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Meet Michel Besnard – Teacher Training Faculty

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Join Michel & the other Trainers:
500-Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training

MORE ABOUT MICHEL – Michel Besnard is a Yoga Alliance Certified yoga instructor. He has been practicing yoga since 1978 and teaching since 1983. He also holds a certificate of IYTA (International Yoga Teacher Association).

Until 1993, he was practicing Iyengar yoga and was a direct student of BKS Iyengar. He has been to Pune, India to study under Mr. Iyengar several times. Michel has also been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga since 1993, and studied directly under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India during several different trips.

Michel has taught all over the world including the United States, Austria, England, Thailand, Europe, France and Australia. An advanced Reiki practitioner, he provides students with clear and sensitive guidance, listening to the needs of the body without pushing or straining, thus making space for their own understanding.

Ultimately, Michel encourages everyone to take the practice seriously, but not themselves leading his students to a greater understanding of the self and the body.

PHOTO: View of our teacher training yoga facility, Absolute Sanctuary on Koh Samui.

Hot Yoga Teacher Training Course - Learn to teach Absolute Hot Yoga. Challenge yourself and embark on a new lifestyle... 2 classes per day, expert instruction, a huge teaching team, tons of sweaty fun. This course is ideal for Hot Yoga lovers who are serious about learning real-work teaching skills needed to start working right away. 28-day Yoga Alliance Course. LEARN MORE

Vinyasa 'Flow' Yoga Teacher Training - Delve deep into the classic Vinyasa Yoga sequences with Michel Besnard. This course provides students with a solid foundation in the original Vinyasa-Flow sequence, the Ashtanga Primary Series, with an emphasis on individual attention, alignment, sequencing for public classes, and self-practice.

Michel has been teaching and practicing for over 30 years, and that experience and knowledge really resonates with his students. LEARN MORE

500-Hour Advanced Course - for yoga teachers who are ready to take their career to the next level. This advanced course goes way beyond basics with advanced anatomy, history, philosophy, adjustments, teaching skills, business skills, yin yoga, women's yoga—and more! If you plan to teach as a career, or if you're just in love with teaching and want to take the next step, this course is for you. LEARN MORE

Hot Yoga Immersion Course - go way beyond the classic 26 Hot Yoga postures with Tomasz Goetel and The Evolution of Hot Yoga. This course is for all levels, and it's all about breaking out of the box and learning new ways to practice in a supportive environment. LEARN MORE

Michelle Bio Michel Besnard Iyengar and Ashtanga

Rave Reviews

I have never enjoyed a course as much as this, and I've attended many courses and workshops in the past. The team is unfailingly caring... it's never too much trouble to answer any question or spend time supporting us. They are also very interesting people with a wealth of knowledge to share which has added immensely to the success of this course. I can't say enough good things about all of the teachers. They all feel like good friends!

(Charlotte, Australia)

Before starting yoga, I worked long hours in stuffy office. Looking back on it, the work wasn't healthy for me; I was always stressed and unsatisfied. I decided to try yoga. I will never forget my first yoga class—how challenging, refreshing, and invigorating the whole experience was. It changed my life. After practicing for 6 months, I decided to take a chance and join the teacher training course... and now, I'm about to teach my first class! I feel so lucky because now, I'm now able to share something I love with others. This common energy and connected passion is what inspires me. It's contagious!

(Bee, Bangkok)

I went from being someone who never thought she could survive as a vegetarian, to becoming a convert! The food is spectacular! Lucas' creations are out of this world!

(Andrea, Singapore)

Amazing... really, every day I was blinking my eyes and squeezing my arm to see if I wasn't dreaming. The teachers and staff and the whole training was so positive, fun, and joyful. Such great energy!

(Kasia, The Netherlands)

None have touched my life the way Michel has!

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 didn't 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.

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.

Stephanie Wong (Singapore)

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)

Kimberly Ann Johnson is the Aretha Franklin of yoga. What she brings to the table is nothing short of pure soul, born from a R-E-S-P-E-C-T for a higher power, a deep personal humility, a contagious dedication to the furthering of her own practice and personal growth, and a competent, caring and compassionate conveyance of her discoveries to others. Kimberly Johnson teaches by example. There is a freshness. She is one of those rare talents that you find yourself automatically doing that little bit extra for.

Jim Mossuto (Musician, Boulder, CO)