Testimonials
What Past 200hr/300hr Vinyasa Teacher Training Certification Graduates Are Saying:
As a graduate of Rolf's program I have found myself expecting (and experiencing) a much more meaningful practice of yoga. Whether I'm practicing at home or in a studio, it's gone far beyond just a physical practice, and his teaching and the program design really helped me move from scratching the surface to digging deep in what has become a life-long journey through yoga. Over the past ten years I've learned from a number of exceptional teachers, there is not another teacher that I can imagine would have better prepared me to teach yoga, or to live my life through yoga.
~ Andrew Lapham Fersc
What I most appreciate about Rolf is his ability to be human - "one-of-us." His vulnerability and his honesty is the reason that I was drawn to his teacher 200-hr TTC from the beginning. Rolf's ability to speak wisely and openly from his heart and relate it to your own experience is how his teachings are able to change your life and touch your soul.
What I also cherish about Rolf is the love he has for his family and how he conveys that admiration to his students. He and Mariam work together as a team to give you the best experience possible. They don't just "talk-the-talk," but instead, truly "live" their yogic path. It is his and their opportunity to lead by example and the way in which they honor and embrace that opportunity that is, indeed, exemplary.
Whether you are taking a class from Rolf, or a workshop, or a spending a week on retreat, or four in training, you are sure to receive a wealth of knowledge both from his individual experience and from his own study and always delivered in humorously woven, anecdotal form. He is engaging, amusing and down-to-earth in a way that draws you into yoga as a whole, as a way of being, rather than simply a physical practice or a career path chosen.
Rolf is, himself, simultaneously outstanding and approachable, laudable and touchable. He will lead you to a deeper understanding of yourself without taking credit or standing between you and the light which he will help you find in yourself. I am forever and deeply grateful for his ability to help lead me to mine.
-Sarah F. Sturges
I participated in the 200 Hour Teacher Training with Rolf in the summer of 2008, and when I came to the training, it was never my intention to actually teach yoga because I didn't really like standing and speaking in front of a group of people, much less leading them in a practice. At the time, I had only been practicing for about a year and a half and I really just wanted to learn more about yoga in general, and to deepen my personal practice. What, I received however, was much more than that. Rolf's teaching style is so inspiring and what he has to share is so relatable, that when I completed my training, I felt like I could do anything and two weeks later I was teaching my first class, and I was comfortable doing it. Rolf is an inspiration. His spirit lights up any room that he enters and his teachings leave you wanting more! His words stay with me and not only do I try to live them each day of my life, I also try to share them with those around me. If you have an opportunity to participate in one of Rolf's Vinyasa Teacher Trainings, I would highly recommend that you take that opportunity and allow yourself to learn from one of the best!
~ Carolin Taylor
I came to my yoga mat and went through the postures for six years in various classes but I never really practiced yoga before my training with Rolf. In my training, I learned that yoga was not what I am doing on my mat, but how I am being on my mat - and moreover, yoga is not what I am DOING in my life but how I am BEING in my life. Rolf has given me the skillful means to take what I practice in my daily postures out into the world to serve my community. I wasn't sure that I had what it took to be a teacher, but I was amazed to find that the wisdom and insight that I have gained in my teacher training constantly reinforces me to teach others and spread the wisdom discussed in the 200 hr program. There is no doubt - it has healed me both emotionally and physically and as I spread the message - it sustains me, reinforces me and motivates me to do more! If you have ever felt that there is more to yoga than just the asana (the postures) and wondered what else yoga has to offer, then Rolf Gates is the teacher to take you deeper into the journey! Thanks so much.
~ Marcella Lincicome
The constructs of the methodology translate to all levels of ability; essential when considering yoga as a vehicle to improve health outcomes in chronic illness or disability. The training also embodies developing a sensitivity of class content for group needs: in addition to power, flow methods, each day we incorporated active restorative ('Yin') poses into our practice. The training requires immediate teaching of large and small groups.
Strong emphasis on safety; and though I had been practising and teaching for years, I found the training provided significant insight on leading students to understand the principles of anatomical protection and strength – ultimately deepening to my own practice as well.
Our daily practices were physically challenging and beautifully exhausting focusing on form and sequence; supporting that one's own fluidity and flexibility are essentially born of strength and physical listening. The spirit of our group was a supportive, creative and uplifting. The experience was transformative, renewing and deeply pleasurable; and, for me, provided a springboard to follow cues signaling a distinct path. It was humbling and magical to be part of this process for others as well.
~ Lesley Ann Saketkoo, M.D., M.P.H.
Hold this thought for 4.....3.....2.... 1 teacher can make a difference and that person is Rolf Gates.
~ Terese Przytakoski
Yoga is a practice.
Teaching Yoga is a practice.
My name is Virginia and I am participating in Rolf Gates 500 hour teacher training program in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
I completed my 200 hour teacher training with Grace and MyLinda Morales in 2009. I was very blessed to have been under the instruction of two such wonderful teachers, and I was fully prepared after my 230 hours to lead a safe, effective and inspiring class to those students who chose to practice with me. I learned about anatomy, alignment, philosophy, projection, verbal queuing, and energy. But I believe that the biggest thing I learned, was that the more I learn, the more I realize how much more there is to learn. I have a responsibility to myself and to my students to continue to build on what I know. And that is one of the things that drew me to a 500 hour teacher training... the desire to continue to learn.
The second thing that drew me to a 500 hour teacher training was my desire to commune with other yoga teachers and to draw from their experiences and energy. I found that my initial love with yoga came from what I received from the practice my teachers shared with me. And that is what drew me to my 200 teacher training... I wanted to share what I had received from yoga, with others. And I do love sharing yoga with others, but I noticed that now in that role, I am the giver, the teacher. And with all of the gratification that comes with that, I still missed being in the role of the receiver sometimes. I need time to be in the presence of other teachers, I need to be led, I need to be refueled and recharged, so that I can be a better teacher to my students. I get this refueling, this battery charge from lots of places. I get it from taking other teachers classes, from my daily meditation, and from my own personal practice. But I get a REALLY big dose of it from continuous training.
I have come to think of it this way... my 200 hour training taught me how to lead my students through a safe effective and dynamic asana class and I am so very grateful for that. But now my 500 hour training is teaching me how to be look deeper inside my self and find my own satya... my own truth and express that truth in teaching my asana classes and then expanding into being prepared to teach a yoga workshop or even a yoga retreat.
Dharma (wisdom) has come to me from so many different sources. I have found significant dharma in my studies of religious texts, and in informative books. I have received dharma from my teachers, my 200 hour training, from my children, from life lessons and even from songs and movies. But the dharma that can be absorbed from intense weekends with a group of other experienced yoga teachers can be invaluable. I consider it one of the greatest benefits of my continued training.
In choosing where I would do my 500 hour training, I went back to the words of my 200 hour teachers and their regard for Rolf Gates. I read his book, Meditations from the Mat, and I attended a weekend workshop of his just to meet him personally. I was overwhelmed by his sincerity and relateability. I knew after just a few minutes of conversation that he was who I would do my 500 hour training with. And my expectations have been more than met. He has challenged me and inspired me. I am a better teacher for having trained with him. I would recommend his 500 hour teacher training to anyone.
Yoga is a practice... it must be lived daily, hourly, and breath by breath. Yoga is not what we do... it is how we are.
Teaching yoga is a practice... it must evolve. We must continue to learn to continue to teach.
Love and Light. Namaste. -Va
References: *Joseph Jarworski, Synchronicity: Inner Path of Leadership
I would whole-heartedly recommend engaging with Rolf. He and Mariam offer a top notch training. I had been training in yoga for approximately 3 years prior to taking Rolf's course. This was following a many years studying martial arts. My Taijiquan instructor was world renown and Rolf was on par with his level of professionalism and delivery.
This training is rich in meditation and general awareness training. The asana is definitely there, but there is so much more to the eight limb path outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Rolf strives to maintain the essence of the original teachings. His teaching has really transcended to a new level since writing the books you have read. His classes are thorough and accessible… not esoteric or exclusive. He cultivates an amazing environment and I honestly feel like he is a genius with the spoken word. He will challenge your mind and your body. Ultimately, however, what you take from the course is up to you. He will certainly provide a wonderful environment for you to cultivate the seeds of wisdom. You will leave this course with a complete class to deliver to your community from beginner to advance level students. He incorporates cutting edge exercise science along with the ancient wisdom. The concepts of core integration, alignment, muscular, and organic energy are at the root of this 200 hour course.
My wife and I both went through this training and we enjoyed the extended time frame. It allowed for a different kind of learning that really had time to assimilate and soak in.
As far as the physical training it was awesome! I loved it. It was very challenging at first, but my strength really improved during the course of the training. I felt like I was walking on air. Pumped and ready for life… completely glowing with newfound inspiration… not wiped out or lethargic at all. It was most definitely both a spiritual and physical journey that I wish I could go through again. I made some amazing new friends and we are all still in very regular communication. Our class cultivated a really deep connection. It was neat because I learned so much about people that I would have never put myself in the same room with if it were not for yoga. My horizons broadened.
There were a couple of people with less previous experience and they did great. Rolf starts at the beginning. The reason I took this was because I know there was so much to this world of yoga, but I was not getting it through the classes available to me here in Athens. They were simply offering asana and, I was very interested in the metaphysical aspect. Rolf does a good job of incorporating ancient yogic wisdom and integrating concepts from Taoism, Buddhism, and other religions without preaching at all. It's purely information… but he is VERY PASSIONATE about this. I could go on and on.
I can definitely say you will not regret meeting and learning from Rolf. He brings such a unique perspective to the art. His background is as an Army Ranger and addictions counselor. His time in the army brought him to Ahimsa (nonviolence) by having a 1st hand experience on the other side. His addiction counseling allows him to speak from a place of true compassion. It was just awesome! I love the guy…I think everyone in our group does. And he's REALLY funny too! I got so much more out of this than I had ever expected… however… you also get out what you put into it.
~ David. D, Athens, GA
I am so overwhelmed with love and gratitude. I could not have hand picked a better group of people to learn and grow with and I definitely could not have asked for a better teacher. I think I did ask the universe for you without knowing who you were and the universe said yes. When I read your book I knew immediately this training was going to be something special for me. I honestly don't have the words to describe the impact this has made on me. It's too big for words. What I can say is you have a wonderful gift and I am so grateful that you have shared that gift with me. I hope that I can repay you by paying it forward to as many people as possible.
~ Charlotte, W
Rolf is a wonderful example of what it means to be a teacher in every sense of the word: he communicates what he knows and encourages his students to take that and expand upon it, applying what they know. Learning that learning itself is an ongoing process and that it's okay not to be an expert was reassuring -- it enables me to be the best teacher I can be, all the time. I highly recommend the training to anyone who wants to be, or is, a teacher and to anyone who wants to deepen their practice and experience a personal transformation in the process.
~ Mia O., Yoga Instructor/Personal Trainer
