Frequently Asked Questions

Accessible Yoga Training School

General Questions

What is the Accessible Yoga Training School?

The Accessible Yoga Training School is an online education platform founded in the summer of 2020 by Jivana Heyman and Amber Karnes. This online academy will:

Address gatekeeping in yoga by platforming the voices of underestimated and marginalized teachers
Address issues of white supremacy in yoga in all of its manifestations: racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, cultural appropriation, and more
Provide quality education around equity issues in yoga, including practical tools from trustworthy sources to inform your teaching practice
Offer this education in an even more accessible format: 100% online

The Accessible Yoga Training School will bring you in-depth courses, mentorship programs, study groups, book clubs, and more, led by yoga educators from communities who embody and share the values of interconnectedness and liberation that are the heart of yoga’s teachings. Learn more

Do I have to be a certified yoga teacher to take your courses?

No, there are no prerequisites and anyone can join us!

Do your courses certify me to teach yoga?

Our courses are continuing education. They do not certify you to teach yoga if you have not already completed a 200-hour (or beyond) yoga teacher certification program.

How long do I have access to the training materials?

You have access to the student portal for 1 year after start date of your course. You can download the videos and other course materials to keep forever. Keep in mind that your access to the online portal expires after 1 year, so be sure to download your materials if you want them beyond that.

Can I share the videos or other course materials with other teachers who aren't in the course?

The videos and course materials are for your personal use. We ask that you don't share them with anyone who hasn't enrolled in the course. Each of our trainers often share wonderful free resources with overlapping information, and we encourage you to share those widely.

Can I earn continuing education credit or contact hour CEUs for this training?

Yes, all our trainings are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs). Eligible yoga teachers will earn contact hour CEUs through Yoga Alliance. If the course instructor is a Yoga therapist, they may also offer CEUs through the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Upon completion of the course requirements, you will receive a downloadable certificate you can submit for credit.

Are scholarships available for your courses?

Yes, we have a limited number of scholarships available for each course. Many courses offer sliding scale pricing as well. To get information on scholarship applications, visit each course's page.

Are payment plans available?

No, payment plans are not available. But you can apply for a scholarship on each course's page.

What languages are the trainings offered in?

All of our trainings in North America are offered in English. Many of our international trainings are taught in English as well but translation services may be available. Some of our international trainings are offered in the language of the host country, this is denoting in the listing of the training on this page.

Online Training Questions

How does the online training work?

This training is 100% online. Here's how it works:

When you register, you'll get instant access to your student portal, which has pre-recorded videos for you to watch and other resources
Leading up to the live training course, you will receive emails with information about how to access the live training sessions
All live training sessions will be offered through Zoom, a videoconferencing application. You can watch and interact on your phone, tablet, or computer.
All sessions will be live-captioned and available for replay (and downloading) after the session
Once you have watched and read all the course content, you will self-certify with an assessment that you've completed the course requirements. Then you'll receive a PDF certificate for the course.

Do I need special equipment or software?

You will get the most out of the training if you attend via Zoom on a desktop computer with a webcam and microphone. However, you are welcome to watch and participate on your phone, tablet, or other internet-connected device. Appearing on video or speaking on the mic is not required at all.

We recommend installing the Zoom application on your device to get the full functionality.

Your student portal is web based and can be accessed through any internet browser.

What if I need a refund?

We’re so confident that you will benefit from our courses that we offer a 30-day money back guarantee on our online courses.

Simply contact us within 30 days of purchase and complete an exit interview with us so that we can understand how to improve the course next time, then we'll get your refund sorted out. Easy!

In-Person Training Questions

Can my yoga center host a training?

Yes! We are always looking to reach new communities with our trainings and have trainers all over the world ready to come to you.

In order to host a training, we need a yoga studio or similar space that is wheelchair accessible and has ample yoga props for approximately 20-30 people. We prefer to rent the space and handle registration ourselves. If this sounds like what you have available, please contact us to start the conversation.

How do I access the pre-recorded online content before the training?

If your training is 3 days long, you will receive access upon registration for your chosen training. Once you are registered you will receive detailed log-in information.

You can log-in here and view your account details/access the videos and training manual.

If your training is 4 or more days long you do not need to complete the online portion of the training as the additional coursework will be covered during your live training and the additional hours of CEUs are included.

How in depth is the Anatomy and Physiology portion of the training?

We offer a two-hour Anatomy & Physiology lecture (by video for the 21 hour training, in person for the 30 hour training). There is additional A&P in the asana discussions regarding benefits and contraindications for many poses.

The A&P lecture is designed to create familiarity with common medical conditions and the main issues that occur in aging. This is a short training and is designed as an introduction to the area of Accessible Yoga. Teachers who plan to specialize in teaching specific populations should consider additional training.

Is room and board included in the cost of the training?

No, we don’t offering housing in conjunction with our trainings. If you need help with traveling or housing please contact us, we are happy to offer assistance!

What is the difference between the AY Training and the AY Conference?

The training is a small group- usually 15-25 students- studying with one of our Accessible Yoga trainers. In these trainings you will go through the curriculum designed by our founder that will prepare you to teach in all situations with a variety of students with different abilities. You will teach in small groups and get hands on experience with working in a integrated class. Additionally, you will be a certified Accessible Yoga Teacher upon completing the course.

Our Conferences are larger gatherings, upwards of 100 students and teachers that come together to connect and learn from each other. There are a wide variety of presenters currently working in the field of what we consider Accessible Yoga. They offer classes, workshops, lectures and panels. We offer these events as a way to build community and as an opportunity to network with other people within the realm of Accessible Yoga.

What is the refund policy if I cannot attend the in-person training?

If you are attending a 3 day training, once you have accessed the online materials there will be no refunds of the registration fees. Prior to accessing the online materials, refunds may be available in these amounts: 50% refund one month prior to start date of the training you have registered for. No refunds after the start date of the training you have registered for.

If you are attending a 4 day training, the refund policy is 50% one month prior, 1/2 refund 2 weeks prior, no refunds after start date.

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