Here is what some of our students from our Vinyasa Training on Koh Samui had to say. We are humbled and grateful for their time and kind words. Namaste.
My training with Michel and Roslyn in Thailand was a wonderful experience! They are both amazing Teachers and a fabulous team! The one month I spent at the 200h teacher training in Koh Samui has definetly changed my life, and only to the better.
Michel has studied both ashtanga and iyengar which gives him a deep understanding of yoga, and thus, as he though us the ashtanga yoga sequence, he did it with the detail to alignment that can be found in iyenger, and showed us how to use blocks and props to do every asana right and without hurting ourself.
What is more, Michel is a very understanding and observant teacher and even though he can be strict, he also knows how to bring humor in to the practice. Once you get to know him he is an authentic, honest, inspirational and trustworthy person who opens himself up to his students wholeheartedly and shares of his knowledge. Last but not least Michel gives you the confidence that you can not only be a good teacher but a great teacher if you just keep on practising.
I am so gratefull for this course, and I will definitely be back for the 500h!
Tonje, Oslo, Norway – March, 2013
It took me a long time to find the teacher training course I wanted, before I decided I had to do it with Michel, Roslyn and their team of guest teachers in Koh Samui. Yet I didn’t fully anticipate the rewards and fulfillment of the wonderful journey that I finally embarked on.
The month long journey taught me the humility of a student; the confidence of a teacher; and most importantly, to let my inner heart shine. Michel and Roslyn taught us beyond asanas and pranayamas.
As extremely experienced practitioners and very qualified teachers, they intuitively knew when to push and when to let go. They nurtured each student in a way that was different and special to each one of us, accepting who we are as individuals. They inspired us to inspire others through teaching, or simply by deepening our own practice.
Michelle, Carlos, Lindzay and Akash – they added wonderful dimensions to the course – stimulating our intellect and nurturing our soul through applied yoga anatomy, yoga philosophy, meditation and confident public speaking.
Ann Lim – March, 2013
This is the best yoga teacher training that you will ever receive in your lifetime. The experiences and the given attentions from all the teachers are so great and the ambiance of the location is impeccable. Being a Thai person, I can validate that this yoga training on Koh Samui is very professional and unbiased. The course itself was very challenging yet enjoyable at the same time. By the time you finish the course, you will have a very strong foundation in practicing yoga, teaching to yourself and also to the others. The best part of it is, you become very strong and happy spiritually, mentally and physically.
Alisa Asavabhokhin, Thailand
The 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Michel was very challenging, but very rewarding. Even I don’t have a strong desire to become a teacher before the training, this is a great training to deepen my practice. Michel’s teaching is highly emphasized on the body awareness by applying alignment through asana, Kriya and meditation to observe your breath/mind. Michel makes me understand my own practice and difficulties – we are all unique with different bodies – we must listen to your body while practicing!! Michel always says “Yoga is a journey not a destination! Enjoy every moment of our practice!”
Winky Chan, Hong Kong
The one month that I spent in Koh Samui doing the teacher training with Michel Besnard was the most challenging, enriching, uplifting feat that I have done in my life as a committed yoga student. The content of the training was expansive and well presented by brilliant, energetic faculty of teachers. This training gave my asana practice the extra push that I so badly needed and came out of it alive and super strong! Michel is an extraordinary teacher, and his candor, charm and decades of yoga experience and his generosity to share what he knows makes him connect more easily to his students. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to deepen their yoga practice or to students who aspires to be yoga teachers. It’s sooooo worth it!
Christina Ong, Hong Kong
The 200-hour Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training conducted by Michel Besnard from Yogasana provides a rich, well-structured curriculum that is balanced between theoretical classroom workshops and practical experience of what is being taught to enhance the learning process.
Together with an excellent team of instructors, each of whom are experts and practitioners of their field, this training offers students a comprehensive and holistic understanding of Yoga, from the daily practice of asanas and meditation to ancient traditions like Ayurveda and Yoga Philosophy to modern sciences like physical anatomy and NLP.
This month-long training also gives students plenty of time and opportunities to practice teaching yoga and allows them to learn from each other. The quality of any training program is largely dependent on the instructor. Michel brings with him many years of experience as a Yoga practitioner and teacher, as well as a deep understanding and appreciation of the various aspects of Yoga. However, it is his personality and unique approach that makes his teacher training not only effective but also a life-changing experience for his students.
Michel is highly intuitive, firm and light-hearted all at the same time. This unique combination allows him to quickly develop a good understanding of each of this students to find the most effective approach in helping them explore their boundaries and limitations or overcome barriers, without “taking themselves too seriously”.
Together with his experience as a practitioner and teacher, and training content, students develop a solid foundation by learning how to practice and teach asanas without risks of injury, being attentive and aware of what is happening in class and developing their own unique style of teaching. He constantly encourages his students to teach what they practice. He is truly a teacher’s teacher.
For me, one of the many valuable learnings from this training is “total acceptance” which has allowed me to stop focusing on my limitations and start experiencing the wonder of each moment. This is especially true during our morning practice where as a relatively new practitioner of yoga, it is easy to compare yourself with other more experienced practitioners in the class. However, by having this awareness, I’ve been able to step on my yoga mat without judgment and surrender to my practice. I look forward to helping my students experience this during their practice.
I highly recommend the Yoga Teacher Training by Michel Besnard. Michel, his team and what I’ve learnt from the topics covered, have made a significant impact on my approach and has enriched my experience of life.
Denise Pang, Singapore
My training with Michel Besnard was a wonderful experience. I am a teacher trained under Yoga alliance 500 hrs and run a yoga studio in India called Viom yoga.
Michel is a master of Ashtanga yoga as well as Iyenger yoga . he has been fortunate to work with both the masters. thus he trained us in the sequence of Ashtanga yoga but with the detail to alignment of Iyenger. he need various props so that the student could be in the right form. it was a combination of the both the yogas and reminded us that both the masters had the same Guru Krishnamacharya. Another strength of the course was the knowledge of anatomy provided by a physiotherapist.
I highly recommended his course to train as a teacher as well as improve your own personal practice.
Lali Singhania, India
To say Michel is an amazing teacher is truly an understatement. He is deeply understanding, observant, funny, and inspirational. He draws upon a deep well of experience and allows his students to drink freely from it; he opens himself to his students wholeheartedly, and dedicates himself completely in each hour he spends with his students. He is real, he is honest, and he gains your trust from the first time you step on a mat next to him.
The one month I spent in KS has had a profound impact on me. Taking the 200-hr vinyasa course with Michel has catapulted me on my journey as a yoga teacher, and more importantly, as a life-time yoga practitioner. The course is intricately designed, and well thought out. Aside from giving us a complete course with asana practice, anatomy, philosophy and ayurveda, Michel expertly wove in theory with practical application, techniques to help us improve our practice on the mat, and ideas to stretch and enrich our minds.
Of all of the great things I learned during my 200-hr training with Michel, I take away three major lessons for myself: humility and diligence as a yoga student; detachment and evenness as a yoga practitioner; confidence and inspiration as a yoga teacher.
Since I’ve been back to the States, I’ve begun teaching right away and am loving it every day. Michel’s voice and wisdom guides me through my daily practice and through each class I teach.
Jessica Sit, United States
The Teacher Training with Michel Besnard and his team was one of the best experiences of my life. I had high expectations and the training exceeded them all. I found Michel to be an extremely knowledgeable teacher whose passion for Yoga inspired me tremendously, who taught me to think outside of the box and try different approaches to postures I had done many times before. Above all, I felt completely safe in his classes as he would take into account every student’s individual strengths and weaknesses, and always stressed the importance of respecting our body limits. It was a very inspiring and at the same time very enjoyable month. Thanks to Michel and the other lecturers for the wonderful experience.
Michaela Tippel-Huang, Taiwan
What an awesome experience! Excellent and entertaining teachers-all experts in their field. A wonderful and upbeat group of fellow students. Since the course I have become a yoga teacher. I am able to pass the valuable knowledge and love for yoga that I have learnt from Michel & his team, over to my students. I highly recommend this course.
Cathy Towill, South Africa
Very insightful course which has given me the confidence to go out and teach yoga classes, knowing I have received fantastic training from an outstanding teacher. Michel is a kind and compassionate teacher, whilst ensuring we all tested our boundaries and discovered our own potential.
The phrase that now sticks in my mind is ‘Yoga is about the journey, not the destination’ Thanks Michel and the team for the wonderful experience.
Joanna van der Merwe, UK
Being a practitioner for 7 years has taught me that having a good teacher is essential to the journey of Yoga. None have touched my life the way Michel has.
He is the kind of teacher who can see your light even when you yourself didnt know it even existed. Michele taught me the most important thing about being a teacher – that the responsibility you have to your students is your own practice. I would encourage anyone to study under Michel.
Stephanie Wong, Singapore