Recent Graduates Reviews
Read what these recent graduates have to say about these training programs.
I had been teaching yoga for 5 years before taking the yoga teacher training with Mark Stephens. I liked the program because it was holistic in that it covered yoga philosophy, types of yoga, correct ways to teach and do asanas as well as covering anatomy and common issues found in yoga classes. The students had an opportunity to teach and feedback was given. Mark Stephens was professional and supportive. I now have a better understanding of yoga and that helps my personal practice as well as teaching yoga.
I enrolled in Mark Stephens’ y teacher training program in the Fall of 2008 with the intent to further my own knowledge of yoga and not necessarily to teach. I was not confident that I would be able to teach others when my own practice was not advanced (that is to say I couldn't do complex pretzelie asanas).
Mark Stephens' Yoga teacher training program is a very special offering – a gem created by the alchemy of years of dedication to the complete yogic path.
In essence Mark gives students a loom, a basic pattern and possibilities to weave their own teaching style.
When I first moved to Santa Cruz, California, I was looking for a yoga teacher training mainly to learn more about the practice and to deepen my own. I never realized how much my life would change throughout the process. I cannot express enough gratitude for the wealth of knowledge shared and the strong connections made with inspiring and beautiful yogis and yoginis. Mark Stephens has been an incredible teacher and mentor. His support and guidance has helped lead me down the blissful path I am on today.
Mark Stephens is a renowned teacher of teachers who shares his craft and acquired professional wisdom with passion and a lighthearted attitude. He has a deep knowledge of yoga philosophy and a rich understanding of body mechanics and anatomy. Going through his teacher training program was a “tour de force” that enabled me to get a solid foundation of yoga, apply Mark’s teaching hands-on, and interact with like-minded friends.
After attending several of Mark Stephens' yoga classes, it was apparent to me that Mark was a deep reservoir of yoga asana knowledge. As a teacher, I wanted to gain deeper insight into the asanas and I signed up for his YTT in the summer of 2009. To my pleasant surprise, not only did Mark share with abandon his wealth of asana knowledge, we also dug deeply in other important teaching topics from hands-on adjustments, the importance of sequencing , understanding anatomy, and even to yoga philosophy.
Mark Stephens shares his wisdom and knowledge to the Yoga community through his teachings, his studio, his teacher training programs, and more recently his books. Mark continues to inspire me as a teacher and an author with his amazing gift of being thorough, insightful and intuitive in his teachings. Yoga students and teachers will benefit greatly from participating in his Teacher Training programs. I had taught Yoga for 8 years before I took Mark's training.
As I dove deeply into yoga in the summer of 2008, I decided I would take Mark Stephens’ teacher training as a way to further my understanding and embodiment of the practice. Little did I know, the training that summer would exceed my expectations; it took me further than just a solid foundation of understanding. It also created the desire to continue with my studies, and take my practice off of my mat and further into the big picture of my life.
In choosing a Teacher Training Program, I wanted to find a program that was comprehensive, clearly organized, and one that would challenge me while giving me the space to explore and grow as a teacher and practitioner. Not only did Mark's program fulfill my expectations, it vastly exceeded them.
Mark Stephens' passion for yoga really comes through in his teaching. His enthusiasm for sharing his wealth of knowledge with each and every one of his students is what makes his yoga teacher training so outstanding. One of the most valuable components of the training was Mark's knowledge regarding the importance of creating a sensible sequence. Mark's wisdom, compassion, generosity and sense of humor also contributed to making his teacher training so rewarding and memorable for me. I am forever grateful for Mark's influence in my own yoga and teaching practices.
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"When someone mentions the gracefulness of the night sky, climb up on the roof and dance and say, like this?"
-Rumi
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification Program
The 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training can be completed in either:
- A weekend format (one weekend per month for nine months), or
- An intensive format (21 consecutive days).
The content of each format is the same.
The tuition fee is $2,750.
Click here for details on the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training >
+300/500-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification
Fulfilled by completing the 300 hours of advanced yoga studies (if you have a prior 200-hour certification). You are welcome to apply based on prior completion of another Yoga Alliance 200-Hour program. The tuition fee is $3,250.
Click here for more information on the 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training >