“The teachers are truly committed to this work on such a deep level, and you can tell that from the way they are in the world.

I am awed by how ahead of their time they are in this work, and think it is really groundbreaking.”

Tui Williams

We believe in excellence in Yoga teacher training. For us and our students, this is far beyond teaching asana.

Contemporary Yoga is a truly holistic programme that offers a transformational experience for students that explores deep into the yoga tradition and modern movement theory to build skills that support and enhance a beautiful life of Yoga practice and teaching.

The 200+ hours of Yoga teaching training is truly to an exceptional high quality standard of teaching. The guidance and support during my training with you all has been a once in a lifetime experience.
Vicki Beatty

… diverse, enlightening and empowering. The course exceeded my highest expectations and has equipped me with a toolbox of yoga teachings that I could apply in many circumstances to a wide variety of students.
Cam McLeay

The Contemporary approach to Yoga is so much more than how we move on the mat. It speaks to how we move through life. How we are in relationship to self and in relationship to others.
Thank you for an incredibly potent, immersive and all-round epic training.
Steph Le Gros

Whether it whispers to deepen your practice or exclaims to share with others, we invite you to hear your inner calling and come explore.

Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training dives into the foundations of anatomy, alignment and movement in a way that is safe, stable, easeful and empowering.

With every breath and movement, you’ll be supported to find your own feet, resource your strength from within, and give voice to the passion that calls you.

Our next 200-hour training 2026:

Part 1: 11th - 19th July
(break day 15th)

Part 2: July - September
(Self-directed: Online modules and inquiry project)

Part 3: 26th September - 4th October (break day 30th Sept)

Venue: Meadowbank, Auckland

Course Investment: $4,895
Deposit: $1000

Inquiries and expressions of interest welcome: info@yogateachertraining.nz

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you interested in deepening your understanding and experience of Yoga practice and teaching?

Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training is in its 12th year of offering teacher trainings. We have a passionate and experienced faculty and a curriculum that encompasses the many facets of practice and teaching Yoga here in Aotearoa and beyond.

Many of our students join us to deepen their understanding of all aspects of Yoga not necessarily to teach. Although, often through the process of training, students change their mind and want to teach - sometimes beginning with their family, friends and then community.

A number of our graduates have gone on to open Yoga centres or to further specialise in movement, meditation and therapeutic disciplines.

Enrolment numbers

There will be a maximum of eight participants on training and a minimum of six.

Who this training is for?

Community of any age and agility with a passion for Yoga and learning in an in-depth, co-created, supportive environment. It is also for those committed to developing and sustaining a life-long everyday Yoga practice, and those with a keen interest in developing a teaching practice.

The 200 hour training includes in-person training blocks, supported online learning, an inquiry project, one-on-one mentorship, and opportunities to understudy core faculty classes.

Certification

To obtain your Contemporary Yoga Teaching 200 hour certificate you must successfully complete ALL components of the training including all in-person hours, the online history and philosophy module and the inquiry project as well as practicum to the satisfaction of the faculty. This training certificate is recognised by both YogaNZ and Yoga Alliance.

Graduates of the 200-hour training are empowered to:

Understand essential anatomy and physiology hands-on
Investigate and enrich their understanding and practice of yoga
Embody natural, functional movement
Grow their own sustainable and nourishing practice
Explore traditional yoga philosophy and history in a relevant way
Apply principles of biomechanics and developmental movement patterns to healthy, easeful and steady movement in the wider yoga tradition
Inquire, discuss, challenge, investigate, experience and try all learnings themselves in a safe environment, supported by their tutors and peers
Develop a full and authentic approach to yoga, asana and meditation

Deepen their personal journey, transformation and spiritual practice
Have a clear sense of their own unique offering
Give voice and confidence to their inner teacher
Embrace yoga and movement as a lifelong study
Build personal resilience and wellbeing
Teach safely, confidently and creatively in their community
Gain international recognition and accreditation to teach professionally worldwide

Part One: Diving into Practice
11th - 19th July 2026
(break day 15th)

Part Two: Philosophy, History and Inquiry
July - September 2026
(40+ hours self-directed study - online modules and inquiry project)

Part Three: Emerging to Teach
26th September - 4th October 2026
(break day 30th Sept)

Course Investment: $4,895

Deposit: $1000
(paid on registration – holds your place on training)

Let’s Break It Down

Our 200-hour yoga teacher training course content can be broken down into several parts.

Face-to-face and heart-to-heart

The majority of your training is spent directly with your tutors where you will:

Fully explore how developmental movement patterns grow into naturally-aligned asana.
Discuss groundbreaking research into human anatomy & physiology and its relevance to Yoga .
Get hands-on with bones and muscles and how they work together in asana.
Investigate yoga biomechanics with a focus on containment and stability.
Understand postural analysis, using Yoga to restore natural balance and full range of motion.
Work with the subtle energies of the body (such as Chakras) to purify the nadis and touch the natural mind.
Learn the fundamentals of Restorative Yoga and how to guide yourself and your students into deep, restful relaxation.
Discover how the Yoga tradition is about meeting each moment with presence and openness.
Experience how Yoga philosophy has the power to reshape your daily life.
Gain confidence in your teaching skills and teaching practice.

Some of the techniques and methodologies:

You will learn valuable techniques to enhance your own Yoga practice and gain the skills to teach Contemporary Yoga principles in a safe and relaxed environment:

Experiencing and investigating functional yoga
Spinal awareness and practices for spinal and joint health
Discover an embodied fluid support
Breath and Vinyasa flow from the inside out
Get creative with teaching and practicing Sun Salutations
Finding your ground and foundations in all the standing postures – yielding, gravity and breath in theory and in practice
Exploring stability, balance and neutrality in natural and easeful movement and Yoga asana
Discover a breathing, supportive and balanced core
Learn to give sensitive and intuitive adjustments that empower your students
Learn effective and empowering cueing which speaks to each individual in your class
There will be plenty of time to practice teaching and receive valuable feedback from your peers and from the senior faculty
and much much more!

Flexible learning and home study

Up to 30 hours of online learning with our bespoke philosophy course developed by Sam Loe. Note: Philosophy is also woven throughout the face-to-face training.
There are additional hours of home study: Develop your own inquiry-based journal reflecting on your learning throughout the course.
We encourage you to start your journal prior to training and to develop your own format – either “by hand” or digitally. You may like to:
- Use various writing genres: descriptive, reflective, critical, poetry, etc…
- Incorporate different visual media: photographs, drawings, video etc…
- Reflect on and record moments of your learning: What surprises me? Why? What and how am I learning? How do I feel about what I am learning? How is my Yoga evolving?
- Use your journal as a resource document where you store ideas, plans, links to websites and playlists.

Note: You will use your journal to inform your final assessments which is a reflection on your journey from the beginning (or pre) course to the end.

Training resources

A fulsome course printed manual and pdf copy (beautifully designed, regularly updated)
Tutors’ sharing of resources – virtual and real including: books, playlists etc …

The first block of in-person training - Diving into Practice – is where you will be immersed in the principles and practices of Yoga including essential anatomy and guidance on developing a personalised self practice.

It will introduce you to elements of yogic philosophy, pranayama, and pedagogy. These are all the ingredients to develop and enhance understanding and experience of Yoga as a sustaining and deepening life practice.

The second block of training – Philosophy, History and Inquiry – is self-paced and with support. You will complete an online module on the history and philosophy of Yoga with lots of rich resources to engage with.

You will also develop your own inquiry project on a topic of choice – guidance and support will be provided. This feeds into your practicum work and the final part of training. This block of training is designed to be consolidating, enriching and thought-provoking.

The third block is your second in-person training called Emerging to Teach.

This is a practical, in-depth immersion into Yoga pedagogy, the ethics of teaching, developing effective and inspiring class plans, anatomy and physiology, teaching skills, te ao Māori principles and Contemporary Yoga principles.

You will also learn about creating a brand, undertake safe and supportive teaching practicums, and you will be introduced to somatics, iRest Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga and more.

A day in the life of a Yoga student …

An example of our daily schedule …

8.00-9.00am Asana class with a key focus for the day

9:00-9:30am Break

9:30-11:30am Yoga philosophy and applied Yoga

11:30-1:30pm Asana and movement principles

1:30-2:30pm Lunch

2:30-5:30pm Anatomy & physiology. Practical applications & teaching skills

Plus regular opportunities for tea and discussion with your teachers and fellow students.

Our next 200-hour training 2026:

Part 1: 11th - 19th July
(break day 15th)

Part 2: July - September
(40 hours self-study)

Part 3: 26th September - 4th October (break day 30th Sept)

Venue: Meadowbank, Auckland

Course Investment: $4,895
Deposit: $1000

Frequently Asked Questions

You’re In Good Hands

Your senior teachers have many decades of Yoga experience and teaching between them. We’ve practiced it all, and offer you an investigative and a transformational approach to movement, teaching and self-development that you’ll carry far beyond the course.

Each of us teach with love and care, and our passion is to strengthen and shine light on your inner resources as a confident, skilled and soulful human, practitioner and teacher.

Our core faculty members are out there in the community teaching classes, please feel welcome to attend a class or a course to get a feel for our approach.

Karla Brodie and Neal Ghoshal are senior teachers with Donna Farhi on her internationally acclaimed yoga training programs. They are recognised within the New Zealand Yoga community as leaders in Restorative Yoga and in innovative, safe movement practices.

Karla Brodie co-ordinates and teaches within the Contemporary Yoga Centre in Remuera. She facilitates corporate wellness programmes (through Hum), workshops and residential retreats.
karlabrodie.co.nz
contemporaryyoga.nz
humbalance.co.nz

Neal Ghoshal teaches weekly classes and Restorative Yoga events on Waiheke, as well as workshops and retreats around New Zealand. His website is sacredmoves.com

Haidee Stairmand brings her passion, knowledge and experience of teaching Yoga and movement to all her classes and training sessions. Find her at revelyoga.co.nz

Sam Loe travels up from her home base in Nelson to share her expertise and experience gained over many years of teaching. Like Karla and Neal, her primary teacher is Donna Farhi. Like Neal and Sandra, Sam is also a certified iRest teacher. Sam’s website is samloe.yoga

Vanessa Bailey, with her nearly 20 years experience in cutting edge marketing, will share how to grow your Yoga business. Vanessa co-runs Hum (humbalance.co.nz) with Karla, which brings breath and movement programmes to businesses in New Zealand.

Each are experts in their field and have the common goal of delivering excellence in every class, course and workshop.

New initiatives run alongside the trainings, including professional development workshops, private tuition and year-long mentoring. We are here to support you through your whole yoga journey.

Karla Brodie

Core Faculty / Programme Director

Intuitive, honest, attentive, creative, joyful and full of expression — there’s something about Karla that speaks directly to your insides, and suddenly you realise you have a newfound conversation with your inner world as well as you gain a deeper understanding of balanced posture and integrated movement.
Read more >>

Neal Ghoshal

Core Faculty / Programme Director

When someone loves what they do with all of their heart, it emanates to everyone they work with. Neal is one of these people.

His teaching focuses on exploring and refining natural movement and alignment principles, and to embody these in a way that takes our spiritual practice into our everyday lives.
Read more >>

Haidee Stairmand

Core Faculty

Haidee brings a pragmatic approach to her teaching and offers students a clear, approachable and understandable way to develop their Yoga through self-sensing, and awareness.

She is passionate about making yoga accessible for all, enabling an individualistic approach.

She has a unique ability to connect to others in a simple but profound way and sees Yoga as a holistic therapeutic modality that encompasses traditional and contemporary approaches to the Practice.
Read more >>

Sam Loe

Core Faculty

Sam’s Yoga practice and teaching come from a somatic place of listening deeply within. She is passionate about sharing Yoga in a way that empowers and gives agency to her students through creating safe learning environments, invitational and choice based practices and ultimately supporting people to develop their own self-practice.

Sam is a certified iRest Teacher and in addition shares functional, therapeutic and restorative practices in her community, via classes, workshops and retreats.
Read more >>

Vanessa Bailey

Core Faculty

Vanessa Bailey has worked in marketing and communications for 18 years and held senior roles in New Zealand, Australia and England.

Vanessa has accrued wide experience and in-depth knowledge of customer-driven marketing communications and branding with specialist knowledge of how to bring brands and communications to life in the physical space.

Suzanne Day

Guest faculty | Marketing & visual communication

I often wonder about stars. About trees. About the mysteries of the universe; about creativity, beauty, the gossamer web of a spider, a single drop of dew.

This sense of wonderment has enticed me along many paths: from an aspiring art student, to studying graphic design, working in advertising as an illustrator then art director, a sojourn as a jeweller, an immersion in painting, a return to design, a foray into creative writing, studying astrology, tarot, plant medicine, alchemy, and magic.
Read more >>

What Our Graduates Say (read more here)

This training delivered on every level. The teachers, who embody Yoga fully and want to share and guide us. The facility, the students themselves. A wonderful, life-enhancing, entry into the teaching world.

Andrea Fletcher

I am a physiotherapist and as well as gaining vital skills to teach yoga I have also gained insight and knowledge that I will apply in my physiotherapy career.

Sarah Diskin

A life-changing experience with lovely teachers!

Carolyn Austin

I feel exceptionally honoured to have spent time with Karla and Neal. Their passion and curiosity for movement and the authentic experience of self is inspiring and encouraging.

Jessica Dziwulska

Just completed the 200 hour teacher training … a very empowering experience.

The teachers were outstanding: each teach from their own unique perspective inside a carefully crafted, well-designed programme of studies … a great combination of practice and theory.

Sandy Farquhar

My Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training not only taught me to deepen my Yoga practice, it taught me to live a better life.

Spending 18 days around these teachers who live and breathe Yoga, exuding loving kindness and care in every moment, not to mention life-long friends I have made with my peers has made for me an experience I will never forget.

This training went above and beyond my expectations.

Leon Campbell

This course will really make you think about Yoga. It’s full of creative, fun and innovative thinking that will enhance your own practice and enliven your own classes.

This is Yoga for life!

Clare Leitch

What a transformational Yoga teacher training! These four amazing teachers create incredible alchemy in teaching Yoga. They create such a safe learning environment and there is wonderful support throughout. I highly highly recommend the courses at Contemporary Yoga.

Yumi Drozdowski

I would recommend this course to everyone, even those who are not into yoga or those who have not tried yoga before. This course is for everyone.

Kelly Rijnaarts

Exploring movement and asana in a refreshing way that deepened my self-discovery and personal physical understanding.

Anita Lucas

I’ve learnt so much about Yoga and myself, met so many wonderful people, and have made lifelong friends.

Hope Anderson

Contemporary Yoga has given me more than what I’d expect from a teacher training course. All the teachers are truly experts in what they do and their passion is infectious.

Alana Chao

Contemporary Yoga is connecting yoga back its roots in a very exciting, stimulating and open minded way.

Michaela Robinson

I feel enriched on many levels… Yoga history, Somatics, anatomy, business aspects, understanding movement much more deeply and absorbing it into my body not just my head.

Excellent value for money. I will be forever grateful and am excited about the future once more.

Helèna Morgan

Karla and Neal have created a course that is completely inclusive and is infused with kindness, curiosity and wisdom. All are welcome in the practice of Contemporary Yoga.

At the end of this course I am more knowledgeable, more able, more confident and more authentic. I have been moved and changed through this journey.

Shelly Fitness

The amount of knowledge and understanding, experience and love that has gone into the teacher training is truly epic and has enabled such a deep and rich learning experience.

Each teacher’s passion for sharing and facilitating is evident in the generosity of spirit and unique sharing of knowledge.

Caroline Bindon

Four generous and vastly different teachers combine to offer something more unique and valuable than expected. It is beyond yoga as I knew it — it was an investment in the rest of my life.

Sarah Hart

This Yoga teacher training has been the perfect grounding and base for springing forward into my teaching and personal practice journey. I am so inspired and invigorated to learn more and continue to explore all the concepts and topics that we have delved into.

Thank you so much to all of the incredible teachers for their wisdom, kindness, professionalism and generosity during this teacher training and beyond.

Dianne Hollands

How wonderful, magical and unique it is when people come together and harmonize, creating a field that becomes nourishing for all participants and where many unique expressions find a safe place to share who they are and how they feel.

The teachers have been so good at conveying the teachings through their joy, enthusiasm and love for Yoga. They have been delicate, sensitive, caring to each and every participant.

Belinda Bettini

Thanks for being supportive in all ways. You cared for each us every day. Your knowledge and guidance are outstanding. You created a safe and contained space where we could learn and learn from each other.

Maria Gutman

What a way to further study and get deeper in my spiritual journey.

Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training has created the most valuable pathway for me to explore and dive within myself.

A journey – Shola home!

Emiliano Tade

It was an intensive training but it felt like a retreat. There were challenges but we all went through together with support and help from all the teachers. Everything we learned was useful and practical.

This training has everything!

Alicia Jung

This training surpassed all expectations - challenging, inspiring, and deeply informative. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world of yoga!

Bridget McNamara

My teacher training has empowered me. It has given me a wealth of knowledge while allowing me the freedom to explore. The beauty of the course was the balance between structure and self development.

The respect my teachers give to yoga, and the generosity to share their knowledge in a gentle safe environment, was humbling.

Michelle Watson

All the teachers are truly experts in what they do and their passion is infectious. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to do a yoga teachers training. It was much more than that, it was a life-changing, amazing experience.

Anne de Brouwer

Karla and Neal are incredible. They are truly exceptional teachers. They have such care, and hold such safe, honouring spaces, in a way I haven’t experienced with any other Yoga teachers.

Tui Williams

I strongly recommend this training. It’s a life-changing experience. The way I see things, smell, feel and my energy have completely changed throughout the course consistently. Beyond expectation. Absolutely worth the investment after many long years I’ve finally met myself!

Simply, divine! Organic! Full of love!

Monica Yoon

The Contemporary approach to Yoga is so much more than how we move on the mat. It speaks to how we move through life. How we are in relationship to self and in relationship to others.

Thank you for an incredibly potent, immersive and all-round epic training.

Steph Le Gros

The manual is an amazing resource and always will be.

Meghann Stewart

This training has awakened in me the huge possibility that awaits. Moving away from the scripted style of teaching a new found freedom has been found an an excitement and what awaits. Thank you.

Sophie Hartnell

Just completed the 200 hour teacher training … a very empowering experience.

The teachers were outstanding: each teach from their own unique perspective inside a carefully crafted, well-designed programme of studies … a great combination of practice and theory.

Sandy Farquhar

I was amazed by the depth and breadth of yoga on the human mind and body that the teachers of this course have.

Sarah Diskin

The teachers have been so good at conveying the teachings through their joy, enthusiasm and love for Yoga. They have been delicate, sensitive, caring to each and every participant.

Belinda Bettini

Karla and Neal are incredible. They are truly exceptional teachers. They have such care, and hold such safe, honouring spaces, in a way I haven’t experienced with any other Yoga teachers.

Tui Williams

Yumi Drozdowski

This is an invaluable course that will expand your love and understanding of yoga beyond what you ever thought was possible!

Mia Pistorius

Contemporary yoga training has been the ‘icing on the cake’ and if you are ‘stuck’ or need a nudge in the right direction don’t hesitate and sign up now! You will never regret it!

Fiona Ross

Neal and Karla are truly committed to this work on such a deep level, and you can tell that from the way they are in the world. I am awed by how ahead of their time they are in this work, and think it is really groundbreaking.

I haven’t found anyone doing it the way they are. I can’t wait for their book to come out!! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend working with them.

Tui Williams

The sequence of this course is undeniably strong and grounded. All the teachers bring compassion, ease, knowledge, flavour, enquiry and wholeness to everything they show, do, present and give. Making this course a full embodied experience, exploration and foundation to enliven new thoughts and ideas to take away for our own self-practice and to share with others.

Georgie Collins

This training has everything!

Alicia Jung

I could not be happier to have chosen this course. It has completely exceeded any expectations.

Rob Dawson

Words can hardly express how grateful I am for what I learned with their guidance in just three weeks, the most important of which was connecting with myself and others in a truly authentic, supportive, caring and sustainable way that I can’t wait to pay forward as a teacher. Thank you!

Sarah Hart

This course will really make you think about Yoga. It’s full of creative, fun and innovative thinking that will enhance your own practice and enliven your own classes.

This is Yoga for life!

Clare Leitch

Contemporary Yoga is connecting yoga back its roots in a very exciting, stimulating and open minded way.

Michaela Robinson

I feel enriched on many levels… Yoga history, Somatics, anatomy, business aspects, understanding movement much more deeply and absorbing it into my body not just my head.

Excellent value for money. I will be forever grateful and am excited about the future once more.

Helèna Morgan

I feel exceptionally honoured to have spent time with Karla and Neal. Their passion and curiosity for movement and the authentic experience of self is inspiring and encouraging.

Jessica Dziwulska

There is a richness and depth to this content with its real-life (on and off the mat) applicability. I have been moved by the sincerity and support of the teachers. I am so excited to share these teachings in a way that is accessible and empowering for students and wider community members.

Amy Massey

Wonderful experience, wonderful people, beautiful outcomes!

Lal Busher

Four generous and vastly different teachers combine to offer something more unique and valuable than expected. It is beyond yoga as I knew it — it was an investment in the rest of my life.

Sarah Hart

… diverse, enlightening and empowering. The course exceeded my highest expectations and has equipped me with a toolbox of yoga teachings that I could apply in many circumstances to a wide variety of students.

I was lucky enough to be part of two different cohorts and in both I was surrounded by a delightful collection of beautiful individuals from very different backgrounds and of vastly different ages.

Cam McLeay

A journey of self discovery, guided by a group of genuinely caring professionals. I leave the course feeling enriched.

Donna Cheyne

Exploring movement and asana in a refreshing way that deepened my self-discovery and personal physical understanding.

Anita Lucas

This training has been an incredible gift for me and I am excited to share the teachings with others.

Stephanie Leighton

I can truly say that this training would benefit any yoga teacher – in fact, any person with a yoga practice. I not only gained a more compassionate perspective to yoga, but also toward myself.

Simply fantastical.

Summer Knight

Thank you so much to all of the incredible teachers for their wisdom, kindness, professionalism and generosity during this teacher training and beyond.

Dianne Hollands

The Pregnancy Teacher Training provided me with all the tools necessary to safely and effectively guide women through a Yoga practice during their childbirth journey.

The incredible wisdom and knowledge shared by the facilitators, allowed me to step competently into teaching Pregnancy Yoga with confidence soon after completion of the training.

As an extra bonus I have also been able to weave the learning I absorbed during the teacher training into my role as a midwife.

Julie Edlin

This course opened my eyes to the world of Yoga, deepening my understanding and personal practice.

It has set me up so well to teach, and to continue my journey. Everything I needed and more!

Jess Howse

Andrea Fletcher

The 300 hour yoga teacher training has surpassed all my expectations. The amazing blend of teachers results in a myriad of deep learning. Each teacher is an expert in their own area and shares their unique wealth of knowledge in a way which is easy to take on board.

Sandra Palmer

I have enjoyed it so much and feel I have taken so much away into my everyday life as well as my Yoga. Karla, Neal and Haidee are all unique and true to their core. I look forward to earning so much more from them.

Abbie Rose

This training surpassed all expectations – challenging, inspiring, and deeply informative. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world of yoga!

Bridget McNamara

Simply, divine! Organic! Full of love!

Monica Yoon

I’ve learnt so much about Yoga and myself, met so many wonderful people, and have made lifelong friends.

Hope Anderson

I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to do Yoga teacher training. It is so much more than that – a life-changing, amazing experience.

Lutza Szabo

My teacher training has empowered me. It has given me a wealth of knowledge while allowing me the freedom to explore. The beauty of the course was the balance between structure and self development.

The respect my teachers give to yoga, and the generosity to share their knowledge in a gentle safe environment, was humbling.

Michelle Watson

I am really glad I chose this training because it has given me tools to communicate with any kind of student as well as connecting my personal practice to a field of infinite potential. It offered a perspective of yoga that is deep yet accessible. The teachers have incredible knowledge and experience but most importantly creative ways of sharing their knowledge.

Chloé Lebee