OBJECTIVE: SOWING GOOD SEEDS IN MADAGASCAR!

For our first 200-hours self-employed Yoga teacher training program, we chose to embark on a project unlike any other: to prepare a new generation of high-quality teachers in a rather isolated country where yoga is not yet truly developed: Madagascar!

To achieve this goal, we first needed to adapt this type of intense, often very expensive training to a relatively modest and poorly educated population. To halve our prices, we had to forgot traditional dream destinations and also total immersion (on-site accommodation), which is very important to us because it generally allows students to fully invest themselves in a process of personal transformation in addition to professional development.

We can never thank the Gaia Center enough for embracing this idea with conviction by opening the doors of its magnificent center in Antanarivo to us. Students and teachers alike had the honor of being fed and, for those who wished, housed without any additional financial contribution. They even went so far as to cut corners to be able to offer the people of Madagascar the first Yoga teacher training course on the island, a reel 200 hours process and for less than 1,000 euros !

Our greatest surprise was the quality of the students who responded to the call. Despite the fact that none of them practiced Yoga regularly, and some had never even practiced it in their lives, their dedication, both physical and mental, the deep respect they demonstrated for this ancestral tradition, and the gratitude that they sent back to us, the teachers, far exceeded all our expectations. Unlike other schools, we have chosen not to automatically certify but to offer the diploma to students who demonstrate merit after a series of oral and written exams.

Of course, we needed to adapt different rhythms for different levels and to dedicate a lot of time individually with each student, developping relationships of trust, particularly with regard to traumas releasing and spiritual awakening. While for some, the physical and inner work began almost from scratch, everyone's level progressed so rapidly, thanks in part to the incredible cohesion of the group and the mutual support they fostered. Ultimately, we are happy to have contributed to the development of five authentic and professional Hatha/Vinyasa teachers and to have helped them find their own unique style, reflecting their personalities.

For us, it was also a test by fire. Although we are both accustomed to offering this type of training in other schools, this was the first time we were fully in charge, free to decide on the content (we choose abondance but well directed) as well as the methodology (focusing on direct experience of the knowledge), the pace (with time for introspection, self practice, sharing circles and integration...), and the values we wanted to share (authenticity and truthfulness, excellence and empowerment...).

The program included: daily practices of different styles of yoga, pranayama, and meditation starting at 7 a.m., followed by a deep dive into advanced anatomy, the science of energy, and the philosophy of yoga. Each afternoon, we were introduced to the role of teacher, their role, methodology, and ethics; a detailed review of perfect alignment, asana by asana; and finally, an hour of self-study during which we sought to ensure that all the knowledge shared during the day had been retained, assimilated, and integrated. Rounding out this already very full curriculum were an introduction to Ayurveda, a connection to the power of mantras with chanting circles, and various workshops on Acro-Yoga, balance, and ethical marketing.  

Fueled by this confirmation, which was a true success on all levels, we are even more excited to work on our next 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in a magical location on the Pacific coast of Mexico in May 2026! We will share all the information with you very soon, as well as other online training and retreat projects, including a Yoga & Trek in the Moroccan desert starting next March! So don't hesitate to follow us on our social networks to stay up to date with all these wonderful things that are coming up and until then don't forget that Yoga starts when you step off the mat, aho!