FAQs

Yes! We are! Caribe Yoga Academy’s school ID is 143450. Avani is YA ID: 128775. You can find both there to see reviews.

Yoga Alliance is generally accepted worldwide, however it is always best to look into your individual country’s requirements to be sure before signing on. If possible, ask other yoga teachers in your local area if you would be able to teach there with a Yoga Alliance approved certificate.

It is not uncommon for students to come in and not plan to ever teach yoga. This is a deeply personal exploration and there is absolutely no requirement to go out into the world and teach. However, you will be required to teach practicum classes during the training in order to gain your Yoga Alliance certificate. What is often surprising is that many students at the end of the program feel a spirited enthusiasm to go out into the world and share the practice of yoga!

What is most important for the incoming students is that there is a sincere desire to deepen their study of the practice of yoga.  We look for serious students and seekers who are here to train seriously and work hard.  This includes focus on history, philosophy, spirituality, anatomy, teaching methodology and more…not only asana (poses).  However, it is very helpful to have at least one year of steady asana practice experience beforehand.

YES!  And we love having students with different backgrounds and perspectives join in our advanced level training!

All regular pricing is based on standard shared dorm housing.  This means anywhere from 3 to 6 people per house/room. Some houses are 1 bedroom / 1 bath, some are 2 bed / 2 bath.  We have the option for upgrades to a private or double room at an additional cost.  These will be announced via email, available on the registration form and the availability depends on the size of each program. We also have an option available to downgrade to a budget dorm housing at a discounted rate in an open air older structure on the retreat center property. This is a great option for a built in discount to your program pricing for those that are comfortable with even nearer-to-nature housing.

We send out recommendations of where you may like to stay in both San Jose and in Puerto Viejo should you need additional nights at the start or end of any program.  We recommend booking yourself some extra time to enjoy vacation days as the programs themselves are quite intensive.  The housing at AmaSER begins on the start date of your program (check-in at 3p.m.) and ends on the last date of your program (check-out at 11am.).  It is not possible to book additional nights at the retreat center BEFORE your scheduled program. The retreat center often has availability for additional night bookings AFTER your scheduled program.

You can find a full packing list here.

Do not bring anything that you hold too near and dear or are very attached to.  The jungle climate is unforgiving and it doesn’t take too long for mold to settle in on clothing if it is not stored well, cleaned and dried regularly.  Bring light breathable clothing for a hot climate as well as warmer layers for cool Caribbean evenings and rainy days.

This will depend on you entirely and the advice of your medical professional.  We have hosted pregnant women before!  And several of the faculty members have trained or offered trainings while expecting.  There are some travel restrictions with pregnancy that would be good to look into.  You will also need to provide written doctor’s permission and sign an additional waiver.

This will depend on what the condition or injury is.  It is always best to seek advice from your principle medical care provider in this case.  Written permission may be required as well as an additional waiver.  This will be explored on a case-by-case basis.

At Caribe Yoga Academy we have a commitment to exploring our inner nature through exploring and developing a relationship with the exotic nature all around us in the Caribbean jungles of Costa Rica. We commit to not hi-jacking your own inner experience and your unique authentic truth through false claims of having all the answers or being the “healer” that you need. We are all here to dive deep into yoga as explorers and seekers…TOGETHER. We believe that each person’s greatest teacher is their deepest, inner Divine Self and we commit to journeying and excavating with you to reveal that in your own time and without force. We respect that personal transformational practices are just that…personal. We honor that each student has their own voice and our hope is for you to emerge as a teacher wiling to share from your own truth and experience rather than as replicates of our faculty or cookie cutters of the CYA system.

We offer a variety of learning tools to suit the reality that varied learning styles and types of intelligence exist. You will experience lecture, group work, mentorship, art, movement, breath, asana, space for meditation and contemplation as well as rests for stillness and restoration. You will also receive verbal and written feedback, regular assessment and projects that are not founded in the need for short-term memorization, but rather a true connection with the material and also your ability to lean into your resources and your kula when needed.

The CYA training is supported by:

• Karuna: Compassion and Ahimsa: Non-Violence
• Connection to Nature
• Yoga, Ayurveda and Bhakti
• Traditional Hindu mythology and modern Archetypes
• Western science’s contributions to the the Spiritual practices of the East.
• A deep comprehension of functional anatomy and acceptance that bodies and bones are shaped differently and therefore the practice of modification and adaption is vital for optimizing the yoga practice experience to fit different shapes.

Please follow this link to read the faculty bios.

An attendance policy will be covered for each training. There are usually a few built in times that are acceptable to rest or miss while still gaining certification. Missing more than what is allotted will result in failure to complete the standards and you will not receive your certificate of completion. Make up hours are not offered.

250 hour trainings are usually 24 to 28 students.  The advanced level modules tend to be a bit smaller at 12 to 18 students per course.

There are 3 principle faculty members that teach the majority of the material as well as 4 student assistants for each foundational program (3 assistants on the advanced programs).  Each student also works in mentor groups (with assistants and faculty guiding) and has the option to schedule co-listening sessions for the opportunity to have smaller group and individual attention when needed.

The majority of participants fall between 25 and 40 years of age though we have trained with students as young as 18 and up to 65 years of age.  It is important to keep in mind that independent international travel is required to participate in our programs and so we request a high level of maturity, a willingness to work hard and somewhat of a sense of worldliness.

The main style that you will study and acquire proficiency to teach is vinyasa style yoga.  The three foundational pillars of the Caribe Yoga Methodology are Functional Anatomy, Trauma Informed Practice and Ayurveda.  All three of these share a common thread: they teach us that each student knows best what is right for their unique body! Students will learn how to sequence an intriguing, impactful and biomechanically safe vinyasa style yoga class that could be slow and soft or faster and more physically intense in order to suit their student body the best.

CYA Students will also gain exposure to several different styles of practice in order to start exploring where their own unique interests and niches may land: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, Nidra and Kundalini are some styles that we have offered in the past.

For our full curriculum, and to explore whether or not this is the right program for you, please go here.

There will be 3 full days (on which we still have morning and evening practice) and 4 half days off during the course of your 28 day journey.  We recommending staying extra time in Costa Rica if you desire to have a vacation built in.  The teacher training schedule is intensive and we expect everyone to hard work and focus on the intention of our program.  This is not a recreational retreat or a leisure vacation. You will work HARD and have long, rigorous hours of study daily. For a glimpse at the schedule, please see here. Scheduling yourself extra days or weeks at the end of the program to relax, rest and integrate after the intensity of this experience is HIGHLY recommended.

Sometimes there is supplemental reading suggested.  There will also be several playful group presentations and projects which will require you to gather with your group and plan outside of contact hours.  In addition students complete a mid-course and final exam.

Opening dinner, three meals a day, departure day breakfast, your shared accommodation for 25 nights (upgrades for housing may be available for some programs at an additional fee), an in-depth workbook and manual, expert incoming support, mentorship groups, built-in experiences and adventures of the area, frequent communication, on-going support post graduation and an incredible faculty.

We do offer a few scholarship spots per program which you can read about and apply for here. Please read all requirements for eligibility.

We do NOT offer work-trades due to the intensity of the CYA program.

All deposits are non-refundable within 3 MONTHS of any CYA training. If you cancel within that period (3 months prior to arrival), your deposit may or may not be transferable toward another Caribe Yoga Academy program.

Cancellation of your attendance within 6 weeks of your scheduled program start date will result in the total loss of your deposit.

Final payments for all programs are due 30 DAYS before arrival. At that point in the timeline, your full payment is non-refundable and non-transferable with very few exceptions (severe illness/diagnosis/injury, family death etc). In those exceptional circumstances you may be provided a pro-rated or partial refund. This policy is firm and without exceptions. We honor and reserve a spot for YOU in our program that is typically full and with a waitlist. Please plan accordingly and do not commit to the program if you do not intend to join. It is critical to do thorough research on the retreat center, the CYA curriculum and the geographic area prior to making your decision. We thank you for your comprehension as we work to co-create this experience and each take responsibility for our commitments.

Your travel expenses to and from AmaSER retreat center are not included nor your two required reading books, additional expenses such as souvenirs, tips for housekeeping, bodywork at the spa or other services, additional experiences or tours nor additional meals (outside of the provided 3 per day).

The deposit is $750 USD for foundational level programs and $500 USD on advanced level programs. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable within 3 months of your arrival. The remainder due is paid 21 days before arrival. Within 21 days of arrival all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

We send you a digital invoice where you can pay with Visa or Mastercard, credit or debit card. Our digital invoices include all taxes and fees.

Payment can be also be made via PayPal (+6% to your total due for processing), US or CR bank transfer, Venmo, US or CR check, cash or on-site at AmaSER with your credit card (+15% to your total due for processing).

The retreat center at AmaSER is an enclosed and guarded site. It is very safe and tranquil. It is, however, important to remember that Costa Rica is part of Central America and is considered a developing country. If you have travelled internationally before you will need to follow all of the standard safety regulations: don’t walk or run after dark, don’t carry valuable belongings to the beach, don’t go with people you don’t know, avoid getting intoxicated and therefore unaware of your surroundings, don’t hitchhike or get in unmarked taxis etc. In particular women traveling in Latin America will want to move in groups when possible, particularly when it is dark. One of the biggest safety issues here is ocean safety (rip currents), jungle critters (stinging leaves, thorns, jellyfish, ants) and petty theft like bicycles. We’re in the jungle in a developing country. Please be prepared for that and take necessary precautions.

Puerto Viejo is a small South Caribbean community of Costa Rica just about 1 hour away from the border with Panama. We are located in the rainforest with only two seasons: wet season and green season. It is humid here year round so don’t bring your most sacred cashmere or anything you would mind getting moldy. You will see amazing wildlife thanks to the incredible biodiversity and the climate can take some getting used to! Expect temperate temperatures at night for sleeping (AmaSER does not provide air conditioning, it is not often necessary on the Caribbean side). Bring warm layers for sleeping in. The day time can be rainy (think HEAVY torrential downpours) or bright and sunny with beach days ahead. Expect to (and prepare to) see it all during your month of training!

Puerto Viejo has an eclectic mix of cultures and languages blending Tico, AfroCaribbean and Indigenous Talamanca communities. The local town has 50+ countries represented and you will regularly hear Spanish, English, Patois and BriBri language (the indigenous language) being spoken. As a surf town there is a very laidback “pura vida” attitude and extremely active nightlife. There are also many wellness events always happening. All of this activity is very nature-centric and can change on a dime, much like the weather! Patience is a virtue in this slow-moving town.

The Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose/Alajuela Costa Rica is the closest airport to OM at Cashew Hill retreat center in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.  The airport code is SJO.

Once students are enrolled they begin to receive orientation emails.  These emails outline several different transportation options including shuttle, private taxi and flight.  We help you arrange and reserve your transportation to Puerto Viejo.  The trip is 4.5 hours from San Jose, direct to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

At the moment there are some required vaccines but no required vaccines for entering Costa Rica unless you are coming in from a Yellow Fever country.  We recommend the following resources for the most up-to-date vaccine and immunization information for international travel:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html

https://costarica.org/travel/vaccinations/

The regular housing that is provided is shared dorm housing (3 to 4 people per house / per bathroom) and in enclosed and simple near-to-nature jungle lodges. They all have screening, shelves for storage, a hotpot and mugs for tea/coffee, fans, electric outlets, lights, hot water shower, bathroom, seating area (some indoor, some outdoor) etc. Think of a simple camp cottage…only in the jungle! They are simple and rustic but comfortable. Each lodge has a view out into the thick jungle or over the Caribbean sea. Housekeeping is provided. Our budget housing options is an open living space/kitchen but the sleeping quarters are screened and enclosed. This is the discounted nearer-to-nature option.

We are able to accommodate students that require vegan or gluten free diets. Most meals are vegan and gluten free.   We can also accommodate food allergies. Those need to be listed in detail on your registration form.

All vegetarian food is served with as much as possible coming from the on-site organic gardens at OM at Cashew Hill.  For a better idea you can see a sample menu here.

There is regular WiFi in the restaurant but not in the housing areas.  There is fiber optic internet available in town center just a 5 minute walk from AmaSER.  We recommend coming in with a commitment to digital detox.  Try seeing what it feels like to find human connection rather than WiFi connection.

YES. 100%. We are located in the rainforest / jungle. YES. There are bugs, snakes, mosquitos, spiders, butterflies, sloths, toucans, scorpions and lizards.  You will see monkeys, sloths and beautiful birds, but when visiting the jungle one must also plan on other critters like bugs, mosquitos and geckoes.  Yoga is a practice of coming into peace with and reconnecting with your internal nature.  Peace with external nature is a practice we seek to cultivate here in order to deepen our Yoga practice. This is a near-to-nature experience. If you know that you are very bug or nature sensitive and you prefer not to be in close contact with nature, this may not be a great program choice for you.