Frequently asked questions…

Is Yoga Masterminds an in-person or online program?

Currently, all Yoga Masterminds programs are in the online format. In-person trainings will be announced as they become available!

There are a lot of YOGa trainings in MY area that focus on personal development.  This seems to be the norm. Will this be the same for THE Yoga Masterminds YTT?

Absolutely not.  The point of a yoga teacher training is to help you transform into a confident and capable yoga teacher of asana - the embodied physical practice.

While developing as a person is certainly a part of the process - and I myself LOVE personal development…in fact, I run a separate personal development retreat business (www.deeperretreats) - this shouldn’t be the main focus.  Why? Because the NON-NEGOTIABLE WORK of yoga asana requires rigorous self-investigation of the physical human body. When we do this, a natural side effect will be personal development. Simply talking about your “story” creates the illusion that you've done transformative work - when in reality you really haven’t. Again this is because we are dealing with yoga asana - the process of moving the body as the pathway to liberation.

And that's why I always say the phrase DO THE REAL WORK - most trainings fail to lead their students through this required process and sidestep the real work because it’s easy/fun to talk about psychology.

If you don't focus on personal development, what do the Yoga Masterminds teacher TrainingS focus on?

Asana. How to teach it well. 200 hour students will focus mostly on asana while 300 hour students will also learn the more subtle aspects of the practice: meditation, philosophy, mantra, pranayama, etc. In the modern era of yoga in the US (for better or worse), yoga has been reduced to the 3rd limb, asana. Therefore, the baseline expectation of a yoga teacher is to teach a well rounded, physical flow class - this is why 200 hour students focus on asana before learning subtle body work.

I don't want to teach, I just wanted to deepen my physical practice.  Is that ok to sign up for a yoga masterminds teacher training course?

Of course.  In fact, when looking at the 200 and 300 hour trainings I've been involved in as a student, the vast majority of my classmates never pursued teaching yoga as a profession. Yoga Masterminds is about delving deep into the learning PROCESS - so as you learn to help students understand their bodies, you essentially gain the skill of creating potential for your own improvement too - regardless if you end up being a teacher or not.

However I will say this: 90% of students in my last three training cohorts (both in the 200 and 300 hour programs) went on to teach yoga on a weekly basis. This is uncharacteristic of yoga trainings in general, and speaks to the caliber and seriousness of students you will find in a Yoga Masterminds classroom. 

What if I have to miss some some of the training hours?

No worries, with larger trainings like the 200 and 300 hour online programs, people will inevitably have to miss multiple classes due to work, vacation conflicts, inclement weather, etc.  The flexible timeline of the 200, 300, and 20 hour courses allows you to take classes in a compact 10 week format or spread it out over 10 months. You essentially get to learn at your own pace and then apply for a certification when you feel ready.

I CAN’T DO THE ENTIRE TRAINING and/or I don’t need a 200 or 300 hour certification. IS THERE A WAY I CAN TAKE just PART OF a COURSE?

Yes. Yoga Masterminds’ 200 and 300 hour programs are comprised of individual learning modules. Each module has a specific focus, and you can take the entire training or request to enroll individual portions. The experience is completely customizable, but will need to be approved by Andrew Abaria first.

I’m just a beginner and i definitely don’t want to teach - is there a Yoga Masterminds program available for someone like me?

Yes, this is why I created the 20 hour Foundations course. This program is a 10 week, 20 hour course (which includes both asynchronous and synchronous learning) and is perfect for new students and those who want to explore the Yoga Masterminds methodology.

Will Yoga masterminds program hours count towards Yoga Alliance credit?

Yes, whether you take the a 20, 200 or 300 course through Yoga Masterminds and if you successfully complete the program, you can register these hours through Yoga Alliance at www.yogaalliance.org.

I have more questions....what should i do?

Message me at andrew@yogamasterminds.com.  I'm happy to set up a call or meeting to help you figure out if any Yoga Masterminds offerings are the right fit for you!