The Art and Science of Master Teaching
Yoga Vidya Advanced Studies Teacher Training and Immersion
November 2025-November 2026 | 13 Weekends (plus webinars and self study)
Deepen Your Practice | Elevate Your Teaching | Expand Your Impact
From Competent to Exceptional: The Training That Elevates Everything
Step into your next evolution as a yoga teacher. This advanced 300-hour training is designed to refine your personal practice, deepen your understanding of yogic wisdom, and expand your ability to guide others with authenticity and confidence. You'll gain advanced skills, fresh inspiration, and the tools to stand out in a crowded field—whether you’re teaching group classes, working one-on-one, or mentoring and influencing the next generation of teachers.
This is more than a certification—it's a transformational journey that amplifies your voice, impact, and marketability.
The full program is for graduates of an approved 200-hour training who wish to more deeply and fully incorporate yogic tools and techniques into their lives and teaching. Students may take the modules a la carte with Director’s approval. (Please contact Lauren).
One Weekend per Month November 2025-November 2026
Saturdays 10:30a-6p & Sundays 9a-5:30p plus Webinars & Self Study
$4,600 before Sept 1, 2025 | $4,800 thereafter | Payment plans available
In person classes will be held at Maitri Yoga | 21 3rd St | Troy NY. Inquire about participating virtually.
The Roots and Wings of Modern Yoga
November 8-9, December 6-7 2025
Demystify Tantra and expand your world! Discover how hatha yoga is rooted in the esoteric and exotic comprehensive world of Tantra, and take your practice, and life, to the next level.
Module 1: Tantra Vidya
Module 2: Sva Sadhana
Advanced Practice, Embodied Wisdom
Jan 10-11, Feb 7-8, Mar 7 2026
Take your personal practice to new heights and greater depth! Create a life informed by and infused with Yoga and Vedanta as a comprehensive wellness and happiness modality. Explore advanced philosophy, pranayama, meditation, asana, and Tantric hatha techniques that expand your home practice and enhance your ability to serve others.
Module 3: Ayurveda- The Basics & Beyond
April 4-5, 2026
Dive deeper into the art and science of Ayurveda as a life changing wellness system. Explore ayurvedic physiology, psychology and lifestyle. Learn assessment and diagnostic skills and how to advise individuals.
Director Lauren Toolin and guest faculty represent decades of experience, practice and training. Lauren has spent thousands of hours studying with renowned teachers and has been a practitioner for more than forty years. She holds advanced certifications in two separate yoga styles, is a certified yoga therapist and ayurvedic practioner, is a Master Miracle Minded Life Coach and has been teaching since the early 1990’s. She also helped develop and directed a worldwide teacher certification and has trained or mentored more than 1,000 yoga instructors since 2004.
Module 4: Advanced Teaching
May 9-10, June 6-7 2026
Expand and refine your teaching skills! We will explore skillful sequencing, advanced asana teaching and assisting, how to create and adapt class plans, design meaningful workshops, presentation and teaching skills and much much more. Boost your creativity, confidence and effectiveness with this immersion.
Module 5: Yoga Therapeutics*
July 11-12, August 8-9, Sept 19-20, Oct 17-18, Nov 14-15 2026
Yoga is the ultimate self-care and healing modality. Expand and apply the principles, philosophy and techniques of yoga and ayurveda to the individual. In this, the culminative module of this training, you’ll learn how to organize and utilize your skills to assess and ‘treat’ individual students and their physical emotional and spiritual needs ethically and authoritatively. Advanced anatomy and physiology, qualitative use of techniques, self assessment and case studies are all part of this course.
*You must have taken all of the other modules in this training to participate in this course.
HOW IT WORKS
Unparalleled Depth and Breadth… the Advanced Studies and Teacher Training Program is the result of decades of study and teaching. We know what works to fulfill the ultimate promise of Yoga as a path toward personal transformation and self mastery. We teach you how to share that with others as well, whether in a group setting or with individuals.
This immersion and training is based in millennia old tradition that can be applied seamlessly into our modern world. You’ll learn authentic yet practical application of the philosophies, techniques, concepts and rituals that reveal our inherent wellness and connection.
The Yoga Vidya 300 Hour Training is a multi-weekend format, with significant work done outside of classroom hours as well. (Reading, writing, home practice, studying, etc)
EXPECTATIONS
Engage and Practice! Your individual practice is key to the wellspring of health and wisdom that is Yoga. You will be expected to practice a minimum of five days per week, for at least 20 minutes, and you will also journal as a tool to gain additional insight.
Attendance at all trainings and workshops is mandatory in order to receive a certificate of completion and to graduate.
Completion of all reading and writing assignments in a timely manner.
Active participation and attentiveness at all trainings will enhance your experience in the course and will also help you to find your voice.
Willingness to be guided in your studies and personal growth. In this program, you are not just a number. You will have several opportunities for private consultation with faculty.
You must show an increase in your skillet and be able to communicate that in group discussion, practice teaching and homework.
CURRICULUM
Knowledge, Immersion, Application
Connect to your purpose as a practitioner and as a teacher
Learn specific practices that generate profound and lasting positive shifts
Explore Yoga from the Inside Out with in depth exploration of both physical and energetic anatomy
Apply yogic philosophy and world view principles to daily life
Increase your ability to design sequences and practices that heal and transform holistically.
Truly understand the science and application of seemingly esoteric concepts like dosha, kosha, chakra, mantra and kundalini
Explore the practical spiritual potential that is inherent in authentic yoga.
Develop your ability to become a powerful leader and teacher
Testimonials
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I taught my first workshop and it went great. I was pleasantly surprised on how relaxed I was and how well it was received. Thank you for all your teachings and Wisdom. It wouldn't have been possible without your guidance and teaching.
-Amit G
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I learned so much and found so much joy in the whole process; every last second of it was delicious spiritual food for me. Yoga is the greatest gift and joy of my life and I am so deeply grateful to you.
-Loretta P
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You're a great teacher and an inspiration. I'm so grateful to have found you and to have been part of this training. I have so much respect and appreciation for what you do and how well you do it. I know you say it's not you and you're just the channeler of the teachings, but I think the channeler does make a big difference. Because of your authenticity, intelligence, and compassion, your transmission of yoga comes through loud and clear, its relatable, and very powerful. Thank you, thank you , thank you.
-Adam B
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Lauren embodies an impressive depth of experience and emanates a truthful and powerful elegance in teaching and sharing this incredible practice of yoga. And for those of us, yogis still searching for a model of "what it looks like" to be a woman who is living her yoga in the full expression of who she is, fearlessly embracing her power and accessing awakened energy in everyday life, Lauren has much to teach us all. If you want true freedom, you must learn from someone who already has it. It doesn't take much time with Lauren to see that, clearly, she has It.
-Carla N
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Thank you once again for all you have done for me. It is really amazing to look back at the past 8 months and see just how far I have come, but to also see the journey ahead of me with excitement and adventure. At the start I wasn't sure just how "life changing" this would be, but it has far exceeded anything I thought. Thank you, thank you for being you and doing the work that you do. I look forward to crossing paths again and again : )
-Wendy G
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I want to express how powerful and awesome this program has been for me. I. All of those people in that room have become like family members to me... I wanted nothing more than to stay there with everyone because their and your presence, aura, vibes, whatever you want to call it is just so inspiring and makes me feel content. I never thought about the making friends part of this program when I signed up. It is truly amazing what you created. Reflecting back, my entire view of yoga has changed. It has become an entire lifestyle. I had no idea what I was in for and I am so happy that I had the privilege of experiencing it with you and all of my new family members. This has truly been a life-changing experience.
-Lynda H