An Opportunity to Make New Friendships That Last For Life

One of my favorite words in the tradition of yoga is Sangha, which means like-minded community. In the Mind the Mat 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs, the number one thing students tell us is that they feel a sense of belonging and connectedness that they've never felt before. The students in our programs laugh, cry, and grow together through a shared transformational journey.  

At the beginning of the six-month journey, both the teachers and students consciously build a safe space together so the students are able to release defenses and reveal their authentic selves. This makes for deep bonding over time. Many of the students live and work in Alexandria, so they see each other outside of class times and end up foraging longtime friendships. 

Here are quotes from students who went through the training:

“I feel like I got super lucky - like I walked into a group of people I was supposed to know. I am so grateful to have been a part of this group - at this time in my life. I am absolutely sure my recovery from hip surgery would have been entirely different without this. I feel like I found a place that encouraged and supported me in a knowledgeable way that helped me get strong, move my body, and helped me heal both my head and my hip through this change."

"There were many highlights in this program, but I think the most profound is the community we built with one another - the students and the teachers. I am extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by so many strong, good humans, who all want to better themselves and those around them."

And, check out these fun photos from the class of 2021/2022:

Mind the Mat's Next 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Begins January 2023. On Sunday, September 11, from 11am - 12noon, we're holding an informational session for anyone interested in learning more about this training. Sign up here to join us and meet our teacher training faculty, along with other students - some of whom have completed our program and can tell you more about their experience, others who are already signed up for 2023, and others who are interested in joining and want to find out more.

If you're already certified through a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, check out our Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and join a circle of supportive and nurturing women while learning how to design safe, effective, and fun prenatal yoga classes. This one is going to be a deep dive! It starts on September 23, 2022, right around the corner! 

Email mtmteachertraining@gmail.com with any questions about our training programs.  

Sara VanderGoot

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Co-Owner | Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga

Sara VanderGoot, CMT, e-RYT 200, RYT 500, is Co-founder of Mind the Mat Pilates and Yoga and Director of Mind the Mat Yoga Alliance certified teacher training program. Sara is an experienced Registered Yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance. She studied Interdisciplinary Yoga with Don and Amba Stapleton in Nosara, Costa Rica and at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Sara is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, licensed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Sara has been practicing massage therapy, including specialties Prenatal Massage, Postpartum Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Thai Yoga Massage, in Del Ray, Alexandria for over 15 years and a yoga instructor for 7 years. At Mind the Mat she specializes in Prenatal Yoga, Postpartum Core Yoga, Mommy and Me Core Yoga, Partners Yoga, and Hot Flow Yoga. Sara frequently acts as a birth companion for many of her clients, doing massage and yoga during labor and delivery to facilitate comfort during both medicated and unmedicated births. Before becoming a massage therapist and yoga instructor, she was a lawyer in the Washington D.C. area and found that the healing practices of massage and yoga brought a balance to her life that she had been searching for.

Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga was founded in 2008 by Megan Brown, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Polestar Certified Practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation and Sara VanderGoot, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher (e-RYT 200, RYT 500). In their private practices as physical therapist and massage therapist respectively Megan and Sara observed that many of their clients were coming in with similar needs: relief for neck and shoulder tension and low back pain as well as a desire for more flexibility in hips and legs, stability in joints, and core strength.

Together Megan and Sara carefully crafted a curriculum of Pilates and yoga classes to address needs for clients who are pregnant, postpartum, have injuries or limitations, who are new to Pilates and yoga, and for those who are advanced students and are looking for an extra challenge.

www.mindthemat.com     

2214 Mount Vernon Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22301

703.683.2228

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