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Arm Balance Teacher Training & Retreat

at Maderas Beach

December 9 - 15, 2023

The training

About this retreat:

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Let’s get  STRONG, learn to move intelligently and learn not only how to DO all those crazy arm balances but also how to warm up for them, prep the body for them and TEACH them!! 

This is a an EPIC training taught by 3 world-renown POWERHOUSE teachers: Lauren Rudick, Maximilan Kert and Will Peters

This is a FUN and playful yoga training vacation! We want to offer you a Yin and Yang kind of vacation. We’ll have yin yoga so you can nurture yourself, swim, hang out, relax and also find your fiery yang element! Get stronger, go on epic adventures and try some amazing yoga tricks.

Please note that you do not have to be a yoga teacher to join us! BUT if you are a yoga teacher this COUNTS as a module of your 300hr Yoga Teacher Training course!!

Ready to learn arm balances from experts?!

Words cannot express the gratitude I have for this amazing learning experience with the most wonderful humans! I leaped out of my introverted comfort zone, into this adventure - Lauren always made me feel comfortable & at peace; I felt safe, learn to trust, & believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.. Forever indebted to you both! Can't wait for the next adventure! ❣️
Elena Marie
Germany

What's included:

YArm balance yoga training & retreat includes: 

  • 6 nights at our private, oceanfront retreat center
  • 3 healthy meals per day
  • Daily guided yoga classes including Vinyasa Flow & Yin
  • Daily workshops on how to do, train and teach arm balances
  • Jounaling workshops, Kirtan and more!
  • Full access to our retreat centre including hiking trails, beaches, pools, jungle gym and more!
  • Campfires, singing, dancing, stargazing
  • A safe, sacred space for you to grow and connect with other like-minded travellers
  • Mentorship and personalized guidance

Get stronger
Learn amazing yoga tricks
practice yoga with the best

Sample daily schedule

  • 7 – 8:30am morning yoga flow practice
  • 8:30 – 9am meditation
  •  9am -10am breakfast break
  • 10am – 1pm arm balance workshop
  • 1pm-4pm lunch break
  • 4-5:30pm yoga mindfulness workshop
  • 6:30pm dinner
  • Some evenings may have activities like movie nights, workshops or bonfire.

The price of this training is $1535USD

Location

A week in paradise...

Maderas Beach is a world famous surf spot. Known for it’s beauty and peaceful environment. It is located 20-minutes outside of the lively beach town of San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. Nicaragua is currently THE SAFEST country in Central America. Our retreat centre is private, gorgeous, secure and truly an experience of paradise! You’ll get sunset views every evening from your private pool and our yoga shala boasts a 180 degree view of the ocean. We also have a jungle gym, meditation deck and 82 acres of hiking trails on this private property to explore. Every morning you can meditate on the cliffs of this dramatic coastline that gives way to perfect beaches for walking and some world-class waves for surfing. This place is serene and stunning. GETTING HERE: We are 2.5 hours from the Costa Rica (LIR) airport as well as 2.5 hours from Managua (MGA) airport. Fly in to either and we can have your private transfer arranged!

It's our tropical heaven!

Your teachers:

Maximilian Kert

Maximilian Kert is a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher and has specialized in practicing arm balances. As a group fitness instructor and yoga teacher, he has been teaching in renowned fitness and wellness facilities since 2017 and organizes fitness/yoga events with well-known club resorts. Maximilian works internationally and leads various training courses and workshops in the field of yoga. He has also worked with global yoga and fitness companies and brands. On the social media platform Instagram, he enriches the yoga community via his account (@maxi.yoga) with high-quality posts on numerous yoga postures.

Lauren Rudick

Founder of Yoga Academy International, Lauren is a globally celebrated yoga instructor, travel blogger and photographer. She has been teaching yoga for over a decade and comes from a variety of lineages and traditions. Lauren has lead yoga retreats and workshops in over 2-dozen countries and continues to study with world-class instructors whenever possible. Lauren has been featured in Women’s health Magazine, YogiTimes, Optymyz and get out there to name a few as well as on countless podcasts and newspaper articles.

Lauren is passionate about sharing yoga from an authentic and soulful point of view. She believes that yoga practice can help uncover the veils that hide us from achieving our full potential.

Will Peters

Making yoga accessible and enjoyable, regardless of who you are and how strong or flexible you are, is his priority. With a passion for all things health and wellbeing, Will’s aim is to inspire anyone and everyone to step on the mat to gain the physical and mental benefits that yoga can provide.

Born in the UK, Will is a qualified and registered yoga teacher with over 250 hours of training. Will places an emphasis on alignment and safety. Outside of teaching, Will is an enthusiastic yoga student, constantly pushing his body and mind to new limits. Whether it’s learning to handstand, progressing towards the splits or practicing mindfulness exercises, Will loves to learn new things and grow. This provides continuous evolution to Will’s teaching as he brings new-found energy and knowledge from my personal practice into class.

Pricing & more:

The price of this training is $1535USD

What’s not included:

  • Travel to us
  • Tips for the local staff
  • Food other than listed
  • Alcohol
  • PCR or Antigen tests if required
  • Souvenirs

Useful information:

You will have access to a kitchen at all times and there are several inexpensive restaurant options nearby for snacks.

Because of the high demand for our programs, you will have to put down a non-refundable deposit in order to save your spot. Please note, we are not offering refunds if students test positive for COVID-19 or required to isolate because of exposure to the virus.  If your travel plans are altered or delayed because of your own exposure to the virus, we are not offering refunds.

We WILL offer full refunds if your country’s airport is locked down BEFORE the retreat start date or if flights from your country or to the MGA or LIR airports are grounded due to the pandemic.

Use code “earlybird” to get $150 off this retreat when you sign up before August 31st!

Testimonials from our last retreat:

Words cannot express the gratitude I have for this amazing learning experience with the most wonderful humans!I leaped out of my introverted comfort zone, into this adventure - fresh out of surgery, with no experience in acro or yoga! Lauren always made me feel comfortable & at peace; James made me feel safe, learn to trust, & believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.. Forever indebted to you both!Can't wait for the next adventure! ❣️ ~Elena
Elena Marie C.
Germany
This was the first opportunity I had to come from a small town and meet so many like minded individuals. The set up flowed so well, no struggles and everything exceeded all of our expectations!
Randall Weiss
USA
This acro & yoga retreat was in my top two vacations ever. James and Lauren both did an absolutely amazing job teaching yoga and acroyoga. Lauren really brought it home with some excellent yoga classes helping us improve our strength, balance and flexibility. She also included spiritual teachings, which I greatly appreciate, around being present with our feelings & stretching our comfort zones to make room for growth. James is super fun to work with, incredibly skilled, an excellent base, willing to lift one person after the other on the beach to get those great pics - such a beast!!! I have to add that he is an all around great guy who shines from the inside out and gives the best HUGS ever! Our practice space where we had class was the most beautiful spot ever, overlooking the ocean!!! I would have gone for the view alone. You can hear and see the ocean from everywhere on the property. SO GORGEOUS. It was heaven. The food was excellent also and the chefs made a great effort to adhere to everyone's dietary restrictions. I'm so grateful for all of it. Everyone was amazing and it was an experience of a lifetime.
Laura Jean Custello
USA
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHING AND EDUCATION WAS TRULY FANTASTIC. THE STAFF ALONG WITH ALL OF THE EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS WERE SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. I FEEL WELL EQUIPPED AND EXCITED TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND SHARE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED. I ESPECIALLY LOVED THAT WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE OUR OWN STYLE OF TEACHING. THE STUNNING AND MAGICAL LOCATION WAS THE CHERRY ON TOP!
Sonya H
Australia
I feel very lucky to have stumbled on to the gift of this practice, and I love that now I get to introduce it to others. I get to encourage the uncovering and discovering that inevitably comes along with it, not only during the asanas, but during those unexpected quiet moments of stillness…those golden moments where you find yourself going inward, and you find yourself. I’m SO excited to continue being a student of yoga…to continue being a teacher of yoga…to keep moving on this path
JulieAnn Delude
USA
NOT JUST AN AVERAGE YOGA TRAINING; IT WAS AN ENRICHING LIFE EXPERIENCE. I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE MANY ASPECTS OF YOGA AND MEDITATION. AS WELL AS MORE ABOUT MYSELF. I RECEIVED THE TOOLS TO LEAD A MORE EMPOWERED AND CONSCIOUS LIFE. THE GENUINE LOVE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE SKILLED INSTRUCTORS AND MY FELLOW STUDENTS WAS APPARENT ON A DAILY BASIS AND SO APPRECIATED. I ENJOYED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL-PLANNED PROGRAM. GREAT VARIETY OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. I’M FOREVER GRATEFUL.
MS
Sweden

Refund policy:

A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space in this program. Your initial deposit is not refundable under any circumstances. 

Payment plans are available. The full remaining balance owing of the course is due 21-days prior to the start date of the program. 

A full refund, minus the deposit fee will be offered for cancellations made more than 60-days prior to the start date of the program. 

Refunds will not be offered on cancellations made less than 60-days in advance. Refunds will not be given to students who fail to show up for the program for any reason. Refunds are not offered more than 60-days in advance for any reason. 

Once a Participant arrives to our program location, your space in the program has been accounted for and therefore we cannot offer a refund for any reason. There will be no refunds offered for participants who leave our program after arrival. 

At Yoga Academy International we adhere to a Code of Conduct that we ask our students to follow in order to maintain a safe and loving environment. If a yoga student is in violation of our Code of Conduct and being particularly disruptive during our program (i.e. being rude to other students and staff, inviting guests in to his or her room from outside of the training, bringing drugs or alcohol on to our teacher training property, sexual harassment or sexual violence of any kind) that student may be asked to leave our program. If a yoga teacher training student is asked to leave our program that student will not be offered a refund. 

If a yoga participant leaves our program after arrival for any reason, the yoga teacher training participant is responsible for all arrangements and costs associated with travel and accommodation for their departure from our program. 

This trip was an amazing experience, both to learn so much about yoga and about myself, as well as to connect with other like-minded people in such a beautiful place. I loved the structure of the program, as well as its close, intimate size in which everyone got to know each other on a deeper level. It was definitely a lot of work, both physically and mentally, but I feel so much stronger and self-confident coming out of it. This YTT experience was transformative, challenging, and allowed me to see the practice and lifestyle of yoga in a new light. The food was also incredible! I am definitely going to hold this trip close to my heart for a long time.
Nikki Symanovich
USA
I loved the atmosphere that Lauren and the whole Yoga Academy team created! It's so amazing to do yoga, meditate, chant and focus on the chakras. We've learned a lot about the chakras and about ourselves. The location is absolutely perfect! Right on the beach with good surf. Really recommended!
Sanne Hoffman
Holland
NOT JUST AN AVERAGE YOGA TRAINING; IT WAS AN ENRICHING LIFE EXPERIENCE. I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE MANY ASPECTS OF YOGA AND MEDITATION. AS WELL AS MORE ABOUT MYSELF. I RECEIVED THE TOOLS TO LEAD A MORE EMPOWERED AND CONSCIOUS LIFE. THE GENUINE LOVE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE SKILLED INSTRUCTORS AND MY FELLOW STUDENTS WAS APPARENT ON A DAILY BASIS AND SO APPRECIATED. I ENJOYED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL-PLANNED PROGRAM. GREAT VARIETY OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. I’M FOREVER GRATEFUL.
MS
Sweden
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHING AND EDUCATION WAS TRULY FANTASTIC. THE STAFF ALONG WITH ALL OF THE EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS WERE SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. I FEEL WELL EQUIPPED AND EXCITED TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND SHARE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED. I ESPECIALLY LOVED THAT WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE OUR OWN STYLE OF TEACHING. THE STUNNING AND MAGICAL LOCATION WAS THE CHERRY ON TOP!
Sonya H
Australia
I feel very lucky to have stumbled on to the gift of this practice, and I love that now I get to introduce it to others. I get to encourage the uncovering and discovering that inevitably comes along with it, not only during the asanas, but during those unexpected quiet moments of stillness…those golden moments where you find yourself going inward, and you find yourself. I’m SO excited to continue being a student of yoga…to continue being a teacher of yoga…to keep moving on this path
JulieAnn Delude
USA
PLEASE NOTE: A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN THE PROGRAM. A 50% BALANCE OF PAYMENT IS DUE 30-DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE TRAINING. THE REMAINING BALANCE IS DUE 10-DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING. A FULL REFUND, MINUS THE DEPOSIT FEE WILL BE OFFERED FOR CANCELLATIONS MADE MORE THAN 60-DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE TRAINING. CANCELLATIONS OF LESS THAN 60-DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE WILL BE REFUNDED 50% OF THE TEACHER TRAINING PRICE. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE OFFERED ON CANCELLATIONS MADE LESS THAN 30-DAYS IN ADVANCE. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE OFFERED ON DISCOUNTED RATES.

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Yoga Academy International Faculty:

Lauren Rudick

Lauren Rudick

Lead teacher and founder of Yoga Academy International, Lauren is a globally celebrated yoga instructor. She has been teaching yoga for over a decade and comes from a variety of lineages and traditions. Lauren has lead yoga retreats and workshops in over 2-dozen countries and continues to study with world-class instructors whenever possible. She has been featured in Women's health Magazine, YogiTimes, Optymyz and get out there to name a few as well as on countless podcasts and newspaper articles. Lauren has solid roots in Iyengar based Hatha yoga with continued studies in Vinyasa flow, Anusara, Ashtanga, Restorative, Bhakti and Yin Yoga. She is inspired by teachers who tell stories. She has studied under Seane Corn, Chris Chavez, MC Yogi, Susan Cohen, Mercy Ananda, Nancy Goodfellow and many others. Lauren is passionate about sharing yoga from an authentic and soulful point of view. She believes that yoga practice can help uncover the veils that hide us from achieving our full potential.  Lauren is E-RYT 500 registered with Yoga Alliance. 

Will Peters

Will Peters

Making yoga accessible and enjoyable, regardless of who you are and how strong or flexible you are, is his priority. With a passion for all things health and wellbeing, Will’s aim is to inspire anyone and everyone to step on the mat to gain the physical and mental benefits that yoga can provide.Born in the UK, Will is a qualified and registered yoga teacher with over 250 hours of training. Will places an emphasis on alignment and safety. Outside of teaching, Will is an enthusiastic yoga student, constantly pushing his body and mind to new limits. Whether it’s learning to handstand, progressing towards the splits or practicing mindfulness exercises, Will loves to learn new things and grow. This provides continuous evolution to Will’s teaching as he brings new-found energy and knowledge from my personal practice into class.

Liv Townsend

Liv townsend

Despite being ‘self-taught’ in the early days, Liv took her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in London in 2016, an additional 200hr Rocket & Vinyasa Training in 2020 and completed her 500hr training with Jason Crandell in 2021. Liv takes a lot of inspiration for the mechanics and science of movement from other disciplines such as martial arts, gymnastics, calisthenics and resistance training. Her favourite teaching style is a combination of Vinyasa and Hatha yoga which a friend of mine so perfectly suggested it be called VinHatha! There’s not a great deal of chaturanga-updog-downdogs, but instead we challenge the body in more unique ways, manipulating our body weight to find both length and strength in the entire body.

Teresa Edmilao

Teresa Edmilao

Teresa has been practicing massage therapy since 2006. She has a 3000hr diploma in Massage Therapy from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Vancouver, BC. Teresa has a passion for helping people connect with their bodies. She lives by example, inspiring people to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Teresa spent 7 years practicing massage therapy in Canada to people from all walks of life; students, athletes, desk workers, labourers, youth, elderly, dancers, and accident victims. Teresa is also a fire dancer and hula hoop dancer. She has experienced numerous injuries has personally been through the rehabilitation process many times. It was these experiences that have lead her to delve deeply into the study and application of anatomy and movement. Teresa offers anatomy classes at Yoga Academy International. Her teachings are thorough, meticulous but fun, drawing on every day life experience to help yogis understand their bodies better. 

Nancy Goodfellow

Nancy Goodfellow

Yoga director and co-owner of Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica, Nancy is extremely well known for her inspiring and creative daily classes, workshops,and retreats, with students both locally and internationally. Her twenty years of committed practice, thousands of hours of trainings, and continual curiosity towards life’s most mysterious aspects are all part of why she has so many devoted students. She began her Yogic studies in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition under the guidance of her first teachers, Dominic Corigliano, Tim  Miller and Pattabhi Jois. Nancy has completed over 500 hours of Yoga Alliance teacher trainings and began teaching in 1998. Nancy dedicated many years of study to the Anusara method with its amazing principles of alignment, Tantric philosophy and Bhakti filled practice. She completed over 500 hours of certified Anusara teachings and traditional non-dualistic Tantra studies.

Perrine Marais

Lauren Rudick

Known in Quebec for her empowering and effective teaching, Perrine has completed over 1400hours of trainings. After her 200hr certification in Costa Rica, she wanted to deepen her knowledge and practice from a more traditional approach. So Perrine travelled to India where she accumulated overr 1000 hours of Hatha yoga training at the Patanjali International Yoga Foundation. Before joining the Yoga Academy International team, Perrine joined her teachers and lead 5 trainings in India. Constantly yearning to expand her education, Perrine has taken 2 yin yoga teacher trainings, a Sup Yoga teacher training, Thai Yoga Massage and Myofacial release. In teaching she hopes to share her love of yoga with others as a way to secure their confidence with exploration and movement of the functional body but also tap in to the deep energetic intelligence within. She is registered with yoga alliance as E-RYT 500.

Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason

Chef Charlotte Mason hails from Boston where she used work in high end restaurant kitchens and then later opened up her own catering company. Burnt out and needing a break, Charlotte went on a surf vacation to Nicaragua and 3 weeks later moved cross continents and has been there ever since. Charlotte's love of sourcing locally, creating exceptional plant-based dishes and combining flavours makes her food loved by everyone. Charlotte is passionate about health and wellness and is also a certified yoga instructor. Giving back not only with flavours, Charlotte frequently teaches yoga classes in Spanish for local women and helps empower local women to follow their dreams and speak their minds. In joining Yoga Academy International, Charlotte has added so much to the experience by creating comfort and family feelings found only when gathering around a table to share delicious meals together. When not on Yoga Academy International's trainings, Charlotte creates gourmet pop up dinners around Nicaragua and chefs at yoga retreats around the world.  

Sanne Hofman

Sanne Hofman

Sanne is a ray of sunshine! Before joining the Yoga Academy International team, Sanne was a neuropsychologist in Holland. On her path, she felt that her chosen field was not quite the right fit. So Sanne set off on a journey through Central America to get to know herself better. Along the way she met her partner Toby in Panama. Together they worked and traveled through Central America eventually finding their way to Maderas Beach, Nicaragua. They loved the spot so much that they decided to move there and eventually got jobs managing a boutique hotel. Wanting to expand her offerings at the hotel, Sanne took Yoga Academy International's 200hr teacher training in 2018. She then furthered her studies in the Chakra-Vinyasa Training and went back to Europe to take Thai Yoga Massage training. Sanne is compassionate, loving and kind. She is an example of how to live yoga ethics while still being true to who you are. Sanne offers YAI students endless encouragement and love as well as unwavering support on their journeys. She can always be counted on for a listening ear, a compassionate friend, a glowing smile or a warm hug when you need it most.