When can I begin? Anytime, with any of our courses. You can join the Institute by filling out an application. We will contact you regarding acceptance.

What is the history of the Insight Yoga Institute?

In 2010, the Yoga Alliance recognized program began in Marin California with yoga teachers Sarah Powers, Paul and Suzee Grilley, Richard Freeman, Scott Blossom and Chandra Easton. The program included teachings by esteemed Buddhist teachers Thanissara, Kittisaro, Norman Fischer, Gregory Kramer, Stephen and Martine Batchelor, B. Alan Wallace and Lama Tsultrim Allione. The spiritual psychology teachers are John and Jennifer Welwood.

Are the courses residential and where are they being held?

Most of the courses are residential and take place in CA, NY or Koh Samui, Thailand. The other courses will be held at Deer Run Zendo in Marin CA. and are non-residential as well as at Kripalu, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts—residential only. Visitors to the Marin area should rent a car and can stay either at Green Gultch Zen Center,  The Corte Madera Inn, Marin Suites Hotel, Travelodge Mill Valley,  Courtyard Marriott,

Is there Yoga Alliance Certification?

In order to be endorsed to teach Insight Yoga, we ask that you complete the entire program: all residential retreats, daily meditation practice, monthly readings and writings, regular check ins with your assigned mentor, and upon completion we ask you to send us an hour long video of one of your classes for review.

NOTE: If you interested in Yoga Alliance certification we have additional intensives for you to complete a 500-hour certification process. We do not however focus on teaching you how to teach yoga in this program, but how to integrate yoga with buddhism and spiritual psychology.

If I already have a 200 hour certification with Yoga Alliance can I receive an additional 300 hours from the Institute in order to complete my 500 hour certification with Yoga Alliance?

This program offers 500 hours of Yoga Alliance Certification only. We do recommend that yoga teachers complete a 200 hour program before attending ours, as this program is advanced studies for yoga teachers. There are a number of good programs available, we recommend Tias Little’s 200 hour program.

What does Insight Yoga Institute’s mentorship entail?

When you begin the program you will be assigned a mentor and you will be in email contact with them about your reading and writing. You will also have a monthly hour long phone call with your mentor to discuss whatever is arising in your practice and/or teaching life as you integrate what you are learning in the program. Each hour long phone session will cost $50-$100 (this cost is not included in any of the programs), with payment sent directly to the mentor.

When someone completes the program do you expect that they have a new skill set for teaching or a deeper practice life?

Both. In this program we will certainly be developing specific tools for teaching meditation and integrating buddhism with yoga teaching, as well as refining how to work with our own and others psychological obstacles. Yet most importantly, we feel that an essential ingredient for maturing as a person, and therefore of course as a teacher, is the commitment to receiving teachings which can continue to inspire skillful self practice, provoking ever more subtle and relevant experiential insights. We know our graduates will feel better able to be a genuine refuge for themselves, especially in times of personal difficulty, paving the way for them to become more naturally attuned to others. We also hope that graduates will continue to come on our 10 day retreats for years to come, as the material is timeless and able to be understood at ever more refined levels as one matures.

What is a typical Insight Yoga class like?

Each class is anywhere between 1 to 4 hours and often begins with a short talk about awareness.  From there we take a few moments to acknowledge our current state of being (how we actually feel, body, heart and mind) and to formally commit to our practice for our own and others benefit. The practice then includes a slow alignment based flow as well as floor poses held for longer periods. Cultivation of the subtle body through visualization and Pranayama as well as Loving Kindness and Compassion practices are included, with 20-30 minutes devoted to meditation. In some workshops and retreat settings, the practices listed above are followed by contemplative dialogues on specific dharma themes. Some workshops are more in depth about physical or subtle anatomy, meditation and the obstacles to awareness, etc. Insight Yoga retreats emphasize meditative awareness and the power of silence to direct us toward deeper truths.

Can I pay by course?

Yes.

Are there any scholarships, partial scholarships or work study positions available?

Unfortunately not at this time. We hope to offer them in the future.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Once a Deposit or the Balance has been paid, cancellations must be made in writing to The Insight Yoga Institute. If you cancel up to 12 weeks before the workshop, we charge a $200 cancellation fee per person. No refunds for cancellations within 12 weeks of your workshop (unless we can fill your space). No refunds will be made for failure to attend or failure to complete the retreat. No transfers. All refunds will be processed within 2 weeks following a program. The Institute’s cancellation policy is firm.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: The Insight Yoga Institute cannot be responsible or liable for any injury, loss or damage of property, or disruption of any program due to circumstances beyond the control of The Insight Yoga Institute.