Frequently Asked Questions

The best place to start with any tech issue is to log out of the Shala (click on the icon at the top right of any page and select the LOG OUT option from the drop down menu) and then sign back in again. Sometimes it's that simple!

If that doesn’t work, check if you are running the latest software / operating system on your device. If you haven’t run the updates in a while, or haven’t properly shut down and restarted your computer in a while, this could be the problem. Please go ahead and update your device, restart it, and try again.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at the other FAQs in this section, and see if your specific issue is addressed there.

If you have tried all these troubleshooting ideas and it still isn't working, send us an email at support@yogapsychologyinstitute.com and let us know all the following:

1. Which program you have purchased
2. The type of the device you are using (e.g. Windows computer, Mac computer, iPad etc)
3. The operating system name or number (e.g. macOS Tahoe 26.2)
4. Whether you have applied all computer software updates and have recently restarted your computer/device (e.g. turned it off and on again)
5. A detailed description of the problem you are having
6. The URL (website address) for the page that you are having difficulties with
7. What you did on the page when the problem occurred
8. A screenshot of the whole page, including any error message you are seeing. Here are some instructions about how to take a screenshot on different devices and applications.

It's important that you provide the above information, so we can understand the issue you're having and can get it working for you asap.

The training is built sequentially, so you need to finish each section before progressing to the next one.

The message you are seeing shows up when you have not completed the tasks on the previous page.

Here's what we suggest:

1. Going back to the previous page (either use the back button in your browser, or navigate to the previous page from the list of pages in the left sidebar),
2. Ensure that you have clicked the COMPLETE button on the page (once you have clicked it, the button will then say LESSON DONE).
3. Then try accessing this page again by clicking on the right arrow button next to the LESSON DONE button.

If there was a quiz on the previous page, you need to have completed this and scored 100% to progress (note that you can retake the quiz as many times as you like).

If that doesn't work, and if you’re still having trouble, try logging out of the Shala and then signing back in again. Sometimes it's that simple! To log out, click on the icon at the top right of any page and select the LOG OUT option from the dropdown menu.

If that still doesn’t work, please check if you are running the latest software / operating system on your device. If you haven’t run the updates in a while, or haven’t properly shut down and restarted your computer in a while, this could be the problem. Please go ahead and update your device, restart it, and try again.

Hopefully that works!, but if it doesn’t, please get in touch and we will be more than happy to help you figure this out. It would be helpful if you also included:

1. The type of device you are using (e.g. Windows computer, Mac computer, iPad etc)
2. The operating system name or number (e.g. macOS Tahoe 26.2)
3. Whether you have applied all computer software updates and have recently restarted your computer/device (e.g. turned it off and on again)
4. The URL (website address) of the page with the most recent completed questionnaire on it, and
5. The name of the page you were trying to access when you received this message
6. A screenshot of the whole page, including any error message you are seeing. Here are some instructions about how to take a screenshot on different devices and applications.

Start by double-checking your answer by looking at the course material to if you have the correct answer 😉

If it's still not working, please try logging out of the Shala (you can find the LOG OUT button in the top right-hand corner of this page) and then sign back in again. If it's a tech glitch, this might fix it.

If that doesn’t work, please check if you are running the latest software / operating system on your device. If you haven’t run the updates in awhile, or haven’t properly shut down and restarted your computer in awhile, this could be the problem. Please go ahead and update your device, restart it, and try again.

If it still doesn’t work, send us an email at support@yogapsychologyinstitute.com and let us know all the following:
1. The program you've signed up to
2. Which quiz you're referring to (please include the page URL)
3. Which question you're having trouble with and the answer you have provided
4. The type of the device you are using (e.g. Windows computer, Mac computer, iPad etc)
5. The operating system name or number (e.g. macOS Tahoe 26.2)​​
6. Whether you have applied all computer software updates and have recently restarted your computer/device (e.g. turned it off and on again)
7. A screenshot of the whole page, including any error message you are seeing. Here are some instructions about how to take a screenshot on different devices and applications.

Thanks for providing the above information, so we can understand the issue you're having and can get it working for you asap.

The dates in the sidebar show when the training first became available to your cohort.

As all modules are accessible from the moment you enrol, you'll see the same date throughout. 

Please note that the training is designed to be completed in sequence and each lesson unlocks once you've finished the one before it.

You will have access to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training until 4 weeks after the in-person component.

During the training, you are welcome to download and keep the audio lectures, slideshow handouts and the training manual.

Once you graduate from the training, you will be invited to join our global Teachers' Community, where you will not only have access to all the latest course content (including updates to the training material), but also the monthly live group mentoring sessions with Lauren, masterclasses and other resources.

There is a small cost, which is around the same as a yoga class per month. You will hear more about this when you graduate (or scroll down to the Teachers Community FAQs) and we hope that you'll join us!

We do not offer lifetime access to this program, however during the training you are welcome to download and keep the audio lectures, slideshow handouts and the training manual. They are yours to keep forever!

Our intention behind offering time limited (rather than indefinite) access is so we can show up fully for you while you are taking the training, and so we can best support you to actually complete the training, rather than purchasing it and never get around to completing it.

We know that lifetime access can be a great sales pitch, but we really want to support you to complete the training, and hence made the decision not to offer lifetime access.

Once you graduate from the training, you will also be invited to join our global Teachers' Community, where you will not only have access to all the latest course content (including updates to the training material), but also the monthly live group mentoring sessions with Lauren, masterclasses and other resources.

There is a small cost, which is around the same as a yoga class per month. You will hear more about this when you graduate (or scroll down to the Teachers Community FAQs) and we hope that you'll join us!

You will find assignments to complete after each section of the online component of the training. These are designed to support you to integrate and embody the teachings, and will lay the groundwork for the in-person component of the training. They include:

1. Reflective journalling (about various topics),
2. Establishing your own personal practice and reflecting on the experience,
3. Attending a yoga class of your choice and reflecting on the experience,
4. Various tasks (like creating your own referral list and intake form),
5. Discussions with peers (including discussions about ethics and listening) and
6. Teaching a number of yoga classes (bringing some of the material from the training into the yoga classes that you're already teaching).

You will be invited to bring material from the course into your yoga classes in the sections on Creating a Safe Container and Therapeutic Skills. You can do this with any style of yoga.

If you aren’t currently teaching a yoga class, gather a group of friends or family members (a small group is fine), in-person or online, and teach a class to them.

Please work through the material at your own pace, and ensure that you have completed the full online component of the training, including all the lectures, questionnaires and assignments before the in-person event.

Please bring your completed assignments (printed or digital) with you to the in-person component of the training. You will not need to hand these in, but we will be drawing on them in the training so they are required.

The assignments throughout the training are for your own integration and embodiment of the course material and do not need to be submitted to us.

You will be asked to confirm in the Shala to say that you have completed them, and we trust your answer.

While we are not checking up on them, the assignments are an integral part of the training and you will be drawing on them for the in-person component of the training, so it is important that you complete them.

Word of mouth is a great way to find practitioners, try asking your friends or colleagues for recommendations.

You could also look online or in the paper to find local therapists, see who sounds like a good fit, and give them a call to ask them about their services and assess yourself if you would feel comfortable recommending them to students.

While much of the research we have referenced in the Mental Health Aware Yoga training is available for free online, unfortunately some research is only available if you pay for it, or if you are enrolled in a university or other organisation that gives you access to journal articles.

A great place to find articles is on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.

If the article is free, you will likely be able to read and download the entire article.

If it is not free, then you will likely only be able to read the abstract, not the whole article, unless you pay for it, or if you are a member of a professional organisation, university or library that gives you access to it.

Yes, you can write your assignments in any language you like. 

We ask that you complete your work using your own knowledge, experience, research, and critical thinking without the assistance of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI writing assistants.

The purpose of these assignments is to assess your personal understanding, integration of the material, and your unique perspective. Using AI tools bypasses this learning process and prevents us from evaluating your actual comprehension and integration.

This authentic engagement is essential for developing the competency and confidence needed to work safely with mental health concerns in yoga settings.

What this means:

• Complete all written work in your own words
• Draw from your personal experience, training, and research
• When citing sources, use proper academic references from your own reading
• If you're unsure about concepts, reach out to humans rather than AI tools

You are welcome to use AI tools for the following use only:

• Translation (for students with English as a second language)

• Basic spelling and grammar checks

This policy helps ensure the integrity of your training and supports your genuine professional development.

All the details are in your training portal.

To access them:

1. Head back to the Dashboard
2. Find the hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training
3. Open up the sidebar and find the link to the in-person event (you can also find it by clicking on INTRODUCTION / ORIENTATION)

Let me walk you through how the in-person component of the Mental Health Aware Yoga trainings usually run. 

1. During the registration period on the first day, our assistants will welcome you to the space and check you in on the computer.
2. Once you are checked in, you will be invited to take a seat in a circle and make yourself comfortable. If you have time you could then make a cup of tea (herbal tea is provided but please bring your own mug), chat with other students, go to the bathroom or rest in silence.
3. Lauren will start the training by welcoming everyone, introducing herself and the assistants, and leading the group in an arriving meditation.
4. Everyone will be invited to briefly introduce themselves and share their intention for the training. You may choose to share or not (both are welcome and respected).
5. During the training, Lauren will:
   
   • Review information from the online component.
   • Invite questions, reflections and discussions on topics related to your assignments, yoga teaching and practice and Mental Health Aware Yoga in general.
   • Teach yoga classes and invite you to participate as a student (this may include a gentle embodied yoga class, restorative yoga and/or yoga nidra). You are welcome to modify any of the classes and practices to suit your needs.
   • Invite you to break into small groups of 2-3 and practice teaching each other. Lauren and the assistants will be moving around the space to observe your teaching, and will offer individual feedback. All feedback is given with the quality of warmth and support (not criticism) with the intention of assisting you to refine your teaching.
   • At different times, share slides, teach from the training manual (please have yours with you, either printed or a digital copy) and facilitate discussions amongst the group. While Lauren has an agenda for the training, at times this will be flexible to meet the needs of the group.
6. Lauren and the teaching assistant/s will be available to offer practical support throughout the training. You are welcome to approach them to ask for assistance, and they will accommodate your needs as best they can. At the beginning of the training, Lauren will let you know who to contact for support. Please note that while the team will do their best to support you during the training, there will be limitations due to the group setting. In addition, they are not able to offer counselling.
7. There will be tea breaks throughout the training and a lunch break every day. You may choose to socialise with other students during these breaks, or take time quietly for yourself. If there are cafes nearby, we will let you know the recommended eating places. The teaching team will also be taking a break and preparing for the next session during lunch breaks, and will not be available for questions.
8. We will start and finish on time each day. The timing of the lunch break may change, if this is important to you, please contact us in advance or let Lauren or one of the assistants know as you check-in on the day.
9. Lauren usually uses a microphone to ensure that everyone can hear her.

Please note that there may be changes due to differences in venues and to meet the needs of the group. If you would like to know more exactly about how the event will run in your venue, please read through the information related to your training (this is part of the online component in the Shala), read the rest of the FAQs related to the in-person component and feel free to reach out if your questions are not answered. Our email address is at the bottom of this page.

Here are some photographs from a training in Mullumbimby, Australia (shared with permission from all the students in the photos).

Please plan your travel to ensure you can attend the entire in-person component, and do not need to arrive late or leave early.

You will not be able to graduate from the training if you have not completed all the online components nor attended all the in-person component.

The list of things to bring are listed in your training portal.

To access them:

1. Head back to the Dashboard
2. Find the hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training
3. Open up the sidebar and find the link to the in-person event (you can also find it by clicking on INTRODUCTION / ORIENTATION)

We suggest wearing comfortable clothing suitable for practicing and teaching yoga and sitting for discussions.

Layers are advised to help you regulate your temperature in a room full of people with different temperature needs.

For everyone's comfort, please do not wear perfumes, essential oils or any scented products to the in-person training. 

We strongly recommend that you complete all the online components, including the lectures and assignments before attending.

The in-person component builds on the course material and assignments in the online component (including teaching fellow students in small groups and receiving feedback from the teaching team), so this is essential.

To graduate from the training, you must complete all the online components and attend all of the in-person component.

We ask that you only attend the in-person component if you are well, and do not attend if you have any illness that could be contagious, including, but not limited to COVID. If you are unwell, please contact us and let us know, and we will make the necessary changes for you to complete the training online instead. Our email address is at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for taking care of your own health, and helping us to keep our faculty and students healthy and safe. If you are unwell, you may respectfully be asked to leave.

No refunds, credits or transfers are available.

If you are unable to attend the in-person component of the training due to illness or genuine emergency, you may be able to transfer to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training instead at our discretion.

While we will endeavour to deliver the in-person component of the training as advertised, should circumstances change due to reasons beyond our control (e.g. illness, government restrictions, flight delays, natural disasters etc), then we will make alternative arrangements that may include a different teaching faculty, new location, re-scheduling to a different time and/or delivering the program online. If the changes mean that you are unable to attend the in-person component, then you may choose to transfer to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training instead, at no additional cost.

Read our T&Cs here.

If the majority of students are comfortable with photographs being taken during the in-person event, we take unobtrusively take photographs for our own records and to share online. 

In the Intake Form that you are asked to complete when you first sign up, you will be asked if you are comfortable with us taking photographs of you during the training. If you opt out of being in photographs, we will ensure that you will not be included in any of the photographs we take. We 100% respect your decision to not be photographed. We may ask that you sit further away from where Lauren is teaching, so you are not in any photographs.

We ask students to not take photographs during the event, however you are welcome to take photographs of the slides and of others only if clear consent is given.

At the end of the training, we like to take a group photograph, and you can choose to be in this photograph or not.

We're delighted that you're joining us for the training and we will do what we can to support you to attend.

We will be practicing and teaching yoga practices as part of the training, and you will be invited to adapt the practices to meet your individual needs (including rest) at all times.

If there is something specific we can do to support you, please reach out and let us know. Our email address is at the bottom of this page.

To graduate from the training, you must participate in teaching a yoga class to another student in the training, and receive feedback from Lauren or a teaching assistant.

You will be invited to teach a class in any style or lineage you choose, and demonstrate the principles of Mental Health Aware Yoga in this style or lineage. Please know that you do not need to teach the same way that Lauren or others in the training teach, you are encouraged to teach in your own way.

If you have any questions about the exercise or suggestions as to how we could make it more manageable for you to engage in, do let us know at the in-person event, we would love to support you to participate if we can. For example, you could choose a fellow student with whom you felt most comfortable, and if they were willing, you could be paired with them. Or if the venue allows, we could find a location that was a little away from other students.

Please know that Lauren and the teaching assistants approach this exercise with warmth and care, and see their role as supporting you to be the best possible teacher you can be (not to criticise or judge you).

You are welcome to choose not to participate in this activity and we will wholeheartedly respect your decision, however this will mean that you will not graduate from training and will not receive a certificate of completion.