“Thanks to the pandemic, I chose to pursue the first virtual yoga teacher training offered by AYC. Initially, I was supposed to attend live teacher training is April, but COVID changed that. I live in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and we often have power issues, so I was a bit nervous. However, I had ten years of experience teaching graduate virtual education courses for Old Dominion University, and I decided to jump into virtual training for yoga. I am older, 63, and not as flexible as younger people. I found the instructors, all of them, to be extremely compassionate, encouraging, and supportive. I also was delighted to discover such a supportive tech staff at AYC. On the few times when I did lose power, I was back within ten minutes using my data on my iPhone or iPad, and my classmates informed my instructors what was happening. My classmates, all much younger than I, were amazingly loving, helpful, and supportive. We cried, we laughed, and cheered for each other, and we continue to support each other. The most challenging aspect of virtual training involved learning to balance home life with training. It required intense focus on reading, practicing, and retaining material. However, we helped each other, and we all graduated. It was a phenomenal, life altering journey for me, and I am now teaching private yoga classes here on my tiny island. I absolutely intend to continue my training with AYC for my 300 hour certification. My mentor told me years ago that the only place she respected for yoga teacher training was AYC. I blew her off initially, but now I honestly embrace what she declared! I learned so much about myself, life, peacefulness, yoga, nutrition, mindfulness, anatomy, physiology, and meditation from this fabulous and intense experience.”
– Denise T.
“As a male and 66 years old I was reluctant to even apply for teacher training. After completing the course I am glad I did. The course is life changing. Yoga is more than the poses. The instructors are so knowledgeable of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Gita, yoga history, Chakras, Kundalini, Anatomy, Asanas, Pranayama , Meditation and more. My personal yoga practice has changed so much for the better. My last Vinyasa flow Yoga class I just taught included pranayama and meditation and I had a yoga teacher tell me it was one of the best classes she had been to in months. AYC has made me a better yoga instructor and person. I loved the zoom experience and all the friends I made during training. As a matter of fact the studio I work in does zoom and the AYC zoom experience prepared me for teaching via zoom. Do not hesitate to sign up.”
– Charlie Z.
“I had been thinking about doing a yoga teacher training for years but was nervous to take the plunge for a variety of reasons – mostly centering on the nervousness that I wouldn’t know enough or have what it takes to be a teacher. I finally decided in early 2020 that I was ready to jump off the cliff and go for it. I began looking for the right studio and right teachers to guide my training path. I’ve been lucky enough to travel and practice yoga in all different places, but Asheville Yoga Center always stuck out on my head as the place where I could really see myself going. I loved the teachers, classes, philosophy, and could tell they really knew what they were doing in terms of teaching trainings. Of course as I decide I’m finally ready, COVID-19 hits. The bright side was that great yoga became even more accessible online. When I saw AYC’s virtual 200 hour YTT being offered, I immediately jumped on the opportunity. I wasn’t living in Asheville anymore, but this lucky opportunity seemed to present itself right as I needed it. I devoured the pre-training books and waited with nervous anticipation for the sessions to begin. As soon as our first Zoom session kicked off, I was feeling so grateful for an amazing group of peers and an incredible set of teachers. The compendium of knowledge that the teachers had and shared with us was so illuminating and insightful. At times the immersive nature of the program was challenging, but overall I loved the experience of diving in head first and really living, eating, breathing yoga. Truly a life-changing experience that I have so much gratitude for. Looking back I miss our class dearly, and am excited for all of us to move forward in our yoga teaching and learning journey. I’ll definitely be back for the 300 hour soon! :)”
– Meghan M.
“What I loved about the AYC teacher training is what at time frustrated me the most. It is the diversity of teachers and styled and how nothing is black and white but so very gray the way my life is. The vast knowledge and the ability to impart this to the students was awe inspiring. Every teacher had their own unique gifts and were so consistently professional, caring, goal oriented, and personable. I will definitely miss this experience as I have made so many new friends and learned so much about my passion of yoga and myself and human nature in general. Thank you Stephanie for an outstanding and for your many outstanding gifts you so freely give.”
“I started this program with the thought that I was on a new path and that this program was one of the stepping stones on the path. It has been much much more than that. It is part of a greater plan, but the program really helped define and clarify the path for me. My path is still winding and I don’t quite see the end but it is well illuminated and thanks to what I learned I am not so fixated on the end results as I am on the process. I look forward to furthering my studies with you and enjoy what I have learned so far. Thanks for sharing!”
– Carol Morrissey
“This teacher training was an incredible experience. We were introduced to so many of the different aspects of yoga. I liked the variety of teaching personalities that were part of out training. My main suggestion would be to have some type of mentoring system. I know, especially after seeing your life first hand as a cleaning lady that this would be impossible for you to take on, however I felt a need for more guidance, nurturing, and butt kicking in my own process and relationship to yoga. Maybe different core teachers could be paired with students to spread the load. I also know that ultimately the responsibility for nurturing, guidance, and butt kicking is on ourselves, and huge growth comes from this independence, however maybe because of the place in my life I have been in these past 9 months, I felt a desire for a yoga teacher mentor within this program.”
“Your teacher training was great! For someone who hasn’t been anywhere near academics, I think I have really learned a lot yoga and otherwise. I enjoyed coming here every month, even though it took away from my normal (everyday) life which I have become accustomed to. I realize there is always more to learn, but I think a lot of knowledge has been picked up here. Hope our paths cross and you can see me and be proud of you and of me. Namaste.”
“I just wanted to tell you thank you. Thank you for offering me a scholarship and making it affordable so that I was able to take part in the program. It changed my life. I truly mean that. I am a totally different person now than I was when I started the program. The entire teacher training was so enjoyable and I learned so much from it. It was one of the best things that I have ever done for myself (and my family) in my life.”
With sincere thanks…
Kelly Kirstie Pierce
“What I loved about the AYC teacher training is what at time frustrated me the most. It is the diversity of teachers and styled and how nothing is black and white but so very gray the way my life is. The vast knowledge and the ability to impart this to the students was awe inspiring. Every teacher had their own unique gifts and were so consistently professional, caring, goal oriented, and personable. I will definitely miss this experience as I have made so many new friends and learned so much about my passion of yoga and myself and human nature in general. Thank you Stephanie for an outstanding and for your many outstanding gifts you so freely give.”
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