This training will be held at the Sach’a Munay Retreat Center in Arin, a small village in the middle of the Incas Sacred Valley, high in the Peruvian Andes, South America. Here you will see the native cultures (Quechua speaking) working the land as they have for centuries, with love and simplicity. The center is eco-friendly, made from local materials, with attention and love for the natural sacred landscape. The spacious site is designed to provide you with personal privacy and solitude ideal for your own personal growth.
For convenience we will have a meeting time and location in Cusco around noon on the first day of the training (this will be emailed one month prior to the training) From Cusco we will travel together as a group (it is about a 1 hour travel time to the site) to Sacha Munay (SM).
For those who may be in the valley already or with other plans. SM is located in Arin between Urubamba and Pisaq (shortly after Calca when coming from Pisaq.)
From Cusco you can get a colectivo (from Puputi) that goes to Calca. From Calca arrange a taxi to Sacha Munay (you will pass Urco, 3 little towns and arrive to Arin, just before Huaran). Go up the dirt road and veer left, soon you will see a small yellow church, make a right at the church, then make a left at the next turn, continue till you pass a cemetery on the left, keep going to the end of the road for Sach’a Munay (on the right). PS: A high clearance vehicle is recommended for arriving.
Site contact information Info and Reservations:
Adam Adam@sachamunay.com
Email: info@sachamunay.com
Website: http://sachamunay.com/
***If you have a layover at Lima International Airport, we recommend staying at Whyndam Costa Del Sol Airport Hotel.
Cusco: 11,152 feet
Arin: 9,600 feet
Pisaq: 9,514 feet
*It is recommended that you fly in a few days early if possible to acclimatize, although we will not meet until noon on the first day of the training. The Sacred Valley is a bit lower in elevation than Cusco so it can also be a good idea to fly to Cusco then go directly to Pisaq for a day or two, then arrive to Cusco to meet the group. It can take up to 5 days to start to feel fully acclimatized.
There will be a spreadsheet sent out to you one month prior to your course, where you will enter all flight details, emergency contacts, dietary restrictions, extra nights desired, etc!!
You can access ATMs in Cuzco, Calca, Pisaq and Urubamba. If you have American cash (dollars) it is best to exchange in Cuzco at a bank or one of the many currency exchange places near the Plaza de Armas where you will get the best exchange rate. The airport tends to give a bad rate for exchange. Make sure to contact your bank before you leave your country regarding your travel dates so you can access money from your bank. We recommend against travelers checks, as they are not accepted everywhere. Approximate Exchange rates $1 = 3.2 Soles (Peru).
Our daily schedule will generally be:
5:30 Wake up
6:00 Meditation/Asana
8:30 Breakfast
10:00 Special topic/Spiritual lesson
11:30 Yoga Sutras or Anatomy
1:00 Lunch
3:00 Art of Teaching/Art of Alignment/Adjustments
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Evening Gathering
Our daily schedule will generally be:
5:30 Wake up
6:00 Meditation/Asana
8:30 Breakfast
10:00 Special topic/Spiritual lesson
11:30 Yoga Sutras or Anatomy
1:00 Lunch
3:00 Art of Teaching/Art of Alignment/Adjustments
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Evening Gathering
Every 5th day is an off day. There will be 3 days off during the training 200 hour training and 3 days off every 6th day during the 300 hour training.
During our 200 hour program (Beginning on the first full day -the 2nd day of the training) we will have four days “on” followed by one day off.
Required books to purchase and bring for the 200-hour program
Required books to purchase and bring for the 300-hour program
3. Guiding Yoga Nidra: The Art of Conscious Relaxation (Teaching Maha Yoga) by Maha Devi.
Additional books that you may be interested in can be found on the SYI website here.
Sacha Munay offers laundry service for around $5 per load.
The delicious food is vegan/vegetarian. If you have certain dietary needs or restrictions, please let us know in the spreadsheet sent out by your lead teacher OR always feel free to contact us and let us know ahead of time (i.e., gluten, dairy, nut preferences sensitivities or allergies.)
We will provide purified water at Sacha Munay. Please pack a refillable water bottle. In general, do not drink tap water in South America without first purifying.
When traveling outside of your home country it is a good idea to take the extra steps to protect your immune system. If you have never traveled outside of your country, this may make you more susceptible to getting tummy sickness because your body will be exposed to unfamiliar bacteria! Even though our retreat centers have filtered water, we recommend bringing a water filter or water purification tablets. Here are the products we recommend:
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter or LifeStraw Water Bottle
We recommend you consult with your doctor prior to your trip to get any questions answered. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru. Be sure to fill out the health form we have sent to you.
*For those traveling from or TO Central America a Yellow Fever Vaccination may be in required.
All US residents need a valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months when entering. For other nationalities please check with your consulates as a Visa may be required.
It is very important that you meet the hours required by Yoga Alliance. We will make arrangements to make up missed days during the program. Typically, it is not a problem and you can get everything completed during the course. If you miss more than 8 hours, we may need to schedule makeup hours at an additional cost.
As long as you have participated fully in the course, at the end of the course, you will receive your 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certification or a 300-hour YTT certification. This course is approved by Yoga Alliance, so as a graduate of this program you will qualify to register as a teacher with the Yoga Alliance organization if you choose to do so.
*We strongly suggest going before or after the training so you do not feel rushed. For those planning to go to Machu Picchu (MP) during the training, we suggest that you schedule your trip for our first day off, that way you can go with your yogi friends (otherwise it is good to plan to go to MP either before or after the training).
For example, MP tickets should be purchased as soon as possible! Train tickets (~$70 each way) can be purchased online through Peru Rail here. We recommend leaving Ollantaytambo for MP around 6 or 7 am and returning around 5 or 6 pm.
Here are the steps to do this using Peru Rail here.
SEARCH BY: Departure time.
There is also a bus ticket that brings you from the train drop off point in Aguas Calientes up to MP (~$17 round trip), but this is purchased onsite the day of your trip.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by phone or email.
We are looking forward to having you here, ready to embark on this life-changing journey, shedding away our layers to become our truest self.
Namaste,
The School Yoga Family
info@schoolyogainstitute.com
(802) 448-2020
(888) 964-2123 (Toll Free)
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver
