FAQ — EVOKA | Sayulita Yoga School

About the YTT

WHAT IS THE STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO?

This will be an intimate training with lots of opportunities to connect personally with your instructions. We have three trainers and you can expect a max of 5 students per teacher.

I CAN’T DO INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED POSES, DO I BELONG IN A YOGA TEACHER TRAINING?

Yes! The world needs all kinds of yoga instructors of all different abilities and levels. While it’s expected you have a consistent yoga practice before joining, there is no expectation that you can do intermediate or advanced poses. It is required that you show up ready to participate in daily classes. We recommend taking 3-5 yoga classes per week to prepare. We aim to prepare teachers for any level of yoga they wish to teach, whether that’s a class for beginners or seniors or an advanced arm balances workshop. This foundational training will prepare you, and of course after a two-week immersion, your personal practice will improve significantly.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE 50-HOURS OF REQUIRED SELF STUDY (ONLINE & SELF PACED).

To make our program more travel-friendly (2 weeks instead of the average 3-4 weeks of a full immersion), we have created a “hybrid” format. We will cover 150 hours of the online training at the Sayulita immersion. This requires you to complete about 50 hours of total online self study. We will be sending you a self-study packet once you signup. Depending on how far in advance you have signed up, you may complete this before the training or after. We recommend to dedicate anywhere from 5-20 hours per week to your self study.

Keep in mind if you do not complete the pre-work assignments before the yoga teacher training immersion, you can complete it at your own pace during or after the immersion. You will have about 2 hours each evening during the immersion you can dedicate to your online pre-work if you need to catch up. But it’s better for your enjoyment and relaxation during the immersion part of the program to complete these assignments beforehand. Note: Your 200-Yoga Teacher Training certificate will be issued when all hours + assignments have been completed.

CAN I REALLY EARN A LIVING AS A YOGA TEACHER?

Yes, you can make back your investment and so much more working as a yoga teacher! Evoka’s lead trainers have done just that, and we are offering all our students a free monthly mentorship circle to help you progress in your desired endevours. We’ll also dedicate a lesson module for marketing and business ideas in our yoga teacher training. For just a few ideas, check out my blog post for how you can generate income as a new yoga teacher.

IS YOGA TEACHER TRAINING WORTH THE INVESTMENT?

Absolutely, Yoga Teacher Training is lifechanging. Yoga Teacher Training is a significant investment, both in terms of time and resources. The expense is reflective of the comprehensive curriculum to prepare you professionally and the personal transformative experience offered by Evoka Sayulita Yoga School. Consider it an investment in your personal and professional growth. The skills acquired are not just for the mat but for a lifetime. The knowledge gained, coupled with the option for a fulfilling career, makes it a valuable and enduring investment in your wellbeing and future.

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO TEACH YIN YOGA, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO I NEED?

All yoga teachers need to have a 200-hour foundational training. From a hatha-vinyasa teacher training, you can develop and teach various styles of yoga based on your interest, studies and background. Many 200-hour certified yoga teachers take an additional weekend yin yoga teacher training or do their own self-study after they complete the 200-hour training if they wish to specialize and teach this style of yoga. We will be offering a few yin yoga classes during this training and a beginning overview to yin yoga, which is the perfect springboard for teaching yin yoga!

WHAT IS HATHA/VINYASA YOGA? IS THIS THE YOGA I SHOULD CHOOSE TO STUDY?

You can think of Hatha yoga like vanilla ice cream. Hatha is a pure, basic form of yoga – from its philosophy to essential poses to breathwork and alignment. From there, you can add toppings and sprinkles, which creates Vinyasa, Power, Slow Flow, Hiit Yoga, Senior Yoga, Restorative and other styles of classes. All of these classes, and likely the types of classes you are taking in your favorite studios, fall under the umbrella of Hatha Yoga. Choosing a Hatha Yoga Teacher Training gives you a well-rounded yoga education and the perfect mix of skills to teach a wide variety of classes.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO TEACH YOGA CLASSES AND I JUST WANT TO IMPROVE AND LEARN MORE YOGA, CAN I STILL DO THIS TRAINING?

Many people take yoga teacher training as a means to deeping their personal yoga practice and learning yoga philosophy. While you will be required to practice teach a short class to complete the certification, there will be a vast amount of content offered that goes far beyond setting up and teaching a class. We just ask that you are open to learning the teaching aspect as well. You will benefit greatly from the information and who knows, maybe after the training you might even feel differently about wanting to teach! And remember that this is a training that will prepare you to offer meditation classes, breathwork classes and other healing modalities, not just yoga posture classes.

I WANT TO BECOME A SOUND HEALING FACILITATOR, BREATHWORK FACILITATOR, LIFE COACH OR OTHER TYPE OF HOLISTIC FACILITATOR, WILL THIS TRAINING HELP ME?

Yes! Yoga Alliance 200-Hour certificate offers the foundational skills and knowledge for offering all types of healing modalities. Yogic philosophy, understanding how to develop healing sessions and hold space for others and professional skills are all covered in this training. You will also learn about the energetic body and ayurvedic system of medicine. Once you have this training certificate, you will obtain the Yoga Alliance qualifications holistic wellness facilities recognize and expect as well as the confidence and knowledge to further develop healing sessions. We recommend you start with this widely recognized 200-hour yoga teacher training and then build your skillset with shorter workshops and trainings in your desired specialization areas.

IS THERE AN OPTION TO BECOME REIKI CERTIFIED DURING THE TRAINING?

While Chel offers Reiki 1, 2 and 3 certification trainings these are not permitted by Yoga Alliance to be a part of the 200-hour yoga teacher training program. If you are interested in Reiki Certification trainings, these can easily be added on a couple days before or after the yoga teacher training. Keep in mind that Chel’s Reiki Certifications trainings do qualify as Yoga Alliance continuing education credits!

About Mexico and Traveling

IS MEXICO SAFE?

Evoka’s teachers have been living full time in Sayulita, Mexico for several years and can tell you first-hand you will not just be comfortable and secure during your stay, but you will be charmed by this safe, small town. The US State Department has deemed the regional area of Riviera Nayarit as safe for all travel, giving its lowest possible rating for danger (Level 1 of 4 Security Risk).

IS IT POSSIBLE TO SHARE A ROOM WITH OTHER STUDENTS?

Once you sign up, we’ll add you to our student whatsapp group! From there, it’s very likely you will find another like-minded student interested in sharing accommodation at the host hotel with you to reduce cost. Ultimately, determining your accommodation options is completely up to you. There are a variety of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs for all budgets. For those budget conscious, there are many hostels in town with dormroom style options for shared rooms as well. Additionally, we’ll share local rental and sublet options in the student whatsapp as they become available. We’re happy to make recommendations and help you decide where to stay.

HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY DO I NEED TO BUDGET?

This all depends on your spending, eating and shopping tendencies. Your food cost will likely range $12-40/day based, on your own preferences. We will offer affordable food options and recommendations or if you prefer you can pack and bring your own food in a cooler each day. You can find a wide range of healthy and affordable restaurants walking distance to the yoga shala.

Additionally, you may want to invest in activities on your days/afternoons off (there will be two afternoons to explore) or purchase snacks or souvenirs at the copious artisan stalls, markets, shops and restaurants.

CAN I USE MY CREDIT CARD IN SAYULITA?

Sayulita mainly accepts cash pesos. Most tourists use a debit card while traveling and withdraw cash from an ATM as needed. Another option is to bring cash and look for an exchange, though you get a better exchange rate at the ATM. Most places do not accept credit cards, although some do.

CAN I DRINK THE WATER?

We do not drink the water or brush our teeth with tap water in Mexico. However unlimited purified water is widely available. Ice served all over town is also purified so frozen drinks, cold beverages and smoothies are safe.

DO YOU RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Travel insurance is a personal choice, but can be an important layer of security. Once you begin full enrollment, no refunds will be offered for any reason. Check with the credit card that you book your flight with as many credit card companies include trip delay & travel emergency medical coverage. There’s also many companies that provide inexpensive medical coverage, such as SafetyWing or IMGlobal.

I’M READY TO DO THIS!