2023

200hr Alaya Teacher Training & Immersion

Yoga Alliance Certified

Led by Meg McCraken

The Experience Alaya 200HR Yoga Teacher Training brings the ancient tradition of Hatha Yoga to life through experiential tools and teachings so you can thrive and live well in today’s modern world. This is the next step to deepen your personal practice and/or step into the role of the teacher.

About

The 200HR Yoga Teacher Training is a profound way to deepen your experience with yoga in a safe, approachable and supportive environment. Led by Experience Alaya Founder, Meg McCraken, this foundational training provides students with a well-rounded education of the physical and non-physical practices of Hatha Yoga. As a result, the way you live, love, teach, guide and share your gifts with the world will forever be empowered and embodied.

Our 200HR Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher training has been attended by students from around the world, all of whom help us to create this heart-based community. With a modular format, the structure of our 200HR training allows for greater integration and flexibility with life obligations.

This training will support and encourage you to live the philosophies of yoga and to help you tap into your individual power and unique gifts.

Schedule

Modules run Friday – Monday, 8am – 6pm

*All modules include 10+ hours of virtual/home study to be completed before the start of each module

Mod 1: September 22nd – 25th

Mod 2: November 3rd – 6th

Mod 3: December 1st – 4th

Mod 4 (2024): January 26th – 29th

Sign up for teacher training news

Who is this training for?

  • Anyone who is ready to experience deep trust in themselves & live a life of aligned action,
  • Aspiring yoga teachers that want to provide effective, safe and potent classes in individual and/or group settings,
  • Humans of any age and background who are ready to share their gifts, stories, and wisdom within a heart-centered community,
  • Anyone who would like to feel more at ease in their body and more connected body, mind, and soul,
  • The yogi who is ready to deepen their relationship with and experience of yoga on their personal and/or professional journey.

What to Expect

Program Structure

We will meet four times over the course of five months from Fridays through Mondays from 8am – 6 pm. This modular format allows for greater flexibility when making arrangements with work, school and/or family, as well as the opportunity to integrate the teachings into your daily life.

The daily schedule includes a mix of lecture, asana, pranayama, meditation, group work, reflection and student teaching. We will break for an hour for lunch and have shorter breaks throughout the day. When the weather is nice, we will do our best to get outside and take advantage of the outdoors and incredible mountain scenery.

You must be present for the entire training to receive the certification of completion for the 200HR yoga teacher training. If traveling from elsewhere, book your flights to allow time before and after class.

Requirements

  • An open heart and mind

  • Experience with yoga (of any style) to begin (note: you do not need to be an expert, be physically flexible, know complex poses, Sanskrit or even plan to teach to join)

  • Attend all 4 modules in their entirety

Accreditation & Certification

At the completion of your 200HR yoga teacher training, you will receive an Experience Alaya Teacher Training Certification at the 200-Hour Level. If you choose, you can then register your certification with Yoga Alliance for your 200-Hour Registration.

RYS 200 Yoga Alliance

200-hour Curriculum

Palisades Yoga Teacher training physical practice

The Physical Practice

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Application of Anatomy to Yoga
  • Alignment
  • Adjusting
  • Sanskrit
  • Sequencing
  • Neurology of Pain
  • Therapeutic Yoga
  • Functional Movement
  • Pranayama (breath practices)
  • Power of Each Pose
Palisades Yoga Teacher training internal practice

The Internal Practice

  • The Power of Intention
  • Authentic Voice
  • Meditation
  • 8 Limbs of Yoga
  • Science of Change
  • Purpose, Passion & Art of Authentic Living
  • Anatomy of the Subtle Body
  • Philosophies of Yoga
  • Business & Ethics
  • Chakras
  • Ayurveda

Your Guides

Meg McCraken

Lover of life, yogini, trail runner, climber, mommy, wife, teacher, speaker, spiritual guide, community builder, and loyal friend on the path. Sometimes together, sometimes falling apart, but always inspired and empowered by love!

Meg is passionate about sharing the full, rich teachings of yoga (asana, meditation, yoga nidra, chanting, philosophy, etc.) in a truly experiential way that helps us to positively transform and enrich our lives. Having worked as a yoga therapist for over a decade, she is continually inspired by the vitality of the human spirit and the power of yoga to help us tap into a source deep inner-peace and well-being.

She has been sharing the yoga life with all kinds of seekers for over 20 years and is the Co-Founder of the Alaya Yoga School, a Wanderlust Presenter and Teacher Trainer, and the original founder of Simple Yoga and Wellness Studio. She is a passionate community builder and give talks, lead teacher trainings, satsangs, workshops and retreats all over the world. You can also find her classes featured online at www.Gaia.com/Meg .

The 7 years she spent as a yoga studio owner in rural Montana fueled her passion for building diverse and strong communities that foster true human connection. Though she no longer runs the studio, she recognizes community building as the urgent work of our times and remains dedicated to that in all that she does. She is currently inspired to create safe and sacred spaces where these genuine connections can be established, flourish and endure. It is her intention to bring this work to the great divides that we face in our current society. Outside of the studio, she will be working with a tribe of inspiring souls to sprout these communities in our prisons and along the racial and political divides.

Visit Meg’s Site

Bio Coming Soon!

Guest Scholars

Each module, one hand-selected guest scholar will join us to share their professional gifts. We have worked with these scholars for years and they all bring a wealth of knowledge in their respective fields as well as to the practice of yoga. Learning from them has always been a highlight for our students!

Dr. Mike Lane

Guest Scholar at 200 Hour Immersion/Teacher Training

Dr. Mike Lane, DC is a specialist in the field of functional movement and wellness. He is a chiropractor, bodyworker, foundation training instructor and anatomy teacher. His intention is to help people move, feel, and live better. Since selling his successful San Francisco-based chiropractic practice in 2016, Mike and his wife have been traveling the United States in their RV home, sharing the importance of health and wellness through workshops, retreats and festivals. Dr. Mike loves to witness people understand and experience Anatomy in a way that they thought wasn’t possible. Anatomy is a challenging subject and it doesn’t have to be. Dr. Mike will make AnatomySense in a whole new, fun and dynamic way.

Visit Mike’s Site

Guest Scholar at 200 Hour Immersion/Teacher Training

Sheena Demery brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, compassion, experience, and heart to the important work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Her wise perspectives of the human experience, capacity to listen deeply, and ability to hold space for challenging issues creates important, potent, and lasting change.  She will be guiding our group through the engaging and vital work that can help us to evolve the way we understand power dynamics, and create more interesting, robust, and beautiful yoga spaces through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

2023 Guest scholars will be announced soon!

The Venue

Palisades Yoga

This training takes place at the Palisades Yoga Studio nestled at the base of the mountains in Olympic Valley, CA.  The 1,000+ square foot studio is a sanctuary for all to come home to themselves and their practice in the pristine mountain landscape of Palisades Tahoe.  Hardwood floors meet large picture windows, offering extraordinary views of Olympic Valley's legendary mountain peaks.  Come for the training and stay for the majestic scenery, diverse wildlife, and the abundant recreational activities in the North Lake Tahoe region.

Address: 1720 East Village Rd. Suite 64, Olympic Valley, CA 96146

Lodging: If you are traveling to join, there are local lodging options in the North Lake Tahoe area and nearby Truckee, CA. You can choose from many AirBnb's and the option to stay with local students. Our student liaison will help you determine the best option for each of your visits.

Pricing & Policies

$2800 Early Bird Rate (Paid in full by July 23rd )

$3000 Regular Rate (Paid in full by  August 22nd)

$3,200 with Payment Plan ($800 per module paid in full before the start of each mod)

*A $300 nonrefundable deposit holds your place in the training. All students must be fully paid by the deadlines above to receive that particular rate unless you choose to pay as you go.

A $300 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit will reserve your spot in the training. In order to receive the Super Early Bird Rate you must pay in full by the end of February, to receive the Early Bird Rate you must pay 60 days prior to the start of the training.

All payments are due no later than August 22, 2023, unless you choose the pay as you go rate.

If you'd like to arrange a payment plan, you can do so at the rate of $3200 split into four $800 payments due before the start of each module. Contact Jackie, our studio manager, at jworthingham@palisadestahoe.com to set this up.

  • All deposits are non-refundable.
  • If canceled in writing 60 days prior to the training, a full refund (less the $300 deposit) will be issued.
  • If canceled in writing between 31 and 59 days prior to the training, an 80% refund (less the $300 deposit) will be issued.
  • If canceled 30 days or less prior to the training, no refund will be issued.

Experience Alaya reserves the right to cancel any program up to 30 days from the start of the program. In the unlikely event that we must cancel, all monies paid (including deposits) will be fully refunded.

IF YOU DO NOT MAKE YOUR FINAL PAYMENTS BY AUGUST 22ND (Without making prior arrangements with us) YOUR SPOT WILL BE OPENED TO THE NEXT PERSON ON THE WAITING LIST AND YOU WILL FORFEIT YOUR DEPOSIT

For any questions about programming or registration, please email jworthingham@palisadestahoe.com

Your tuition covers the entire training and a comprehensive training manual created by Meg McCraken and Ashleigh Sergeant after 40 combined years of experience teaching yoga.

It also includes mats, blocks, bolsters, straps and any other supplies that might be helpful during class. You are, however, welcome to bring any of your own yoga gear if you prefer.

As an integral part of the Experience Alaya Community, we ask that you uphold our shared values and commit to full attendance and presence.

  • I commit to attending each of the four modules,
  • If I am unable to attend a module in its entirety, I will work with Experience Alaya with as much notice as possible to make alternative arrangements,
  • I will maintain professionalism, courtesy and graciousness throughout the training with my peers and teachers,
  • I will refrain from texting, making phone calls or being disruptive during classroom hours,
  • I will arrive on-time (ideally early) and be ready to learn right when class starts,
  • I will play an active role in the community by sharing and exploring my gifts while holding space for others to do the same.

Thank you for making this commitment to yourself and to us. We cannot wait to meet you!

From Our Students

"To say that my 200HR yoga teacher training was amazing would be selling it short. I can honestly say that the experience was life-changing and I am forever grateful for our guides, the guest scholars and my peers. What delighted me the most was the bonds that our group forged and the new family that emerged from the laughter, the tears, the talks and the movement. I feel prepared to go and teach, expand my personal home practice and navigate this complex world through the lens of the yogi. Thank you all so much!"

- Kelly Benson, 200-RYT

“I signed up for Meg’s 200 hr YTT not having a single clue as to “why”. I just felt a calling at that time of my life to take a deeper dive into something that I was curious about learning more of. What an incredible decision it turned out to be! Meg has an innate teaching ability to make the training feel that it is entirely catered exactly to what YOU need in your life. I learned things that I didn’t know I needed to learn, felt things deeply that I didn’t know could be felt, and rejoiced in the overall experience at the end of each of the 4 beautifully unique but cohesive modules. Whatever you are looking to get out of this training, you’ll get it….but you’ll also receive SO much more."

- Bridget Brown, 200-RYT

"This YTT led by the wonderful Meg was one of the best experiences in my life. Her authenticity, her capacity to transmit, to share all her wisdom and knowledge from the heart about yoga, with such dedication, respect and humility was mind-blowing. She has such a special way to create a sacred space and leave everything to unfold as it is meant to be, leaving me the space I needed to explore and grow, in order to develop my own yoga teaching skills.

This is the best YYT I could have hoped for. She truly sees people as they are and she has an extraordinary way to bring the best out of them. And thanks to her, I've also found my tribe, those incredible beings who are now friends for life. If you are thinking about training with her, I can only tell you, 'stop thinking and just do it, you will love it!"

- Marika McGoldrick, 200-RYT & Life Coach

"Before I walked into Meg’s teacher training I was just searching for something to round out my wellness coaching business. I had been to a handful of yoga classes in my life, some meditation and I certainly don’t have the body type of the participants one might see in yoga ads. Not only did I feel like I was completely accepted when I walked into Meg’s container, but I was celebrated. Every step was mind-blowing, raw and inspiring. After 200 amazing hours with Meg, her teacher assistant, Shari, and my classmates, not only do I feel ready to teach and empowered to share my gifts with the world but I found my tribe, my family. And I am eternally grateful!!"

- Kachina K'ang, 200-RYT & Women's Empowerment Coach

"I got the blessing of working with Meg in my 200 hr yoga training and I value that period of one of the most pivotal growth investments of my life so far. I learned so much more than just the physical practice and yoga and it was at that point of my life that I started to lean into the power of mindfulness and meditation. I now teach yoga regularly and love to share the practices with others."

- Coral Lee, 200-RYT