Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a regular practice for at least a year is recommended. That said, you don't need to be an expert practitioner: what matters is consistency, not technical level. Julie adapts her teaching to each student.

No. Yoga begins with awareness of the body and breath, not flexibility. Flexibility is a result of regular practice, never a prerequisite to start.

No, our trainees are generally between 20 and 65 years old. What matters is the desire to learn and a regular practice, not age.

Yes, many of our trainees come primarily to deepen their personal practice and understanding of yoga. Certification is a bonus, not a career obligation.

Ashtanga 200h, Hatha 200h, Jivamukti 200h, Therapeutic Yoga 300h, Advanced Durga Yoga 500h, Sound Yoga 95h, Children's Yoga 95h, and Prenatal Yoga 75h. All are Yoga Alliance certified.

The 200h gives you the foundations to teach. The 300h deepens a specialization (therapeutic). The 500h, which includes the 200h, goes further in philosophy, anatomy and pedagogy.

It depends on the format chosen: from 75h (prenatal) to 500h (advanced), spread over an immersive schedule at the ashram.

Several sessions are offered throughout the year, so you can choose dates that fit your schedule. Contact us to discuss.

Yes, we remain available to support you in your first steps as a teacher after certification.

At Yogaji, trainings are organised into independent modules so you can progress at your own pace, explore different themes, and come back whenever you feel the need.

The reference training to teach is the 200h, the international standard recognised by Yoga Alliance (RYS 200). At Yogaji Academy, you can choose your path: Ashtanga, Hatha or Jivamukti 200h, then specialise (Therapeutic 300h, Sound Yoga, Children's Yoga, Prenatal Yoga) or go further with the 500h.

Prices vary by training: Ashtanga or Hatha 200h €2,400 (4 modules of €600), Jivamukti 200h €2,500 (4 modules of €625), Therapeutic Yoga 300h €3,300 (4 modules of €700), Sound Yoga 95h €1,200 (4 modules of €300), Children's Yoga 95h and Prenatal Yoga €950 each. The 500h training is available on request. A 30% deposit is required at registration, with the balance payable in installments.

A yoga retreat or workshop is designed to deepen your personal practice: postures, breathing, philosophy, without any certification goal. A yoga teacher training (200h and above) is structured to prepare you to teach: it additionally includes pedagogy, anatomy, sequence building and an assessment, leading to a recognised certification (Yoga Alliance).

Included: tuition fees for the 500h teacher training, eligibility to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion, 4 reference books in PDF or paperback (Gheranda Samhita, Yoga Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras), 59 nights of accommodation, daily meals, the certification ceremony, tea, and a yoga study manual.
Not included: transfer to the venue, snacks and extra food, specific dietary requirements due to allergies, and additional activities.

All our training programmes are accredited by Yoga Alliance, the international benchmark for recognised yoga teacher training. This accreditation ensures our courses meet international standards of pedagogy, ethics, and professionalism, and guarantees high-quality content, guidance, and teaching. Yoga Alliance International France offers international recognition to yoga teachers, regardless of their tradition or style, as long as their training and experience meet rigorous quality standards.

By completing all the required training hours, with regular attendance and validation of the practical and theoretical assessments included in the programme. You can then register as a certified teacher with Yoga Alliance.

Yes, our trainings are Yoga Alliance certified (RYS 200/500, RCYS), a recognition valid worldwide.

RYS 200 certifies a 200-hour training, the international standard to start teaching. RYS 500 corresponds to 200 additional hours (500h total), for teachers who want to deepen their teaching.

These are two complementary labels, not competing ones. Yoga Alliance is an international body that specifically accredits the pedagogical content of yoga teacher trainings (number of hours, curriculum, ethics), recognised by studios worldwide. Qualiopi is a quality label issued by the French State, required for any training center, in any field, to give access to professional funding (OPCO, CPF under certain conditions). Yogaji Academy holds both: Yoga Alliance accreditation for international pedagogical recognition, and Qualiopi certification for funding access in France.

There is no single mandatory path. The most recognised route is to take an accredited yoga teacher training (200h minimum, Yoga Alliance standard), complete the practical and theoretical assessments, and then register as a certified teacher. You then choose your legal status (sole trader, association, employment) to practise legally.

In France, the most common status to start out is the micro-entreprise (sole trader), simple to set up via URSSAF. Other options exist: a non-profit association, a company (EURL/SASU), or employment at a yoga studio. Professional liability insurance is essential, whichever status you choose.

There is no specific state diploma for teaching yoga in France: it is not a regulated profession. The industry benchmark for recognition is Yoga Alliance, an international body. Yogaji Academy is also Qualiopi-certified, a quality label that attests to the seriousness of our training activities and allows for certain funding options.

It is a training that, upon completion, awards a recognised certification allowing you to register as a yoga teacher. Our trainings are certifying in the Yoga Alliance sense (RYS 200/500, RCYS): they validate a number of hours, a pedagogical curriculum and an assessment, a requirement for international recognition.

Yes. Yogaji Academy is a Qualiopi-certified training center. We provide the documents needed to apply for third-party funding. Any funding request must be specified in advance so we can issue an appropriate quotation (a 25% surcharge applies in this case).

Yes, we are Qualiopi-certified for the quality of our training activities, as a professional training center registered with the French Ministry of Labour.

Yes, installment payment is possible. Talk to us about it when you register.

The "with treatments" package includes one treatment per day (Poyet method / osteo-therapy, Thai massage, fitness or cardiac coherence depending on availability), in addition to the yoga practices.

Our groups are intentionally small, with a maximum of 12 participants, to preserve an intimate experience and personalized guidance.

Yes, the vast majority of our participants arrive alone. The intimate format quickly creates strong bonds.

Rates vary depending on the length of stay and the package chosen: from €110 (2 days/1 night, dormitory, without treatments) to €1,600 (10 days/9 nights, private room, with treatments including osteopathy, Thai massage, fitness or cardiac coherence). Full pricing details are available on each retreat's page or upon request.

No, our retreats are open to all levels, including beginners. The pace and practices adapt to everyone.

Since every pregnancy is different, we recommend letting us know at registration and checking with your doctor before taking part. We also offer a dedicated Prenatal Yoga training if you are looking for a practice specifically adapted to pregnancy.

No, please bring your own yoga mat.

At Yogaji Academy, the retreat always takes place, even with a small number of participants: we are an ashram, so you share this time with the people who are there for training as well. Yoga is lived day to day, whatever the number of participants.

Yes, a personalised yoga session can be offered on request to address your specific needs, in addition to the group practices.

The ashram is located in Bas Praly, Saint-Michel-de-Chabrillanoux (07360), in the Eyrieux valley, part of the Communauté d'agglomération Privas Centre Ardèche.

By car from Paris, expect around 7h07 (632 km, via the A71, with tolls) or 8h24 (590 km, via the N7, toll-free). By plane, book your flight to Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport (LYS), 104 km away (airport transfer not included). By train, head to Valence station. By bus, the center is served by the Les Cars de l'Eyrieux company. The village sits on the D2, between Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux and Vernoux-en-Vivarais.

Yes, for free: Yogaji can pick you up directly from Valence station, or you can take a bus to Dunière-sur-Eyrieux, where the team will pick you up and drive you to the center. Contact us to arrange the details.

The nature surrounding the ashram is a true invitation to contemplation. Pure air, mountains, forests and rivers create an atmosphere conducive to awakening the senses and reconnecting with yourself. Here, the sound of water, birdsong and the whisper of the wind become allies for your practice. Explore our ashram.

Yes, several trails surround the ashram: the Volcan de Chirouse (12 km, moderate difficulty), the Château de Pierre-Gourde (9 km, moderate), the Ruisseau de Gournier (6 km, moderate), or the hills around Toulaud (4 km, moderate). For a walk by the water, the Eyrieux river runs through the valley and can be followed along the Dolce Via (a former railway line turned greenway), with a lovely viewpoint from the Belvédère de l'Eyrieux in Saint-Michel-de-Chabrillanoux. The nearby Doulet stream also has lovely swimming holes and small waterfalls.

Dormitories of 2, 4 or 5 beds (private room possible depending on the package). Comfortable and simple, sheets and towels provided. Bring your own pillow if you have specific needs.

Here, everything is prepared with intention and simplicity. Meals are made on site: nourishing breakfasts, homemade produce, fresh fruit, and plant-based flavours that respect nature as much as your body. Our kitchen is vegetarian, often vegan, and always made with the intention of reducing waste and living yoga through our everyday actions. Please let us know about any allergies on arrival.

No alcohol or drugs (a smoking area is provided). Silence is observed from 10pm to 8:30am to support inner listening.

A full packing list (mat, comfortable clothing, notebook, your own pillow if needed...) is sent to you after registration.

Wifi is available, but we encourage a genuine digital detox to fully enjoy the experience.

Morning practice, theoretical teaching, rest time, evening practice. A rhythm designed to help you learn without exhaustion.

If you wish, you can join the other yogis in daily chores (setting the table, doing the dishes...), in a spirit of community. This is always optional.

Trainees can organise themselves to discover the region: rivers, small villages, local markets... That said, the focus remains your personal practice and study, with daily seva (helping with group life: cooking, bathroom, room...). You can also head to the river, explore the mountains, breathe, practise yoga, study, be yourself, and dedicate time to teaching.

Our trainings and retreats take place in French, but we regularly welcome international participants. Contact us to discuss.

Yes, the practice adapts to everyone. Simply let us know at registration so we can adjust the postures to your pace.

Any booking is confirmed upon payment of a 30% deposit of the total amount, by bank transfer.

Any cancellation must be notified at least 48 hours before arrival or the start of the training. After this deadline, the deposit remains non-refundable.

Yes, some of our retreats are also listed on the BookYogaRetreats platform. In that case, the booking process and the applicable terms and conditions are those of the platform, not our ashram's own terms: please refer to the conditions shown on BookYogaRetreats for any booking made through that site.

Founder of Yogaji Academy, of Récré Yoga (her children's yoga method) and of the Fédération Française de Yoga pour Enfants, Julie has been training teachers for over 15 years across Europe. Certified Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), 300h Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, and Sound Yoga teacher.

An osteo-therapist (Poyet Method / Ortho-Energy) based in Valence for over 15 years, trained in yoga therapy at the Yoga Skyros school and specialized in cardiac coherence and pulsology. Certified 200h teacher, he has been teaching at Yogaji for 3 years.

At the heart of Yogaji Academy, a team of teacher-trainers embodies the vision of a living, grounded, accessible and deeply transformative yoga. We are passionate about sharing, guides on the path, united by the desire to pass on far more than a technique: a way of being in the world, connected to oneself, to others, and to nature.

You can follow Yogaji Academy on Instagram, Facebook, find our retreats on BookYogaRetreats, and check our official listing on Yoga Alliance.

Julie Giacomini, also known as Durga, has practised Hatha Yoga since childhood, coming from a family of yogis. Originally a lawyer (Master's degree in European and international law), she has devoted her life to transmitting yoga, drawing on the teachings of Manju Pattabhi Jois, as well as the lineages of Swami Sivananda, Swami Satyananda Saraswati and BKS Iyengar. She is president of the Durga-Ji association, founder of the Hatha Yoga Center, and has been training yoga teachers in Ardèche and in Vienna (Austria) for over 15 years. She has also taught the Children's Yoga module as a trainer at Yoga Skyros, in Greece.

Yogaji is the name of the school, carried by the association Durga-Ji Yoga et Ayurveda (French non-profit, loi 1901), based in Bas Praly, Saint-Michel-de-Chabrillanoux (07360), France. SIRET: 753 022 664 00019. Training registration number (NDA): 84070168507. Intra-community VAT: FR84753022664. Qualiopi certification n° QUA008749.