drop in classes for a while, and this course was perfect for that. While doing it, you break down the postures and really delve into how each one is structured and taught. But there is more to this training than just the poses. Over the two years, you are shown and encouraged to immerse yourself in all aspects of yoga. We covered topics I knew a little about, to ones I had never heard of. There is in depth study of mantra, pranayama, meditation and yogic philosophy. Not to mention the history of yoga and a framework explaining how we got to where we are with yoga teaching in the West. It also highlighted to me that yoga exists off the mat as well. The support and inspiration of the senior teachers, as well as the wider Vajrasati community, has helped me to integrate my yoga practice into my everyday life and given me a solid foundation for teaching others.
Jesse Marshall - enrolled on training 2020 - (graduated 2022)
The two-year, 500 hour Vajrasati course was transformational in many ways. What drew me to the course was the commitment to yoga philosophy and theory, and this was the backbone of the course throughout. At the same time, Jim and Khadine also both have in-depth knowledge of anatomy and science of the body. They are also both very intuitive yoga teachers, and you feel you are learning an art form through attending their classes and teaching sessions. Jim and Khadine are committed to building a community of supportive practitioners, and there is a buddy system which is a wonderful resource throughout the course. Beyond this, staying part of the school and community helps maintain knowledge and confidence. I had no previous teacher training and the two years allows you to steadily build up over time. Jim and Khadine are incredibly warm, caring people, and there is a real emphasis on individual learning and pastoral support.
Ali - enrolled on course 2021 - (graduated 2023)
I discovered Vajrasati Yoga randomly when a friend invited me on a yoga retreat in Scotland and Jim was the teacher. I didn’t like yoga. I thought it was just stretching. That weekend was life changing for me. It suddenly made sense. I felt connected to myself and my body in a way I can’t remember ever feeling. I went on other Vajrasati retreats afterwards and then harboured the desire to do the teacher training for a few years whilst trying to discover other types of yoga in Scotland but I could never find what Vajrasati offered. Ultimately, I moved from Scotland to Brighton in order to pursue it. I didn’t do it to teach but because Jim and Khadine’s knowledge is so deep and vast and honest and I just wanted to know and understand more. Their knowledge of Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, all things yoga and anatomical is encyclopaedic. It’s been transformative for me.
Janet Craig enrolled 2021 - (graduated 2023)
I completed the course in 2023 and thoroughly enjoyed it. We received a comprehensive training manual and studied the Yoga Sutras in depth. We practised teaching each week, with ongoing assessments throughout the course. The homework thoroughly supported the learning we did in class and covered many different subjects on philosophy and anatomy, basically all things yoga! There were regular check in's with us to see how we were doing with the course and we were also assigned previous students to help assist us with any questions we had. I enjoyed the discussions and support and the never-ending depth of knowledge from Jim and Khadine
Ali Halam enrolled 2021 (graduated 2023)
The Vajrasati Teacher training is a truly life changing experience. It is such an incredibly rich and in depth training from tutors who really are experts in every aspect of yoga. Jim and Khadine have decades of invaluable experience and learning to share. They are deeply inspirational teachers in every way.
The broader Vajrasati community of teachers and students is also a wonderfully diverse collection of people and is a really essential part of what makes the course special.
I can’t recommend it enough and feel confident in saying it’s the best yoga teacher training available. I’m so glad I decided to do the 500 hr teacher training.
Kathryn Jordan enrolled 2021 (graduated 2023)
I had wanted to do a yoga course for a long time, but I wasn't interested in the conveyor belt courses. I wanted to learn, the history, the philosophy, the purpose of the poses. Why even practice yoga? What is it? And this is exactly what the Vajrasati Teacher Training provides over two years, that and more.
Lisa Franson enrolled 2021 (graduated 2023)