Frequently Asked Questions

The Tantra course teaches first and foremost to embrace life in all its many nuances, bringing a spiritual perspective to every area, including relationships, work life and home life. This process is supported by yoga practice and you will also learn techniques for forgiveness, willpower, harnessing erotic energies, intuition and many more. Through the practice of Tantra, life experiences become an opportunity for expansion, which, together with the introspective time spent on the yoga mat and meditation cushion, lead to great transformations in your being, gradually bringing you closer to your true Self.

In the beginning, the focus of the Yoga course is primarily on yoga techniques, a rich inner work that gradually infuses into the rest of your life. You learn about many different aspects of yoga such as asanas, purification techniques, diet etc., as well as different forms of yoga such as Raja yoga, Bhakti yoga, Hatha yoga etc. Both courses build up step by step, but the yoga course can feel a little more gradual in its progression, with your practice naturally leading you to develop certain attitudes which enable you to transform your life on the outside too. The Tantra course, on the other hand, can feel more ‘full on’, taking you head first into the intensity of vividly lived life experiences.

Tantra yoga is a branch of Yoga. Therefore the tantra course is a deep dive into this particular path of yoga whereas the yoga course covers many different aspects and forms of yoga. This is why there is some overlap in the content for the first 18 months. They both cover similar foundations (such as some fundamental yoga techniques) and then develop in later months and years into very different areas.

If you look deep inside at what it is that you truly want when going to the gym, you might find that you are looking for much more than just physical fitness and wellbeing. Many gym regulars are also motivated by a desire for mental and emotional balance, a sense of purpose, fulfilment, accomplishment, joy, more energy, connection, growth, transformation, peace, worthiness, focus, confidence and so on. Working out can indeed teach many values, and provides many of these effects to an extent, but for complete transformation, a higher perspective of who you truly are, and how the universe works is fundamental. The traditional hatha yoga taught at Tara goes both to the depths of our inner world, and to the principles of the Universe, giving the tools for true harmony in all aspects of your life and being.

No, this course is not designed with human pretzels in mind. All that is needed is your curiosity and an openness to learn.

Beyond physical prowess, we place much more emphasis on awareness and state of mind while performing yoga postures. By focusing the mind, the effects of the practice are greatly amplified, bringing you the real benefits of yoga, rather than simply stretching! However, by regularly attending the Tantra course and practising at home, flexibility can improve over time and become a good indicator of your overall well-being.

The Tantra course provides tools and methods that can be applied in all areas of your life – one of which is the physical body, but great attention is also placed on the energetic, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects.

We see personal evolution as a continuous process, so our courses continue for as long as you wish to keep learning! Some students continue for a few months, while many attend classes for years. If you ask a Tara student, ‘What year are you in?’ you might hear them reply, ‘2nd year’, ‘4th year’, ‘7th year’ or even more! New lessons every week include tools and practices that allow your ever-expanding knowledge to be integrated into daily life.

No, you can come for as long as you feel the course continues to fuel your curiosity, growth and self-discovery. With our Try Tara Pass you can try our courses and groups for four consecutive weeks. After that, there is a monthly membership for the courses you wish to pursue, which can be cancelled at any time – no strings attached!

No. Tara is not affiliated with any religion. We focus on the spiritual principles that are common to all spiritual traditions, so you will hear references being made to a wide range of different spiritual traditions.

No, we welcome people of all beliefs and affiliations.

Due to the common principles that are shared across religions, students of a particular faith often find that the tools and knowledge taught in our courses help them go much deeper into their current practices.

Also, with the down-to-earth wisdom of our teachings, there is something for everyone to apply in their life for more fulfilment and meaning – whether you believe in ‘something’ or not.

That is very specific to the individual – everyone has their own affinities and limitations that affect how quickly results appear, as well as the type of results. However, by practising systematically with an attitude of open curiosity, enthusiasm and optimism, and by paying attention to the transformations that appear in your life, you will see results much more quickly than if you practise only in class, or without the inner attitude.

Firstly, your teachers, who are available to answer questions, and give specific advice or guidance. You will also be in a class of others who are embarking on a journey not identical, but similar to your own. Students often become friends and companions, and support each other on many levels.

Secondly, the extensive resource of the course notes which are handed out at the end of each class, as well as our large spiritual library.

Finally, we are a strong spiritual community. Tara has been running in the UK for over 20 years. There are many teachers and students with a wealth of experience, who have seen peaks and troughs on their own spiritual paths as well as on other’s. Such a community provides a strong backbone from which all students – new and old – can grow and flourish.

We would suggest that you give it a try! You are never obligated to continue with the classes if you feel they are no longer benefitting you. Our four-week Try Tara Pass allows you to try our courses and groups for only £40. So you can attend classes for a few weeks to get a feel of whether they are right for you.

If you would like to attend just one class, you can do so for £18 in London and £17 in Oxford or Plymouth. You can buy a single class four times before choosing if you’d like to join or not. For the best value, we recommend the Try Tara Pass.

Yes. Even though these are some of the most comprehensive courses you will find, they start from the very beginning. No knowledge or experience is assumed. Given the esoteric nature of the teachings, it is anyway new for most people. We often have beginners and experienced yogis together harmoniously in the same class.

It’s best if you can start the course from the beginning so that you have a solid foundation for the lessons as you progress through the course.

However, the courses remain open to new students for the first months, so it is possible to join later if necessary. Please call us to find out the closing date for admitting new students. If you join later, you can catch up by reading the course notes from previous classes, asking the teachers questions, and we run catch-up sessions from time to time. There is also the option, as part of your membership, to repeat the weeks missed from the first year without extra payment if you continue into year 2.

This course is suitable for adults of 18 years and above only. Proof of age will be requested in case of any doubt.