Feb 28, 2024

Great teacher with in-depth knowledge and experience. The only thing is the execution of the routine and schedule for the yoga teacher training needs improvement, too many adjustments to keep up with halfway through the course, and the financial side as far as housing was very confusing as well. Other than that, there's LOTS of material to learn absorb, and put into practice, he even lets you teach for practice in the end and gives business tips as well, buckle up! Full Review

Feb 22, 2024

It is with a heavy heart I write this review, but feel aspiring yoga teachers should know what they are getting into at Doron Yoga. I am a 51 year old male business owner who did a lot of damage to his body playing the wrong sports. Ashtanga yoga literally changed my life, physically, mentally and spiritually. After only a year of practicing I decided to pursue the 200 YTT, more to accelerate my personal practice (which is a work-in-progress :) than actually teach. Doron Yoga looked ideal, he has a great background, I practice ashtanga & yin, plus 3 weeks of vegetarian meals on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala does not suck :). Location / Property: - It is located in Tzununa, a small very poor town in a developing country outside of San Marcos (tourist town). - The property itself is great, but isolated. - Ananda rooms are clean, housekeepers are great. Food is simple, good and healthy. Meals lacked protein, but I asked and the kitchen staff accommodated. - Shala has a wonderful view - There is literally an empty lot where people dump and burn their garbage down the road. At times you can smell burning garbage in the shala. - Wild dogs barking at night will keep up light sleepers. Safety: - A German girl was walking alone during the day, and a man tried to rob her phone. She got away with a scrapped up leg (which started the conversation). - One of the participants in our group and her boyfriend went out in San Marcos on Sat night (20 mins away). The tuk-tuk (3 wheeled cabs) drivers would not take them back to Doron Yoga for safety concerns. On the walk back, they heard a group of loud drunk young males and ended up hiding on a roof out of precaution. - Wild dogs are everywhere in Guatemala, will follow you and heard bites are not uncommon. Yoga Teacher Training: - You will learn the 8 limbs of yoga. Doron is very knowledgeable, and I really enjoyed the history / philosophy discussions. - Up at 6:20am for Zen meditation and breathwork was great. - The Doron Yoga teacher manual is great. He summarizes and condenses information from other books really well. - You will be impressed by his asana practice, entertained by his antics (for a while), singing “i love my hamstrings” during Pyramid pose, but find it hard to reach pratyahara (withdrawal of senses). - You will learn and practice "Doron Yoga”. Nothing wrong with that, but don’t use ashtanga and yin in descriptions if you are only going to use a few ashtanga poses and will hold a stretch for a few minutes. - You will not learn the Ashtanga Yoga asana practice (we practiced lead primary twice and not by Doron, no Mysore) - You will not learn what I know a Yin yoga practice to be - meditative, focused on deep stretches and breathing. Doron, throws a pigeon pose during his flow and holds it for a few minutes, then back to his vinyasa. - You will hear about the flaws of Ashtanga, Mark Stevens and his other mentors… Seriously you are slamming your teachers, and the background that got me here? People Issues: - 2 of the 7 participants in our group wanted to leave at one point. - I was never at the point of leaving, but did have seconds thoughts and “bite my tongue”. During class I was asked to lead Sun A. I did it the "Doron Yoga way”. Afterwards he says “what was that” in a demeaning tone. - At a low point, Doron brought us all together to hear concerns. It was nice and needed because morale was low, but also very polished, like it happens a lot. He is intelligent and speaks well. - Volunteer turnover due to treatment. I read reviews about this, and thought could just be disgruntled, immature 20 year olds (sorry) not wanting to work. Then witnessed a hardworking family from Belgium leave after 3 days because of treatment. Another girl left with them. - Apparently Doron’s assistant instructor left. During a New Year’s retreat, he convinced an experienced yoga instructor from Guatemala to stay and work as his assistant for our January teacher training. She was a wonderful person and experienced yoga instructor, but did not know his manual or have his 30 years experience. She led everything and we did not see Doron on Wednesdays, Sundays and a couple of sporadic days. She stayed until our training ended, and left with us. She was awesome, mentoring and to be treated better. Billing Issues: - Widespread billing “issues”. 4 different guests in and outside our group had issues with over-billing. When I inquired to double check, it literally took 8 emails to get an answer and was handled very poorly. The administration person I booked with left before I arrived, and the administration person I had issues with left while I was there. Doron Yoga is great for a couple of days. Doron is charming, knowledgeable and has an exceptional yoga asana practice. After a few days the mask begins showing cracks. Full Review