"Work is love made visible."

- Khalil Gibran

 

The work here is Embodiment.

Your body creates the opportunity for your spirit to be here in this world. Your hands become the way the divine to whom you pray lives in this world, through you.

A teacher doesn't teach you anything you don't already know; rather, a teachers awakens something inside you that you remember.

Qoya is based on the idea that through movement, we remember.

What do we remember?

The truth of interconnection. Interconnection within ourselves between our mind, body, heart, and spirit. Interconnection outside of ourselves between between self, other, spirit, earth, and all living things on this planet. In these transformational times, Qoya is a tool that guides us back to a place of wisdom, reminds us that we are whole beings who are interconnected to all life, and inspires us to emerge with action.

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Qoya teacher training is designed to be a powerful catalyst for your own path of personal growth so that you can hold space for others to remember, honor and embody the physical sensation of truth, creativity, and freedom that lives in each of us.

Like the singer who must sing and the writer who must write, Qoya is for the dancer who must dance.

 

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Do any of these resonate with you?

You feel ready to step into the world with confidence to share something that inspires your soul, releasing any conditioned layers of inhibition and insecurity that do not serve you or the places where you can be of service. 

You believe a more nourishing way of life is possible than habitual mental exhaustion, negative emotional loops, and reaching for outside fixes to inside jobs. 

You know there's a well of wisdom inside of you and are passionate about sharing the idea that the body is an access point to one's inner wisdom!

You experience deep fulfillment in presence, reveling in the sensation when breath animates your spirit, when you move your body with intention, and when you access brilliant non-linear solutions to navigate your day.  

You've done research in your personal life and have found that if you have a question, you can access guidance and reconnect with your center through a practice as simple as pressing shuffle on your music library, dancing to whatever song plays, and receiving insight to take into your day. If you haven't done this before, you could even try it right now! 

You're living into the experiment that asks “Can we heal with joy?” and are inspired to hold space for other people to see if it's true for them.  

You acknowledge it takes courage to explore the uncomfortable aspects of self and yet don’t make your struggles the highlight reel of your life; rather, you savor life’s blessings with gratitude and willingness to heal and grow from life’s challenges.  

You trust that each time you heal, it creates more space for others to heal. You embrace deep soul shifts and radical self-discovery as it emerges and release judgments and projections, replacing them with respect.

 You agree to The Golden Rule and feel comfortable in a diverse community space where we hold ourselves in integrity with honesty and compassion.

Most of all, you want to move your body!


Whether you have experience as a dancer or a yoga teacher, are a busy parent, working for a start-up, or have not been moving as much as you wish, you're inspired and committed to integrating movement into your daily lifestyle.

How awkward would that be if your answer was no? Imagine the opposite, saying, “I am not committed to daily movement. I am committed to a sedentary lifestyle with 8-10 hours per day of sitting.” Sounds kind of ridiculous when you put it like that. 

Even if you're resonating with many of these aspects, know that it is normal to also experience resistance. Trust your timing.

Anytime you need or want to do something, but are having a hard time overcoming your resistance, call on the truth of your embodied lived experience and ask yourself: 

“Does a Qoya class inspire you to embody your inner child, wise elder, sensual nature, and authentic creative self? Does your body enjoy being activated, enlivened, and open to the magic of the day more because you've danced? Do you agree that if you keep doing practices that delight you, your habitual resistance will get the download that an investment in your health and happiness is a benefit to everyone around you and every aspect of your life?”

Feel the answer in your body.

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Qoya teacher training is for you when:

You feel it in your bones.

You get a zing up your spine.  

You get goosebumps. Maybe you even cry because something touches your heart.  

You feel like the Universe is calling you, guiding your way with synchronicities that encourage you to continue listening to your own intuition.

You know it's right for you because it feels right for you.

 

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“The Qoya teacher training was one of the most profound experiences I’ve been blessed to have. While the week-long intensive was transformative, I have really begun to feel the transformation during the integration process. It masterfully delivers the most transcendental transmission of each pillar of Qoya in a way that defies time and space.”

LEIGAH LOCKE, Qoya teacher

“Qoya Teacher Training is a body-centered vision quest inward. It is an opportunity to know yourself in a deeper and unspoken way and for a minute break through the barriers of what form and society have created for us. I love it. I teach it - and hope you will too!”

SAMAR OCEAN WOLF CIPRIAN, Qoya teacher


There are 3 phases to Qoya Teacher Training:

PHASE 1: INTRO

Online Only

Cost: $250

PHASE 2: INITIATION

Online & In Person

Cost: $600

PHASE 3: INTENSIVE

In Person Only - Weeklong Training

Cost: $1,800-3,500 (varies by location)


PHASE ONE: INTRO TO QOYA

Prerequisites: None - just a desire to learn!

What you'll learn: Your first step of Qoya Teacher Training is the Introduction -  a 10+ hour training that introduces the 13 pillars of Qoya as a way to begin learning how to teach Qoya or to create a home practice for yourself. You will also learn the fundamentals of the 3 essences of Qoya, our philosophy of embodying the woman who is wise, wild, and free.

The class includes 1 full Qoya class, videos on each pillar, a course workbook, and a bonus guide to creating Qoya classes for your home practice.

Who you can teach: Yourself! Learn the basic movements and start a home practice from this training.

Where it's available: Online Only

Cost: $250

Click here to learn more and register for the Intro Training.


PHASE TWO: INITIATION TRAINING

Prerequisites: Intro to Qoya Online Training

What you'll learn: Through an 11-hour in person training with supplementary online training, you will learn teaching methods, teach practice classes to friends and family, and most importantly, take video and audio Qoya classes with Rochelle, deepening your understanding of Qoya through your own experience. 

The course includes your live training with a Qoya teacher, 11 audio and video classes to take online, and the Teacher Trainers Manual.

Who you can teach: Practice classes to friends and family for free

Where it's available: Online + In Person

UPCOMING TRAININGS

January 25, 27, 28, 2024: Online on Zoom with Claire Garin (taught in French)

February 23 - 25, 2024: Online on Zoom with Lindsay Thomas and Jessica Durivage

March 2 - 3, 2024: La Rochelle, France with Claire Garin (taught in French)

Cost: $600, plus travel, accommodations, and retreat tuition if you attend Initiation training at a Qoya retreat

Click here to learn more about the Initiation and to register.

Join our Initiation Interest List

Sign up here to receive notifications when new Intensive trainings have been added.


PHASE THREE: INTENSIVE TRAINING

Prerequisites: Intro and Initiation Training plus teach 11 practice classes to your friends and family

What you'll learn: Before attending the Intensive, you are required to teach 11 practice classes to your friends and family, submit evaluation forms on 3 of these classes, read 3 books, complete homework assignments, and participate in a call with your Intensive Teacher to discuss the material.

The Intensive itself is an in-person training for 7 days in which you experience deep integration of the philosophies of Qoya into your life.

After the Intensive, you must teach another class and complete an Integration Journal that you discuss on a post-Intensive call with your Intensive Teacher.

Upon successful completion of the Intensive (including your Integration class, journal, and call), you will be invited to become a Certified Qoya Teacher by signing the Teacher Agreement, which allows you to offer and advertise your classes to the general public using the Qoya trademark. You can keep your certification active through membership in the Continuing Education Program ($55/year) to maintain your lines of support as a teacher, stay current with changes to the Qoya curriculum, and continue your path as a lifelong student of Qoya.

Who you're certified to teach: The general public anywhere in the world!

Where it's available: In Person and Online

UPCOMING TRAININGS

April 13 - 20, 2024: Costa Rica with Rochelle Schieck

June 14 - 22, 2024: Correze, France with Claire Garin (taught in French)

July 5 - 12, 2024: Cornwall, England with Angharad Picton and Meghan Field

Cost: Cost varies depending on location (typically ranges from $1,800-3,500). Tuition and accommodation are included; travel is not.

Click here to learn more about the Intensive.

Join our Intensive Interest List

Sign up here to receive notifications when new Intensive trainings have been added.


OPTIONAL TRAINING: MENTORSHIP CIRCLE

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Prerequisites: Intro and Initiation Training

What you'll learn: The Mentorship Circle is an extra teaching support program to get more individualized attention and feedback. This is a safe and supportive place to practice, connect, and to help bridge the gap between learning the basic structure of Qoya in the Initiation to fully embodying Qoya at the Intensive.

Who you're certified to teach: Friends and Family for Free

Where it's available: Online

Cost: $333

Dates: TBA


CONTINUING EDUCATION

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Prerequisites: Intensive Training

What you'll learn: The Continuing Education program gives you the resources and support to help you start and grow your Qoya teaching practice in your community. It includes access to monthly calls with Rochelle, a private Facebook group to reach out to other Certified Teachers, a yearly webinar with Rochelle to review any new additions and changes to Qoya, a listing on the Qoya website if you teach a minimum of 11 classes per year, a library of support materials for teachers, and invitations to special workshops, retreats, and teaching events only available to our active Certified Teachers.

Where it's available: Online 

Cost: $55/year

You will receive access to register for Continuing Education upon signing your Qoya Teacher Agreement after successful completion of the Qoya Intensive. If you have questions, please contact us at info@qoya.love.


“To me, Qoya has become a necessity as a way to infuse my spirit with happiness. Gathering together as women to create a sacred circle that forms the container where we practice yoga, dance, and sensual movement with the intention to do what feels good is an amazing medicine.”

SUSAN ANDERSON, Qoya teacher

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“Qoya for me has been so inspiring and life changing on a multitude of levels. I have received many invitations and opportunities in the classes and trainings that have enlightened my life path and helped me see the contrasts to my strengths and growth edges. I would encourage any one who feels curious about deepening their connection to and experience wholeness in their body, mind and soul.”

DANA MARIE, Qoya teacher


Benefits of Being a Qoya Teacher

Community: Qoya classes are a sacred place to gather. Each class contains a unique magic and medicine, and people who are attracted to Qoya embody a wide range of the human experience, compassionately fierce, courageously resilient, willing to explore more of their inner and outer worlds, and holding a sincere desire to see those around them thrive.

Fitness: The accountability of teaching a Qoya class brings more dedication to your personal practice, leading to an increased level of personal strength and fitness as well as a fluid connection to your body and creativity.

Creativity and Leadership: Every Qoya class has the same structure, but each Qoya class is different since it is always based around a theme and music chosen by the teacher. Qoya is a way to express your truth and inspiration through movement. Examples of themes: gratitude, letting go, the seasons, feeling as much as you can. Anything that inspires you can become a Qoya class: the newness of spring, a favorite song or piece of art, a relationship - all of it is relevant in the dance of Qoya. Additionally, each student sets her own intention at the beginning of class, creating a rich and varied tapestry of transformation.

Additional Income: Once you become a Certified Qoya Teacher, you will take home 100% of the cost paid by attendees of your classes.

Increased Capacity for Fun and Pleasure! Teaching Qoya is fun, rewarding and creative. If you're seeking an outlet for creative expression, exploring a more embodied dimension to your career, or are inspired to actively participate in empowering the communities you have impact and reach with, Qoya Teacher Training is for you.

Since I created Qoya, I have:

  • led thousands of movement classes

  • facilitated hundreds of private sessions

  • taken women on over 50 retreats to 6 different continents

  • trained over 300 Qoya teachers

  • created a container for positive transformation for those who are inspired to explore movement with meaning, movement as metaphor, and movement as medicine

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The movements of Qoya are a map. How each one of us travels along the journey will be different. I’ve found on my path that when we ask for something, we often get what we ask for, but never in the way we think. I’ve also found that my definition of success has not been having my expectations met, but the willingness to make decisions that resonate with the truth I feel in my mind, body, heart and Soul. The practice of Qoya, more than any other thing I have done, connects me back to myself. I don’t know what the journey will be like for you, but I would be honored to dance together and live into the question one step at a time.
— Rochelle Schieck

“Just do it! I talk a lot about the spiritual benefit because this part means so much to me, but along with the spirituality, Qoya is freakin' FUN! I guarantee that you will have a huge smile on your face through out different aspects of class. You gotta just give it a try and allow your experience to unfold. Just like you, your experience will be beautiful and unique.”

KACI FLOREZ, Qoya Teacher

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"The week was a complete embodiment of Qoya - I truly felt wise, wild and free; I the truth that everything is within, and I lived the say “Life is a dance” every single day. Most of all, I experienced an amazing sense of community with the inspiring group of women I was fortunate to forge new friendships for ongoing support."

ZEE KIRK, Qoya teacher


 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not a yoga or dance teacher. Can I still train to be a Qoya teacher?
Yes! While this is a movement-based practice, anyone can learn and teach the movements. The goal is to make the class accessible to anyone who has the desire to bring meaning into their movement. Rochelle wanted to create something that could easily be taught and practiced in communities all around the world. We have had women of all ages, backgrounds, sizes, and athletic abilities successfully train to be teachers. You CAN do it.

I’m already a yoga or dance teacher. Is this right for me?
Qoya Teacher Training is the best thing (in our humble opinion!) to support your current teaching practice with deeper inquiry by exploring the unique teachings that are transmitted through each pillar of Qoya. If you're feeling like you want to teach more than yoga or dance and that you want to help guide students to honor their emotional and spiritual journey, this could be a great fit. Many of our teachers who are trained yoga and dance instructors report back that they see their Qoya training as an extension and growth of that work.

I want to attend the training, but I’m not sure I want to teach. Is that okay?
Many people complete Qoya teacher training to enhance their path of personal growth. The Intensive is a deep dive into self-awareness and the power of movement, ritual, community and pilgrimage to bring clarity to our purpose and encourage us to take action in our lives. If you're a regular Qoya student, teacher training is an amazing way to bring more structure and inspiration to your personal practice, and to go deeper into the fundamentals of Qoya. Similarly, if you're new to Qoya and wish to dive deep with the practices of Qoya, teacher training is a wonderful way to submerge yourself in all things wise wild and free. For questions, email info@qoya.love.

Will I be a certified teacher after the training is complete?
To be a Qoya Certified teacher, the Intro, Initiation, and Intensive trainings must all be successfully completed. You also must sign the Certified Qoya Teacher Agreement and have an active membership in the Continuing Education program to maintain your certification.

Does this certify me to lead Qoya retreat or teacher trainings?
No. The prerequisite to apply for Qoya leadership training is to teach 50 classes after your Intensive. Start there - we firmly believe that the single best way to become a Qoya leader is to...lead! And the single best way to build your Qoya community is to offer consistent classes where you live. Once you have taught at least 50 classes, you are eligible to apply to lead Initiation trainings or to apply for our upcoming Retreat Facilitator Program (details coming soon!) Both of these programs require an additional 4 - 9 months of training.

As a Certified Teacher, can I teach a Qoya class at a non-Qoya retreat?
Yes! If you are a guest teacher at someone else's retreat or if you already offer retreats whose focus is on a different modality and you wish to offer a Qoya class or two as one of other offers on the retreat, this is allowed and a wonderful way to share Qoya as a teacher. What your certification does not allow you to do is offer a "Qoya retreat" in which Qoya is the primary offering

How is Qoya different than training to teach other movement forms?
Qoya classes combine the traditional benefits of fitness — including strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and agility training — with a unique empowering approach that is feminine, expressive, and most importantly, fun. Qoya is different in that it offers a shift in consciousness that evolves the way we have been taught to move our bodies as women. Drawn from the wisdom of yoga, creative expression in dance, and the pleasure found in sensual movement, Qoya helps women enjoy and revel in their feminine bodies. In other words, the focus becomes more on the enjoyment of the experience in the present moment versus all the traditional motivation factors of exercise (losing weight, toning, burning calories, stretching, reducing stress, etc.) All those become pleasurable byproducts, but not the reason you go. The reason you go is your joy.

One of the main differences is that Qoya addresses all parts of a woman: mind, body, emotions, energetic, spirit and soul - seeing her as human & divine.

Qoya explores dancing the fullness that it is to be a woman in her body in the following ways:

●  Ways we can build our strength: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual

●  Ways we can be flexible: not only in our hamstrings, but going through the flow of our day

●  Ways we can be agile: like a child who falls down and bounces right back up

●  Ways we can savor: an exhale that takes us into a hip circle of remembering the gift of being a woman

●  Ways we can love and honor what is — as it is — and still dare to dream bigger dreams

●  Ways we can say YES.

A Qoya class is different because it speaks to all the different levels of awareness in a woman: physical body, mental state, emotions, spiritual connection, and energy. As an instructor, you speak to each woman as whole, lacking in nothing. Imagine a world in which that's how we relate to one another, seeing the human and divine aspects in each amazing woman.

Do I have to attend the Initiation Teacher Training in person?
No - we offer online trainings in addition to the in person offerings. Check out the Initiation Training page for all the current trainings available. If you don't see an online training listed at this time, check back since we are adding trainings all the time.

I got injured after I registered. Can I still come?
Yes! I recently had a neck/shoulder injury and when I went to the physical therapist, the funniest thing happened - she encouraged me to do Qoya to heal it!  Ha! The reason she said is, “Qoya encourages you to focus on aligning with the part of your body where it feels good to move. No one will force you or encourage you into a position that activates the pain and you can gently and slowly heal your body through conscious movement.”

What is your refund policy?
Our refund policy is that if you register and cannot attend, if we can fill your spot, we will give you a refund minus $250 to cover our administrative costs. If we can not fill your spot, unfortunately, we are unable to refund your space though we may be able to offer you a partial credit towards a future training. 

Do you offer payment plans?
We are always happy to work with people and support them on their journey any way we can. If you are inspired to join and it would feel better to space out payments, reach out and we can explore it. We align with the idea that when you follow your heart, the world will conspire on your behalf.

If you still have questions and would like help determining if Qoya Teacher Training is for you, please write us at info@qoya.love.


Go for it!!! Nothing to lose and everything to gain. To revel in your divine beauty through movement is empowering.”

HEATHER HUBBER, Qoya teacher

“Come with no expectations and allow yourself to be surprised and have fun. If there is a class to dance like no one is watching, it's Qoya!”

NATALIA KRASNOVA, Qoya teacher