200-Hour Decolonized Yoga Teacher Training
200-Hour Decolonized Yoga Teacher Training
A Yoga Alliance-approved foundation training rooted in ancient wisdom, personal responsibility, and the liberation of mind, body, and identity.
Summer Intensive
June 28 – July 23, 2027
Format
In-Person + Online Option
Hours
Mon-Fri, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM PST
Eligibility
1 year of dedicated practice recommended
Yoga Alliance RYS 200-approved curriculum. Graduates are eligible for RYT 200 registration.
Course Intention
More Than a Certification
This training is designed to free and decolonize the mind and body, offering a clearer path forward in life, career, and relationships.
Rooted in the wisdom of ancient civilizations that each understood the world through a lens of truth, balance, and harmony – Kemetic, Indus Valley, Toltec, and Mayan – this deep dive into physical and mental alignment goes far beyond asanas, cueing, and anatomy.
You will have the opportunity to receive a certification to teach, and more importantly, to arrive at a profound understanding of the True Self. This is an inclusive training where to be decolonized is to love who you are through devotion, wisdom, and selfless action.
By the end of this program, you can expect to be stronger and more flexible in personal practice, notice a significant reduction in stress and anxiety, experience greater clarity, improved relationships, and become a Yoga Alliance certified Decolonized Yoga Teacher.
Fit
This Training Is For You If
- You have at least one year of dedicated practice and are familiar with basic asanas.
- You want to teach yoga, or simply deepen your own understanding of the practice.
- You are ready to come with a beginner’s mind, open to engaging beyond what you already know.
- You are drawn to Decolonized Yoga and the wisdom of Ma’at, Kemetic philosophy, and the traditions of the Indus Valley, the Toltec, and the Maya.
- You want to be challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally in a safe and intentional space.
- You are ready to take responsibility for what arises when you are challenged.
What Makes It Different
A Foundation Training With Maat Wellness Roots
Decolonized Philosophy
Known as the Red Pill Conversation, this framework invites students to discover their authentic voice and examine limiting beliefs.
Ma’at as Framework
Truth, balance, harmony, and justice shape practice, teaching, relationships, and how we show up in the world.
Ancient Lineage
Grounded in a global view of yoga, movement, self study, discipline, culture, and living wisdom.
Mental Yoga and Philosophy
Weekly readings and discussions off the mat in Patanjali’s 8 Limbs, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, and the Yamas and Niyamas.
Anatomy and Accessibility
Intelligent sequencing, physical and subtle body anatomy, chakras, koshas, the nervous system, and trauma-informed teaching methods.
Business and Career
Essential tools to launch your yoga career, market your teaching, and use yoga as a vehicle for social equity and community building.
About the Training
Twenty Years in the Making
Ja has spent the past 15 years developing this training around personal responsibility, drawing on ancient wisdom from Kemetic, Indus Valley, Toltec, and Mayan traditions.
Co-created at The Tree in 2014, Ja led the program from 2017 through 2024, shaping his unique Decolonized approach to yoga education. The aim of this training is to free our minds from the sense of separation that limits our true potential.
This training goes beyond asana, anatomy, and sequencing. It is leadership development, relationship healing, stress relief, and soul liberation. By the end, students experience a transformative shift in perspective and a deeper connection with a like-minded community of yogis on the same journey.
Yoga Alliance Approved
The impact of this training extends far beyond the classroom. Ja’s graduates teach around the world at respected studios, and many have opened studios, led teacher trainings, created wellness businesses, and become leaders in their communities.
Training Arc
What You Will Move Through
The program moves from philosophical grounding, into embodied practice, through teaching skill, and toward community leadership and personal liberation.
1
Foundation / Decolonized Yogic Philosophy
The Red Pill framework, Kemetic, Indus Valley, Toltec wisdom, and the philosophical roots that connect these ancient traditions.
2
The Body / Anatomy and Asana
Applied anatomy, intelligent sequencing, asana breakdowns, adjustments, cueing, physical and subtle body systems, chakras, koshas, and nervous system awareness.
3
The Art of Teaching
Advanced cueing, demonstration, adaptation, trauma-informed teaching, special populations, restorative yoga, and ethical boundaries.
4
Decolonization of History
Yoga history through a global lens, Kemetic science and philosophy, Toltec and Mayan philosophy, social equity, Ayurvedic science, and source awareness.
5
Practice Teaching and Certification
Real-world teaching practice, observation hours, homework assignments, mentorship, and final integration into Yoga Alliance certified graduation.
Curriculum
Topics Covered
Decolonized Yogic Philosophies
Asana, Adjustments and Cueing
Anatomy, Accessibility and Safety
Self-Practice Development
Art of Teaching
Intelligent Sequencing
Decolonization of History
Yoga History
Kemetic Science and Philosophy
Toltec and Mayan Philosophy
Trauma-Informed Yoga
Social Equity and Yoga
The Subtle Body
Restorative Yoga
Pre-Natal Yoga
Business and Marketing of Yoga
Ayurvedic Science
Mental Yoga and Philosophy
Course Expectations
What to Expect
- Yoga classes and modules to shape your personal practice and deepen asana knowledge.
- Anatomy breakdowns of the physical and subtle body: chakras, koshas, nervous systems, and more.
- Deep dives into intelligent sequencing to build strength, flexibility, and ease.
- Practice teaching homework for real-world experience and application of lessons.
- Weekly Mental Yoga and philosophy readings, discussions, and off-the-mat homework.
- Additional outside classes for observation, virtual or in-person.
- Optional one-on-one time with lead trainers during scheduled office hours.
- To be transformed by the training physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- A beginner’s mind: ready to listen and engage beyond what you already know.
- A commitment to take responsibility for what emotions arise when you are challenged.
Required Reading
Books for the Training
The following texts are required for this training. Students are responsible for obtaining their own copies before the program begins.
Yoga Anatomy, 3rd Edition
Leslie Kaminoff
The Living Gita
The Complete Bhagavad Gita with Commentary
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Translation and Commentary
The Yamas and Niyamas
Deborah Adele
Schedule
Summer Intensive 2027
The 30-Day Summer Intensive runs Monday through Friday for four consecutive weeks. In-person and online attendance options are both available.
| Session | Dates | Hours | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | June 28 – July 2, 2027 | Mon-Fri, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM PT | In-Person + Online |
| Week 2 | July 7 – July 11, 2027 | Mon-Fri, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM PT | In-Person + Online |
| Week 3 | July 14 – July 18, 2027 | Mon-Fri, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM PT | In-Person + Online |
| Week 4 | July 21 – July 23, 2027 | Mon-Wed, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM PT | In-Person + Online |
No class Monday, July 5 in observance of Independence Day. Seva Scholarship deadline: May 28, 2027.
Tuition
Tuition and Access
Maat Wellness is committed to keeping transformational yoga education accessible to Black, Brown, local, and need-based students while honoring the labor required to hold rigorous training, mentorship, and review.
Standard Tuition
$2,400
Full tuition for the complete 200-hour program and certification pathway.
Discounted Tuition
$2,200
Available with a one-time payment, or a non-refundable deposit with balance settled before the first day of training.
Seva Scholarship
$1,400 + 40 hrs
A need-based option for local students. Limited availability. All Seva applicants are interviewed after the deadline.
Deposit to Reserve
$400
A non-refundable deposit secures your seat. Required even if applying for the Seva Scholarship.
Payment Plan
+$200
Flexible payment plans available upon request for both full tuition and Seva Scholarship options.
Seva Scholarship for Local Students with Financial Need
$1,400 in exchange for 40 hours of volunteer work, which may include studio support, social media, graphic design, photography, or writing to support Maat Wellness.
- Full 200HR curriculum
- All mentorship sessions
- Philosophy readings
- Practice teaching
- Yoga Alliance certification
- Community connection
Summer 2027 Deadline: May 28, 2027
All payments are non-refundable but may be transferred to a future training. Full tuition must be paid by the start of the program unless on an approved payment plan.
Enrollment
How to Begin
1. Review the Training
Read through the curriculum, expectations, schedule, and tuition options to confirm this is the right path for you right now.
2. Complete Registration
Fill out the registration form. If applying for the Seva Scholarship, indicate your interest and submit the required documentation.
3. Secure Your Seat
Submit the $400 non-refundable deposit or full tuition payment to reserve your place in the cohort.
4. Receive Welcome Materials
Receive your welcome packet, required reading list, schedule details, and preparation assignments before the first day.
Ready to Begin the Path?
If you are ready to deepen your practice, find your teaching voice, and experience a genuine shift in how you think, move, and live, this is your training.
Student Experience
Student Reviews
Ja Cole's program left us informed, empowered, and well practiced. The training offered a truly holistic yoga education spanning trauma informed teaching, prenatal yoga,…
Read full reviewJa Cole’s program left us informed, empowered, and well practiced. The training offered a truly holistic yoga education spanning trauma informed teaching, prenatal yoga, restorative practices, and more.
The teaching was so impactful that I hope others choose this school. I left feeling equipped to teach everyday people, helping them rediscover themselves,…
Read full reviewThe teaching was so impactful that I hope others choose this school. I left feeling equipped to teach everyday people, helping them rediscover themselves, their breath, and their own healing.
I felt fully supported every step of the way and fully prepared to teach yoga respectfully and safely. My connection to the teachers did…
Read full reviewI felt fully supported every step of the way and fully prepared to teach yoga respectfully and safely. My connection to the teachers did not end with graduation but continues as an ongoing resource.
Jay took the lead in my cohort and was incredibly accommodating of my physical needs. The training taught accessible yoga and built confidence in…
Read full reviewJay took the lead in my cohort and was incredibly accommodating of my physical needs. The training taught accessible yoga and built confidence in my teaching.
Being taught by someone who looked like me meant everything. The focus on social justice, community, and personal growth created a space filled with…
Read full reviewBeing taught by someone who looked like me meant everything. The focus on social justice, community, and personal growth created a space filled with love and transformation.
The lead trainers created an inspiring learning experience through thoughtful guest teachers and a mission rooted in Black and Brown community wellness. I left…
Read full reviewThe lead trainers created an inspiring learning experience through thoughtful guest teachers and a mission rooted in Black and Brown community wellness. I left feeling affirmed and inspired.
The instructors were knowledgeable, patient, kind, and helpful throughout the process. I left with knowledge, confidence, and skills that continue to shape my journey…
Read full reviewThe instructors were knowledgeable, patient, kind, and helpful throughout the process. I left with knowledge, confidence, and skills that continue to shape my journey as a yoga teacher.
The teachers were knowledgeable, kind, and passionate. I felt seen, heard, and understood while learning yoga philosophy and how to teach diverse communities.
Read full reviewThe teachers were knowledgeable, kind, and passionate. I felt seen, heard, and understood while learning yoga philosophy and how to teach diverse communities.
Ja's knowledge and welcoming approach created an amazing learning environment. The experience was truly life changing.
Read full reviewJa’s knowledge and welcoming approach created an amazing learning environment. The experience was truly life changing.
10/10. The instructors were amazing, and the content of the training was revitalizing.
Read full review10/10. The instructors were amazing, and the content of the training was revitalizing.
★★★★★
Read full review★★★★★
Incredible program!
Read full reviewIncredible program!