YOGA TEACHERS
Yoga4Health 60-hour Training 10/11 & 17/18 November 2025
The YIHA Yoga4Health programme is accredited by the Personalised Care Institute – the accrediting body set up by the Royal College of GPs and NHS Improvement for training courses in the areas of social prescribing and social care, within the framework of universal personalised care.
Yoga4Health is a 10-week programme for NHS patients at risk of chronic illness. Patients join a mixed class of up to 15 students to be led through 10 weeks of themed classes to help them develop a personal toolkit of yoga practices that support their health and wellness. They are supported to make lifestyle change and develop a daily yoga practice, and social connection is fostered through the unique structure of Yoga4Health. Patients join Yoga4Health classes through GP or Social Prescribing Link Worker referral, or by self-referral. The classes often attract support funding from a variety of sources, or are patient-funded (with up to 5 free places per course for those on low incomes).
Patients come to Yoga4Health because they are socially isolated; suffer from stress or mild-moderate anxiety/depression; are at risk of cardio-vascular disease; are at risk of Type 2 diabetes. It is highly rewarding to be able to support these patients and help them make changes that will improve their health and wellbeing and also help the NHS by reducing the number of appointments and treatments required by people who have been able to avoid chronic lifestyle-related illness.
The Yoga4Health programme was commissioned by the NHS West London Clinical Commissioning Group in 2016 and its delivery to 279 patients evaluated by researchers at Westminster University. They found statistically significant benefits across a wide range of measures, including patient activation, stress, perceived anxiety, perceived depression, and perceived social isolation/connectedness.
Westminster University Evaluation of Yoga4Health
Since 2023, YIHA has also received accreditation from the Royal College of GPs for two 6-week Yoga4NHS Staff Wellbeing courses. This qualification also enables you to deliver the staff programme alongside the patient programme.
“The course was far beyond my expectations. In fact, the data, research and knowledge that has been shared is astounding” – Yoga Teacher on recent Yoga4Health Training
“I found the course and YIHA’s work to be inspirational. I feel YIHA has created a clear professional framework from which to work within” – 2023 graduate
“I found the delivery of the course well-paced and felt honoured to have been able to take this course” – 2023 graduate
During 2023 100% of those who took this course said they would recommend it to other yoga teachers and healthcare professionals.
Professional development training to deliver the NHS-commissioned Yoga4Health 10-week Social Prescribing protocol is open to yoga teachers with a 500 hour teaching qualification (or equivalent: eg. 20 hours + 300 CPD hours) and at least three years of teaching experience with a track record of modifying postures for the physically less able.
The course involves pre-course online learning and 4 course days live on Zoom. A rich learning environment using video clips, multi-media presentations, learning sets and breakout rooms will ensure an engaging and stimulating experience. The course covers the content, delivery, evidence and logistics of delivering the Yoga4Health protocol, as well as professional practice and core values of social prescribing within the framework of universal personalised care.
Yoga4Health Training is delivered by YIHA Training Limited, set up by the YIHA main charity to run training courses and events with all profits being used to sustain the charity and deliver its charitable goals.
To apply and receive further information please email contactyoga4health@gmail.com for an application form and pre-course info