FAQs

There are no prerequisites or experience necessary to join our Changemakers program. However, we recommend that students have some form of regular wellness practice in their lives before the start of training. All genders, sexualities, expressions, abilities, bodies, and experience levels are welcome in our space.

While it’s hard to give an exact number, we know from past training that most trainees spend about 2-4 hours a week in their movement, meditation, and pranayama practices, reading or reviewing video content, creating journal entries, and connecting with each other on Embodiment Calls. Live calls are 1 hour long and will take place twice a month, with the option to watch the recording if you can't attend live. There is also a week of Rest and Integration about halfway through the program, to allow time to catch up before we dive into the second portion.

Yes! We strive to offer this training in equitable and sustainable ways, mindful of the imperfect world we live in. Our training rates reflect what is needed to sustain our business and to keep our commitment to providing equitable pay for our facilitators and a living wage for our leadership team. If cost is a concern, please consider taking advantage of our pay-in-full discount ($100 in savings!) or exploring a Community Scholarship HERE.

The Changemakers Payment Plan includes 4 payments of $247 paid as follows: 1st Payment: Your first payment is processed on the day you register, along with your enrollment form. The remaining 3 monthly installments are deducted from your payment source on the same day as your enrollment each month until the end of the payment plan. For example: Suppose you sign up on November 18, 2025, and pay the first payment now. You will still select January 12, 2026, as your start date in your service schedule. However, the system will compute the next billing about one month later from the date of purchase, so around December 18, 2025, and then again around January 18, 2026, and finally around February 18, 2026.

After the completion of all program milestones, you will earn a Certification of Completion from Zia Yoga & Wellness' Yoga + Leadership School. This certification can serve as evidence of your experience and education in this program for future opportunities. Certificates are awarded when all program milestones are met: Participate live or via recording in all 8 Saṅgha Calls. Complete all self-study work, including readings, videos, reflections, and daily practice logs. Participate in all 6 Embodiment Partner Exercises Assignments. Submit a completed Living Integration Project before the end of the program. Adhere to all program and community agreements.

Yes! Injury and other limitations can be among the most powerful tools for learning empathetic and creative leadership. Prepare whatever you need to participate comfortably, and contact us if you have any additional requests. Most importantly, be sure to listen to your body and move with awareness during all classes and activities.

The training content in Changemakers is designed to be accessible, flexible, and easily integrated into your daily life, no matter where life may take you. You can access training materials online, from your phone, tablet, or computer, 24/7 for the duration of your program. Community is a fundamental element of all of our training programs, making each group session an invaluable part of your learning experience. Thus, we strongly encourage you to attend all bimonthly Saṅgha calls live when at all possible and to make good use of the Changemakers Kula online to stay connected with your peers and program leaders. Additional make-up work will be handled on a case-by-case basis and should be arranged in advance with your group leader and/or mentor, with the approval of the Facilitation Team.

No way. One of the big myths about wellness is that we have to already be fit enough to be well. Many of the people you interact with may have similar concerns. Our training will help you balance your flexibility with your strength while gaining awareness of what to do to empower yourself and others. These programs are designed to meet you where you are. Whether you are 18 or 108, this program has space for you. If you are 109? Congratulations! You can probably teach us a few things about enduring wellness 😉

Yep! You will have some pre-work to complete between our in-person calls, as well as weekly self-study and practices. This may include readings and daily wellness practices, as well as working on long-term projects. Cultivating a regular wellness practice, along with your other homework, will reinforce your ability to support yourself and others while gaining the practical knowledge and awareness you need to refine your leadership skills.

Tuition for this program is non-refundable. In some extreme cases, paid tuition can be credited toward future training. Exceptions are handled on a case-by-case basis, are not guaranteed, and must be requested in writing directly to the Program Directors.

Let us introduce you to peer mentorship + Embodiment Partners! Every two weeks, Changemaker trainees will complete a 30-minute Embodiment Assignment with another cohort member. These can be completed via Zoom, phone, or in person and are arranged at times that are agreeable to you and your partner for each assignment. This is a great way to get to know your fellow Changemakers. Additionally, our Changemakers Kula (Sanskrit for “community”) offers a private online space where you can share insights, ask questions, and be supported by and in support of your fellow Changemakers. In addition to these structures, our program is led by a team of directors, support staff, and mentors who are dedicated to your success. If you have any specific questions, accommodations, or requests, please reach out directly to Kiran at info@ziayogawellness.com

Both as a studio and as a Yoga school, Zia has consciously decided not to align with Yoga Alliance. Here's why... Yoga Alliance (YA) is a paid membership organization created in 1999 in an attempt to provide a standard of education for yoga teachers here in the US. It's important to note that YA is NOT a certifying body; it does not issue certificates of any kind, and no local, state, or federal government sanctions the organization to hold any Yoga Teacher or Yoga School accountable. When you register with Yoga Alliance, you are literally doing just that. Registering. You are listed as a Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT) or Registered Yoga School (RYS) and are granted permission to use their registry stamp on your website or other marketing materials as a way of promoting yourself. While Yoga Alliance has done an incredible job of marketing itself as the gold standard for yoga teachers, this stamp is misleading. It implies that the organization is somehow regulating the yoga industry and ensuring that certain standards are being met and upheld. Again, they are not a certifying body; they are just a registry. We can tell you, based on over two decades of experience, that not once has a Yoga Alliance representative checked in on us as teachers, as a studio, or with any of the students we have trained at our Yoga + Leadership School. Each year, Yoga Alliance has simply taken our money and asked us to keep paying for the use of the Registered Yoga School (RYS) stamp. Further, and most importantly, YA has done nothing to address the inequity, racism, and ableism that exist in the yoga industry.

We are pretty sure there is no perfect time… which means it’s always the perfect time. The skills you will learn in our program will transform your ability to be present and to create your life. If you find you frequently feel like you don’t have time, that might be a recurring dialogue for you! That said, we have other options if you aren’t able to make the time commitment this time around - we encourage you to join our waitlist and explore starting a wellness practice in person at our studio.

All payments are nonrefundable; the cost for the Changemakers Collective program is $988. We offer a $100 discount if you pay your program fee in full. If you opt for 4 Installments, the first installment of $247 is due today. The remaining 3 installments will be automatically deducted on the same day each month until the balance is paid in full. Program Fees are nonrefundable and non-transferable. This policy allows us to pay our team for their time and commitment; therefore, we cannot make exceptions for any reason, medical or otherwise. We thank you in advance for honoring this policy.